coolformula

iTrader: (21)

I have always went with the pioneer in the past. I was looking at them they have 22RMS on the 50W heads and only 94DB signal to noise where the apline has only 18RMS and 105 signal to noise.
I just always think the apline looks cheaper.

Any opionons on head units? Im thinking of this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Pioneer-DEH-...QQcmdZViewItem

I don't see much difference ni that and the 300 dollar one. Your paying for more colors on the screen there both using 50watt heads.

CamaroSS615

I have always gone with kenwood. But Panasonic makes some nice head-units.
I think im gonna go with a Panasonic next. Here is a link for a Panasonic H/U rated at 70 watts max.

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAu...roductID=14900

todddchi

iTrader: (3)

All of the "common" brands of head units have similar quality levels and amplifiers. Pioneer, Kenwood, Apline, stuff like that is pretty much on the same level these days.

You can't tell the difference in function between 15 and 18 watts RMS. More is better, but it shouldn't be wieghed heavily in your choice. Features, usability, appreance, should be wieghed much heavier.

The only exception to this currently are the new Panasonic decks using the digital amp chip. In some cases those might put out enough power to avoid using an aftermarket four channel.

You are definitely picking up mostly bells and whistles when comparing a $180 deck to a $300 one. It is pretty easy to find all of the basics in a sub $200 deck. If you have extra money to spend the extra $100-200 would be better spent going with a modest 50x4 or so 4 channel amplifier. Head unit amps really don't drive aftermarket 6.5"s very well at all, even a modest amp will net a huge improvement.

MikeFbody

iTrader: (2)

agreed... those specs you quoted mean nothing in the real world.

TRMIN8R

iTrader: (42)

I have never had a problem with Pioneer. I tried Alpine once, I went through 3 decks in 3 years. Back to Pioneer and lovin it!!

Josh_101

Check this one out! http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAu...roductID=16841
You can change the colors of both the buttons and the display to match the interior lights of your car. It has some nice features and sound quality is much better than my Pioneer 6700. I also recomend an amp too, just like what todddchi says, even a cheap wally world amp (I have one of those $80 VR3 4 channel amps) is a big improvment over the amp in the h/u. Mine pumps out 50 watts RMS to each speaker, which is good enough for me.

coolformula

iTrader: (21)

Hey guys been looking and reading some more. I have a ARCHOS Jukebox(they came out 5+ years ago..aka before IPOD) anway I got a 80 gig in mine and it charges off of usb.

I think I"m going with JVC,the 720,820,870 all have a FRONT usb port and I would be able to carry all of my music with me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MakeTrack=true


http://mobile.jvc.com/product.jsp?pr...1100&pathId=54

I think having the USB port on the front is a very important feature.

I think I'm going have to a place install it. I have done head units and speakers before, but the whole monsoon and wiring thing I just don't know about that.

DarkAzNite

iTrader: (2)

One spec that is always important to me at least is the Sensitivity and CD frequency response for the head unit. For example Blapunkt's are almost all rated for CD Signal to noise ratio of 80dB, when Some higher end Kenwoods, are 100dB, ALL of Alpine's models are rated at 105dB and some Sony's are 120db, I have always chosen Alpine and have never had any problems.
The higher the S/N rating in dB the cleaner the sound will be.

99blancoSS

iTrader: (115)

Eclipse, none better for sound quality

coolformula

iTrader: (21)

Hey guys I really want the USB in the front my chocies are like the JVC 720,820,1100 the 720 is about 165 shipped.

I know this brand is not great(but wondor if JVC subs out and builds these) is the walmart VR. It has usb, and 3.5mm jack on the front(most are 2.5 or dont' have one) and its same watts and all that jazz. And it has SD memory slot and its HALF THE PRICE. What do you guys think? Does JVC really make these?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=4744710

99blancoSS

iTrader: (115)

If you can buy it at Walmart how good do you think it is? IF your gonna spend cheap money then at least get a Kenwood. It not as good as an Eclipes but can be had for a a cehap price.

huskerpower02

Just picked this up the other day.


Which will be powering this.

silverado01

iTrader: (3)

my past 2 cd players have been panasonic, real clean

todddchi

iTrader: (3)

I'm not sure if the spec varies much with USB ports on head units, but you're going to want to try and verify somehow that the front-mounted USB port is powered. There are both high and low power USB port designs, if they are low power it might not support charging a larger device like the jukebox through the USB port.

Just a thought. All usb ports are not equal. I only say this because I think the focus of those USB ports are mainly to use a flash drive, which is definitely low power.

coolformula

iTrader: (21)

Went to walmart the front is powered and does power my ARCHOS. The only thing I'm nut sure if it supports FAT32 over 2gb. And I had no files in the root only in folders and it wouldn't play. But it played fine though the 3.5 aux in. I was going to get it but found the

ILO CA300V does mp3's but don't have usb or the 3.5 in, but does have SD card reader and a color screen to play AVI files. Normally like 179.99 it was clearance for 110.00

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3639084

Anway does this do ID3 tags? Anybody got one?

imnotplutonium

iTrader: (4)

I have an alpine and love it. Just bought my girl a panasonic and it is really nice. I wanted to go with a pioneer but she wanted the prettier panasonic. her choice, but I've been messing with it and it is really nice. lots of features and settings

coolformula

iTrader: (21)

I got the VR3, I like the features and had a shop rewire and install Rockford fostgate's. I just wanted to get it all done and forgot about it glad I did.

bradmb

panasonic is awesome. i have had panasonic, alpine and pioneer. panasonic was way cleaner then the pioneer, the alpine skipped a whole lot and was over-priced. the pioneer was awesome. i wont go with anything else unless i just get a in dash tv. and even then panasonic has the clearest screens of any tv's (fact not opinion). next to panasonic, i would get a nakamichi.

Josh_101

Its an ok amp, but beware of the plastic cover, mine warped out of shape from being hot, dont know if it was from the amp heat or the heat from being out in the sun (the car that is). I'm gonna make a metal cover, I dont like the curcuitry being exposed. I only have my system setup with the door speakers and one light audio sub thats bridged on the rear channels so its getting 100 RMS watts while the door speakers are getting 50 each.

Josh_101

Also note, it will only handle a 4ohm load! Dont get any subs or speaker that run at less than 4ohm!

What else are you planning for your system?