im looking to get a new deck for my car. i dont really wanna spend much more that about $250 if possible. im not really into big systems, but i want somethign thatll last and sound good with decent features. if anyone knows of links where i can see some decks or knows of a specific model i should check out, let me know please. thanks.

 

I like the menu layout/interface of the newer kenwood highend models... but the SQ and EQ of the new pioneer decks have me hooked...

I know you only wanna spend about $250 on a deck but if you buy the Piooner DEH-P8600MP (my deck).. and get a 4-year replacement plan... you will honestly be set for life... becuase you can keep renewing your warranty every 4 years....

I bought the Jensen mp3 deck... mp3510 back in '01, for $250... and it broke, so I upgraded to the sony mp3 deck, all I had to do was pay like $50 for the price difference... then that broke, so I got the mp522 kenwood for another $50 or so... then that broke, so I now have the pioneer 8600mp... it was literally only $20 for the difference... because they give you the value of what you paid, not what it's worth now... it's an amazing warranty if you ask me.

Whatever you get, make sure you get a good warranty because decks are prone to go out... maybe its the harsh ride of my car, but I end up going through about one a year... maybe I use the decks more than the average consumer, I really don't know...

A rule of thumb though.... usually the top 3 decks or so of a manufacturer are about the same features and sound quality... usually the more expensive ones have one or two features that you might not even need...

check pioneer's website and see what features compare to the 8600mp... like Auto TA, Auto EQ, and a 13-band EQ... if things like video backgrounds and such are your thing, then this deck does it...

however, for the same exact price you can get the Sony CDX-M9905X which literally has a built in 16:9 dvd quality screen... and all the tools and kick *** animations to go with it... plus a video input to use the screen as you see fit...
--I didn't get this deck because it doesn't have a REMOVABLE face plate... sony must have really just been lazy on this deck or something... plus you could hardly configure the layout of the screen, and songs took about 2 seconds to load from song to song, and the cd loading time was literally 15 seconds... things that really bother me.

-Steven

 

i will sell you my premier 900+ for that. it's older but in good shape and much better then what you'll find for $250.

try looking on ebay as i've seen some good hu's for 250-300 range.

 

Maybe get Kandied to give you the specs of his HU. If it sounds good to you, pick it up.

You can also check out onlinecarstereo and thezeb. Both are good companies and I've ordered from them before.

 

if you search you can find really good deals on units. i mean 700 for a flip out monitor HU is incredible to when my radio was out at the time it was msrp at $950 and flip outs where min of $2500.