Hi there, I just got my car its an 83 z28 and i want to start by putting a radio in it so i have something to listen to while working on it. I am wondering what the top of the line best radio i can get is.

 

Bose is best for sound quality.

JVC Makes a couple affordable models.

Blaupunkt is always a favorite. (pricey)

Pioneer is nice and affordable, And they sound ok too.

I have kenwood everything in my firebird, and i love it, No sub and it kicks like it has one.

 

alright thanks ill try looking at those. I'm only 15 so i am new to this whole car thing.

 

Its all good, Just remember when installing a radio, take your time, and think things through, Your patience will be rewarded.

Im only 17, And ive done over 200 Radio jobs.

 

Yeah I'm 17, and putting in the radio was the first thing I did on my car as well. I knew nothing about car audio, and I didn't want best buy hacking up my car. After you figure out what you are doing (by reading the manual/wire diagrams) it is actually extremely easy. I figured out how to install a sony head unit, HD tuner, pioneer speakers all around, and an amp in the rear spare tire area to power all the speakers. If you need any help I would be glad to help you out. Anyway, the radio I would recommend to you is this one. LINK Not everyone can afford to pay $200+ for a head unit. I got this for $99, and I got the HD tuner for free because of a sale. I have all the features as the expensive head units, HD radio, XM and sirius compatible, Ipod hook up, and it sounds great too. I have the cash now to upgrade it if I want to but im choosing not to im so happy with it. It matches the red glow of the dash too. Here is a link to a video I took today of this set up I installed in my GTA. mirrors were rattling and I dont even have a sub!! Link

 

radios are prolly the easiest thing to install on a car. the wiring is simple. just takes time to get everything looking right.

 

well i need something that can use sirius since my family has about 2 accounts for that so maybe ill get that one

 

Since your new to the whole radio thing, I would suggest buying from Crutchfield. They give you any kits, wire adapters, or wire harnesses you need for free. They also send a mastersheet that is basically a step by step guide through the whole install. Here's a link for the website http://www.crutchfield.com

When you first get on the website, they have you outfit your car so they can match up what installation kits, if any, are needed. I bought a Pioneer DEH-2100IB for my 92 camaro with some Infinity speakers from best buy and the system sounds amazing.

Good Luck

 

Eclipse head units are not bad either there pretty good for rough terrain not like you would in a camaro ( cough i didnt go off roading in a camaro cough )

 

http://www.iroczone.com/92wiring.htm

VERY useful when doing your own wiring.

 

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-YQdfUJl...l-KD-A305.html
That is the one I have. It is my favorite hands down. Very easy to control, looks great, and matches my orange lights.

 

hit up www.crutchfield.com . They have tons of stereos with reviews and alot of helpful information. It should help you formulate an opinion.

 

HANDS DOWN any ALPINE!!! Ive never had a problem with an Alpine. I love them. They are in EVERY vehicle ive ever owned.

 

If alpine is the only thing you've owned, what do you have to compare in order to say its the best?

 

lolness, personally i like my clarion simply because its not showy, that in it has 6 channel output =). but i do like alpine simply beacuse on some of their models you can add what they call a power pack, with gives you 50rms x4 pretty awsome

 

Dude pretty good deal, but there is no way possible that I would put a sony cd player in my car. Not even if someone gave it to me and I didnt have 1. Pioneer is the way to go. Go with Pioneer Premier decks. You have a two year warranty and they sound awesome and they dont F up like some other decks do. I've installed thousands of head units and full audio jobs. And I always recommend Pioneer Premier line. Don't get me wrong, Alpine is good and so are some others but the only deck that my car will ever see is a Pioneer Premier unit. Not the regular pioneer units. My entire car as far and deck and components is Pioneer Premier. The only thing Sony that I have in my car is a slim PS2 in my glove box. Matter of fact I think Walmart has a $99 Pioneer head unit in there. I would get that before I get a $200 Sony. BTW, I managed a Audio Shop here in Ruston, La for 4 years and I never had any one to come back with a problem with there install. Only upgrades to newer model decks and other crap. But hope you get a deck you will be happy with.

 

I definetly agree I always use a clarion deck. but im a JL guy for subs at least. Crossfire makes great amps too!

 

Its hard to just say there's just one "best" deck out there; certain decks are more perfect for certain people. For some, a basic, no nonsense CD player and FM radio is all they need; stock decks do this well (or should I say newer stock decks). For other people, nothing less than auto-eq, time alignment, and active 4-way processing will do. Figure out what you NEED for features and do some reading. A good deck will cost a few dollars, but you won't be buying something a year down the road because you didn't get exactly what you wanted or it broke down on you out of warranty.

 

Besides the brands that eveyone is throwing out, think of what features you want down the road... Buying the least exensive deck to later realize it dosn't have a feautre you now need, selling and buying another, is not saving $$$...

Are you gonna be happy with the deck's built in amp? If you're keeping the stock speakers or replacing with inexpensive aftermarket, maybe... Do you want to run an amplifier later with nicer speakers? Do you want to be able to fade front to back & have a seperate sub channel?

Those are the things to look for, some decks have no RCA's, so you would have to use the built in amp... some have one set, 2 sets, or 3 and some bump up the voltage from about 2 to 4 for better sound quality...

Do you have an mp3 or Ipod you want to connect? Less expensive models have an aux input and some have direct Ipod controllers / chargers all done via remote too...

Look to where you want to go with the deck, you don't need to get all the amps / speakers and stuff now, but when you do, the deck will be ready... If that's the direction you want to go with...

I was glancing through Walmart, Pioneer decks start @ $79 for basic, and $165 for all the top of the line features I mentioned above...

Rafael

 

I've used most everything out there for head-units and have to say Alpine has treated me best. For a budget-build I think Pioneer is pretty decent as well...