I want to buy a new headunit with built in HD radio or HD ready and have a front or rear USB port, problem is all the ones I have looked at look like they are pretty complicated to use with lots of small buttons and require you to take your eyes off the road too much, is there a nice unit that can be "fiddled" with without actually looking at it? I want one with button presets for favorite stations. I don't want to kill myself or anyone else trying to change a station!!!

 

Alpine is probably the easiest, most reliable, best performing, and best looking unit I have ever bought.

I would like it to be able to charge my IPhone, but oh, well

 

alpine is always good but if your really going all for it...get an eclipse or a pioneer premeire(spellcheck)..just my op

 

Alpine,Eclipse and Clarion are the way to go.

Might find good stuff from other brands but if you want a safe bet those 3 are the big 3 (within a reasonable price range)

 

I don't think car stereo manufacturers understand what we want. It seems like all of the current models are complicated to use. I have a Pioneer Premier unit, and it's nice, but they removed the radio preset buttons from most of their current models. In order to go to one of your preset stations, you have to hit a list button and scroll through, then select the station...

 

ive never had a problem with pioneers or sony explodes, sonys new ones, you can even change the color to match your car for less that $200

 

you are probably looking for something like this.. but it gonna set you back a pretty penny

 

That doesnt have HD radio or for that matter any bells or whistles....thats just pureeee rawwwww unmolested SQ.......just about the most expensive HU you can aim at......but is the best next thing to having the actual artist sing to you.... x]

That HU along with The Denon DCT 1 and the nakamichi cd700 are like the Bentley,Maybach and Rolls Royce of the car audio world

Audio Monitor is up there too (same as eclipse but in japan,just like pioneer/carrozeria)

 

I did have an Xplod, and I'm not saying it was bad.. But when i switched over to an Alpine i was amazed at how better it sounded.

I agree with 87 WHITE GTA. Alpine, Eclipse and Clarion are the way to go.

 

pioneer and alpine FTW

i have a pioneer in my trans am and an alpine in my DD, both with subs and 4 channel amps tho

 

my 10 year old Pioneer sounds better then a new Sony Xplod.

 

I had a Sony Explode, but the CDs sounded terrible. My Alpine is ****

 

In the past I have usually stuck with Pioneer and Kenwood. I have had problems with every single Sony HU that I have ever had so I'll never buy one ever again. Alpines sound great, but the majority of the semi affordable ones have fewer features than a stock HU.

Yesterday I bought a Dual XHD7714 for $120 from Walmart. I haven't installed it yet but every review I read about it was absolutely praising it. It has built in HD tuner, bluetooth hands free calling, iPod controls, and a whole laundry list of features. The price was right so I thought I'd give it a try. I'll be installing it tomorrow.




I like the great big volume **** in the middle, plus it comes with a remote.

 

I'd be interested in your impressions of the Dual unit. So far I've not heard one that was worth buying, but that may have changed. I'm a die hard Kenwood Excellon fan. I replaced some other "high end" unit (can't remember the brand) with the Excellon and the differance was truly amazing. I've found the new Kenwood KDC-X993 for just over $200 on Ebay. That's the one I'm going to go with since my HD unit will work with it.

 

Dual is pretty bad. They suck some major *********.
Not too long ago they had a pair of 6x9's in big lots for $20 bucks
their swingface radios get stuck in less than a month (look at how many they are for sale on ebay "as is" or "for parts/repair")

I'd much rather buy a nice used alpine,eclipse,clarion,kenwood,Pioneer etc than a dual....


Now ppl are gonna ask me why pioneer is up there if they sell it al walmart too.....they have low end stuff that sucks but they also have high end stuff like the PRS series and
also HU's that we dont get in america that kick major *** ( like the DEX-P99RS)

 

jvc and pioneer makes some solid headunits for decent price some even with hd radio built in

 

I had a Clarion CZ509 in my last car... It was awesome bluetooth for the phone, front auxillary for the ipod and awesome sound quality.

 

whoops

 

For $213 plus $15 shipping you can get a Kenwood Excellon KDC-X993. Yes it's $78 more than the dual, but I've had my Kenwood Excellon for well over five years, played thousands of CD's and it never once has given me any problems at all.

I did see a Dual with just ipod and USB and tuner. No CD drive, which is a great idea. I hope Kenwood comes out with one like that soon.


http://www.ugotadeal.com/product_inf...71&ref=froogle

 

Or for $240 an alpine 9887

 

I installed the Dual today that I posted the pic of earlier in this thread. All I can say is WOW!!! It sounds great and it's extremely easy to use.

I was kinda skeptical at first since it was an off brand, but I decided to give it a shot since it was dirt cheap considering all the features and all of the great reviews.

Like I said before, I have always had the upper level Pioneer and Kenwood HU's but I hate all the new designs they have now with no preset buttons and the new Pioneers are just way too plain looking.

For right now the Dual is pretty awesome, and the hands free bluetooth is just icing on the cake. I'll see how it holds up over time. If it craps out on me I still have my Pioneer that I can put back in.

 

Do you see any resemblance?










Guess who copied who.....

 

Look for one with a remote so you wont have to take your eyes off the road. Big fan of the Pioneer Premier. Mine has ipod and USB adaptors that I run into my centre console....stelth.

 

i took a dive as well, i was going to get a kenwood that crutchfield had for 230 with hd and usb, but i saw frys had the dual so i bought it( along with a two year exchange warranty. so far im very happy with it, it works great, bluetooth mic is a little weak, but it work for my needs.though i do miss the looks of my clarion

 

You changed ur clarion for a dual?

Man.....thats a sin.......


PPL are gonna be like..wut u got in there?..n u'll b like polks all around.....running off a dual deck

 

Sony CDX-GT730UI

Have it in the 88 GTA and love it. You can change the colors between red, blue, and green, too.

 

I'm surprised anyone even uses CD's any more. I have my iPod and the first thing I look for in a deck is either iPod controls or aux in. Both my cars have it and I'll never live without again hehe! Not only that, no more stacks of cd's in the car, no cd changer, less to get stolen if broken into.

I was very anti iPod for years but now that I have one holy cow!

 

lol thats what my friend said too lmao. it does sound good. i really like HD

 

You can infact charge your iphone and newer gen ipods with the new alpine decks. they are now selling a 12v to 5v adapter that allows the charging to work now. I'm stoked about it. Alpine 9887 for the win

 

W/e happened to the OP