I need to upgrade to a better head unit, because mine sucks. I already have 4 Pioneer speakers installed, and a Kenwood amp waiting to be installed. What is the best CD player/radio for around 200 bucks? I want clarity at all levels, especially loud. Thanks in advance.

 

Pioneer, Sony, Kenwood, and other similar brands will give you good performance for your money in this range. If you go with something like an Alpine or an Eclipse, you'll get a little bit better unit with a whole lot less features. I like the Alpine, but you can't go wrong with any good brand name unit.

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The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
Custom Thirdgen Subwoofer Enclosures
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

For the quality, Alpine has a really good $200 range deck but it is very limited on features and toys. Kenwood and some of the others will give you a few more features, but their cd or tuner sections may not be up to the same quality (good yes, but not great)

That's my personal opinion from experience...If you can stomach closer to $300 you can really step up the deck and would probably be a little happier in the long run.

Good luck

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Carl
CarAudio Resources

 

You can pick up a Nakamichi CD-35z for about $200; look here http://www.usavemoney.com/nakamichi.html . From what I gather, the Nak units are considered to be one of the best-sounding head units available. If you want to spend a little more, you can get the CD-40z (I got mine on eBay for $240).

 

I payed like $500.00 bucks for my alpine but i love it to death. I can freaken drive it off the Grand Canyon and not miss a beat. Don't know the model# off the top of my head but it's the big one made for GM cars.

PS Alpine has the amber feature and it's the exact same color as the stock guage color. It looks pretty cool.

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88 Firebird Formula
350 T.P.I. (Stock unfortunately)

@$$, cash, or gas no one rides for free!

 

I personally like the Pioneer DEH-P730. They run in the $400's. But there is this flea market...and this guy is going to give me a deal on my stereo. He said he will give me the face for around $290-$300. It has the dolphin screen saver a long with a few others. It is a nice looking stereo....and it has really good quality. I know this kid who put his car in a sound contest....he had an eclipse...he used the Pioneer deck...he ended up taking second place...so it cannot be that bad of a deck. They do make the lower end Pioneer DEH series. They are still good quality..just less options than the DEH-P730. You just wont be able to have the screen saver..they go in the $200's.

 

Ouch dude. The GM units are the 852 and 855. We sold the 852 for $350 and the 855 for $400.



------------------

The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
Custom Thirdgen Subwoofer Enclosures
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

[/b][/QUOTE]Ouch dude. The GM units are the 852 and 855. We sold the 852 for $350 and the 855 for $400.
[/B][/QUOTE]

Yeah I know, I payed $450. for the unit alone. Then was kind of forced into getting it installed for the 1yr warranty. All together it was like $489. and it was the 855. (Oklahoma=Very few dealers, all over priced)



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88 Firebird Formula
350 T.P.I. (Stock unfortunately)

@$$, cash, or gas no one rides for free!

 

Hey,

I have a JVC el kameleon and it has many many cool features. I also like some of the higher end sony explod cd players. One big thing when I look for a head unit is if it has a sub output and if you can control the level from the head unit. Which is great if you listen to more then one kind of music.

 

Sony Explod 52WX4..$180. Best deal hands down.

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1991 Pontiac Firebird
51k Miles
T-Tops
Fire Engine Red
305 TBI