Help me buy a car head unit

mosdef

Banned
May 14, 2000
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I am considering buying a new single CD headunit for my car in the $300-$400 range. What brands do you recommend? Any specific models? I like how the Pioneers look - I checked out the DEH-7300 and DEH-6300 at Best Buy. Also what about the Sony Xplods? I've heard negative comments about Sony car audio in the past.

-mosdef
 

Emulex

Diamond Member
Jan 28, 2001
9,759
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71
clarion and pioneer are excellent units! you can't go wrong with a $300 pioneer unit. You will be happy with it for years to come.

I paid $142 for my clarion proaudio dx515 , it sounds awesome!
 

Rifter

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,522
751
126
another vote for clarion. Stay away from sony for speakers. For mids i would either go infinity or PPI. For subs i would go rockford or PPI. And for amp probably PPI for the mids and a rockford for the subs..
 

bigbootydaddy

Banned
Sep 14, 2000
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dont get anything that says sony xplod on it...

if you are looking for something a lil cool feature wise, and has some power to back it, try the Kenwood Excelon series.

I recommend you get MP3 support, but unforunately, im not sure if they make and excelons with mps and DMASK+ (show off factor, but i like the one i have, it hides, it moves, it makes the chicks go, "oh thats so cool!")
 

bigd480

Golden Member
Jul 7, 2000
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<< Don't you need a girl (assuming you are a guy) to get head in a car? >>

have u seen the VW commercial on that topic... freaknig hilarious... go to adcritic.com... i think it's called &quot;that video&quot; but i'm not sure...
 

CivicSiRider

Senior member
May 16, 2001
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<< dont get anything that says sony xplod on it...

>>



And why is that? Sony has definately has changed there quality from what it used to be when it comes to car audio. The mobile es equipment is pretty good for the price, I would say.

But if willing to spend 3-4 hundred on a head unit, then look for an eclipse, clarion, or something along those lines. If you have the money and are willing to pay for the high quality, then do it.
 

guitronics

Senior member
Apr 4, 2001
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I am a total freak when it comes to sound.For the purest sound, and I mean almost any audio, including Mixing boards, PA's,stereo systems, etc. , you can sum up the quality of an audio component in one simple measurement;Signal to noise ratio. Sometimes expressed as S/N,sometimes as S+N/N,but it's all signal to noise ratio.

In the past, everyone worried about distortion:Harmonic,Total Harmonic Distortion(THD),Intermodulation Distortion(IM),etc.Modern designs all seem to have good to excellent distortion figures.

When you look at amplifiers,you'll see that the more expensive amps in the same power range have higher Signal-to-Noise ratios.

About the only form of amplifier (audio)that costs big bucks and have bad s/n's are tube guitar amps.They have lousy S/N ratio's, but everyone is so accustomed to the hum and noise(the amp is actually 1/2 of the insturment!)that they expect it.Most professional Electric guitar players use Tube Amps, with their lousy S/N ratio's.A CD played over a Tube guitar amp sounds bad...very bad.

The next thing you need to consider are basic features.MP3's actually suck,compared to cd's.I wouldn't recommend Mp3's to anyone except if they wanted &quot;Muzak&quot; as in &quot;Elevator,shopping mall background muzak&quot;.

So you'll want a reciever with a good S/N ratio,and a good S/N ratio on CD's, and a good S/N ratio on fm(which is measured in how strong a signal has to be, in DBf,for a required S/N ratio).

You also probably want a reciever with high voltage preamp outs(Fronts and Rears, Lefts and Rights, + subwoofer), (for a high S/N ratio!),CD changer controls, an auxilliary input (for that lousy MP3 player!),and excellent Equalization(EQ,or tone controls).

I know of only one such radio/head unit/CD player that rates highest in the above categories....the very best of the best.

That &quot;Head Unit&quot; is the Blaupunkt 'San Francisco' Model.It ain't cheap,but it is the best.Period.

It even comes with a calibrated,extendable microphone; and a built-in pink noise generator.You place the Microphone where you want the optimum sound, the unit adjusts it's built-in Equalizer for perfect response.Once that baseline is established, you can tweak the EQ's controls for your personal preference.

Nothing is overlooked in this unit.If you turn up the A/C, it automatically adjusts the volume and EQ to counteract it.If you roll down the window, it automatically re-adjusts the volume and EQ.

There is no finer Head Unit made, at least not in mass-production.

I don't sell them, nor do I have one.I will get one, though, and soon.
 

tontod

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
3,244
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71
I'd highly recommend the JVC KD-SH99. I bought it and installed it last weekend, and its great. It has mp3 support.
 

FlashG

Platinum Member
Dec 23, 1999
2,709
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I'm considering getting the Alpine CDA-7873 from Savinglots.com. I don't know how reliable SL is but I do know that the 7873 sounds great.

BTW,

Has anyone delt with Savinglots.com?? Are they OK?
 

scorp00

Senior member
Mar 21, 2001
994
0
71
get the best pioneer you can afford. I have a DEH-P6000, and i've had it for 2 years now with no intentions of upgrading because it still kicks ass. :)
 

FlashG

Platinum Member
Dec 23, 1999
2,709
2
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guitronics

I mostly agree with you about s/n but the Alpine has a s/n of 105 and thats pretty good for a $260 unit in my book.
 

Soybomb

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2000
9,506
2
81
Lol yeah the last thing I want is my damn radio deciding how loud it should be :D Personally I think clarion or pioneer make excellent decks in that price range, maybe even look into an eclipse. Avoid sony decks, I have one, its crap. I hear the mobile ES series is much better than their regular series.
 

mosdef

Banned
May 14, 2000
2,253
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Ok so I'm pretty set on the Pioneer DEH-6300 or DEH-7300.

The only differences between the models are:

DEH-7300:
Hi-Volt RCA Preouts (x3 pair) (Front/Rear + Subwoofer or Non-Fading) (4V)
Spectrum Analyzer
Automatic Sound Levelizer
Cellular Mute
Hands-free Cell Input

DEH-6300:
RCA Preouts (x2 pair) (Front/Rear or Front + Subwoofer) (2V)

So what do you all think, is it worth upgrading to the 7300? I don't even have an amp, sub, or speakers yet (speakers and amp will come shortly though).

-mosdef
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
12
81
In that price range, IMO, Kenwood simple ownz :) Panasonic ain't bad either. Xplod just sucks. ES isn't bad, but Xplod is simply the worst.
 

Bomberboy

Senior member
May 5, 2001
769
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guitronics - Thanks for the informative post.

I am also in the market for a head unit - but I'm a total newbie.

I have been offered an AIWA CDC-MP3 unit from a friend for $175. Do you know anything about this unit?
 

mosdef

Banned
May 14, 2000
2,253
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I apologize, I should have mentioned that my selection is limited because I have an &quot;employee discount&quot; at Bestbuy via my friend, but don't tell anyone alright? ;). So whatever Best Buy has is an option. With that being said, their nicest head units are mainly Pioneers, a few Sonys, a Clarion, the JVC Kameleon, and of course whatever else they may have. Among those, any opinions?

-mosdef
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
12
81
Ohh you're stuck with best buy options...well, Pioneers would be the best out of that bunch. But whatever you do, don't get speakers there, cause they all suck hardcore.