New Car Stereo

[hennessy1]

I currently have a civic lx 2010. I was looking at head units on the bestbuy website. I was wondering if you guys could help me find a good unit. Some points that I was looking for were a color display preferably a larger touch display, Bluetooth, hd radio, xm and sirius radio.

Other than that I really don't know what to look for. I figured a higher RMS wattage per channel was better but once again I am a noob at this.

Thanks for any help.

 

[jlee]

What's your overall goal? Just a new interface.., better sound.., etc? I wouldn't worry too much about the head unit's power rating, as any decent aftermarket deck is going to be adequate (superior to your stock stereo).

I'd look at www.crutchfield.com and find something you like, then check amazon/etc to see what kind of pricing you can find.

Single or double DIN? What's your price range?

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

Also, do you drive your vehicle at night a lot? If so try and find a display with low light level, or adjustable levels. There is nothing more annoying than trying to drive at night with a big bright light shining in the corner of your eye.

 

[jlee]

Also, do you drive your vehicle at night a lot? If so try and find a display with low light level, or adjustable levels. There is nothing more annoying than trying to drive at night with a big bright light shining in the corner of your eye.

Oh, this ^ infinity...

 

[hennessy1]

New interface and better sound. I plan on upgrading the speakers too but I was just going to do the head first. I am not sure in the difference between single or dble din. Price range I haven't set yet I wanted to keep my options open first. The low level or adjustable brightness is a must to since I already have trouble with lights at night.

 

[jlee]

This is a single DIN head unit. This is a double DIN head unit.

 

[hennessy1]

Probably a double din unit then. I was looking for a fairly large screen size as well.

 

[jlee]

Are you looking for navigation and/or DVD playback? What's your price range?

 

[hennessy1]

No nav I use my phone gps for that. Price range probably under 1k but i wanted to get a better idea of what to be looking at before i set a definite price range.

 

[FiLeZz]

pioneer z130 for the win

yes it has navi, yes it has dvd, but it also has everything eles you would ever want.

lots of info on all pioneer units at avic411.com

 

[CraigRT]

I have a Pioneer Avic X930BT and its great.
I previously had a pile of shit Kenwood DNX-6180 which I traded in for the X930BT and have not looked back. It is very responsive to use and the interface is pretty well laid out and overall easy to use.

 

[hennessy1]

Ya i read the kenwood interface are slow. So pioneer is the brand to look into?

 

[CraigRT]

Ya i read the kenwood interface are slow. So pioneer is the brand to look into?

It is slow. It is painful to use slow. I actually think those units are hazards to motorists it takes so long to fumble with stuff on them. The X930BT is superior in every way except the built in GPS which is not bad, but IMO not quite as good as Garmin.
When I had the DNX-6180 out on the table while replacing it with the X930BT I noticed it had a powered by Windows sticker on it. Epic fail.
I have a 8th gen Civic too and I think it looks great in the dash. I used the Scosche kit which is quite good as far as match and overall fit.

 

[hennessy1]

@FiLeZz-That pioneer z130 does look pretty awesome. It says pandora but for iphone will it do it for android as well?

@CraigRT-Could you post a picture of what yours looks like for me? Would having the dealer/geek squad type install it be the way to go or no?

 

[Dirigible]

@FiLeZz-That pioneer z130 does look pretty awesome. It says pandora but for iphone will it do it for android as well?

@CraigRT-Could you post a picture of what yours looks like for me? Would having the dealer/geek squad type install it be the way to go or no?

I just installed the Pioneer Avic X930BT in my Element yesterday. It was an hours-long ordeal and a giant pain in the ass to do it myself, but (a) I'm cheap, and (b) I know I'll take care and put things where I want them, while some geek squad type low-paid doofus may do things half-assed.

Pics:

The little nubbin thing on the left of the radio is where I put the microphone. It picks up my voice well there.

In the pic that shows more of the interior, you can kind of see where I put the ipod connection wire. It drops down from above the little trays that are above the glove box in the Element. Makes it easy to plug my phone in, then place it in one of the trays when I drive.

Civics look different of course, but you may get some idea from this. (I'm also bragging a bit 'cause I've never tried to install anything like this and expected a disaster. Don't think it came out badly at all.)

 

[Dirigible]

Oh, and if I wanted satellite radio I would've needed to purchase an additional dongle for the Pioneer. As it was I got the radio head unit, a dongle for the ipod attachment, a wiring harness, a thingamajig to allow my steering wheel controls to continue to work, an antenna adapter, and a trim kit to make it look decent. Internet forums saved my ass trying to figure out what I needed and how to hook everything up.

 

[hennessy1]

That actually is a nice setup. Myself though I don't know if I could live with messing somthing up esp. with my ocd.

I was reading though on the avic411.com forums about have a 2 din system in place and security concerns. So that made me second guess my model choice considering I didn't want to always be using a fake faceplate to hide it.

The other model I thought of was this one AVH-P6300BT.

 

[CraigRT]

I will put up a pic for you when I get home tonight.. I do not have the pics here with me at work. It is the same as the one posted above, except in the same car as yours
That is a great unit!!!

 

[hennessy1]

The avh-p6300bt or the z130 you mean?

 

[CraigRT]

The avh-p6300bt or the z130 you mean?

The one in the pictures above, the X930BT.

 

[FiLeZz]

pandora for android I have no idea..
but you could always use blootooth link if you had to.

here is mine in my car.
The z110 and z120 are the same unit, the z130 has newer OS.

I acually have the z110 upgraded to the z120.

It took me a while to get mine in also did install of amps speakers sub in mine.

I did the video bypass on mine, most everyone does.
Can play youtube, netflix or videos from DVD or on the phone while driving.

However I don't do it. But I had to mod it

 

[hennessy1]

Is the video bypass different then the bypass for the gps so you can use it while not in park and if so what does yours allow you to do? I did think about the bluetooth audio which is why I will probably still go with this unit.

 

[FiLeZz]

bypass bypasses the parking break allowing you to watch video while moving.

if your going to do this or any pioneer I would suggest a ipod at the least.
maybe if your android can act as a wifi hotspot you would then get pandora in all its glory and netfllix youtube and video on the ipod all on the head unit and all the ipod controls.

 

[hennessy1]

I visited a local mobile electronics shop today and asked about the install price it was about $200 and $75 for the bypass mod if I wanted. I did get to look at the unit it was very nice I must say.

 

[FiLeZz]

Bypass takes 2 min of time do it your self

If you want to pay for them to install the unit I understand.
Nit everyone wants to tear into their car.