Recommend me a good car stereo for kid w/ iPhone....

[redgtxdi]

Long story short, after giving my old Camry to my daughter, old Pioneer stereo backlights started going out til all gone she can't see squat. Uses CD's & radio presets but know she'd love to incorporate her iPhone 5c into the game.

I sorta broke down that the gist is.....

1.) Stereos with no CD, just BT/usb/iPod ready. (good)

2.) Stereos like above but with CD (better)

3.) Stereos like above but with iPhone ability (better still?)

4.) Stereos like above but with iPhone ability + 1amp charging (best)

I'm looking at this one -----> http://www.bestbuy.com/site/kenwood-...&skuId=3162733

But to be honest, I didn't even want to spend over $100 to begin with as I will have it installed @ BB too which will certainly push up over $200 anyway.

TIA for any suggestions!

 

[razel]

That choice looks fine, just double check that iPod ready doesn't mean that you have to buy another 'part/special connector' to make it iPod good to go.

It's been nearly 5 years since I last worked on car stereos, but holy crap you can get a whole lot for $100 now! I bet the install may cost more. By the way if the current stereo is not the original, it's already an aftermarket then the hard work is done. You maybe able to install it yourself EASILY if your current aftermarket slides right out.

 

[Zaap]

By the way if the current stereo is not the original, it's already an aftermarket then the hard work is done. You maybe able to install it yourself EASILY if your current aftermarket slides right out.

That's a great point. If the "Pioneer" currently in is aftermarket, should be a bone-simple swap.

And also a good point about what "iPod-ready" actually means.

If you can, take the iPhone in to Best Buy, or ask them to demonstrate the same one for you on the unit and see how it actually works. Way back when, when I dealt with iPhone/iPod integration in my wife's car with third party stereos, I remember it as a minefield. The cheaper units often had the most basic iPhone controls possible, that most anyone would hate having to deal with while driving. Even worse: at least in the past, cheaper head units often had iPhone/iPod model cutoffs- ie: works with an iPhone 5x let's say, but not 6x.

When I upped the budget, the level of control, ease of use while driving (and compatibility) went up considerably. Stuff that's best found out demoing it in a showroom rather than with a unit already paid for and installed in the car.

Of course, I'm sure things have changed a lot, so maybe now even the lower-end iPhone integration is better.

 

[razel]

Just read the end of your OP. Like Zaap said, since it's Best Buy double check that the iPhone works at the store. Chances are good that even if IPod control is not perfect through USB, it'll work through Bluetooth since it says it supports music files through Bluetooth.

Your budget is tight. You certainly can do it yourself. If the price is similar on Crutchfield, then you could be better off buying it from them since they provide you instructions on how to install it along with the wiring harness for free. Well at least last time I checked. I actually even see direct Toyota to Kenwood wiring harnesses so it's far easier to do now. Best of luck.

 

[Oyeve]

No cassette?

 

[gus6464]

You have a Pioneer in there already which means Pioneer wiring harness already installed. Get another Pio and just slide that sucker out and slide new one in.

 

[gus6464]

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-DEH-X8700BH/dp/B00OYWF2BW

Has BT for hands free calling, Siri integration and pretty much everything you want including Pandora.

Would slide right into your car since you already have the old Pio.

 

[zerogear]

Honestly, I would recommend buying it from Crutchfield -- they have recommendation based on your needs and free installation kit for your cars

http://www.crutchfield.com/g_300/Al...on_Kit|[rank1]Yes&nvpair=AG_Size|FFSingle-DIN

 

[Harry_Wild]

Long story short, after giving my old Camry to my daughter, old Pioneer stereo backlights started going out til all gone she can't see squat. Uses CD's & radio presets but know she'd love to incorporate her iPhone 5c into the game.

I sorta broke down that the gist is.....

1.) Stereos with no CD, just BT/usb/iPod ready. (good)

2.) Stereos like above but with CD (better)

3.) Stereos like above but with iPhone ability (better still?)

4.) Stereos like above but with iPhone ability + 1amp charging (best)

I'm looking at this one -----> http://www.bestbuy.com/site/kenwood-...&skuId=3162733

But to be honest, I didn't even want to spend over $100 to begin with as I will have it installed @ BB too which will certainly push up over $200 anyway.

TIA for any suggestions!

I have had many customized car audio systems installed; so I would recommend getting just a good subwoofer 10" with an amp - 300 watts. Cost could be around $300 including installation if you buy it on sale and you can still use the factory radio if you want too. Otherwise; you can spend a lot more and still not get the deep bass sound that is so popular these days! If you want to upgrade the car stereo go for the cheap $100 model not the DVD, GPS, 7" LCD head unit since they have power output close to that of the cheap AM/FM unit. It might not be as clear but you not listening to opera either. It going be Rap, country, popular and maybe deep metal sounds. All current radio head units iPod lightning connectors and 3.5mm inputs for Apple and Android/Windows smartphones.

 

[redgtxdi]

You have a Pioneer in there already which means Pioneer wiring harness already installed. Get another Pio and just slide that sucker out and slide new one in.

Since you mentioned it first, I'll acknowledge with a quote. I didn't want to *assume* since my stereo installation days go waaaaaay back to the old 2-knob stuff. Individual wire installs with power/accessory/right-front/left-front/right-rear/left-rear. Ahhhh those were days....LOL

I also didn't want to assume that a 10 year old Pioneer head unit could take advantage of the same adapter. But I'd love to be able to install this myself w/ just a quick swap out!!

What about this one?? -----> http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130DX460BT/Pioneer-DEH-X4600BT.html?tp=5684

 

[redgtxdi]

Welp......we'll find out. I cruised by Best Buy last night but nobody there to help & the place was a zoo. I chewed on it for a bit & decided to go with Crutchfield. I'll assume for now that the same adapter will allow me an easy swap. If I have to solder a few wires, so be it. I'll deal with it then but same stereo, same price & Crutchfield just seems to care & offer a bit more than Best Buy even though they're local. (Plus, BB has plenty of my money from years gone by)

Went with this one......http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/CD-Receivers/DEH-X6700BT

Will advise after Christmas how it all went!

 

[bearxor]

Welp......we'll find out. I cruised by Best Buy last night but nobody there to help & the place was a zoo. I chewed on it for a bit & decided to go with Crutchfield. I'll assume for now that the same adapter will allow me an easy swap. If I have to solder a few wires, so be it. I'll deal with it then but same stereo, same price & Crutchfield just seems to care & offer a bit more than Best Buy even though they're local. (Plus, BB has plenty of my money from years gone by)

Went with this one......http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/CD-Receivers/DEH-X6700BT

Will advise after Christmas how it all went!

Well I know I'm late but I was really going to recommend Best Buy.

Only because their Car Audio section is usually dead with not a lot of movement in inventory.

Always check out BB's open box/clearance section:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olstempl...7301&type=page

Because they usually have a TON of radios on clearance. The last one I bought was a kenwood with a built-in HD Radio receiver and bluetooth for $60 brand new when Crutchfield was selling the same model for $130.

And you can go to the audio section and just look at the boxes on the overhead and look for the ones with an orange C sticker. Those are all the ones they have marked down. So just in case anyone else is looking in the future maybe they'll find this post somewhat helpful.

 

[sonitravel09]

I have had AVIC-X920BT, AVIC-X930BT, AVIC-X940BT.
And now they just came out with the AVIC-X950BH.
That is your best bet and will give you the most features at that price range of anything else you could buy.

 

[redgtxdi]

I'd have definitely considered that if I were going Double Din, but I went with x6700bt. I still haven't installed yet as I've been sick as a dog the last week & a half, but may get to it this weekend if I get a chance.

Only disappointment on the Crutchfield side at the moment is that, despite it even being considered an *additional* item that you had to add to the cart (albeit no-charge) the instructions did not show.

(shrug)

 

[jhansman]

You have a Pioneer in there already which means Pioneer wiring harness already installed. Get another Pio and just slide that sucker out and slide new one in.

This. If you can figure out how to get the old one out, the new one will go right in. Crutchfield offers excellent support in this area. Got my Pioneer BT head unit from them, and a support tech spent almost an hour with me getting the wiring right. Works perfectly with my GS4, but I would guess it would with any newer phone.

 

[redgtxdi]

You guys BLEW IT!!!

No easy swap. Different socket on the back of both Pio's. The older one is about 20% larger than the new one.

Looks like I get to wire my ass off!

P.S. I also get to go crimper & connector shopping.

 

[redgtxdi]

Ok, a box of crimp caps, crimpers (that suck, btw but wasn't gonna spend $30 at O'Reilly's for "better" junk crimpers) and about 2 hours later (I'll explain below)....it's done & works great.

First..........If there's a lesson to be learned here it's this.....Do NOT assume that brand for brand any adapters/installation kits/etc will work in like fashion. Obviously, in my case it did not.

Second......Shame on Crutchfield for 2 things:

1.) Not including installation instructions, despite how simple they might have been, even though they have a hotline. (Today's chat was not working and the guy I spoke with was a little too "fly over the details" because I'm sure he's got 10 years of installations in his head)

2.) Not advising ANY customer that they should have some multi-gage connectors & crimper (or soldering gun & solder) at the ready just in case things don't go as planned.

Second........While the previous kit & radio wire set had straight 16-gage wire across the board, Pioneer decided to go w/ about 22 gage wire in this unit while the Metra-Toyota kit was truly 16-18 gage. Obviously I'd prefer they were all 16 gage but I hate splicing/crimping extremely thin wires like that.

The reason things took so long was because the cheap crimpers just couldn't properly splice the tiny Pioneer wire (again, 22 gage & that's being liberal) and I had to actually swap head units once more after I realized the front-passenger speaker wasn't working. I just had the car repainted and I think the body shop either forgot to hook up the wire or accidentally cut one or something.

Anyway.......all of the iPhone features of the radio are pretty cool & phone calls are clear. Microphone's temporarily mounted at A/C vent right now but we'll see. I'd like to keep wire-show to a minimum.

Now, bring on the Packer game.

 

[midwestfisherman]

Ok, a box of crimp caps, crimpers (that suck, btw but wasn't gonna spend $30 at O'Reilly's for "better" junk crimpers) and about 2 hours later (I'll explain below)....it's done & works great.

First..........If there's a lesson to be learned here it's this.....Do NOT assume that brand for brand any adapters/installation kits/etc will work in like fashion. Obviously, in my case it did not.

Second......Shame on Crutchfield for 2 things:

1.) Not including installation instructions, despite how simple they might have been, even though they have a hotline. (Today's chat was not working and the guy I spoke with was a little too "fly over the details" because I'm sure he's got 10 years of installations in his head)

2.) Not advising ANY customer that they should have some multi-gage connectors & crimper (or soldering gun & solder) at the ready just in case things don't go as planned.

Second........While the previous kit & radio wire set had straight 16-gage wire across the board, Pioneer decided to go w/ about 22 gage wire in this unit while the Metra-Toyota kit was truly 16-18 gage. Obviously I'd prefer they were all 16 gage but I hate splicing/crimping extremely thin wires like that.

The reason things took so long was because the cheap crimpers just couldn't properly splice the tiny Pioneer wire (again, 22 gage & that's being liberal) and I had to actually swap head units once more after I realized the front-passenger speaker wasn't working. I just had the car repainted and I think the body shop either forgot to hook up the wire or accidentally cut one or something.

Anyway.......all of the iPhone features of the radio are pretty cool & phone calls are clear. Microphone's temporarily mounted at A/C vent right now but we'll see. I'd like to keep wire-show to a minimum.

Now, bring on the Packer game.

How about those Packers!

 

[olds]

I like using Crutchfield to see what fits. I will also mostly buy from them if they aren't too much higher.
Had one Kenwood deck in my life, didn't like it and never bought Kenwood again. I generally stick with Pioneer and Alpine.