Head unit suggestions

[CigarJohnny]

I am looking to purchase a new headunit for my SVX after I pick it up. I am looking to get one that plays MP3's off of cds. I want to keep it in the range of $150 street price, give or take $25. It would also be nice to have an external input jack along with 2 sets of RCA outputs for amps and such should I ever feel the need to go beyond the units capabilities itself. Scouring through Crutchfield and BestBuy yields many options but I am not sure what brands are better than others. Brands I am considering are Sony, Panasonic, Kenwood, Aiwa, & Clarion. I'm open to other suggestions as well. If you happen to have an MP3 deck, I'd love to know what model, what you paid for it, and your honest opinions of it now that you have had a while to use it.

I am leaning towards models that have rotary volume knobs and all must have a remote. Your input is appreciated. :)

Johnny

[lee]

tough set of constraints, but I think I'd go with this unit.

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=pancqc5310u&store=&catid=317

[thundering02]

I got a JVC kd-g700 200 watts and mp3 playback was like 150 with instalation rotary volume and remote though Ive since lost mine.

[SubaSteevo]

I have a 200W Clarion (345MP?) with MP3 and dual preouts. Picked it up on sale at 6th Ave for $90, sells for about $130 online. No aux input, but besides that, I'm very happy with it.

[mbtoloczko]

I've been very pleased with my Pioneer unit. Its got rotary volume, a remote control, and 4-channel RCA outs. I've got the DEH-740MP, and I'm thinking of upgrading to a newer one that was just released. I'll sell mine for $150, and it will include one of SVXdc's harness adapters already wired up so all you have to do is plug it in to the SVX harness.

[Subafreak]

Pioneer, Pioneer, Pioneer, PIONEER!!!!

Best looking units in my opinion. And very good quality.

again can't go wrong with a Kenwood, or Clarion, but I just like the looks of the Pioneers. Plus I've been using them since 94' with happy results.:D

[CigarJohnny]

Originally posted by Subafreak
Pioneer, Pioneer, Pioneer, PIONEER!!!!

Best looking units in my opinion. And very good quality.

again can't go wrong with a Kenwood, or Clarion, but I just like the looks of the Pioneers. Plus I've been using them since 94' with happy results.:D I do like the looks of the Pioneers but I have heard a lot of poor reviews on the venerable "Supertuner III" when compared to the receivers in other maker's units. There are SO many options available that meet my constraints that it really is confusing.

Johnny :confused:

[lee]

I personally prefer Alpine, Pioneer & Eclipse, but none of those will meet your cost figure, have MP3, pre-amp/sub outputs, and have an aux input (Pioneer & Alpine are at least a $30 add-on, Eclipse & you have to step up to the 5XXX series - $400+).

Clarion is OK in my book - I personally have had problems with Sony & Kenwood. Panasonic doesn't get much respect, but every time I buy one of their products it works as advertised (and after all the SVX OEM unit was Panasonic).

[Seraph]

How about some blaupunkt unit? I had a San Jose MP 41. Acapucco (sp??) and L.A. MP72.

I am currently looking at MP74 for my Passat. MP 74 would be out of your price range but older MP 41/42 units would be ok I think

They sounded great in my SVX as well

[97LSi004]

for a little more, this one is a nice double din option..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39752&item=5747882103&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[ensteele]

Originally posted by mbtoloczko
I've been very pleased with my Pioneer unit. Its got rotary volume, a remote control, and 4-channel RCA outs. I've got the DEH-740MP, and I'm thinking of upgrading to a newer one that was just released. I'll sell mine for $150, and it will include one of SVXdc's harness adapters already wired up so all you have to do is plug it in to the SVX harness.

Do you have a link to one so I can see what they look like? I may put something else in where I had one stolen in my Pearl. Thanks :)

[SVX-FF]

How about this Kenwood that is also XM ready?

Linkie (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39751&item=5747928966&tc=photo)

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/SVX-FF/24635.jpg

Steve

[deruvian]

Originally posted by SVX-FF
How about this Kenwood that is also XM ready?

Linkie (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39751&item=5747928966&tc=photo)

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photos/files/SVX-FF/24635.jpg

Steve


UGLY AS SIN.

[mbtoloczko]

Originally posted by ensteele


Do you have a link to one so I can see what they look like? I may put something else in where I had one stolen in my Pearl. Thanks :)

The 740-MP looks similar to, but not exactly like the 760-MP. Here's the 760-MP webpage:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4041_64496597,00.html

[SilverSpear]

Originally posted by Seraph
How about some blaupunkt unit? I had a San Jose MP 41. Acapucco (sp??) and L.A. MP72.

I am currently looking at MP74 for my Passat. MP 74 would be out of your price range but older MP 41/42 units would be ok I think

They sounded great in my SVX as well
I used to adore Blaupunkt, they used to make quality units, but now they became made in China, Thaiwan, Singapore...... :mad:

[CigarJohnny]

Originally posted by mbtoloczko


The 740-MP looks similar to, but not exactly like the 760-MP. Here's the 760-MP webpage:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4041_64496597,00.html I kinda thought this one ould look kinda good in the SVX interior. The green actually matches our lighting scheme.

DEH-P470MP (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4041_150519112,00.html)
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pio/pe/images/portal/cit_3442/150519112DEH-P470MP_big.jpg

Johnny

[SilverSpear]

mmm, but you want to pay only about $150 , this unit is $191 isn't it?

[Seraph]

Originally posted by SilverSpear

I used to adore Blaupunkt, they used to make quality units, but now they became made in China, Thaiwan, Singapore...... :mad:


My MP72 that I just sold was made in Germany. :) San Jose unit however was made in Singapore.

[mbtoloczko]

Originally posted by CigarJohnny
I kinda thought this one ould look kinda good in the SVX interior. The green actually matches our lighting scheme.

...
Johnny

Mine doesn't have the green lighting scheme, but I think the overall design, which is similar the 470MP, works well with SVX interior. That 470 looks pretty good.

[CigarJohnny]

Originally posted by SilverSpear
mmm, but you want to pay only about $150 , this unit is $191 isn't it? Who in the world pays full retail for anything?? :)

Johnny

[CigarJohnny]

For the curious, I purchased a head unit on the way home from KY with the new SVX

http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2004/113/h113MP228-f.jpeg

Paid only $142 for it and it sounded as good or better than any other unit under $200. I am thrilled with it and can't wait to install it. Hate to muss up the existing factory head unit but I will need to steal the connector from it and splice the new unit's wires to it. Harness for the SVX is almost impossible to buy anywhere. I realise that someone here actually makes them for the SVX but I don't have the time or patience to order one and wait for it to arrive.

Johnny

[SilverSpear]

Originally posted by Seraph



My MP72 that I just sold was made in Germany. :) San Jose unit however was made in Singapore.

I went to a sound system shop over here, well the best (the cheapest one is for $1500...) he said Blaupunkt used to make the best units, but now it became crap... he is using Clarion, Pioneer, Rockfort Fosgate, JBL......

I don't wanna purchase a unit made in Singapore anyway...
its speakers are made in China! especially the Velocity units...

[CigarJohnny]

$1500??? :eek: Holy smoke! You'd be better off picking out a unit, then sending us the money and having one of us ship it out to you. Is everything that expensive over there?

[SilverSpear]

not only the unit, but also a set of 4 speakers and a small amplifier for the rear speakers... all for $1500

but electronics over here are very expensive, for example the Pioneer DVH-P5000MP costs around $700 over here (at the dealership) whereas in the States it is set for sale on ebay around $350....

But I am lucky concerning Labor costs over here... they are almost negligeable.. anything can be done in no more than $100 whatever time it will take to be fixed...

[Weasel 22]

Alpine 9833..nearly the god of headunits :D grab one quick tho..the new models are out and it wont be around much longer..I also have it installed in the lower half of the stereo cage and the door cover still works..this allows proper use of the tilt feature..I also have 6.5 front and 6x9 rear Infinity refs..I installed it all myself..was fairly straight forward..when I get a digital camera ill post pics :D

[CigarJohnny]

The new unit is in and I am very pleased with the result. I installed it in the top DIN slot and there are no door issues whatsoever. The sound it produces is worlds better than the factory unit, even with the factory speakers. Listened to "Korn & The Dust Brothers - Kick The PA" on the way to work this morning and I was blown away by the bass. It sounds like a have subs in the freakin thing. Really sweet. :cool:

Best of all was I did not have to destroy the original unit. I had to cut the end off of the original wiring harness and solder the connections to the new connector while in the car. Had to do all my soldering with a flameless butane lighter. :) My thumb is still a little sore from the heat. I will be offering the original unit and cd player for sale very soon. They work very well but the cd player doesn't like CDR's all too well. It actually liked some purple CDRs I had on me but skipped all over the place when I played standard silver CDRs in it and obviously it did not play MP3s at all. ;)

Johnny