help me choose headunit for car

97GTSTANG

Founding Member

May 25, 2000

852

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17

Virginia

Sep 21, 2004

#1

• Sep 21, 2004

• #1

Was planning on getting a new headunit and get rid of the factory system.
I have been looking at JVC and Kenwood and Pionner. Look at these, whihc u think???

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...66&type=product

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...66&type=product

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...66&type=product

 

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O.D. Showtime

Founding Member

Mar 31, 2002

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Sep 21, 2004

#2

• Sep 21, 2004

• #2

The links don't work...but anyways, I heard JVC isn't too great. I was told by numerous people to buy Kenwood (preferably ExCelon) and Alpine, the two best. Many, many people told me this. Buy a headunit according to what you need out of it. If you need many preamp outputs, get one with two or more. If you want one that's XM ready, then get that. Go by what you need.

 

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Dtowncats

New Member

Jun 2, 2003

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York, PA

Sep 21, 2004

#3

• Sep 21, 2004

• #3

Also look at Eclipse. Some are pretty expensive brand new but definitely worth it. You might even be able to pick one up on Ebay for a good price. Are you going to be running an amp(s) and subs? If you aren't then go with a Pioneer but if you are going to run a total system go with either Alpine or Eclipse. Those two have a lot of settings for optimum sound. Don't bother with JVC.

 

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Flash Gordan

New Member

Sep 11, 2004

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The southern end of the great state of New Jersey

Sep 22, 2004

#4

• Sep 22, 2004

• #4

I get to work with all of these all day long. JVC and Kenwood, I wouldn't put in my car even if you paid me to. Alpine isn't what it used to be. Pioneer and Eclipse aren't bad at all. I've had just about every brand radio, and played with most of the rest. But my favorite sounding headunits will always be Clarion. I will never buy another radio from any other company.

 

MyEarsHurt

New Member

May 21, 2004

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Sep 22, 2004

#5

• Sep 22, 2004

• #5

NO NO and NO. Kenwood, pioneer, and JVC all suck! I am not kidding, I have had a pioneer hu, kenwood, and jvc, back before I installed things myself and just shopped at best buy, and none of them lasted very long or sounded very good. Do yourself a favor, look at alpine, sony hu's from www.crutchfield.com. If you order from them, they send you everything you need to install it. You can even call them while you are installing it, and they will walk you through STEP BY STEP! Thats how I did my first system install, and they are a great help. If you do it that way, then you dont have to settle for whats on the shelf at best buy or circuit city. Just my opinion...

 

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EpiKk3

New Member

Jun 4, 2004

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Sep 22, 2004

#6

• Sep 22, 2004

• #6

Trust myearshurt.. my vote is for alpine

 

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wytstang

Mustang Master

Mar 14, 2004

4,988

4

78

Summerville,SC missing South Fl. weather :(

Sep 22, 2004

#7

• Sep 22, 2004

• #7

I have had Clarion it's a very good head unit. I recently bought the PIONEER-P7600MP so far I love the graphics and right now it's pretty cheap. It had everything I wanted.

 

97GTSTANG

Founding Member

May 25, 2000

852

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17

Virginia

Sep 22, 2004

#8

• Sep 22, 2004

• #8

I have heard that Clarion is good also, but I want to keep the cost of the headunit under $300 and i am planning to add an amp and a sub.

 

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wytstang

Mustang Master

Mar 14, 2004

4,988

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78

Summerville,SC missing South Fl. weather :(

Sep 22, 2004

#9

• Sep 22, 2004

• #9

Check the link in my first post that head unit was $208 shipped and it's a pretty nice unit.

 

green

New Member

Apr 26, 2003

291

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Sep 23, 2004

#10

• Sep 23, 2004

• #10

pioneer all the way

 

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zeusmoto

New Member

Feb 15, 2004

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utah

Sep 23, 2004

#11

• Sep 23, 2004

• #11

well all these people seem to hate on brands. which i guess is ok... though i am fairly new to the audio scene i have been involved with many friends and people i trust that are very into it. clarion is good... kenwood is good, alpine is good, pioneer is alright. i dont know very much about eclipse but have heard good things... these companies are in such close competition with each other that, having a product that doesnt perform well at all is not an option for them so i believe that different brands within a certain price range are fairly equal... the real test is to find one that caters to your tastes... visually and with the options the unit has(amp pre-outs, detachable face, good graphics etc.) now going into a good shop and asking questions is the best way to decide.. if any one agrees with me then i'd like to hear about it and those who disagree i'm sure will let me know

 

MyEarsHurt

New Member

May 21, 2004

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Sep 23, 2004

#12

• Sep 23, 2004

• #12

zeusmoto said:

the real test is to find one that caters to your tastes... visually and with the options the unit has(amp pre-outs, detachable face, good graphics etc.) if any one agrees with me then i'd like to hear about it

Click to expand...

I agree with that, you need to find the unit that has the options you like, but in my opinion, you get what you pay for and you could buy a mp3 headunit with amp pre outs and this and that for like $250, but you may be disappointed down the line, or when it breaks in 18 months. If you fork out the extra cash to get a clarion, alpine or sony, then you will probably be happier in the long haul.

 

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AtlantcBlueDude

New Member

Sep 6, 2004

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Sep 23, 2004

#13

• Sep 23, 2004

• #13

MyEarsHurt said:

If you fork out the extra cash to get a clarion, alpine or sony, then you will probably be happier in the long haul.

Click to expand...

sony is overpriced the same way the rest of thier products are... well unless u find some older units! i run eclipse- and its night & day compared to most other units. personally ive been impressed with eclipse, alpine, then kenwood, only cause i think they are confusing to use, def. stay with eXcelon).

the deal of the century... Eclipse 8053
16 / 8 volt pre-outs is such a selling point.

if your planning to spend 300 on a headunit, and will eventually hook up a couple amps... def. get 5+ volt outs! you'll enjoy it.


just my worthless 2 cents!

 

ryanrule

impotent

Founding Member

Feb 11, 2002

1,355

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Madison, WI

Sep 23, 2004

#14

• Sep 23, 2004

• #14

alpine 9835