Best head unit?

[fantasygoat]

I'm looking for recommendations on a head unit for my car.

I'd like it to have built-in Bluetooth support and a decent interface to control an iPod.

It will be driving an external amp so it doesn't need a built-in amp at all. Line out only.

Sound quality is #1, followed by user interface. The Kenwood I got in my daily driver has all the above but the user interface is so bad it actually pisses me off.

Any recommendations welcome!

[$Mike70Z-28]

alpine good units

[98ssnova]

I like clarion or eclispe (sp)?

[formula]

alpine, eclipse, and clarion are my 3 favs. Have a clarion in my car but just because I got it for a song. Alpine tends to be the most feature-rich.

[fantasygoat]

I was hoping some people had specific experience rather than a general opinion.

I purchased my last head unit online based on "this brand is good" and the unit works and provides the features advertised, but the interface is terrible and Bluetooth functionality is like a string between two tin cans.

All the custom stereo shops in town seem to have gone out of business so it's Best Buy or nothing, and they sell crap, so it's hard for me to "test drive" head units.

[bbcc]

I'm rocking the cd5 series that came out before this one from eclipse. I love this headunit. Interface makes sense, love the 5v preout, usb and ipod interface rocks. All around a good hu. The only bad thing is the joystick control knob. Was kinda lame to get used to, but after a couple weeks I got the hang of it. What would happen is if you try and taggle through the menu while driving, your finger would bounce a little and the joystick would bugger off somewhere that your didn't want it to. But the new one looks like it has fixed that with directional arrows. For bluetooth, I don't use it. But the new one looks like it has improved hands free and data streaming if your into that.

[barno68]

I'm rocking the cd5 series that came out before this one from eclipse. I love this headunit. Interface makes sense, love the 5v preout, usb and ipod interface rocks. All around a good hu. The only bad thing is the joystick control knob. Was kinda lame to get used to, but after a couple weeks I got the hang of it. What would happen is if you try and taggle through the menu while driving, your finger would bounce a little and the joystick would bugger off somewhere that your didn't want it to. But the new one looks like it has fixed that with directional arrows. For bluetooth, I don't use it. But the new one looks like it has improved hands free and data streaming if your into that.

That looks like a really nice unit, especially for under $300.

[claytonisbob]

The Alpine CDA-9887 sounds to be a very good unit, especially if you rent the IMPRINT module to tune it.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...model=CDA-9887

[69LT1Nova]

Eclipse is very nice stuff. Simple interface and a powerful head unit.

I've run 4 different Pioneer Premier (not the base model) head units in different cars for the last 10 years and never had one fail. Sound great, lots of features and preamp outs, and some decent power! My current head unit is going on 4 years of hard use.

Kenwood = bad, bad, bad.

[nekkidhillbilly]

i have a pioneer dd i like it

[1969CamaroRS]

The Alpine CDA-9887 sounds to be a very good unit, especially if you rent the IMPRINT module to tune it.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...model=CDA-9887

What I am planning on going with, seems to have really good reviews for both CD and IPod playback. If you don't care about a CD, look at the IDA-x100 or the new model IDA-X305 for IPod features.

[CRead01]

I have had quite a few different brands but only have been happy with a few.

I always have liked the sound quality and features of alpine but I dont personally care for the asthetics of them. Personally I think there are many very good sound quality head units out right now. I wanted 5.1 surround in my car so right now I am running a jvc unit that I am very happy with. They have bluetooth and an ipod input.

[nekkidhillbilly]

i have had 3 jvcs fry on me

[mjoc1]

I like the Kenwood. The new excelon line is supposed to be very good I am looking into getting the KDC-993 it is coming out march or april.

Mike

[69LT1Nova]

I like the Kenwood. The new excelon line is supposed to be very good I am looking into getting the KDC-993 it is coming out march or april.

Mike

Dude! Didn't I already say this? Kenwood = bad bad bad. Save your money.

I had one in the wife's car. It fried. It was an Excelon unit.

Installed ones for buddies. 2 out of 3 died.

I sure hope their quality has gotten better lately. Just my $0.02.

[mjoc1]

I have used Kenwood for years never had a problem with them or sony every other companies head units have given me trouble I have installed 50-60 head units in friends car.

Mike

[nekkidhillbilly]

i have had 3 pioneers never had any problems with any of them one ive had since 98

[CapSS92]

Pioneer just came out with some new Bluetooth head units that look decent. I've used them for years with no problems. I like that the new Pioneer h/u have USB connections for loading my music memory sticks too.

[hifi875]

alpine far and away. even their low end decks will outperform pioneer kenwood sony upper end decks with their superior pre-amp circuitry. cda-9887 has best d/a processor 24bit available. and true 4v preout

[MonzaRacer]

Well considering i have about $3000 in pioneer garbage in closet from previous installs that died in less than 90 days each but still have a Kenwood CD palyer dated 1994 still going in buddies rock crawler, he rolled truck and it never skipped!
Never have had bad Kenwood but back when was doing installs the Pioneer crap was breaking nearly right out of the box.