OK guys...I have thoroughly searched our website and can't find hardly anything.

Tell me what head units you guys like in your Maxima's and if you have pics that would be wonderful!!

I've got a 98 SE with a 12" MTX Sub and 280 Watt amp waiting to be installed but I need to pic out a cool head unit. I will also look into buying components for the front. The head unit will run the components. I've read your guys suggestions on the K.I.S.S method and will try to employ that.

thanks for your help!!

 

I suggest you move this to the Audio and Electronics section--you'll get better input there.

It would also help if you were a little more specific in your requirements. This dictates heavily on what head unit you should get. (e.g. type of music, expected volume levels, speaker placement, needed features, DIN or double DIN, etc.)

 

I appreciate your input Gary. I thought about posting this question in the Audio Section but I wanted people who have the 4th Generation cars to see this post the most. But I can post one their if you guys don't like it here.

As far as requirements go....hmmm....

1. Single DIN
2. Rock Music and Techno is what I mostly listen to.
3. Speaker placement....don't worry about that...

I just want to know what you guys have and what it looks like in your car. If you like to put why you love the head unit that would be most helpful too.

I can do all the research on the models that you guys recommend. I'm not looking for technical info. just what phat head units you have.

thanks again!

 

I have an Eclipse 5961 Headunit and 5504 6 disc in dash changer, I have had no problems with them and you don't have to deal with a changer in your trunk. Just my 2 cents

 

I have the alipne CDA-7863 that thing ricks!

 

Actually the eclipse 55040 is not the 6 disc CD changer.... it is the head unit that i have. It is one of the best single DIN head units out there. Very competition ready.

I like it very much...

 

i've gotta kenwood excelon in my dash (i've gotta 98 gxe) and a set of mtx components, and used to have subs. it isn't great in the fact that the receiver's amp can't really push the subs well, but it has an awesome feature, built-in crossovers. anyhoo, i like it, just i need an aftermarket amp to get some decent sound of out the components.

ANYWAYS, my point is, if you're getting components, i'd suggest getting an amp to push them, if not, then get a good set of coax's. i know coaxial speakers aren't the greatest, but they can sound very good with just a receiver's built-in amp, and you don't have to spend near what you would with components. get the receiver with the options that fit how your stereo's gonna be setup. i.e. make sure it has enough preamp outputs to install more amps in the future if u think u're gonna have multiple amplifiers (such as for your component set if you choose to go that route). also, make sure you get a receiver with a warranty, i don't care how good of receiver you buy, it could possibly have problems, and it's much easier to take it to the place u bought it and have them do the warranty work for free than the alternative you'd have to deal with without the warranty. a few brands to stick with would be kenwood (only their excelon line), alpine, and eclipse. good luck!!

Adam

 

haha, what does it do?

I have an ///Alpine CDA-7832

 

Guys,

Thanks for all your posts so far!! The information your providing and some pics is exactly what I wanted! Keep posting if you have a head unit you like!!!

stephen

 

Well, don't buy a deck based purely on appearances.

The Sony CDX-90 is one of the best decks on the market, but it's not all that pretty, for instance.

(And no, I'm not saying Sony is the best, just that the HIGH end of the Mobile ES line is.)...regular
non-Mobile-ES decks suck.

But they are hard to compete with, because they have no pause button (when will Sony learn?)

IanS

 

Oh yeah...one more off-topic point...Co-ax speakers do not suck.

JDM4LIFE:

The problem with co-ax speakers isn't that they aren't good.
Co-ax allows all frequencies to be transmitted from one point source, tricking your ear into hearing all sounds from the same direction exactly, and therefor making it sound more realistic than many Seperate systems.

The problem with co-axile speakers is simply that the industry leaders know that competition-class people want options, so they want Seperates....therefor, they don't spend the quality money on development of co-axiles, and therefor there are few good co-axile speakers on the market.

But there are exceptions....Focal and MB Quart come to mind.
Diamond also....generally the really high end stuff.

You wouldn't believe how many people at competitions I see with seperates mounted as co-axile speakers....because the Seperates are better quality, (because of the market) but the co-ax is a better sound-stage.

IanS

 

here is my Eclipse 5504 head unit with remote. Sorry for the crappy picture quality anyways i have that as the source, Eclipse components front/rear and Eclipse Aluminum 12" sub in the back. Powering everything are two Kicker amps, zx460(90x4) and zr240(300x1). Sounds pretty damn good considering i have no EQ to play with.
I originally had a Pioneer head unit but once i swapped it out for the Eclipse everything was amplified by 10, and im dead serious about that!!

 

I like it a lot... It looks tight, has high preamps and powers my speakers the best I would expect out of a head unit. Z-Enhancer makes it easy to pick bass/treble/bass&treble. Flip down, detachable face...not too expensive.

PJ

 

i realize coax's aren't great, but like the ones you mentioned, there are good ones out there. and in those competitions, i bet you also noticed that to get decent sound they had an amp powering them. i know there's lots of things better than coax's, but you have to realize that unless you wanna spend the amount of money it costs to get a good set of coax's, it's not cheap at all. and if u wanna save money, it's better off to get a good set of coax's and stick with the receiver, eh?

Adam

 

Well, of course I agree with that.

I guess I didn't read completely....If he's thinking about getting a head unit and no amps, then he may as well go the cheap route and get an Aiwa or Pioneer low-end.

With no amps, it will never sound all that good no matter what speakers you have.
I've heard MB Quart Q series with only deck power off a Kendwood Excelon MP3 Deck (Z919, I beilieve)...and even though those are $800 speakers, and the deck is $900 and VERY nice.....It sounded like as*....Needless to say, that guy (a friend of mine) bought a PPI amp the very next paycheck....much better.

So I pretty much completely agree....no use in buying a deck with no amp.

If your low on money, try Ebay...PPI Amps (and other good ones) usually go for great prices on there, and they're good amps...especially the older Art Series amps....but if you need a crossover built in, go with a PowerClass Series....at least 1 year old (This year's are made by a/d/s/, and aren't as good).

Ian Sweeney
'97 White GXE
K&N Filter
Courtesy FSTB
SE 16" Alloy Rims
Front Diamond Cut Lenses
35% Tint
__________________________________
Sony CDX-910 HU
Focal 165KS Fronts
Custom Fiberglass Kicks
MB Quart DKC-110 Rears
10" Kicker Solobaric
Sony UDP-4000 DSP
Sony Optical MD Changer
Sony 10 Disc Changer
PPI PC2300 (front mids)
PPI PC4400 SE (front tweets, rears)
PPI A600.2 (Sub)

2nd place WA State Novice Winner 910+ Class

 

here is a pic of my aiwa cd player, i like it just fine.. simple.. but.. it works great..

 

Personally, I think they rock. And I have a Eclipse 55430 for sale. 2.5 months old... $300 + shipping?

 

Personally, you cannot go wrong with Eclipse. I own a 4441 and I have a friend who owns a 4440. Both of us love our radios because of the sound quality and the ability to blend into the dash without looking overly flashy.

 

I've heard from some that Eclipse's are a little difficult to read during the daytime. I guess the display isn't that bright. Have you guys experienced that?

It seems that no one question's the quality though...

 

This picture doesn't do it justice. Go to the Flash interactive demo, and you'll see:

http://www.jvc.co.jp/digifine21/concept.html

 

Dude...that is sweetahh!

 

I don't think that it is difficult to read on the eclipse...

 

Nope. I never had that issue with my 4441.

 

Dude the ALIPINE CDA 7863 rocks!!!.... its great i luv it... i know some people on the board have some version of it too

 

mann thats niiice.. also, have you guys seen the new sony xplod?? i havent heard too many good things about the xplod stuff.. but.. this one looks cool... the face folds out and down to show the controls and cd slot..

 

Xplod is middle-of-the road.

Mobile ES Stuff is still very good however....I think there is one Mobile ES model that used the "black face" feature also....CDX-7800 or something like that.....

IanS

 

Anyone have any detailed info on Alpine's new CD/MP3 head unit (I think its dubbed CDA-7878 and may also receive satellite radio)? I hope it's in line with JVC's SH99 (price and features). I've been an Alpine fan but if they go overboard with the price, I'll go with JVC also.

 

Pioneer Premier DEH-P920R. Looks nice and has 6.5 Volt preouts. I like it.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Pi...-P920R_big.jpg

 

To add to that last post, I have the Pioneer DEHP-9200r... Less features than the Premier... But has the goodies, and the looks... Incredible unit (at the consumer level)... No sound staging though... But simple EQ and crossovers (hi/lo)...

 

Alpine is almost always overboard with the price.

 

very good sounding radio has an external a to d converter has aux input has no hiss the radio is plain kinda ugly but sounds real good..... the nakamichi with the built in changer is good but a lil noisy...... my 2 cent....

i do like clarion the z stuff

 

The McIntosh Head Units are made by Clarion.

 

Hey guys, I've noticed some radio's give u a 4v subwoofer pre-out. Is this an option you have to have if your going to hook up an amp and woofer? Or can you just use the regular preouts? Didn't know exactly what it did or how much sound quality is improved...

thanks!

 

Sony, not for car audio. the xpolde series will do just that if you add any substancial amp power. I am using a kenwood 715 deck, it puts out 45w which is fine for the front speakers (stock clarion). In the back kenny 6'1/2's & orion 600 amp 1 farad power cap. with 400w 12'pioneers... blah. I'm not proud of the trunk's accessories yet. I'd like to have 1 kenwood dbx sub instead of to crappy 12's.

 

I have to respectfully disagree with that remark.

Sony ES is a VERY good and well respected line.

But I do agree that XPlod series stuff sucks, yes.

Sony still has the record for making the cleanest sounding deck in mass-production ever...the Mobile ES CDX-910.

Of course, they replaced it with the CDX-90, which while not quite as good, is still one of the best.

It's just like Kenwood...regular Kenwoods suck, Kenwood Excelon is awesome......

Don't diss a whole generalized brand when they have different lines.

IanS

 

I have an Eclipse 55430. That thing is bad assed.

BTW, sweet ride man.

 

I'd have to second that regarding the Sony Head Units. Though I've never used one, I've been a car audio enthusiast for 8 years and they've always made good stuff. I'm not certain about the current line, but I'd assume the same would hold true.

 

Like I said....

Their "Priced to sell" decks (read:Xplod) are horrible, skip too much, and use bad D/A Converters.

Their ES Line is whole different story...best all-around decks I've used....Having Fiber-Optics in my car is pretty cool, also. (grin)

The only thing I don't like is the fact that they don't have Pause buttons...makes competitions a pain.

But the dual Burr-Brown D/A Converters, Optical Outputs, ESP, DSP Control, TV Control, Copper Chassis, and many other features make my CDX-910 the best deck I've heard.....Nakamichi comes in at a close second.....

I've literally jumped my car before, and the thing didn't even skip a beat...(I was going fast down a road and didn't notice the train tracks until it was too late, and jumped my car about 5 feet off the ground).....grin.

IanS

 

I've had 2 other Eclipse head units besides the one that I'm getting at the end of the month. They are extremely high quality and would not purchase anything else.

 

Sony Xplos is definitely crap. The amps, the decks, everything.... crap. I say go for the JVC KD-SH99. It plays MP3's, reads CDR and CDRW, and has great power if you're not planning on using external amps. In my system I power my 4 Infinity Kappas with an Alpine V12 F307. That amp pushes 50Watts x4 RMS, and can be found online for around 250. Alpine HUs can be so-so, but V12 amps are exceptionaly clean sounding, simple, and powerful. If you are seriously putting components in, you'll need the extra power of an exteriour amp.