Ok I finally finished my install on my 02. Switched from Nav to aftermarket. For some reason my Alpine Flip out decided it wanted to strip a gear on the way out so I need a new Head Unit maybe somebody has some suggestions. I'm not going Alpine again as they lowered all but one HU to a 2v preout. I don't want a pioneer. I have installed in the car MB-quart PCE 213 5.25 in the rear door and PCE 216 6.5's up front, PPI DCX 800.5 five channel amp and a JL12W6V2 in a sealed box in the trunk. Requirements are minumum 4V pre-outs, USB hookup so I can stop swapping CD's and just run everything from a 2GB usb drive, Blue tooth is optional would be nice but not a requirement, don't care about fancy graphics, nice built in EQ would be nice too. What do you guys think? And obviously quality/clarity is important given what I've got installed.

 

That USB option narrows the selection down quite a bit. Why not just use mp3 cd's or an aux input to an mp3 player?

 

I just got this one.. I am very happy with it so far.





No USB though

 

Whoa, that's the first I've seen of that Nak model...nice choice!

Wonder where you got it

 

good luck with the usb input. just because it make take a USB input it may not be able to drive and acess a usb hd just something to think about.
buy a cheap laptop and use that or do a carputer or an mp3 player as stated above...
idk of any decent nav unit that you can access a usb hd on.
if you find one thats decent let me know. i have over 500gigs of mp3s and i change and burn so many damn cds it's silly.
i'd love to never have to change a cd again...that and with satalite radio FTW!

 

he might not be using a USB HD, it might just be a USB flash drive you can get them for dirt cheap on the net.

 

yeah I'm planning on just using a 5GB or so flash drive. That's the bad thing about having all that music you really only want to listen to a portion of it. Making CD's all the time sucks.

I'm thinking the Eclipse CD7100 CD/Receiver unit. Seems to have the best specs for what I'm looking for. Anybody have experience with this one.

 

Eclipse comes highly recommended 'round these parts, and for good reason.

 

Wow nice setup with the Nak there!

 

yeah I just wish they weren't quite so pricy for what you get. I don't need a friggin navigational single din unit but that's what it's got. I'd much rather they put in other options instead of that. The quality and specs are the best I could find so that was the important part. That or dish out 1500 bucks for the Alpine top of the line DVD/receiver but that's just retarted.

Next question any better place to get it than ebay? going for about 465 right now.

 

I know exactly what you need... i just got a system installed in my 98 maxima and it has usb and ipod connections. I got the kenwood KDC-MP735U head unit and it has everything you could ever want... even a g force meter. Anyways, i just leave my usb drive plugged into it, but when i go on longer drives i use my ipod... it works out great. This head unit can read any type of music format ive tried so far... even itunes formats. If you want me to take some pics or want to know more just ask...

 

I already went with the CD7100 but hey if you want to post some pics I wouldn't mind seeing and I'm sure there's others out there too.

 

Just out of curiosity....

If you plug in a USB flash drive, it will mount and recognize the drive and play the music files on there, as expected.

What happens if you go ipod->ipod computer cable (usb) ->your HU and let it see the USB ipod device...will it play/charge/show info on the screen?

 

Good question, I'm curious too... seems like it would make sense that it SHOULD work?

 

Not from me, apparently my price (barely above cost) didnt warrant even a call back after several calls just to get the price and details worked out.

 

yea, the head unit displays exactly like an ipod when you plug both an ipod and usb drive into it... you can easily scan through the entire ipod menu using the right wheel on the head unit. it shows everything... playlists... song names.. artists.... ablums. Also, it comes with a cd that helps you organize songs onto your usb drive so it has this exact same menu system as the ipod, it even lets you make playlists on your usb and doesnt make duplicate music files.

Only problem ive had with the head unit is that it didnt recognize my old 3rd gen ipod. We were able to fix this problem by using the aux cable, but now i dont have control of the ipod through the HU i have to use the ipod itself.... ill prob be getting a new ipod soon. Atleast my friends can use their ipods with the HU for now....

 

Probably because of the firmware in the older gen iPods themselves. If I recall correctly, the third gen iPod required software before the drivers were identified, whereas the later iPods had self-discoverable drivers and firmware within the device itself. Therefore since a HU is not a PC where you can load drivers, it will not detect the 3rd gen iPods, but it will detect the later generation iPods.

 

Hate when that happens. You do all that work and the deal falls through. And it wasn't even a great deal (for you at least).

 

wow since when nakamichi build touchscreens for car audio?

i've saw this UGLY as ballz nakamichi headunit the other day in a tuner shop.

i asked the guy what on earth is that ugly headunit (guy had a hooked up m3).

the guy proceeds to show me how it sounds and WOW! i have not heard audio clarity to that level since i last sat on Don's car.

btw, how much would one of those run for?

 

Alex,

Did it look like this?
http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/~nbalani...k/CIMG2751.JPG

 

I am in a similar boat as the OP...

I want to keep the steering wheel controls, I want front panel AUX for satellite radio/WMA player... I can't really find anything that does this beside the Clarion models, and they built the original POS HUD... (Also, USB would be nice but I'm giving up at this point).
Anyone have any suggestions?

ALso, in case anyone else cares, CarDomain is giving away free installation kits and wiring harnesses with a stereo purchase...

 

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-BySfaed...00&I=020DXZ775

That is unbeatable new for the price

 

get this one...

 

That does look nice... but still it's Clarion. Is that bad?

 

oh snap!

u gotta let me hear that when i come over!

ps: man, that thing looks ugly as ballz i gotta tell ya tho.

 

Much much better/reliable feature packed unit there...

 

Hes sellin it, gonna ****** it up Alex?

 

didn't i just said it looks UGLY as ballz? LOL

not in a millon years!

i'm not giving up my navi anytime soon!

and remember that little glitch with sirius, it's still working!......ahah

my headunit will be paid off by itself in about ummm.........3 years from now.

 

So you HEAR with your EYES now?

 

Damn I want that deck!!!!!!

 

buy it bish.

 

No money! Unless you want to loan me the money

 

ummmm nah

 

You know you wanna.



If I can sell my headunit soon then I'll buy that bish quick.

 

Is that dust/lint under the faceplate or on it? I actually sent out my CD7000 a little while ago to the Diamond Eclipse service people to have dust removed from under the face plate. Got it back, but there is still some in there. Don't know if they missed some or it's accumulating again. Kinda driving me nutso.

I wonder if it's a CD7000 thing or just me getting one with a lemon faceplate kinda thing.

 

Lawrence - buy my HU!

And I feel the Nak has one of the nicest faces out there. So OEM and subtle, and the sound that something so basic can produce

 

Thats strange! My 860mp did that a lil bit but nothing too bad. I hope my new HU won't do that!

 

no hear with my ears, but i WATCH with my EYES.

 

nah, the faceplate is clean. the few specs of dust are on the surface.

 

You talking to me? And what HU do you have?