Pick Me a Headunit!
11-23-2008, 02:51 PM
#1
Pick Me a Headunit!
So I'm looking to pick up a headunit to replace the god awful stock one on my new Max. I'm not looking to spend a bunch of money, and I could probably pick one out myself, but I figure there are things you guys probably know that I don't and you can probably pick me out a better headunit for my money than I can.
What I want:
-Better AM/FM than the stocker
-Output for a sub/amp combo if I choose to add one later
-Ability to read burnt CD's
-Aux. input for mp3 player/iPod
-Preferably a **** rather than buttons for volume
-Some tuneability of settings
That's about it. I'm not hugely picky. I realize that just about any new headunit I look at will probably be able to accommodate most of those needs. Oh, and I'm looking to spend around $100, give or take.
What I want:
-Better AM/FM than the stocker
-Output for a sub/amp combo if I choose to add one later
-Ability to read burnt CD's
-Aux. input for mp3 player/iPod
-Preferably a **** rather than buttons for volume
-Some tuneability of settings
That's about it. I'm not hugely picky. I realize that just about any new headunit I look at will probably be able to accommodate most of those needs. Oh, and I'm looking to spend around $100, give or take.
11-23-2008, 03:07 PM
#2
I was thinking something like this:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130DEH2...P.html?tp=5684
I had a Pioneer as my last unit and loved it. Never had issues, worked great, and was simple to use. I have a question though...say I bought that headunit, wouldn't I need some sort of adapter to plug it into the factory wiring harness? Where would I find something like that and are there any plug-and-play available or going to have to make one that plugs in?
Not a huge deal either way, I had to make a harness for my old one.
Also, for the record, I have a factory non-Bose stereo.
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130DEH2...P.html?tp=5684
I had a Pioneer as my last unit and loved it. Never had issues, worked great, and was simple to use. I have a question though...say I bought that headunit, wouldn't I need some sort of adapter to plug it into the factory wiring harness? Where would I find something like that and are there any plug-and-play available or going to have to make one that plugs in?
Not a huge deal either way, I had to make a harness for my old one.Also, for the record, I have a factory non-Bose stereo.
11-23-2008, 03:49 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Baytown, Tx
Posts: 986
if you purchase a headunit from crutchfield, they will supply all the install hardware you need.
and if you walk over to sonicelectronix
they have very good prices and will also send some installation hardware.
i have personally purchased a headunit from them and it is working great.
here is the same pioneer headunit you are looking at just the new model
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...H-P3000IB.html
and if you walk over to sonicelectronix
they have very good prices and will also send some installation hardware.
i have personally purchased a headunit from them and it is working great.
here is the same pioneer headunit you are looking at just the new model
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...H-P3000IB.html
11-23-2008, 04:09 PM
#4
if you purchase a headunit from crutchfield, they will supply all the install hardware you need.
and if you walk over to sonicelectronix
they have very good prices and will also send some installation hardware.
i have personally purchased a headunit from them and it is working great.
here is the same pioneer headunit you are looking at just the new model
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...H-P3000IB.html
and if you walk over to sonicelectronix
they have very good prices and will also send some installation hardware.
i have personally purchased a headunit from them and it is working great.
here is the same pioneer headunit you are looking at just the new model
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...H-P3000IB.html
11-23-2008, 04:36 PM
#5
the main benefit of crutchfield is going to be the authorized warranty. they will also include everything needed for install.
it's my understanding that pioneer's quality has gone downhill as of late. they have been suffering issues even on their high end gear.
i think an eclipse cd1200 might be a good match for you. crutchfield shows it as discontinued but don (pearl96max) might be able to help you out.
*edit - found it at the crutchfield outlet:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_099CD12...200.html?cc=02
it's my understanding that pioneer's quality has gone downhill as of late. they have been suffering issues even on their high end gear.
i think an eclipse cd1200 might be a good match for you. crutchfield shows it as discontinued but don (pearl96max) might be able to help you out.
*edit - found it at the crutchfield outlet:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_099CD12...200.html?cc=02
11-24-2008, 04:28 PM
#10
Went with the Pioneer DEH-4000UP. If I don't like it, I'll pawn it off on one of my friends who needs a headunit and get something else 
Got it from Crutchfield, so I got all the stuff free with it as well as free shipping. Ended up being $165, though.
Got it from Crutchfield, so I got all the stuff free with it as well as free shipping. Ended up being $165, though.
11-25-2008, 04:46 PM
#13
Also...since it's been a while since I've done one of these...I just color-match right? Everything seems to line up pretty well with that and I double-checked it with the diagrams.
There are three wires I'm not using, though, and I'd like to make sure I don't need any of them. One I actually AM using, and would like to know if I need it or not, actually. They are as follows:
-A solid blue wire for the power antenna. There does not appear to be any corresponding wire coming from the headunit, and if I remember right, unless you're using the stock headunit you have to manually switch it on and off or it will be on (up) all the time. Am I right here? I'd prefer to just leave it down, as it doesn't seem to have a huge effect.
-A blue wire w/ white stripe for "amplifier turn-on." Again, there appears to be no corresponding wire coming from the headunit for this, and as far as I know there is no factory amp setup. Right?
-A black wire w/ white stripe for "amplifier shield ground." Instructions say to "connect to chassis of new receiver", so I added a connector to the end of this wire that I then screwed into the case of the headunit in a spot where an anti-theft thing was I think. Is this right? What is this for exactly?
-A blue wire w/ white stripe coming from the headunit labeled "system remote control terminal." What is this?
There are three wires I'm not using, though, and I'd like to make sure I don't need any of them. One I actually AM using, and would like to know if I need it or not, actually. They are as follows:
-A solid blue wire for the power antenna. There does not appear to be any corresponding wire coming from the headunit, and if I remember right, unless you're using the stock headunit you have to manually switch it on and off or it will be on (up) all the time. Am I right here? I'd prefer to just leave it down, as it doesn't seem to have a huge effect.
-A blue wire w/ white stripe for "amplifier turn-on." Again, there appears to be no corresponding wire coming from the headunit for this, and as far as I know there is no factory amp setup. Right?
-A black wire w/ white stripe for "amplifier shield ground." Instructions say to "connect to chassis of new receiver", so I added a connector to the end of this wire that I then screwed into the case of the headunit in a spot where an anti-theft thing was I think. Is this right? What is this for exactly?
-A blue wire w/ white stripe coming from the headunit labeled "system remote control terminal." What is this?
11-25-2008, 05:38 PM
#14
I tend to get a bit irritable
iTrader: (151)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Central Jersey
Posts: 17,674
Blue/White from the HU needs to be connected to the Blue from the harness for your antenna to operate. If you dont wish to have AM/FM, then disregard. Blue/White and Black/White on the harness can also be disregarded since it is not used for Non Blose setups.
11-25-2008, 05:40 PM
#15
-A solid blue wire for the power antenna. There does not appear to be any corresponding wire coming from the headunit, and if I remember right, unless you're using the stock headunit you have to manually switch it on and off or it will be on (up) all the time. Am I right here? I'd prefer to just leave it down, as it doesn't seem to have a huge effect.
-A blue wire w/ white stripe for "amplifier turn-on." Again, there appears to be no corresponding wire coming from the headunit for this, and as far as I know there is no factory amp setup. Right?
-A black wire w/ white stripe for "amplifier shield ground." Instructions say to "connect to chassis of new receiver", so I added a connector to the end of this wire that I then screwed into the case of the headunit in a spot where an anti-theft thing was I think. Is this right? What is this for exactly?
-A blue wire w/ white stripe coming from the headunit labeled "system remote control terminal." What is this?
11-25-2008, 05:52 PM
#16
I tend to get a bit irritable
iTrader: (151)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Central Jersey
Posts: 17,674
You use the remote turn on for the power antenna, but need to put a switch on it if you don't want it up all the time.
Read above
It is a ground and YES isntall it. Increase the wire length if you have to but ground that to the CHASSIS somewhere.
Uh you asked about this one already.
Read above
It is a ground and YES isntall it. Increase the wire length if you have to but ground that to the CHASSIS somewhere.
Uh you asked about this one already.
1. He was already answered on all counts.
2. He is talking about the amplifier ground, not primary. REad: Black with White stripe.
3. First time he asked about Blue/White was in regards to the harness. The second was in regards to the HU. Not the same question.
Now, tell me you love me.
11-25-2008, 08:00 PM
#21
I feel just as confused as before you answered me
I get that I need to ground the black w/ white stripe now, where would you suggest I ground it? I can't remember off hand any places to ground it to the car in that area. If I remember right the headunit I had before grounded itself through the DIN rack you sit it in, more specifically through the screws that hold the rack to the rest of the dashboard. Would these screws be acceptable to ground the two wires I need a ground for? That would be convenient for taking the DIN racks out later on so I didn't have to hold the thing while unbolting a wire some place else.
Do I or do I not need to hook up ANY of the other three wires?
I get that I need to ground the black w/ white stripe now, where would you suggest I ground it? I can't remember off hand any places to ground it to the car in that area. If I remember right the headunit I had before grounded itself through the DIN rack you sit it in, more specifically through the screws that hold the rack to the rest of the dashboard. Would these screws be acceptable to ground the two wires I need a ground for? That would be convenient for taking the DIN racks out later on so I didn't have to hold the thing while unbolting a wire some place else.
Do I or do I not need to hook up ANY of the other three wires?
Last edited by Tatanko; 11-25-2008 at 08:03 PM.
11-25-2008, 09:18 PM
#23
I tend to get a bit irritable
iTrader: (151)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Central Jersey
Posts: 17,674
I feel just as confused as before you answered me
I get that I need to ground the black w/ white stripe now, where would you suggest I ground it? I can't remember off hand any places to ground it to the car in that area. If I remember right the headunit I had before grounded itself through the DIN rack you sit it in, more specifically through the screws that hold the rack to the rest of the dashboard. Would these screws be acceptable to ground the two wires I need a ground for? That would be convenient for taking the DIN racks out later on so I didn't have to hold the thing while unbolting a wire some place else.
Do I or do I not need to hook up ANY of the other three wires?
I get that I need to ground the black w/ white stripe now, where would you suggest I ground it? I can't remember off hand any places to ground it to the car in that area. If I remember right the headunit I had before grounded itself through the DIN rack you sit it in, more specifically through the screws that hold the rack to the rest of the dashboard. Would these screws be acceptable to ground the two wires I need a ground for? That would be convenient for taking the DIN racks out later on so I didn't have to hold the thing while unbolting a wire some place else.
Do I or do I not need to hook up ANY of the other three wires?
Also if you ever remove the HU, why would hold the bracket while unscrewing the ground? Just unplug the HU.
11-25-2008, 09:22 PM
#24
I COMPLETELY missed your post somehow
Fail on two counts I dunno wtf I was thinking when I made that post
I still have one last question though...why do I need to hook the solid blue from the harness to the blue/white from the HU to have AM/FM? Doesn't that blue wire just make the power antenna go up? Having it down doesn't stop me from getting reception; in fact the difference in reception is almost unnoticeable. I don't want to have to mess with a switch to make it not be up all the time, I'd rather just have it down all the time.
EDIT: Nismos answered my question over AIM.
I dunno wtf I was thinking when I made that post I still have one last question though...why do I need to hook the solid blue from the harness to the blue/white from the HU to have AM/FM? Doesn't that blue wire just make the power antenna go up? Having it down doesn't stop me from getting reception; in fact the difference in reception is almost unnoticeable. I don't want to have to mess with a switch to make it not be up all the time, I'd rather just have it down all the time.
EDIT: Nismos answered my question over AIM.
Last edited by Tatanko; 11-26-2008 at 08:38 AM.
11-26-2008, 03:00 PM
#25
No one caught this?
Not gonna happen. Because of the way the Nissan antennas are designed, and the way aftermarket HU's receive antenna input, your reception will surely diminish.
Originally Posted by tatanko
Better AM/FM than the stocker
11-26-2008, 09:21 PM
#29
I got around to installing it tonight. Right away without even tweaking any settings, it was already worlds better than the stocker and even my old headunit. It distributes the different ranges much better than the stock headunit does, and the SuperTuner gives out much better AM/FM sound quality.
I need some sound deadening (just a little for the front doors, rear deck, and trunk lid), and a nice sub/amp combo for a wee bit extra thump. Whatever speakers this guy put in before I bought it aren't half bad. Nothing up the standards of the almighty audio section guys, but it's pretty good
I need some sound deadening (just a little for the front doors, rear deck, and trunk lid), and a nice sub/amp combo for a wee bit extra thump. Whatever speakers this guy put in before I bought it aren't half bad. Nothing up the standards of the almighty audio section guys, but it's pretty good
11-26-2008, 09:31 PM
#30
Hit up Don - Pearl96Max for subs when ya ready 
And when you can't afford his prices hit me up! LOL LOL :-D
Don, jew don't know how cheap he is, jew understand?
And when you can't afford his prices hit me up! LOL LOL :-D
Don, jew don't know how cheap he is, jew understand?
Last edited by nismos14; 11-26-2008 at 09:36 PM.
11-26-2008, 09:59 PM
#34
I have a new question now: if I do add a sub later, there is a specific set of outputs for adding a sub (vs. 2 other sets for front and rear speakers). If I hook one up this way...does the headunit automatically know to sort of tone down the bass on the front/rear speakers and just direct it all to the sub? Or what? Because as it is I want to add the sub to get back some of the quality lost from the speakers having to do such a large variety of jobs range-wise (that and obviously they can't reproduce the same lows). I need some sound deadening big time too
