Froggmann

iTrader: (6)

Ok I've come to the point where I want to get rid of the stock headunit and get something that works to my liking.

I have simple wants:

USB Flash drive support and/or SD card support.
Bluetooth A2DP audio streaming.
A radio that will give me good quality sound like my original HU did.
Compatibility with the Metra Axxess steering wheel control adapter.
Doesn't cost more than $200.00. I can go higher but it better have good features.

I prefer a double din but I'm fine with single.
I don't even use CDs anymore so playability doesn't even matter to me.


Long story short I tried to do this with a Dual XHD7714 but it's a piece of crap. Everything save for the BT streaming is complete garbage. I'm sending it back but I need to find a suitable replacement or else I'm just going to have to go back to stock.


Does anyone have any suggestions?

athens6

iTrader: (3)

Nice Color Car
I have a kenwood kdc mp438u. It's a single DIN but has decent features including USB and Aux port for IPOD or mp3. Not sure about the steering wheel compatability tho...just my .02. It's certainley under 200$

http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CCkQ8wIwAg#

Joeker82

iTrader: (2)

Alpine 9886 or 7. You'll love it!

CustomLowz

iTrader: (14)

Alpine CDA-9886 FTW!!!

Froggmann

iTrader: (6)

Checked up on those headunits and for the most part they are unavailable.


Does anyone have any objections to the Pioneer FH-P8000BT?

Froggmann

iTrader: (6)

Well, I bought it. We'll see how it does tomorrow.

ctsmith39

iTrader: (2)

I love Pioneer, i have had 3 different single din units and each one i have been moving up in their line. I am sure you will enjoy the unit.

Froggmann

iTrader: (6)

Yea I figured this one may be a safe bet. I've had 2 of them in my Bronco with no complaints. I was just making sure I wasn't missing anything else out there.

djshwini

iTrader: (1)

Sony Xplode 3800bt. (some variation of that name but it is the 3800) Perfect for what you are looking for and is only like 150 on amazon.

Joeker82

iTrader: (2)

I've had nothing but problems and disappointments from Sony "Xplode" products!

I guess the warning is in the product name!?!

Try searching around on ebay and such...You'll find one

Here is a couple:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Alpin...fAudioQ5fVideo

and a 9887

http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPINE-CDA-9887-...item4cf3d60120

Froggmann

iTrader: (6)

Sony was out of the running from the get-go. I haven't bought anything Sony in the last 8 years or so due to the crappiness of their products. Before my boycott of their brand I had a string of Sony Products that I would pay too much for that would all crap out in a year. As for the Alpine HUs, they kind of priced themselves out of the running. One of the main features I wanted was Bluetooth integration since I use my phone as a music player, GPS, secondary dash and once in a while, a phone. With the Alpines I would have to spend extra for the BT adapter, which coincidentally is about the same price as the HU and together are about the price of a Pioneer AVIC that has the features I wanted.

eatfly

iTrader: (1)

I have a Pioneer MVH-8200BT. Price was good, sound quality is good too. Only problem I have with it is the usability. The scroll wheel has 7-directions (turn left/right, press up/down/left/right, press center) and it's damn near impossible to press the middle button to "select" something without accidentally scrolling in some random direction. This is especially difficult when driving!

Having hands-free Bluetooth on the unit has probably saved my life (or at least from getting pulled over) by now, but that benefit has been cancelled out if I have any hope of changing radio stations or selecting songs off my ipod. Not sure if this issue exists with any other Pioneer models.

Froggmann

iTrader: (6)

Looked at that one too, I was on the verge of getting it until I found out it has no Bluetooth streaming, just BT phone capability. As for hitting the center, have you tried just using the knuckle of your index finger? That's how I usually handle that issue

eatfly

iTrader: (1)

Tried it last night and that worked! I usually grab the **** with several fingers and press it to make sure the button is pressed dead center.

Bluetooth audio streaming, eh? Sounds like a useful feature. Bummer.

Froggmann

iTrader: (6)

Got it in last night and so far so good. AM Reception is a bit scratchy though I may have to look for an antenna booster and a noise isolator. Pretty smart unit too, it turns off the BT streaming when you are not actually using it but leaves the phone connected. I also did a little streaming with Pandora last night and it sounds pretty good. This morning I was listening to music on a flash drive and tested out the MP3 scavenging technology, Basically it tries to restore the true sound chords that are lost when you create an MP3. Anyways it works REALLY good, lets put it this way I was lucky there was traffic this morning, when Daft Punk's Derezzed came on I just wanted to floor it.

I did screw up on the preouts though. I was trying to figure out what was going on when I first plugged it in and it lit up but no sound came out - forgot to hook up the amp wire opps. Oh well I gotta get back in there anyway the Axxess remote adapter doesn't work, doesn't seem to detect the HU. So looks like I'm ordering the PAC-SWC again.


Oh and the semi-finished result:

locknuts27

iTrader: (2)

I would say selection of JVC decks, here is one

http://cgi.ebay.com/JVC-KD-HDR60-CAR...item3f059f6238

Here is my set up: