What kinds of headunits are best?

[PyRo]

I have stock speakers in my car which I might swap out for some slightly better ones but it will never see an amp, subs, or any of that fancy stuff. I want somthing relativly inexpensive as anything expensive will result in a broken window and a ripped open dash where I park. I just want somthing that is going to sound ok, play burnt cds, not skip, or otherwise screw up. Loud is not what i'm looking for at all. I've heard that Alpine, Pioneer, and Clarion are what I should be looking for. Does anyone have any specific recomendations? I was looking at these, are any of these decent or does anyone have any recomondations on specific units? I know that these can be had for a lot less than CC is selling them for, any recomondations on stores?

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Alpine-In-Dash-CD-Player--CDM-9821-/sem/rpsm/oid/86197/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pioneer-In-Dash-CD-Player--DEH-P2600-/sem/rpsm/oid/87378/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pioneer-In-Dash-CD-Player--DEH-P3600-/sem/rpsm/oid/86110/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Anyone who recomends sony to me can go have an anti-freeze milkshake, that's what I bought the first time because a bunch of people swore it was great and the cd's sounded worse than tapes in the stock 1991 radio, then it took a dump less than a year later.

[skife]

I have stock speakers in my car which I might swap out for some slightly better ones but it will never see an amp, subs, or any of that fancy stuff. I want somthing relativly inexpensive as anything expensive will result in a broken window and a ripped open dash where I park. I just want somthing that is going to sound ok, play burnt cds, not skip, or otherwise screw up. Loud is not what i'm looking for at all. I've heard that Alpine, Pioneer, and Clarion are what I should be looking for. Does anyone have any specific recomendations? I was looking at these, are any of these decent or does anyone have any recomondations on specific units? I know that these can be had for a lot less than CC is selling them for, any recomondations on stores?

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Alpine-In-Dash-CD-Player--CDM-9821-/sem/rpsm/oid/86197/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pioneer-In-Dash-CD-Player--DEH-P2600-/sem/rpsm/oid/87378/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pioneer-In-Dash-CD-Player--DEH-P3600-/sem/rpsm/oid/86110/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

Anyone who recomends sony to me can go have an anti-freeze milkshake, that's what I bought the first time because a bunch of people swore it was great and the cd's sounded worse than tapes in the stock 1991 radio, then it took a dump less than a year later.

i've had a kenwood for awhile now, i like it.
its older and doesn't play mp3's thats my only dislike. I dont know much about car audio.

[mikey101]

I got all my stuff stolen out of my car a while back (deck, 4 speakers and about 100 cd's) so i'm all about the security side of things. I picked up an eclipse deck which plays mp3's, doesn't skip and looks pretty good. The best part is that if the deck ever loses power, the only way to turn it on again is put a security encrypted cd in and play that first. Also, if anyone does rip it out, they keep all of the serial numbers on record so if the thieves bring it into a car-toys etc to get a replacement security CD they immediatley call the cops and you get your deck back.

apparently thieves know this too, because there have been 4 other break-ins in the same parking lot, and they havn't touched my car since.

http://www.caraudiomag.com/testreports/0310cae_eclipse/

[PyRo]

Four break ins in how long? I'm talking atleast atleast one every day in this lot. I'm just going to find a car that has a huge system and park next to them :)

That's not the prettiest deck out their but that is certainly interesting. I don't see how it prevents theft though, it gets ripped out they realize they cannot use it and throw it in the garbage, all I see it doing is giving you the satisfaction of knowing atleast the theives didn't get to use it.

$289? That's about twice what i'm looking to spend. I'll just do a tape deck - cd changer deal for that.

[FragTek]

My personal favorite head unit manufacturers are Clarion (ProAudio units ONLY), Alpine, and Rockford Fosgate.

In my vehicle I use the Clarion ProAudio DXZ945MP touch screen setup, it's quite nice. Being the year end you can find them for a steal on ebay, just type in that part number.

The ProAudio units play MP3/WMA CD's, have all the good audiophile controls, and are satellite radio ready (Sirius #1) :) The deck itself has a motorized detachable faceplate and comes with a full function remote control. The display on it is impressive as all get out also.

http://www.clarion.com/usa/product/index.php?mod=details&category=proaudio&product=DXZ945MP#

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...737593047&rd=1
^^ $316 buy it now for an $800 deck, not bad eh? lol

[PyRo]

No that isn't bad and it would make a great christmas present for some theifs kid if I put it in my car. What part of inexpensive don't you guys get? I bet you couldn't tell the differance between your $800 deck and a $150 deck hooked up in my car because I have thirteen your old factory 6*9 speakers and their arn't really any good places to put speakers unless you remove the rear seats. I just want a cd player that is going to get good reception, sound decent, and not break.

[Big'n slo]

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-RoQp4sm...0&I=020DB345MP

Crutchfield is always a little more expensive but they have great tech support and give you all the necessary adapters to fit your car

Plus, they have super fast shipping

[PyRo]

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-RoQp4sm...0&I=020DB345MP

Crutchfield is always a little more expensive but they have great tech support and give you all the necessary adapters to fit your car

Plus, they have super fast shipping

That's actually a great deal, considering it's $30 more than the cheapsest sources then you would have to go out and buy a wireing harness, mounting kit, and antenna adapter for a total of $60 or so. Do you know if they give you the wireing harnesses to just plug it right in or do they just give you one and tell you to splice it?

[Big'n slo]

If your fatory harness is intact it should plug right in.
But you still have to connect the adapter to the HU's plug.

[PyRo]

Yeah that is what I was wondering when I put the current one in they had two adapters they wanted to sell me, one plugged into the factory harness and one plugged into their harness and directly into the head unit. I just got the one that plugged into the factory harness, cut the other end off and spliced the wires into the harness that came with the head unit (just wires no other end I think all HUs come like that).
That looks cooler though although you cannot get it from them.
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-K98Spou...earch=DXZ545MP

[Big'n slo]

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-iS9glAU...113MP425&cc=07

Scratch and dent

Kenwood is my preferred choice.

[PyRo]

Interesting but their is no place for a silver HU in an otherwise black car

[FragTek]

No that isn't bad and it would make a great christmas present for some theifs kid if I put it in my car. What part of inexpensive don't you guys get? I bet you couldn't tell the differance between your $800 deck and a $150 deck hooked up in my car because I have thirteen your old factory 6*9 speakers and their arn't really any good places to put speakers unless you remove the rear seats. I just want a cd player that is going to get good reception, sound decent, and not break.

Just pointing out a great deal on a great head unit... Sorry for posting, i'll go back to my hole.

[PyRo]

I know it's a great deal and would love to drop $400 on a head unit but I cannot justify it at the rate things get stolen from the school parking lot.

[skife]

talk to people around school, you can get HU's for around $20, some damn nice ones too.