Which head unit do u recommend

[rdogg07]

i looking to buy a new HU, i'm looking mainly for mp3 ability +
speed and overall realiablity of the radio here are my choices.

jvcsh9700 http://www.crutchfield.com/S-e5LtspJdXC7/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=257KDSH970&s=0

jvclh3100 http://www.crutchfield.com/S-e5LtspJdXC7/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=257KDLH310&s=0

clariondxz835 http://www.crutchfield.com/S-e5LtspJdXC7/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=020DXZ835M

pioneer7500 http://www.crutchfield.com/S-e5LtspJdXC7/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=130DEHP750

pionerr550 http://www.4electronicwarehouse.com/products/car/headunit/premier/deh-p550mp

panasonic783u http://www.crutchfield.com/S-e5LtspJdXC7/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=133DF783

help me decide. any comments or suggestions about other models would be great. anything under 230. thanks guys

 

[rdogg07]

also found this alpine 9827. i know alpine is awesome, but how does this compare to the ones up to. this one doesn't have all the bells and whistles.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-e5LtspJdXC7/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=500CDA9827

 

[AWDPetmitsu]

Personally, I like Pioneers. I've owned three of them and never had any problems with their head units.

 

[PaulPDX]

I'd go for the JVC, Pioneer, and Kenwood units.

I had a JVC digifine unit from a few years ago. KD-SH99 I think... it performed flawlessly and never skipped once in a car with very stiff coilovers.

Two friends who have been installers for over 20 years combined speak highly of the Pioneers and Kenwoods.

I personally have never been much of a Kenwood fan (too many buttons, cluttered faceplates), but the new/recent dual display 3D mask models won me over.

I've read some unfavorable reviews on the Clarions. Check www.carreview.com You may not find the most current models on there. I don't think the site gets much use so a lot of items don't have reviews or the model lineups aren't current.

 

[jepherz]

PIONEER

 

[AWDPetmitsu]

I agree, Kenwood faceplates have way too many buttons and the buttons are littered everywhere with no sense of organization. Pioneers , on the other hand have one of the most tasteful and elegant faceplate designs out there.

 

[PaulPDX]

Originally posted by AWDPetmitsu
I agree, Kenwood faceplates have way too many buttons and the buttons are littered everywhere with no sense of organization. Pioneers , on the other hand have one of the most tasteful and elegant faceplate designs out there.

The newer Kenwoods with the 3D mask are much better now.

Of all of the H/Us I've owned (Alpine, Blau, Sony, JVC, and Kenwood) Blau was the best one. Simplest to use and never missed a beat. That was a few years back though... years before mp3s. Lately Blau's gone a little crazy with their styling and only the top (expensive) models look decent. Sony was the worst... and it was an ES unit from their first year of the Xplod line.

 

[AWDPetmitsu]

Yeah, I've heard plenty of bad things about Sony head units. My friend had one and it crapped out on him only after a few months.:thumbdown

 

[rdogg07]

i had an alpine 7893, it died on me a few days ago. it was only 15months old. so now i'm hesitant on spend all the $$ on alpine

 

[PaulPDX]

Just like Blau, and Sony... Alpine tried to appeal to the younger crowd... everything went steadily downhill about 4 years ago.

 

[rdogg07]

so narrowed it down to 3 now

the pioneer 7500
pros-
-realiable
-looks nice
-good power
con
-slow mp3

clarion dxz 835
pro
-a good deal
-a lot of features
-24 bit dac converter
con
-not to happy w/ the looks of it

jvc sh9700
pros
-my favorite as far as looks
-i like all extra bells and whistles
-good mp3 speed
-high signal to noise ratio
con
-haven't heard good things about jvc

what do you guys think

 

[Slappster]

Damn nobody here knows what hu's are good. Eclipse is unbeatable and alpine is decent.

 

[chriw21_2000]

Go Eclipse. Even their worst deck is better than most.

Laterz

 

[rdogg07]

if i had the money i would def. get an alpine.

220is my limit!

those are the only ones i can afford

 

[96TSi_Chris]

Pioneer hands down, ive had 4 and havent had a prob w/ any of them. Great sound and overall performance. Ive never taken the face plate off, left it on in dead of winters and its been fine.

 

[KNIGHTRIDER187]

i got the JVC KD-LH3100 and i think that deck is tight...you can download videos on there so you can video tape your self smoking a civic and watch it while your music is bumpin...

 

[splattj]

Originally posted by chriw21_2000
Go Eclipse. Even their worst deck is better than most.

I'll second that. I've had Clarion Pro Audio and Kenwood units that are junk in comparison. You should be able to find a CD3434 for about $220.
http://www.eclipse-web.com/products/cd/cd3434.htm

 

[tlnpwr]

i use dto work at best buy and had friends that all worked at either local custom stereo stores or circuit city.

from what i've seen u can never go wrong with pioneer, alpine, or kenwood. i usually try and stay away from the other brands, but that's just me. i've had a lot of different unit, but i have had the best of luck with either alpine or pioneer.

here are the units im useing in my jeep & talon..

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i love the angle thing for my jeep since the radio sits down uner everything.

 

[Jimmy Jr.]

I just got done shopping for a new headunit and I ended up with the Pioneer deh-p8500mp. IT IS AWESOME. Dual motorized face plates with a small screen and very impressive sound. You can get it here for $374. . Pioneer is about to come out with new models so this one just went down in price.

 

[rdogg07]

its between the pioneer7500 and jvc9700 mainly because of the looks and display. the clarion seems like its display is kinda outdated.

which unit do u guys like better?

any feedback from actual owners

 

[4geze63]

I have the alpine like the one in the pic above, 9807mp3, very happy with it

 

[rdogg07]

i'm replacing an alpine right now 7893. i paid alot for it and it broke on me afer about 15months of moderate use. so i'm not about to invest all that money into another one. i'd feel better getting a high end pioneer or jvc then an lower end apline.

 

[Jimmy Jr.]

You are on some serious dope if you pass off the 8500 for the 7500 just cause the screens on the outside.

 

[rdogg07]

Originally posted by Jimmy Jr.
You are on some serious dope if you pass off the 8500 for the 7500 just cause the screens on the outside.

i'm passing up the clarion because of the screens!

i'm passing up the 8500 cause it costs an extra $160

i'm leaning towards the 7500now, i'll do some more research tonite before i'm place my order tomorrow.

 

[rdogg07]

2v vs 4v does it make a whole lot of difference? i'm just powering one 12sub and my amp is 500w more than the sub needs.

jvc9700/9750 vs pioneer7500 in loading times, is there a big difference. i'm new to mp3 so when i hear pioneer loads a long time..how long is long 2..10..40sec.