Head units

[lil lucifer]

Im branching out into the audio/mobile boom box region and Im looking for deals on gear but... I have no idea whats good in head units and whats a good price and what I should be looking for in features. I dont wanna go over $500 here and even better to find something worth $500 for $250 new. Ha ha dont we all. The thing is Im a bit of a deal finder when I know what im looking for But know nothing about brands and their better units etc. I know this is a broad sorta question too but I have some functions I want and descriptions to maybe make this a little more answerable. Hopefully. lol.
I know I want to plug my Ipod/mp3 player and have around 5 band EQ. I listen to metal and big bad Drum'n'bass and not much else but im fussy, REAL fussy about how it sounds. Im onto some good advice with speakers and cabling for that sorta thing but more never hurt. Ive got Squids old 12 inch subs and amp but will go for 4 10's down the track or a combo if I dont over Metal the 12's. I can get no comision price speakers from my mate at JB but he says I can find better deals on head units than he can give me which leads me here. ha ha.
I Know traditional good brands like Kenwood, pioneer and Alpine and the others but who really has good value for sound, with functions/capabilities that ill need (ie AUX ports, plugs, wiring, tune abilty)and can anyone recommend an exact unit or at least a direction?

[lil lucifer]

Heres an example. Is this a deal? Ha Ha such noob questions. Im not about to buy this but its a good example i guess of what is meant to be a deal. umm well, er, sort of. ha ha, Ebay isnt all good deals.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/09-PIONEER-DEH-P7150UB-MP3-CD-RECEIVER-USB-IPOD-CABLE_W0QQitemZ180390266646QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_C ar_Parts_Accessories?hash=item2a00190716&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[Blown355]

I can recommend the Alpine unit I've got for Ipod control, sound, functions & a whole heap of other stuff. You can have a listen & a play around with it if you want (Now that it's back in a car....)

[Squid's VY]

I'm with Ben mate. Alpine make dam fine head units that do lots of funky things for reasonable prices. My unit cost me $399. The ipod cable runs into the glove box so you dont see it and it has 3 lots of rca outputs for amps. No remote for mine though but some come with them. There is heaps to choose from though so decisions are hard to make.

[Sly]

Sorry guys i'll have to put a vote in for the Pioneers similar to the one that Ian has posted, I've always used them and recommened them. They have done the job very well in the past. In the end it depends on what you want but most of them these days are similar the Pioneer units have the 5volt pre-outs for better clarity for anything going to an amp the have a huge equalizer most with six or seven adjustable presets and with two custom to setup your own. the one i had in my VP had RCA's for front, rear and Subs it also had two inputs for any sort of media device including ipod's with a port at the back that can be run anywhere or the 2.5 jack at the front on the face plate.
That on retailed for about 400 over a year ago so there would be much better now for a price your looking for

[lil lucifer]

Ha ha this is what really helps. Hearing or reading peoples opinions on different units and reasons for them. Sorta like gathering statistics.
Like Shaun said the decision is hard to make. Ive found sooo many "apparently" different brands and their "apparently" different units. In Jb this arvo I saw 6 different units,3 different brands with 6 different prices from $268 TO $388 and I couldnt tell the major difference not even amongst the same brand. rofl. They all did the same stuff just one had a dial in the middle and they all had different colour led's. ARRRG! I guess I need to listen to more.
Cheers dudes.

[stressed]

i have clarion in the patrol and very Happy with it

[frank2112]

I've got the alpine with Ipod control. the newer model is the CDA-105Ei. Mine is the previous model but looks identical and has the same features.You can check it out on Friday night.

[BlackOne]

Ian, I agree with Dave on the head units mate. Pioneer make some very nice gear when it comes to head units.

When it comes to speakers though, my recommendation is FOCAL SPEAKERS, especially if you are real fussy with your sound quality.

Here's a link for more info mate : http://www.focalaustralia.com.au/k2_power.html

I've had two cars kitted out with Focals and are damn fine speakers mate !

I'll be looking at fitting out the VE in the not too distant future too.


Cheers,
Matt

[lil lucifer]

After alot more looking and listening and reading on Car audio forums (aswell as the good price I can get one for from a reputable dealer) Ive pretty much settled on this https://www.dealdepot.com.au/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5_37&products_id=99 This link has the best description of it but a different name as its an asian model sold on this site.

I can get it for less than $400 with no postage as its from a local shop. I like the look of old school radio tuner layout(2 dials, 1 at either end like the old vol and tune) but with tech face and all the crap I want. Bass, mid and treble is as close to 5 band EQ in my price range with all the other funcitons and ports etc. Head units have been the strangest buying experience. Between $350 and $5/600 is all the same with bugger all real difference. Thats the only consitent advice from dealers and shops and the only thing I get from all the counter points on forums. Choose the one with all the features you need/want, that you like the look of. Speakers on the other hand? LOL Ive heard a world of difference from $400 to $600 . So far I have to say right on Matt, Focal have been the finest quality ive listened to but I think they are just out of my price range. (if only I was patient enough to save for another few months). The polk Speakers I listened too yesterday were freakin awesome for $400 and the speakers Today dsl?sdl? dls?ads?adsl? or Something like that at $600 were a good sound too but not as good as the $400 Polks! I just need to decide what I want to spend and If Ill get a better price for it all at one shop and so be at the mercy of the brands they carry. lolz. So far the Kenwood head unit and polk speakers with choice of amp and a promise of good price and after service, even though Im doing the install, come from the one shop. Shaun shops there too and they look after him which is a comfort. ha ha.
Looks like I may have found my set up, definatly the head unit. Just need the cash for the lot with cables, wiring and amps. Can someone freeze me for a month while I wait for the head unit to arrive? It isnt in till september! At least ill have more cash by then. ha ha

[Squid's VY]

It'll get there mate. It is a nice head unit. Go to BDL, they fill your car with focal gear. It's all they sell I'm sure of it. They are good speakers but there are others out there a little cheaper that do just as good a job. If you plan on entering comps then spend heaps on speakers and amps, but if not just choose what you like the sound of and can afford. You'll always want to upgrade, it's like everything, it becomes a bug and you cant stop. Look at me, I just wanted something a little louder then factory when I first started and now I want massive sound.

[lil lucifer]

This has nearly turned into a blog ha ha. sorry but im gunna add to it.
I went to suss out some cash prices for focal stuff and a full system purchase and came up with a pretty nice combo and price. An eclipse cd7200 mk2 head unit. http://www.eclipse-web.com/us/cd/cd7200overviews.html retail $699 get it for $599 and it does FARKIN ERVERYTHING!! LOLZ im in love with it! An eclipse XA4200 100wx4 amp http://www.eclipse-web.com/us/amp/xa4200.html retail $649 ($599 for me) to power Focal 165 KR2 6.5 inch splits retail $899 ($750) ^see the Link Matt posted^ and 165 CA1 in the rear for $200 dunno retail. And $650 for 2x amp cable kit and 2x door sound deadner. He will fully tune for free and sign off on 3 year warranty regardless of my install even though the 3yr warranty should only be valid for shop install. He will also knock some more off the price of the lot when I front with cash money for full system purchase. I need to decide which of the two Best packages I want. hmm hard but fun decision.
Ive also decided to go with 1 bigger sub off the mono instead of two but maybe not till a couple of months. And pending finance I may have enough for headers and cats! But goodbye foxtell and high speed interwebs. Hello free to air and normal 'pedestrian' speed internet. lolz.