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Author Topic: Car Head Unit  (Read 14404 times)

  • Offline neXus

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Car Head Unit
on: April 12, 2011, 13:00:30 PM
Hey all.
My car's old Sony CD player is fine but I have not used a music CD in YEARS now. I have an iphone, I have digital music and looking for something that is radio and Digital Media that wont break the bank.

I saw these:
http://www.parallelimported.co.nz/car-audio/head-decks/boss/boss-750di-mp3-am-fm-reciever-wth-dock-station.html
http://www.parallelimported.co.nz/car-audio/head-decks/boss/boss-765dbi-cd-reciever-with-ipdock-station.html

There is another version that the front flips down for the dock and inside controls etc.

The problem is these are crap. I read on amazon and none of these Boss ones get any good feedback.

What solutions are out there that I can buy this week say here in NZ that are not crazy?

- I have a great Nav app on phone
- I would like USB/Blootooth or dock options
- Do not want to break the bank and does not have to be crazy sound spec but decent
Real key is I do not want cables everywhere as I see in friends cars here - so messy. I do not mind sacrificing some top notch audio for practicality but the Boss ones seem really crap, lol.

This looks awesome:
But you wont see this outside US any time soon and probably pricey.


SO, up for any advice and information.

Thanks

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  • Offline Clock'd 0Ne

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Re: Car Head Unit
Reply #1 on: April 12, 2011, 13:25:51 PM
Boss really is crap kit, you have to stick with the brands for quality, Sony and Pioneer are probably your best bet but the good stuff doesn't come cheap.
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Re: Car Head Unit
Reply #2 on: April 12, 2011, 13:31:33 PM
I wouldn't touch Sony or Pioneer.

Alpine or Blaupunkt.

Alpine do a unit that only does Radio/iPod.

Something like this.
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-ida-x311.html

Or this
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-cde125bt.html
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  • Offline Bacon

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Re: Car Head Unit
Reply #3 on: April 12, 2011, 14:29:50 PM
Alpine, Kenwood or Pioneer.

Get on Ebay and look for something with USB/Aux inputs, i had one back along albeit it was Sony for £45 delivered (new).
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Re: Car Head Unit
Reply #4 on: April 12, 2011, 14:34:00 PM
just build a carpc
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  • Offline Clock'd 0Ne

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Re: Car Head Unit
Reply #5 on: April 12, 2011, 15:09:26 PM
Whether he can get Alpine or the like over there is going to be a different story I think.
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Re: Car Head Unit
Reply #6 on: April 12, 2011, 15:25:56 PM
my truck came with a sony in it.. it has bluetooth - no need to faf around with cables, etc. paired with my iphone & done
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  • Offline bear

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Re: Car Head Unit
Reply #7 on: April 12, 2011, 16:50:25 PM
This one is good and low budget, have one myself, radio really good(often bad in cd/radio comboes)and sound is good, I play  mp3 (320 cba) on SD memories only. I good budget one i would say.
http://www.denver-electronics.com/denver-cau-415/
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  • Offline neXus

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Re: Car Head Unit
Reply #8 on: April 12, 2011, 19:56:24 PM
Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on April 12, 2011, 15:09:26 PM
Whether he can get Alpine or the like over there is going to be a different story I think.
Parallel import do indeed sell Alpine.
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Re: Car Head Unit
Reply #9 on: April 12, 2011, 22:56:46 PM
I have a kenwood headunit with rear USB port that feeds in to the glove box with a 16gb USB stick attached, but you can also attach the iPhone , but it's also got Bluetooth so you can also sync and play music through that, but music fidelity is sacrificed a little via Bluetooth.
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  • Offline neXus

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Re: Car Head Unit
Reply #10 on: April 12, 2011, 23:14:28 PM
To be honest, I awesome sound is at home and just like I do not have a handheld console, If I am going to do something I will use the best kit so my 5.1 at home for my tunes.
I want it to sound nice but does not have to be perfect thumping at all. On way to work I actually prefer listening to podcasts anyway.

On that, I have seen the head units that fold down and you connect up in a tray the ipod etc. This is cool but since it is my phone I would be taking it out all the time.
If there is a nice small dock I can attach to the dash and bluetooth and USB cable if I need to then I am happy with that.
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  • Offline Bacon

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Re: Car Head Unit
Reply #11 on: April 12, 2011, 23:54:30 PM
If your current one has a pre out, you can do pre out to aux conversion and mount the cable next to your leg in the footwell or use some velcro, and stick your ipod to it that way.
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  • Offline neXus

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Re: Car Head Unit
Reply #12 on: April 13, 2011, 01:49:49 AM
Quote from: Bacon on April 12, 2011, 23:54:30 PM
If your current one has a pre out, you can do pre out to aux conversion and mount the cable next to your leg in the footwell or use some velcro, and stick your ipod to it that way.
Does not even have that. SO getting a new one and do not need a CD player but because I am getting a new one it is worth getting one to do the job well.

Anyone find anything there they think is decent for around $200 or less?
http://www.parallelimported.co.nz/car-audio/head-decks.html
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  • Offline Bacon

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Re: Car Head Unit
Reply #13 on: April 13, 2011, 03:31:14 AM
Quote from: neXus on April 13, 2011, 01:49:49 AM
Quote from: Bacon on April 12, 2011, 23:54:30 PM
If your current one has a pre out, you can do pre out to aux conversion and mount the cable next to your leg in the footwell or use some velcro, and stick your ipod to it that way.
Does not even have that. SO getting a new one and do not need a CD player but because I am getting a new one it is worth getting one to do the job well.

Anyone find anything there they think is decent for around $200 or less?
http://www.parallelimported.co.nz/car-audio/head-decks.html

Surely there must be a classified ads site or paper in nz for 2nd hand bargains?

Front Aux and USB
http://www.parallelimported.co.nz/sony-cdxgt-490u-head-deck.html
http://www.parallelimported.co.nz/pioneer-deh-2250ub-head-deck.html
http://www.parallelimported.co.nz/car-audio/head-decks/pioneer-deh-2350ub-head-deck.html

And to answer your question, most of them still have a CD slot on them, they just add Aux/USB to the mix for more compatibility.

If the Sony is anything like the one i bought a while ago, the file browser menu is really simple to use and well laid out.

Last Edit: April 13, 2011, 03:33:04 AM by Bacon #187;
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  • Offline neXus

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Re: Car Head Unit
Reply #14 on: April 13, 2011, 05:15:40 AM
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/car-sound-gps-navigation/mp3-cd-tuners/sony/mech-less-ipod-head-unit-sku-19424/
seems ok, if you check youtube videos out on it in terms of the menu, no USB outside though.

I think what I have noted is there is some solutions out there but not quite there
Last Edit: April 13, 2011, 05:17:57 AM by neXus #187;
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