I just picked up my Yellow Roadster LTD. Friday, had dealer install the illuminated sills before hand and received my Sprint Booster in the mail yesterday, next step is the radio.
I read all the threads in the Audio section but most of the radios mentioned are no longer available! I'd like something with Bluetooth and also Ipod any suggestions, along those lines?
Seems like the silver faceplates are out so I guess sticking with the same look as the original is not a must.
Thanks for any help.

 

also, if anyone knows of a radio that includes navigation/dvd that fits nicely in that space, let me know.

 

I have just fitted the new Alpine IDA - X001. This is a custom IPOD system with a radio.

Works a treat and is by far the best on the market.

I have feed the ipod cable round the back of the centre console into the glove box where I plug in the ipod.

 

Check out the JVC KD-NX5000 unit.

 

I looked at this unit, but I didn't like it because it didn't have a DVD/CD slot. It's totally iPod dependent so if you don't have it in your car, you're screwed.

 

I looked at the Alpine as well. Sales guy says you don't need a CD player put all your tunes on your ipod. Good ideal except what about the stack of cd's that you have and you might want to just grab an old one to listen to on a short trip or someone has a new disk for you to listen to??

 

I think this is very much a personal preference... I purchased my first ipod 6 months ago and it has changed the way I listen to music and my interest levels.

Like most people... I just grabbed a few CD's and ran with them in the car... flicking between the best tracks.

When I got the ipod - I spent about 3 days moving EVERY CD I had to the laptop and ipod... this was a bit of a dull job, but heck, now its done... I am set.

Now I can create play lists of my best music for every eventuality... and mood. I have created hard driving playlists for when I have the urge to splurge the pedal and more relaxing tunes for when I feel like taking a cruise.

The Alpine reads all these playlists and the screen is fantastic... So no more... 12 songs on a CD. I have playlists with 50-100 songs on them and I am set to go.

Yes I do need to take an ipod with me ... this is an issue when you are nipping out... but its no different to taking you house keys...

Embrace the future... go digital... or stick with the old records... but watch it, the needle tends to jump when you go over a bump...

 

With the display being blue like it is do you have washout on the display when it is really sunny and coming in the windows? What about when the top is down? I'd think the display would almost disappear with the top down and the sun shining on the display, any problem reading it?
I know some of the older factory radios had to be replaced because of washout?? Just asking.

 

yeah, i'd hate giving up the cd player also. i just put a pioneer deh-p690ub in mine xfire. i love it. 7 band eq really helped the sound of the car also. it has ipod abilities, also has a usb input so people like me and buy flash drives instead of ipods (much less money). the deck will play directly of the usb port. i don't think it has the bluetooth, but the 790ub does(i think). what is your price point. if the budget is tight, your best bet is panasonic for finding all these features at a lower cost. also panasonic likes to produce silver decks. other than that, i favor pioneer premier and jvc. jvc was my first choice, but i decided to stick under $250 on my purchase

 

I have a coupe - so don't get the sun you might in a roadster.

That said - I did have the same unit in my ferrari cabriolet and it was fine.

You can change the contrast and on the whole it is no better or worse than any other on the market.

The great thing is the price. You can get the Alpine and an ipod video for less than the price of the JVC. In the UK you can get both for under£400. While the JVC is £450.

 

Price is not, too, much of an issue but would hate to spend $400/$500 on a new unit and then have an issue with the screen being washed out with the top down! A friend of mine has a Trans Am with a Pioneer (don't know the model and with the top down you can't even see if the radio display is there??

 

Smoked: Did you install this yourself? I am not real savvy in this area and I am not too comfortable with the kids at the local best buy doing the install.

I called a local car audio shop and asked specifically about this deck and they said there was no hanger set, or something like that, for any aftermarket units for the crossfire. Obviously they aren't real familiar with these cars because I know people have installed units.

 

I just had a Kenwood installed in my Crossfire at Brandsmart in Miami. It has been trial and error figuring out how to change from fm to the nav system without reading the manual, but I think I finally understand. I'm a little slow and a little lazy in that department. They did not hook up my sirus correctly, but I am taking it back today to fix that issue.

The sound is unbelievable. When I put in the Beatles Love CD there are sounds I have never heard before. I can make out most every insrument not to mention some background sound effects. And the new speakers are great. Now I can here the radio with the top down going 80 plus mph.

 

Any units out there with slots for SD cards, or other formats? I was in my friend's Audi A4 convertible yesterday, and was very impressed with his OEM head unit. He carries a couple of 4 GB cards and just inserts them in his HU's reader slots.

 

I just did the same thing, I got a 4gig nano and I really like the Ipod. It will change the way you buy and listen to music. I have had other mp3 players but Ipod is the way to go.

 

Hi Rcaw,

I had the local ICE specialist do the job for me as I didn't want to tackle the ipod glovebox link. They did a great job - they 'drilled' a small hole in the side of the glovebox (at the inside back) and feed the ipod link through round the back of the bash from the back of the console, then created a foam area to push the ipod into so it was secure in the glove box.

Not sure I would tackle it myself...

 

I've been thinking about getting the same Alpine radio. Any chance you can post a picture of YOUR installation showing the dash around the radio. I'd like to see how it looks. I'm not too pleased with the look of most aftermarket radios in the Xfi dash.

Also did you connect the speakers using the preamp outputs (Front & Rear outputs OR Front & Subwoofer outputs)?

Thanks!

 

I just installed the iDA-x001 in my XF, it works well and the sound improvement over the stock unit is amazing. No volume issues like some have said with other units, it is crisp and loud at 20-25% volume. The silver of the unit doesn't match the dash silver, but the dark silver color looks good with the car color (graphite metallic) and the rest of the interior.

I got tired of changing CDs, and most of my music is on the computer anyways, so it made sense to just go to the ipod only unit.

 

Thanks for posting the photos. The Alpine is a great radio but to me that TOTALLY changes the look of the dash. Every radio I've seen does the same thing. Yea, it looks OK but just appears out of place with the rest of the trim.....and is obviously an aftermarket swap.

I think a manufacturer could make some extra bucks if they came up with a matching faceplate. The OEM should sell and upgraded version of their radio in the marketplace and make a mint!!!

Cheers

 

Hi...I wanted the same things : CD/AM-FM/DVD/Bluetooth,Ipod/NavSys based on SD card and not CD system...etc. etc. I found it in the VALOR DVD NVG-720W. You can find these on eBay for about $800 (I know, they're not cheap), but they are single DIN systems so will fit with little difficulty. I also purchased with mine a reverse view camera system (Boyo) mounted in a license plate frame. The camera was another $100 as I recall, maybe more. I had Car Toys -- a car electronics store -- do the complete install and removal of the orignal radio head unit. That installation was another $600 and took 4 hours. You will need to purchase a wiring adapter to connect the Valor to the car system...it was about $10 as I recall. I can give you details if needed.

I did lots of looking before I settled on the Valor system. The need for a single DIN system makes your choices rather limited. If you want a decent GPS display, updateable system software and convenient downloads of updated maps, high resolution; good sound quality, do check out this system. I'm still learning about all the features, but have 0 regrets. The navigation is accurate and fairly easy to use, once you master the touch-screen process. I wish the head unit was silver, but it's black.

My next move is to get an Ipod system to store all my music CDs.

I dont think you can find a better system for all these functions.