So I am looking for a recommendation for a head unit under $500. Forget trying to match the silver of the interior I can deal with a black unit. Here is my challenge I am more interested in sound quality and I HATE the dancing displays that everyone wants to use these days. For my price range I am leaning towards a Nakamichi CD400 or CD500. I really like the Alpine F1's or the Pioneer Dex units but they are out of my price range.

So anyone have suggestions on head units? I need something I can plug iPods & Androids into and has great SQ. Beyond that I am very flexible. Bluetooth would be nice but I can use an add on unit.

 

Search one here for "parrot". The Parrot Asteroid is supposed to be a bargain and stacked with features.

 

yep i installed a parrot and very nice
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...-asteroid.html

 

I did see the posting on the Parrot Asteroid but the reviews I read are very mixed on the unit. I had planned on using their blue tooth unit if the head unit I got did not have BT. I will look again at the Asteroid but less worried about "features" than I am about SQ. I will not use many of the apps - that is what the phone is for.

 

its not perfect, but they just released a update that improved it alot.thats one thing about it that i like, is its updateable,and they release updates about every two months
would i buy one again yes but thats me .i dont think its for everybody. i use an iphone 4s with it and it works, sounds great, i use bluetooth with ipad2 also with maps. it will shake the mirrors if thats what u want with stock speakers alot of adjustable bass with EQ
I LIKE DIFFERENT THATS WHY I HAVE THE SRT


also plays music on an sd card no cd
4 usb ports
rear sub preout

 

Not ready to upgrade yet, can't say I have a recommendation, but I'm probably going to go marine grade.. Looks like the only way to get a decent model in silver.

http://pacificstereo.com/alpine-cda-9886m.html

 

Ebay has same unit $50 less with free shipping :

Alpine CDA-9886M Marine MP3 Stereo CD Receiver with iPod Controls CDA9886M New on eBay!

I have an older Alpine similar to this, I love it .....

 

I take sound quality over features and pay close attention to reviews on decks.... I have had 3 Kenwood Exelon's for the last 3 cars Ive had because of it. All of which I replaced the stock speakers and added subs. The reasons I chose the exelon is: Price (very cheap), seperate sub settings (a must), LPF/HPF of front/rear/sub. Bass freq/EXT, Full mid control and freq, Full Treble control and freq, USB on front, AUX on front, and a few more I am sure I have forgotten. I havent replaced the stock speakers in the xfire yet but I have kicker tweeters on the way. I just got my 2 Kicker 10" comps with a ported box in yesterday and once again.... Not one complaint with the deck. Even the old models I had in my older cars were really top of the line. Kenwood used to be crap, but they have really managed to step their game up.

 

I have personally been holding out for a headunit that runs android...and I mean a real android o/s, not a mangled version.

...also waiting for Zeitronix to make an android app for their datalogging.


I think you see where I am going with this

 

I have the HTC Inspire and the Exelon does very well with it. Plug it in and it plays. Once its done with the playlist in MUSIC it searches the folders of the phone to find more music hiding in other folders (very quickly). If you dont want it to then you click SEARCH and scroll to MUSIC and click enter. Very simple and Better quality than CD. Still not as easy as the iphone but thats an android thing not a deck thing. The folders you see are the same ones you see on your computer, very easy to navigate... I make extra folders and name them as playlists of different artists on mine.

 

Another reason the Parrot turned me of is no back up camera compatibility as far as I could tell when I was shopping around. I do not know if that is important to you.

 

What the heck happened to the "mid-range" head units? As I look around I would consider the units I am seeing as either cheap or expensive. I am not really seeing anything in the $399-$500 range. It is all $199 or less or is it is $1200.

If the Excelon's play well with Android based phones I will have to look at it. Just have to make sure they do not have a poor quality, pixalted, dancing screen like my friends older Pioneer.

I really do like the Alpine F1's and the top of the line Pioneer but am not spending that kind of scratch on a head unit.

The other thing I will add is I could care less about the CD player. The wife listens to the radio in the morning so she wants a decent receiver. Me? I can stand commercials so all I am going to use it for is as a connection for my Galaxy SII and my iPod. Yes I still use both. The 80gigs on the iPod is nice.

 

Not nearly as interested in having my phone work side by side...that already happens right now. They key would be an android API on a dual-din setup which would allow for use of android applications on the headunit, not on a connected phone. That is what I was thinking, but the market for it isn't big enough and I may have to look into doing something myself or working with Dynavin.

 

If I could easily fit a Double Din unit this would not even be a discussion. It is just not worth it to me to pay ~$1500 for a custom center stack to be able to run Double Din. The setups with double din that people have posted look fantastic but I am too cheap to spring for it

 

Anyone running either a Kenwood KIV-BT901 or KCC-X995.

Amazon.com: KENWOOD KDC-X995 eXcelon In-Dash USB/CD Receiver with Built-In Bluetooth/HD Radio: Car Electronics

Amazon.com: Kenwood KIV-BT901 iPod/iPhone Digital Media Receiver: Car Electronics

I do not care about a CD player but do hookup both an iPod and my Android phone.

 

Im going with a sony DSX S300BTX Search results for: 'dsx-s300btx'
It's face plate opens and u put your ipod inside of it then the face closes it also has blue tooth for i phone let you know how it works supposed to be delivered thursday then install this weekend.
DSX-S300BTX | Digital Media Receiver | Sony | Sony Style USA

 

personally I'm a heuuuuge fan of the Alpine X305S - in the UK it cost me £300 fitted, which would translate to $450(ish) I guess...

 

Nice looking unit and it is available for $275 from Amazon. Where is Alpine making their units these days?

 

Decided to go with the Clarion cz501.. Factory refurbished off ebay for $119. Blue tooth ect. Should be in by next Wednesday.