I’m shopping for a new head unit to install in my roadster. I have had several people suggest a Kenwood unit to me that I’m sure is real nice but I’m wondering if it is overkill for my needs. I’ve never needed or used Bluetooth. I have zero music files stored on my phone or home computer. I do have and enjoy listening to the CD’s I own.
I’m wondering if it makes sense to upgrade to a unit that has too many bells and whistles.

 

Agreed, I went with an $85 JVC from Best Buy. It's discontinued, but the one below is close to what I have.
Marine heads will cost more, but will match the interior trim better - my car has an aftermarket dash kit so the dark color does not bother me.

 

Well I think I’m going to stay with a marine unit because it will match better. I might just have to learn some new features. I’m looking at the Kenwood models KMR-D375BT or
KMR-D372BT. Both have more than I need but are around $100-$120 range. Any preference of one of these over the other?
The Crutchfield site actually had a photo from a customer who mounted the 372 unit in his Crossfire.

 

375 has the AUX jack on the front, that alone, to me, is reason to go with it.
Most of the rest is the same.

 

Yeah I saw that too but since I’ve never needed an aux jack on a car stereo before I wasn’t sure how big a deal that was. I suppose it would be if I needed to use it!
Ok, thanks for your help.

 

I forgot to ask....I assume I’ll need an adapter cord to allow a new Kenwood unit to “plug and play”? Is it a universal adapter or unit specific?

 

I'm using the OEM CD NAV unit with a Nulaxy Bluetooth FM Transmitter (available from Amazon for $14.99) that plugs into cig lighter. Plays all my itunes through bluetooth through an unused FM band. I also have the ability for handsfree phone through bluetooth.

I find the OEM sound system really very good. The quality of my iTunes music is excellent. I've played CDs through my unit and again, exceptional sound quality.

I was also going to replace my unit so I could have bluetooth and iTunes capability, but after I installed the Nulaxy Transmitter, there is no need to replace the OEM Radio/CD player.

Here's link to Amazon:

 

I take the speaker output of my GMRS radio and feed it to the Kenwood - that way, I have six speakers and 100 watts of audio to hear the other drivers as we cruise down Hellbender with the top down!
(That's a "Tail of the Dragon" reference. )

 

You need a "VW" style antenna adapter, for one.

There is an adapter that goes from the Kenwood to the car's harness, but I could not find one at Best Buy, so I used the "flying leads" of the new JVC and did a 'butt-splicing" with the car's harness. Took me 1/2 hour.
If you search threads in this part of the forum , you will find information on the adapter.

Try this thread:
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...et-stereo.html

 

Here is the install for a Kenwood unit, the tools and adaptors are shown.
CLICK