Does anyone make a DECENT head unit anymore????

[david914]

OK, I know this subject has been covered ad nauseum many times before, but as you all know, the world of consumer electronics is a constantly moving target.

I have been perusing the internet and local stores for a new in dash CD player for my non-Porsche (2001 Toyota 4Runner). I've got an Alpine 5 channel amp, 10 inch sub, and the 'Runner came with Infinity Reference separates in the doors (that was a nice find after getting her home from Carmax!). All that's left is to find a new head unit to replace the factory piece.

I'm partial to Alpine as I've always been impressed with their build and sound quality. Unfortunately, no one, including Alpine seems to make a unit that has everything I'm looking for. Here's my "wish list":

Single CD/MP3
AM/FM/HD Radio
RDS
iPod controls
Bluetooth
3 pairs of line outs (Front, Rear, Subwoofer)
"Knob type" control for volume
"Intuitive" controls
I don't necessarily need satellite radio.
"Bling-factor" not necessary

The closest thing I've found to what I'm looking for is the Alpine CDA-9885, which isn't out quite yet. They make you buy separate accessory modules to add HD Radio and Bluetooth. RDS isn't even an option on any Alpine unit. I've played with the CDA-9857, and it seems decent, but I'm not crazy about the way the face just "flops" open to insert or eject a CD. Seems kinda cheesy compared to the motorized units that they used to make.

I've looked at everything that I've been able to find (Alpine, Kenwood, Eclipse, Pioneer, Panasonic, JVC, Sony, etc.) and nothing is grabbing me, let alone knocking my socks off. Anybody got any input before I "settle" on something?

[stomachmonkey]

I just want one that looks like a regular stereo, not Times Square on acid.

I can't seem to find anything that aesthetically fits a 911 interior.

[Dottore]

Check out the Becker Mexico 7948 Retro-look.

Just google "Becker Radio".

Just on the market - and they're gorgeous.

[VINMAN]

Get one of the " cool" Sony explodes with the swimming dolphins and LSD trip lights on it. It also serves you drinks and gives a happyending.
Might even make your car faster when used in conjunction with with a subwoofer the size of a small shed.

I agree, I want a simple no frills unit that plays music and sounds good.

Back when I was in HS , if you had a Craig head unit with Jensen Triaxes you where big league.

[david914]

Yeah, I want something that approaches the purposefulness of the VDO gauges in our cars. Something that can be read at a glance. Light show notwithstanding, I have yet to hear a Sony that doesn't hurt my ears. They always sound harsh to me.

Hey Vinny, you and I must be about the same age! In my school it was a Pioneer SuperTuner and Jensen Triaxes. If you were REALLY setup, you had a 40 watt power booster/equalizer as well!

[Moneyguy1]

And those psychedelic radios are so unpopular with crackheads that they will leave your ride alone. My wife wanted a CD player for her car. I had a choice between a Crutchfield "boom box in the dash" with a $100 "installation kit" or finding a factory radio with the bells and whistles she wanted. I opted for choice #2. Tested it out and found it to be quite good and it did have an actual volume control!! Imagine that!!

Pumps out appx 50 watts RMS and sounds pretty good.

After talking to some audio experts, they seem to agree that factory radios have improved to a point where many of them are equal to or superior to mid range replacement units.

[scottmandue]

Originally posted by stomachmonkey
I just want one that looks like a regular stereo, not Times Square on acid.

LOL!

Last time I was at Best Buy I perused the car stereo department just out of curiosity (slightly interested in a head unit that plays CD's and tapes... I know, cassette tapes? dream on!)

And I was thinking W_T_F !?!? Do people really buy this $hit?

[stomachmonkey]

Originally posted by Dottore
Check out the Becker Mexico 7948 Retro-look.

Just google "Becker Radio".

Just on the market - and they're gorgeous.

Damn that thing has a lot of features.

A bit more retro than I am looking for. Looks like a 50's-60's era deck.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
And those psychedelic radios are so unpopular with crackheads that they will leave your ride alone. My wife wanted a CD player for her car. I had a choice between a Crutchfield "boom box in the dash" with a $100 "installation kit" or finding a factory radio with the bells and whistles she wanted. I opted for choice #2. Tested it out and found it to be quite good and it did have an actual volume control!! Imagine that!!

Pumps out appx 50 watts RMS and sounds pretty good.

After talking to some audio experts, they seem to agree that factory radios have improved to a point where many of them are equal to or superior to mid range replacement units.

The stock Infinity unit that came in my 94' 3000GT was great. Had a line in on the front, was perfect for the iPod.

[hatpix]

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/v3/pg/product/details/0,,2076_310069882_291159496,00.html

[David in VA]

I don't know if they have the features you want but Nakamichi makes some that blend in very well.

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=13364

[widebody911]

I ran into the same thing a couple years ago when shopping for a head unit - it was all about the bling. There was even a unit that had a mode that scrolled C++ code, not than any of it's target market would know what they were looking at...

[fastpat]

JVC has a unit, http://mobile.jvc.com/product.jsp?modelId=MODL027687&pathId=129&page=2, that maintains the two-control knob appearance, they're rockers instead of real knobs though. This head unit can play MP3 on either cde's or, more importantly, recorded on DVD-ROM's or DVD-RW's, meaning that you can play quite a few hours of music (30 or 40 hours) contained within the head unit, eliminating risk of taking a valuable iPod in the car.

[david914]

That Becker is AWESOME! Looks just like the radios that came in German cars back in the 60's. You definitely gotta pay to play though! The Pioneer unit looks nice. It doesn't look like it receives HD Radio.

[pwd72s]

What ever happened to the concept of two knobs and a row of pushbuttons? You know, something you can operate while watching the road?

[fastpat]

The Becker 7948 would look right at home in my '72 BMW 3.0 CSi, I actually own a couple of the radios of the period that look just like it. But, it's at least $1400.00, which includes navigation software for europe. I don't think the unit is being sold in the US, I'm not sure.

[david914]

Of course, if this had RDS, iPod, Bluetooth, etc., and I had the $$$$....

[VINMAN]

Originally posted by david914
Hey Vinny, you and I must be about the same age! In my school it was a Pioneer SuperTuner and Jensen Triaxes. If you were REALLY setup, you had a 40 watt power booster/equalizer as well!

The power booster from Radio Shack, shoved inside the glove box or screwed under the dash!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally posted by stomachmonkey
Damn that thing has a lot of features.

A bit more retro than I am looking for. Looks like a 50's-60's era deck.

Uh.....not 50's or 60's but looks a lot like the Becker Europa II in my '76:

The Mexico:



And another shot of it:



By the way, how many dollars is 1500 Euro's?

[david914]

Originally posted by VINMAN
The power booster from Radio Shack, shoved inside the glove box or screwed under the dash!

Yup, that was THE setup! Jensen Triaxes kicked some serious butt 'cause they were really efficient. Lots of dB's with little input.

I'm still shopping around the internet trying to find a deck that intrigues me. Of course, then I have to go put my ears and hands on one and hope it satisfies. I keep hearing how good Eclipse is, but the little exposure I've had doesn't excite me. Nakamichi would be a great choice from a quality sound standpoint, but they're behind the times when it comes to iPods, Bluetooth, etc. Alpine still seems my best option so far.