The Best Head unit under/close to $200

[DemonIAm]

I need a new player. something that I can easily connect my iPod to, and add some better speakers/sub in the future.

My last player (In the Dakota) was a Kenwood 5028.. which I loved..

Just wondering if you guys had any more current faves out there.

[kansei]

first off, what ipod functionality are you seeking? Control it through the head unit? Many units limit you to just selecting from a set number of playlists you have to set up in advance on the ipod, though others allow full control. Also most aren't future compatible, with only a couple out on the market sending the 5v charging power over the USB pins on the ipod dock connector, 99% still use the 12v on the firewire pins on the dock connector which isn't supported by the 3g iphone and won't be supported by any future ipods.

Some companies (aftermarket) offer ipod cables that just charge the ipod and get the line-out audio from the dock connector but still allow you to control the ipod from the device itself, if that's more your style. I know there's a cable like this available for pioneer as I have one. It doesn't support charging of future ipods though

With a generic aux-in you can get something like a Griffin AutoPilot (http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/autopilot) that'll charge the ipod and gives a line-out plug right near the 12v outlet that you can run a cable from up to the head unit. It also offers play/pause and next/prev controls right on the plug so you can tuck the ipod out of the way. It's a bit on the pricey side though

My favs are always really expensive but I'd look at Pioneer Premier or just regular Pioneer.

[Judman13]

My favs are always really expensive but I'd look at Pioneer Premier or just regular Pioneer.

Agreed. I have a Pioneer single din unit in my Jeep before i got my Pro5. Loved it. Had a very clean aux input ran my Zen Vision:M off of it all the time.(Headphone input)

Im sure you have seen my current head unit. Its the Pioneer FH-P8000BT double d. (http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=300&i=130P8000BT&tp=5684) It is one of the best, short of a DVD/Nav unit. Bluetooth to a phone (full phone book support) or music player. Aux 3.5 mm jack, aux usb input, optional ipod control via the center dial (50-100 bucks i think). Microphone for the headunit. Its really incredible. And a CD player of course with MP3 WMA ACC all other format recognition. It really is a amazing peice of work...all for only 325. It is worth sooo much more then that!!!!

Pictures on request.

[mzdalvr]

I'm an Alpine fan. I have owned them for 5 years now. You can get some really good deals at crutchfield and nab an Alpine HU for 149-200.

[DemonIAm]

bump for any more suggestions?

[GOTBOOST]

Sony has some of the cheaper prices but Panasonic has
always been pretty good to me and priced decent

[kansei]

this looks pretty and is $190 on crutchfield.. no personal experience with it other than I know I like the brand

http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2007/130/h130DEHP500-f_flLm.jpeg
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=300&i=130DEHP500&tp=5684

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/StaticFiles/PUSA/Images/DEH-P500UB_main2_lrg.jpg
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/Source/CD-Players/Premier/DEH-P500UB

it has a USB port that you can directly plug any USB drive into.. or an ipod, in which case it'll give you full ipod control. It has a regular aux-in in the rear as well. None of that annoying cables sticking out of the front of the unit like you get from JVC and others (though I do like JVC)

the suggested retail price on the Premier version of that pioneer unit (longer warranty, depending on the model may have some higher quality D/A converters and such, maybe a stronger amp) is only $20 more too:


crutchfield doesn't carry Premier but lots of local audio shops will. I got a local shop to price match the suggested retail on the premier that I got (they advertised it at $100 over msrp ouch).

Oh nice both versions of it have this: "Passenger Control Mode: Allows passenger to use the iPod® directly to browse and select music, while connected to the headunit for playback."

edit #8million:

differences between that pioneer and the premier model like it:
- premier is $20 more
- premier comes with ipod cable
- premier has double the warranty length

[DemonIAm]

OK I think you may have hit the nail on the head with the psgr control mode!

for $20 difference, the premier may be my choice

[Judman13]

Do it...i have never had a problem with Pioneer and they really are on the cutting edge of head units!!!

[jeg0024]

I haz my Pioneer for sale, and it has a IP-BUS to RCA adapter so all you need is an RCA to male headphone jack to hook up the iPod. I used my Zune with it just fine. Oh, and I might be able to hook you up with a little better price depending on shipping cost.

http://www.themazdaforum.com/showthread.php?t=5419