head unit in 99 explorer

[Joe Dirt]

I'm one of the stocker supporters. I like that the dash matches, I like that the truck looks stock. They don't sound like crap especially if you set your factory HU to full bass and full treble. Most of the newer HU's are Pioneer, so they are not junk. The difference is the wattage for the dollar. I am running more wattage through my new HU and with the settings set correctly, I think it sounds a bit better than the factory unit, but in no way would I classify the stock unit as a piece of crap.

Also: "They will all sound better, have much more functionality, look better, and on top of all that...it will be NEW."

Yes, it will be new. No they will not all look better- most new HU's look like some silver spaceship control panel that may not look good to a lot of eyes in a black dash. A lot of them I've heard did not sound better anyway. Probably more functional, but unless you're an audiophile, most people don't mess with all of the settings past bass and treble. Factory unit has that. Not everyone has an iPod, not everyone has subs in the back of their truck either.

I guess I just don't understand the "You MUST have an aftermarket HU if you don't want your stereo to sound like s**t" crowd. And I have an aftermarket HU.

 

[Glen4X4]

I know the stock unit in our 96 wasn't anything great, it had the tape player and even when turned up the whole way it just didn't do it for me, put the Sony headunit in it and now when you turn that up a quarter to half way it sounds like the stock did turned up the whole way.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

I'm one of the stocker supporters. I like that the dash matches, I like that the truck looks stock. They don't sound like crap especially if you set your factory HU to full bass and full treble. Most of the newer HU's are Pioneer, so they are not junk. The difference is the wattage for the dollar. I am running more wattage through my new HU and with the settings set correctly, I think it sounds a bit better than the factory unit, but in no way would I classify the stock unit as a piece of crap.

Also: "They will all sound better, have much more functionality, look better, and on top of all that...it will be NEW."

Yes, it will be new. No they will not all look better- most new HU's look like some silver spaceship control panel that may not look good to a lot of eyes in a black dash. A lot of them I've heard did not sound better anyway. Probably more functional, but unless you're an audiophile, most people don't mess with all of the settings past bass and treble. Factory unit has that. Not everyone has an iPod, not everyone has subs in the back of their truck either.

I guess I just don't understand the "You MUST have an aftermarket HU if you don't want your stereo to sound like s**t" crowd. And I have an aftermarket HU.

For some it's a vice for others it's a hobby. For me it's both.

I don't smoke. I can't drink (diebetic) so I spend my money on cars anyway I can.

 

[MZ2215]

i'm pretty sure i'm just going to go for the $60 usa spec aux input adapter. i've had a couple cars that i've put aftermarket units in. the last three have been an eclipse, kenwood excelon and a pioneer premier. i doubt i'd be satisfied with a bottom of the line $100 pioneer, although for some that is a very good option. I'm only going to have this truck for another year at most, so with the rear seat controls i'd rather just keep the stocker in there. the stock deck has and will continue to perform to my standards for now.

I had big plans a couple of years ago when i bought it to replace all of the stock speakers and put a nice aftermarket HU in, but for me the price to do so just outweighed it's value to me.

 

[Glen4X4]

It just depends on who ya are, as to what kind of head unit is better for ya, good luck with the adapter.

 

[ThePhoenix]

i am kinda in the middle too...I will keep the stock unit, but add on my iPod and a subwoofer to supplement the sound. I dont need some high priced head unit to thump or blow others ears out...i can tap in to existing system for little money and be hap-happy

 

[Steeda90GT]

Hey that's fine if you don't want to touch the factory unit. But things get old/outdated and start to break after so many years. I just think it's crazy to spend $110 on a harness to make the mp3 player work (and it will still not be the best quality) When you can get a much better radio for the same amount or just a little more. Plenty of manufactures make radios (black ones) that light up green to match your dash.

I guess I compare it to fixing an engine. Why spend $2800 to open up the stock engine, fix it, and still have an old but running engine when you could just buy a brand new (better) engine for a similiar amount. Just doesn't make sense to me.


Like I said, if the harness was cheap I'd say go for it...otherwise it just doesn't make sense.

 

[CDW6212R]

You're kidding me right? I have the premium CD/Tape in my 99 and it's absolute junk (just like most Ford OEM radios)

You pretty much can't miss with any aftermarket HU...They will all sound better, have much more functionality, look better, and on top of all that...it will be NEW. Not some worn out beat up 9 yr old factory radio.

Todd is correct, the Premium and Mach OEM radios from 1998 to the early 2000's are pure Pioneer radios. They are as good as any aftermarket radio in the same price range(don't argue a $500-1000 high end HU). Both of those have very good reception, sound quality, and lots of features, plus the anti theft appearance. They can have RCA outputs installed in them, I have a Mach with five RCA's in my 98 truck now. Regards,

 

[gijoecam]

Hey that's fine if you don't want to touch the factory unit. But things get old/outdated and start to break after so many years. I just think it's crazy to spend $110 on a harness to make the mp3 player work (and it will still not be the best quality) When you can get a much better radio for the same amount or just a little more. Plenty of manufactures make radios (black ones) that light up green to match your dash.

I guess I compare it to fixing an engine. Why spend $2800 to open up the stock engine, fix it, and still have an old but running engine when you could just buy a brand new (better) engine for a similiar amount. Just doesn't make sense to me.


Like I said, if the harness was cheap I'd say go for it...otherwise it just doesn't make sense.

Bad analogy... This is like adding a K&N intake kit to your existing engine even though you can get a replacement engine out of a totaled truck for $100 that includes a K&N and headers. The *new* engine would sound better, but there's nothing wrong with the old engine. There's just no need.

There's nothing wrong with his stock head unit, and there's not necessarily a need to replace it. For the vast majority of Explorer owners (myself included) the stock system is fine. I mean, books on CD don't sound any better on an aftermarket system; I could just hear them from farther away. I would add the Pie harness if the need ever arose... My cousin just bought one off Ebay for $25 and it worked like a charm! It's WAY cleaner sound than an FM modulator.

 

[Steeda90GT]

Bad analogy... This is like adding a K&N intake kit to your existing engine even though you can get a replacement engine out of a totaled truck for $100 that includes a K&N and headers. The *new* engine would sound better, but there's nothing wrong with the old engine. There's just no need.

There's nothing wrong with his stock head unit, and there's not necessarily a need to replace it. For the vast majority of Explorer owners (myself included) the stock system is fine. I mean, books on CD don't sound any better on an aftermarket system; I could just hear them from farther away. I would add the Pie harness if the need ever arose... My cousin just bought one off Ebay for $25 and it worked like a charm! It's WAY cleaner sound than an FM modulator.

Bad analogy on your part...the replacement engine out of a totaled truck is still a used engine with xx,x.. amount of miles on it. An aftermarket HU is NIB brand spanking new with a warranty.