HU Shopping... help needed.

[aldive]

My JVC MP3 HU has started to skip and not play the disc when it gets warmed up.

Time for a new HU. Suggestions welcome.

I run an amp so a lot of power is not needed. I also have a Ski Fi XM reciever that hooks to the line in jacks on the rear ( that is essential ), I also want MP3 again. I do not want any of the graphics that some HUs have.

Any ideas what to get?

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

How much are we going to spend on this project? That makes all the difference in the world.

 

[aldive]

How much are we going to spend on this project? That makes all the difference in the world.

All I am doing is replacing the HU.

I would like to know my options; I don't need the best there is.

 

[BBQ_HotDogs]

All I am doing is replacing the HU.

I would like to know my options; I don't need the best there is.

But that is my point, the options are so wide open. You have low ends, med ends, high ends, and then the ends that I don't even look at cause they are so expensive. Your question is too vaque, most all companies make a MP3 player. Alpine makes them where you can also play XM. To say all I want is a HU that plays MP3's is not enough detail to go by. Put in a price range you are looking to spend, and get the best that you can afford. That is all I am saying.

 

[aldive]

But that is my point, the options are so wide open. You have low ends, med ends, high ends, and then the ends that I don't even look at cause they are so expensive. Your question is too vaque, most all companies make a MP3 player. Alpine makes them where you can also play XM. To say all I want is a HU that plays MP3's is not enough detail to go by. Put in a price range you are looking to spend, and get the best that you can afford. That is all I am saying.

I can afford anything that I want.

I reckon I am looking at a $300 to $500 price HU.

 

[Alec]

I recommend Pioneer.

Since you already have the skifi XM unit, you don't need one that is XM ready, so can save a little $$$.

 

[aldive]

I recommend Pioneer.

Since you already have the skifi XM unit, you don't need one that is XM ready, so can save a little $$$.

Any particular model? Thanks for the help.

 

[mmsdrummer]

Not quite sure on the 2004 models, but probably the deh 5600mp. Plays mp3s, but doesn't have the fancy graphics.

 

[JPA1982]

here is a good place to look

www.discountjungle.net

is where i got my kenwood mp3, its a KDC-mp522, i love the thing personally, but pioneer is also very good. with what ur able to spend u've got all types of choices, this site saved me almost 100 from what retailer in town would have charged me.

 

[RFR2212]

Not sure on models but I say alpine or pioneer. I have used both and have had great results, and quite a few of my friends run em as well with good results.

 

[nozerider]

Id say Alpine, theeir upper end is fabulous.

 

[ShadowA2J]

My personal opinion is Eclipse, although to get MP3 capabilities it will most likely cost you a little more than you are willing to spend. I have the 8443, with 8 volt preouts. No fancy graphics, just some sweet sound quality. It can play MP3's, but only with the Eclipse Commander unit, which will cost you about as much as a new HU, but you get GPS and voice command and a bunch of other cool functions. It has a mini jack input as well.

 

[aldive]

bump

 

[aldive]

I am ready to purchase.

More suggestions, please.....

 

[Fhantazm]

I consider myself a mid class-upper audiophile and cannot stand anything less than damn near perfect. That being said, here are my reccomendations. Kenwood Excelon, Alpine and Clarion Pro Audio. They have a good ratio of features to sound quality. If you lean more towards sound quality and dont need all the bells and whistles, Nakamichi and McIntosh, both make OUTSTANDING sq head units, but are very expensive. Alpines top of the line unit, the CDA-7990, is about $3,000 but from what I understand is the best there is. I havent head Sony's new line, so i cant comment, but with a 120db s/n ratio among other improvements, their 2004 line is making some waves. Up until now, though, I had a hard time reccomending Sony Xplode equipemnt. I, suggest staying away from JVC, older Sony Xplode, and Pioneer(All but the high end and Premier units). I have owned all of them and they may have a lot of display features, and bells/whistles, but are lacking in sound quality. I can say, however, the new Panasonc head units have great sound quality and some are even coming with extensive sound tuning capabilities, just like the big dogs.

 

[Mustang5086]

The last three head units I've run in the past few years have been JVC and in my opinion JVC has the best features for the $ right now (of course I've only run there upper end models). I just bought my last head unit a few months ago, and was reasearching everything from Alpine, Clarion, Kenwood, Sony, Panasonic, and Eclipse and still ended up picking JVC. The volume knobs on the Alpine's felt cheap to me, and the Eclipse's kicked ass as far as sound quality and features, but I just didn't like their display layout. I don't use the internal amp on the head unit, so power output wasn't my primary concern. That's just my 2 cents worth.

 

[black99sport]

I have had my Panasonic HU for about 1 year and I love it. Skipping is minimal and the features are plenty. Quality is great for the price, I would by Panasonic again.