Audio Pics
- Thread starter ecniemann
- Start date
This particular HU cost about $800 Compared to a portable device, it's about twice as much. But look at what you get...
far bigger screen... ability to play dvds (while driving if you choose)... handsfree calling... ipod integration... sat radio...
If you're unsatisfied with the sound of your stock system and are looking to upgrade anyway, it makes sense to go this route (assuming these features are important to you) as opposed to getting a nice single din HU for about 400... and a portable nav for about the same. In the end, you get a lot more for your money... and get a nice integrated look. (i hate add ons that just clutter my car.... the wires suck too)
I hear what you're saying about portability though. that's the one downside. the whole breaking thing... that's the risk you take with any electronic gizmo. IMO, it's not something I'm going to base my decision on since it's a hypothetical at best.
Forgot about the ability to play DVD's, that may make it worthwhile. I had been considering going with an Alpine flip-out screen, but you can't really use it while driving (illegal, plus liability, plus Alpine makes it very difficult to work around it). You got a point though.
flip out screen's suck. they're too vulnerable to breakage and don't offer that integrated look so many desire. Plus, they're quite costly and, since you're probably not going to leave it out 100% of the time like you obviously would an indash model, they often just stay hidden until it's time for action.
as far as watching dvds go... sure, it may be illegal. but so is rolling through stop signs... driving over the speedlimit.... and wearing a blue tie on wednesday (assuming you live in tuscalosa, al) haha i made that last one up.... my point is, who gives a s***? cops aren't even going to see you're watching a movie (unless you're watching it on one of those pos flip up factory nav screens)
personally... i never thought I'd actually watch movies (or shows via my ipod) on my hu... until I actually did it for the hell of it. surprisingly, it wasn't that bad. naturally, i mainly listened.... and occasionally glanced.... even still, this feature is for passengers enjoyment primarily.
as far as watching dvds go... sure, it may be illegal. but so is rolling through stop signs... driving over the speedlimit.... and wearing a blue tie on wednesday (assuming you live in tuscalosa, al) haha i made that last one up.... my point is, who gives a s***? cops aren't even going to see you're watching a movie (unless you're watching it on one of those pos flip up factory nav screens)
personally... i never thought I'd actually watch movies (or shows via my ipod) on my hu... until I actually did it for the hell of it. surprisingly, it wasn't that bad. naturally, i mainly listened.... and occasionally glanced.... even still, this feature is for passengers enjoyment primarily.
I`m noy buying any HU`s untill they come out with a BlueRay head unit 7" capable of playing and showing 1080p with a 7" screen and a minimum 200gb hdd storage,bluetooth with 3d NAV like in Japan so i guess i have a good 5 years hehehehLOL
You gotta wonder if Blu-Ray will even be around at that point. Just think Beta! (headshake
It's kicking the crap out of HD-DVD (something I'm surprised to see). Even though 5 years is a long time for technology, (I feel a lot of people will be getting their videos/games/etc. via fiber) we'll still need a place to store the data and... sadly, it looks like it'll be bluray.
OK, a better analogy. Just think SACD and DVD-Audio! Just remembered another one. How about Sony's mini-disc or whatever that spectacular failure that was. Personally I think HD DVD would be more successful if it came out a few years later. Everyone is just getting use to DVD's, VHS is phased out, and then we have a whole new technology already. I don't think it will be successful until the majority of people have HD TV's, meaning at least 3-5 years. We're all also going to need new computers, etc., etc. The snowballing keeps going on and on with new technology.
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The 3 formats you brought up are audio. People are far less inclined to spend a lot of money to achieve the highest level of audio fidelity than they are to achieve the highest level of video (and audio) quality.
Those formats all had their own unique set of flaws. limited-to-no support for the SACD & DVD Audio formats... and a just plain absurd premise behind the minidisc.
Personally, I think it'll be less than 3-5 years. prices continue to drop. more and more programming is available. It's one of those things that, once you see, you need to have. Anyone that has a HDTV needs to have either a BR or HD DVD (assuming they don't receive their HD content via their cable/sat provider... like me) It doesn't make a lot of sense to spend that type of money and NOT take avantage of it. i have the hddvd add-on for the xbox and it serves me well. Granted, I'm missing a large chunk of the movies available on BR... but those are usually available payperview (which looks just as good) so it's not a huge loss.
In the end, I don't think there will be a clearcut winner anytime soon... if ever. I think the market has changed a great deal... i think it can support 2 different formats (assuming some affordable combo units come out) nobody's going to buy 2 players. Assuming that's the reality, it would be no different than... i don't know, a toaster for lack of a better example. toasters can accept all different brands of bread. nobody thinks about what brand it is... wondering if the toaster will accept it. they just drop it in and, a couple minutes later, toast!
Those formats all had their own unique set of flaws. limited-to-no support for the SACD & DVD Audio formats... and a just plain absurd premise behind the minidisc.
Personally, I think it'll be less than 3-5 years. prices continue to drop. more and more programming is available. It's one of those things that, once you see, you need to have. Anyone that has a HDTV needs to have either a BR or HD DVD (assuming they don't receive their HD content via their cable/sat provider... like me) It doesn't make a lot of sense to spend that type of money and NOT take avantage of it. i have the hddvd add-on for the xbox and it serves me well. Granted, I'm missing a large chunk of the movies available on BR... but those are usually available payperview (which looks just as good) so it's not a huge loss.
In the end, I don't think there will be a clearcut winner anytime soon... if ever. I think the market has changed a great deal... i think it can support 2 different formats (assuming some affordable combo units come out) nobody's going to buy 2 players. Assuming that's the reality, it would be no different than... i don't know, a toaster for lack of a better example. toasters can accept all different brands of bread. nobody thinks about what brand it is... wondering if the toaster will accept it. they just drop it in and, a couple minutes later, toast!
Not really, instead of grounding the Parking brake cable you need to wire it to a Switch, then wire it to the brake. Its not difficult at all.
exactly.... I googled mine and found a million hits on how to do it. I didn't want to take any chances so I bought some gizmo off ebay for like $15 and gave it to friend (who installed it) turns out he didn't even need it... if you know what you're doing, it's pretty easy to work around it.
Dude that looks wayyyy better than I thought. In my wife's 3, we had to remove the digital readout. It really sucked. I don't know how I'd use the climate control without it.
Thanks for posting the pics! (thumb)
Thanks man!!! You are probably the first person to say the aftermarket look does not suck. Like I said, it looks even better in person. Maybe with a better camera, the pics would not look so washed out/bright. Thanks again though. If you need any help figuring out how to keep the LCD read-out, let me know. Basically I cut the stock mounting bracket in half at the sides (LCD is attached to the stock stereo this way) and used the top half of the bracket to mount to the top of the aftermarket kit. Takes some time, but is worth it.
yamahaguy26
Member
- :
- 2006 Mazdaspeed 6
OK this might be a really dumb question but I can't find anything that really explains it. How do you remove the factory head unit in a mazdaspeed 6.
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123677001&highlight=HU+removal
Gotta search a little. Best bet is to search within a specific section that is closest to what you are looking for (ie. MS6 audio section). This section is MS3 section audio. Hope this helps.
Sublime1996
Member
- :
- '07 Mazda3 Sedan
i like it!
I was thinking of swapping out the stock HU for something else but wasn't too sure of how it would look. This really doesn't look as bad as I was expecting so I might just go ahead and do it. All looks good IMHO.
Thanks for the post and (soon) emptying my wallet
I was thinking of swapping out the stock HU for something else but wasn't too sure of how it would look. This really doesn't look as bad as I was expecting so I might just go ahead and do it. All looks good IMHO.
Thanks for the post and (soon) emptying my wallet
