Head Unit for my xmas present

N

NickNat

Member
Hi,

My husband asked me what I want for xmas. Knowing that he loves music but too stingy to invest on anything for himself, I told him I want a car stereo with mp3 function, plus an input thing for ipod for his car. He said ok. So I went to the bestbuy website. Found this: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...CategoryId=pcmcat52600050007&id=1142294485709

However, after looking at the installation charge, I'm beginning to change my mind... Bestbuy is charging $44.99-$56.99 to install it. That's about half the price for the stereo! I don't even know if that stereo fits into his 1999 Mazda Protege. I thought about installing it myself, but not very confident. I was searching for the step by step (with pics, and preferrably from the same stereo as my husband's) but no luck. If anyone knows any, can give me the url?

Also, probably a wishful thinking, but if anyone from preferrably Alameda, CA or Oakland, CA area, and don't mind doing it for free. Please let me know.
 
thats not a bad hu, but u might as well send another 50 n get a better brand. cant say that brand is great or bad, never played with them before. installing shouldnt be to hard. they sell harness that pretty much plug and connect to the stock dash wires... and i always thought any hu would fit if you get the installing piece for it.
 
Insignia is Best Buy's in-house brand. Their products work...but I wouldn't consider them a long term investment. In addition to paying $99, you also need a wiring harness and installation kit. This can cost you $30-50 alone and is separate from the installation labor charge.

Installing a car radio isn't very difficult and if your husband is handy, he can probably do it.

You can also find great deals at www.crutchfield.com. They sell name-brand stereos and there are several options in the $99 price range. The best part about crutchfield is that they give you the wiring harness and installation kit for free along with a set of detailed instruction sheets that are specific to your car.
 
i was also going to recommend crutchfield or even cardomain's online store. you can get MUCH better deals than best buy will ever get you. installing is very very simple. the first time i installed a head unit i had no idea what i was doing and now im pretty confident on changing them out. im sure it wouldn't be difficult for ya.
 
I may just happen to have a near new Alpine HU coming out of my old car...which is MP3 capable playing...single disc player...no iPod hook up on it itself...but I am sure they have some you can hook into it to make it do so....we did the same thing basically on the Acura forum and those guys were using their stock Bose Headunits and wiring the iPods in like nothing...and it was all pretty easy.....and as for putting in a HU....its simple...few screws and its in with a proper mounting kit

as far as charging to get installed....thats crazy

if I was close in the area I would gladly do it for you for free........I guess I have some time to make a roadtrip though huh?


your planning this for around Xmas time for hubby?
 
As Chuyler1 said, "You can also find great deals at www.crutchfield.com. They sell name-brand stereos and there are several options in the $99 price range. The best part about crutchfield is that they give you the wiring harness and installation kit for free along with a set of detailed instruction sheets that are specific to your car."
 
I want to thank you you guys for the help, especially korrupt1! We went shopping today and found out that Circuit City will install for free for a limited period of time. We might make good use of that offer!

Anyways, thanks you guys again. Happy Halloween!
 
your welcome. I try to help all I can wherever I might be.

<getting anxious to get his new car here...lol>
 
Haing been and installer it kind of stings to see people basicly say your not worth much. Maybe its comfort and a little odd to have them mention how they cant do it themselves in the same paragraph.

My opinion is that a free install was probably not worth paying for anyways and knowing several of the CC installers in the area, its very true. Most are clueless although the most basic of head units are a simple thing. Just be sure to really look for scratches before and after the install. Also make no compromises, there should not be any.

Lastly go with a better brand and model like the ~$140 dollar Pioneers, Alpines, or Eclipse. Insignia, Sony, Aiwa, Dual, and jense need to be avioded unless you like buying things twice.

If its IPOD connectivity you are after, then Alpine is by far the best.
 
One thing about Crutchfield. They include the wiring harness, mounting kit and shipping if the HU you buy is over ~$125. Otherwise, you're paying for all of that. I looked at a $79 HU, and with the other stuff, it came to $124. For $139, I got a nicer HU, and they included everything.

Anyway, moral of the story: Crutchfield kicks ass, they had the stereo to me in 2 days and their instructions were very good, BUT, don't buy a stereo from them that's below their "free everything" price threshold! :D
 
I didn't know that, thanks Foolish. Also, if you purchase something over $200, I can give you a referall code that will take $20 off your order. Just drop me a PM.
 
I didn't know it either, nobody ever mentions it. Apparently that's Crutchfield's dirty little secret!
;)
It's not actually unreasonable at all, just something I hadn't heard, so I thought I'd mention it.
 
I just got the Sony GT-400. I like it, great sound, nice features. $139 complete, but I'll admit that wiring it up was a PITA.
 
Sony has been getting better from what I have seen, but I would still not even consider buying one.

No you didn't say anything wrong at all. Its just tough to have been on the personal recieving end of people saying that your time is not worth the cost for so many years and to ignore it. Also, don't feel bad about saying. I am a massive hypocrit as I have spend years here teaching people how to do the stuff themselves.


On the subject of crutchfield, if you are going to do it yourself, there help is invaluable. They will send you the install instructions specific to your car, its awsome. Just take your time and give yourself alot of it if its your first go. You will need 20-30 butt connector, a good crimper, a good quailty wire cutters/strippers for 16-22 gauge wire(dont get the all in one crimper/stripper, they suck and are to large to work with easily in a car).
Be sure to use all the kits and pay attention to each connections. YOu should be able to tug on the wire and not take it out of the crimp. Obviously it won't stand up to a massive rip, well mine do :). For the un-used wires...and you may have some, do NOT just tape them together. No wire should ever even have the potential to contact anothers.

Good Luck, and I still say get this Alpine:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-r8m4imoZz5E/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?I=500CDE9852&wm=su

It may seem like too much now, but the kits and harness's will be free as will the shipping and it has the cheapest and absolutly the best ipod Adapter out there at only $30.
 
If you order from Crutchfield they do not include a rear support (the metal strip with holes in it). My Alpine player did not come with one either. I still need to pick one up since the HU and pocket move a little.
 
For most units, you can just put a screw in the back of the unit and take the rubber piece off the stock unit and stick it on. The rubber piece will fit into the hole in the rear support piece. The only case where this doesn't work is when the unit is too short...but most I have seen are just right.
 
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