Stereo Suggestions

[Blankman]

So I go looking for a new head unit, and the guy at this shop starts treating me like I don't know anything about stereos all because I told him I wanted a deck that lit up all red to replace the factory unit so that it would blend in with the rest of the dash at night. Then he starts trying to sell me this $600 deck that is illuminated blue & green.

I told him it's not what I'm looking for, and then he starts bragging about his truck, and how this shop is supposedly the best shop on the west coast, etc, etc... MUST... RESIST.... URGE.... TO STRANGLE.........

All because I care about keeping the red illumination on the dash... Anyway, I'm looking for head unit suggestions. I'd like to keep the red illumination, but if I can't I won't. I need to have cd/mp3 and need 3 sets of preouts. Also looking for one that has a subwoofer control (so I can turn them off or down when my wife or sons are in the car). And does anyone know where I can find an istall kit that centers the unit in the dash, instead of adding a pocket or a big piece of plastic?

 

[Mmmmmken]

Check out the new units by Clarion. Some of them match our illumination pretty nicely, and look fairly stock. Decent units, too.

So I go looking for a new head unit, and the guy at this shop starts treating me like I don't know anything about stereos all because I told him I wanted a deck that lit up all red to replace the factory unit so that it would blend in with the rest of the dash at night. Then he starts trying to sell me this $600 deck that is illuminated blue & green.

I told him it's not what I'm looking for, and then he starts bragging about his truck, and how this shop is supposedly the best shop on the west coast, etc, etc... MUST... RESIST.... URGE.... TO STRANGLE.........

All because I care about keeping the red illumination on the dash... Anyway, I'm looking for head unit suggestions. I'd like to keep the red illumination, but if I can't I won't. I need to have cd/mp3 and need 3 sets of preouts. Also looking for one that has a subwoofer control (so I can turn them off or down when my wife or sons are in the car). And does anyone know where I can find an istall kit that centers the unit in the dash, instead of adding a pocket or a big piece of plastic?

 

[MyZmZm]

I just got the clarion DXZ955MC the other day, and absolutely love it. The whole HU has a brushed silver look to it, so it matches very well with the rest of the interior trim. It's got touchscreen (which I'm loving), controls for just about EVERYTHING including sub, crossover, etc, etc, and has several different selections for lighting colours including red, if I'm not mistaken. Plays mp3, wma, cdr/rw, has the music-catcher feature where you can actually record music from your cd's onto the flash memory (like 6 cd's worth or something). I highly recommend you take a look at this unit.

 

[Blankman]

Check out the new units by Clarion. Some of them match our illumination pretty nicely, and look fairly stock. Decent units, too.

I like those units, but the only authorized dealer in this town is that stupid shop I went to... Guess it's mail order for me.

 

[Mmmmmken]

Check out Crutchfield... they may carry them.

I like those units, but the only authorized dealer in this town is that stupid shop I went to... Guess it's mail order for me.

 

[JOS3]

most of the new clarion headunits can be changed to red. i was messing with them at the store last week. some of them have like 70 different colors.

 

[ENTENSE]

Most Kenwood headunits can change the color also. Mine is a 5yr. old Kenwood elexon it cost like 600 new. Highly recommended.

 

[samm5149]

i recommend the kenwood kdc-mp5028 from crutchfield. it ights up red or green...the red matches the interior illumination very well....its what i have

 

[p5power]

i've been doing a lot of head unit research lately, and have found that most of them have an option to change the background color. even the inexpensive sony's have that now. If I were you, I'd start doing some research on crutchfield. they don't have every head unit available, but the site is extremely informative. though their prices are a bit higher than you can find elsewhere, they include everything you would need to install it (mounting kits, wire harness, etc.), right down to custom instructions. plus their shipping is fast and usually free on $200+ orders. Just my $0.02. if you really want to get some input from the audio gurus, check out the audio/visual forum on the mainpage. those guys know their stuff!

oh...and that clarion MyZmZm mentioned (http://www.cardomain.com/item/CLADXZ955MC) looks freakin awesome! it has all the stuff you would need for future audio/visual upgrades. sweet pick...never seen this hu before!

 

[MyZmZm]

oh...and that clarion MyZmZm mentioned (http://www.cardomain.com/item/CLADXZ955MC) looks freakin awesome! it has all the stuff you would need for future audio/visual upgrades. sweet pick...never seen this hu before!

I've only had this HU for a few days (I love it so far though), and the rest of my audio goodies (sub, amp, components, dynamat) are getting installed right now by a buddy of mine. When I get my car back tomorrow, I want to go someplace warm with the car so I can just play with the HU (it's too cold to sit in the car for any length without it running right now).

What you mention about having all the stuff needed for a/v upgrades, etc - that's one of the main reasons I chose this deck. I expect that unless I end up putting a full dvd player in the car, this is likely the last HU that I will buy, it's so versatile. It's also very nice that you can control everything from the HU instead of physically playing with the amp/sub/speakers.

 

[Fraimr8]

alpine 9855

So I go looking for a new head unit, and the guy at this shop starts treating me like I don't know anything about stereos all because I told him I wanted a deck that lit up all red to replace the factory unit so that it would blend in with the rest of the dash at night. Then he starts trying to sell me this $600 deck that is illuminated blue & green.

I told him it's not what I'm looking for, and then he starts bragging about his truck, and how this shop is supposedly the best shop on the west coast, etc, etc... MUST... RESIST.... URGE.... TO STRANGLE.........

All because I care about keeping the red illumination on the dash... Anyway, I'm looking for head unit suggestions. I'd like to keep the red illumination, but if I can't I won't. I need to have cd/mp3 and need 3 sets of preouts. Also looking for one that has a subwoofer control (so I can turn them off or down when my wife or sons are in the car). And does anyone know where I can find an istall kit that centers the unit in the dash, instead of adding a pocket or a big piece of plastic?

you can match the dash almost identical and the white on black bio screen looks awsome with the white gauges at the same time. It looks really good but the headunit is about 400. it has every feature imaginable(mp3,bass level control/phase control,built in eq/crossover/time correction). this unit allows you to select almost every color imaginable for the buttons.I love the way it looks in my p5 it even has a display mode of a moving car speeding by to the music. I dont think the lower line of alpine is as versatile in colors but im not sure.

 

[simmadown]

Alot of the alpine head units have all those prereqs, but i cant tand to new slider bar. It just doesnt work right as far as i am concerned. I have the 9835. Its great and no slide bar. the only complaint i have about it is that the remote doesnt have any of the quick search functions that are so useful with and mp3 CD. I would try to find one new in the box that is pre-slidebar.

 

[Fraimr8]

the question was color

Alot of the alpine head units have all those prereqs, but i cant tand to new slider bar. It just doesnt work right as far as i am concerned. I have the 9835. Its great and no slide bar. the only complaint i have about it is that the remote doesnt have any of the quick search functions that are so useful with and mp3 CD. I would try to find one new in the box that is pre-slidebar.

I was just saying the color could be matched perfectly to the p5. as for the slider,I love it! scroll through menus instead of pushing a button a million times. Maybe it will fail but as of now im very happy with this receiver.ive had it for about 6 months and now that I have gotten use to the slider it is very easy to use. But you are right because alpines got a new unit out to replace it that does not have the slider( im not sure of the color on the new unit). The masses dont seem to adjust to new technologys to easily sometimes and it can spell disaster for many types of new designs. My main criteria when i was buying was a fairly high end receiver that was good with mp3 discs and this receiver really fits the bill. The slider to me is what actually makes it attractive.

 

[RicesP5]

i have a alpine 9831 pretty decent hu, but it has pre-set eq's and i dont like it. cant tune to what i want unless i get on alpine.com and use ipersonalize .. which gives a "perfect" sound mesurments are taken for distance between speakers and angles and what not.. lots of differnt colors.. and it plays mp3's wma's xm ready .. cd's cdr's .. taking it out though.. due to wanting a indash screen

 

[kold]

I have an Alpine CDA-9845

-Lights up red/orangy color that the interior is...it matches the stock dash lights perfectly
-3 sets of preouts
-cd/mp3 capability
-separate sub volume control
-xm/sirius ready (inputs)

Also does not include any of that fancy stuff like motorized swing faces, touch bar, touch screen, etc. It's one of the classic style ones, which I like...nice and simple. It's got a brushed gunmetal color...so dark grey and black is the color. it looks great.

If you want, i'll post some pics.