Head Unit Recommendations

[agent]

is there a part number on the switch?

There's a part number for everything.

61 31 1 380 557

9/1986 and later.

[kinvodA]

Kenwood 952 BT. Working out so far. Good UI. Too much poke though.
Just installed the BT mic in the dead button above the HU.
[ATTACH]58306[/ATTACH]

How is that location working out for you? I still need to mount my mic and am contemplating putting it behind the steering wheel

[ProjectCab]

How is that location working out for you? I still need to mount my mic and am contemplating putting it behind the steering wheel

I was worried about mounting it in the dash, but after I took the mic apart i noticed those slits in the side dont actually capture any sound. Looks and sounds great. Haven't had any complaints from anyone even at cruising speed and I'm in a convertible. Here is another pic of the tab.

[B-well]

if you are going away from CDs (like the rest of the world) i recommend the Apline IDA-x305s or the 305bt (bluetooth version)

they are digital media players and do not have cd players

they display album artwork and you control your ipod allowing you to shuffle and browse all your ipod music insanely fast and in an organized fashon, almost like you would on your device.

works great with i4s as well

[jrobie79]

just picked up the Pioneer DEH-P9400BH:

[kinvodA]

if you are going away from CDs (like the rest of the world) i recommend the Apline IDA-x305s or the 305bt (bluetooth version)

they are digital media players and do not have cd players

they display album artwork and you control your ipod allowing you to shuffle and browse all your ipod music insanely fast and in an organized fashon, almost like you would on your device.

works great with i4s as well

I had the 305 and the color was a little off, that's why i got rid of it, never tried the 305s or looked into their color abilities. Although I love the JVC KDX80BT, I have not tried to navigate my iphone with it yet, just used bluetooth, so i can't speak to its "surfing abilities".

[agent]

The vast majority of Alpine units do not have variable colors for buttons/back lighting or display. The ones in my price range all got crossed off the consideration list quickly for that reason.

[IAmGary]

There's a part number for everything.

61 31 1 380 557

9/1986 and later.

Thanks! It's possible this is what's in my car, but the lights are burned out. Thanks for the off-topic help.

[PNWDan]

just picked up the Pioneer DEH-P9400BH:

You'll love it.

[agent]

Thanks for the off-topic help.

You bet. ;)

[nrubenstein]

if you are going away from CDs (like the rest of the world) i recommend the Apline IDA-x305s or the 305bt (bluetooth version)

they are digital media players and do not have cd players

they display album artwork and you control your ipod allowing you to shuffle and browse all your ipod music insanely fast and in an organized fashon, almost like you would on your device.

works great with i4s as well

Unfortunately the feedback that I've gotten on the X305 and its Alpine ilk is that they sound like crap.

[nrubenstein]

At any rate, I have the Kenwood X996 installed. It sounds *vastly* better than the Pioneer it replaced. (Since I have a JBL MS-8, comparing head units is pretty easy - I just defeat as much of the DSP as is possible and go. Since you can't actually bypass the DSP fully on the Pioneer, it wouldn't shock me if that was a big part of the problem.)

Nothing like a truly awful experience to make returning to a barely adequate one seem like a relief.

[Mastrcruse]

I went to look at HUs today. He recommended the kenwood x396. Not sure if I need Bluetooth which is why he recommended the 396...it doesn't have bluetooth. My mins are USB for phone and pandora and USB for iPod. The 396 seems to have though.

Any comments? The unit was 129.99 and free basic install which I think it will be since the PO had a Hu in it already. Should I spend a little more for a bit more deck?

There seems to be others like X596, X696, X796 and then I'm at more than I want to spend. Trying to stay below 200 but if I can get a "better" unit for $20 more I'd be okay with doing that.

Edit: maybe a 996 off of eBay since they are under 200

[CorvallisBMW]

OP, ever thought of trying the Kenwood X996, the next step up? I just bought one for myself.

[nrubenstein]

OP, ever thought of trying the Kenwood X996, the next step up? I just bought one for myself.

I guess you weren't paying much attention. :p. I have had a replacement X996 installed for a couple weeks.

It sounds great (I never had any complaints about the sound quality of the X994 either), although the interface is no better. In some ways, it's actually worse - I despise the new source switching setup. Net-net, I'm back where I started. Not exactly happy, but not actively angry or disappointed whenever I use it.