head unit recomendation?

[aaron325ix]

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-XU0HDlmmrhT/p_500UTE42BT/Alpine-UTE-42BT.html?tp=5684&stop_mobi=yes

looks like bluetooth works for calls with the iPhone, but if i want to listen to music from it or even pandora, I have to plug into the usb in the front.

[campbellj25]

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-XU0HDlm...&stop_mobi=yes

looks like bluetooth works for calls with the iPhone, but if i want to listen to music from it or even pandora, I have to plug into the usb in the front.

I just got this radio installed in my car tonight, I think it looks pretty damn good, but I like the blue light. I drilled a hole and mounted the BT Mic in one of the square dummy plugs next to the hazard switch. Made a few test calls, works perfectly and also works with Siri through the unit.

I tried out everything, Bluetooth streams my music library, pandora and I heart radio just fine from my iphone. Only thing is I can't choose between them with the head unit, I have to pick the program with my phone, but then the head unit can scroll through songs from there.

I will get a pic posted up here tomorrow when I get some light in my car outside.

[StereoInstaller1]

What a crock of shit...fucking apple

[aaron325ix]

I just got this radio installed in my car tonight, I think it looks pretty damn good, but I like the blue light. I drilled a hole and mounted the BT Mic in one of the square dummy plugs next to the hazard switch. Made a few test calls, works perfectly and also works with Siri through the unit.

I tried out everything, Bluetooth streams my music library, pandora and I heart radio just fine from my iphone. Only thing is I can't choose between them with the head unit, I have to pick the program with my phone, but then the head unit can scroll through songs from there.

I will get a pic posted up here tomorrow when I get some light in my car outside.

so youre saying despite what it says in the description, you dont really have to plug in your iphone into the usb port on the head unit in order to play music from the iPhone or listen to pandora?

[campbellj25]

so youre saying despite what it says in the description, you dont really have to plug in your iphone into the usb port on the head unit in order to play music from the iPhone or listen to pandora?

Correct

[campbellj25]

There is the alpine installed to give you an idea. Sorry about the shitty pic

[aaron325ix]

that doenst look too bad at all. is that blue light bright at night? is the mic wireless or does it run a cable to the back of the unit? pre out for sub? might have to pull the trigger on this one if the sound quality is good.

[Danny]

A side note, I have the JVC HDR61 (predecessor of the HDR71BT you're looking at I think) in my E30 and my MINI. I love it to death.

[campbellj25]

that doenst look too bad at all. is that blue light bright at night? is the mic wireless or does it run a cable to the back of the unit? pre out for sub? might have to pull the trigger on this one if the sound quality is good.

The blue light is fairly bright but not overwhelming. It can be dimmed if needed. The mic is not wireless, it plugs into the back of the head unit. It has 2 sets of pre outs front/rear, but the rear can be dedicated sub control if you want.

[R3Z3N]

I won't disagree...like I said, all head units suck in one way or another IMO.

I love my KDC-X996 except for the fact bluetooth takes forever to download my contact list (understandable due to throughput), and "DOWNLOADING" is displayed till it is done, rendering the unit unusable, and it pushes me back to the menu if I was navigating for a setting/music.

Who designs the user interface? Monkeys I swear.

[CB-M3]

I just put in a Pioneer unit. Has Ipod, usb, aux. Just doesn't have bluetooth. I bought it for $67 shipped new in box. Colors match up pretty good at night.

[xtos]

Nice !I like the bezel....looks quite flat. Take a pic at night, let's see it !

[aaron325ix]

well, i just got the alpine. But now im reconsidering it as it doesnt have a sub preout. I dont really want to live without my rear speakers, and i definitely wont go without my luke box. guess im back to square one..

And yes Luke, all head units suck in one way or another!

[campbellj25]

You can get splitter RCA cables, split the front channel and then tune the front/rear from the amp. Then use the rear channel on the alpine so you have seperate sub control.

Or you can split the rear channel so you can fade between front/rear from the head unit, but doing that way you will lose your sub control. I also looked around for the same options in a head unit as you did before I bought the alpine. I wanted 3 preouts also, but for a hundred bucks its hard to find. So I figured I would use splitters on the front channel just to have all the other features that the alpine has, plus one that i liked the looks of in the car

[aaron325ix]

well i decided to go with this one, http://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KDR8...-KD-R80BT.html Its twice as much as i wanted to spend, but has everything i want. Lights that i can match to the e30 interior, 3 preouts, bluetooth, and it looks pretty nice, doesnt have that ricey fast and furious look. Playing CD's as not mandatory for me, but for $10 more than the exact one which did not play CD's, what the hell, why not.
I'll post results next week.