Hey guys, since my OEM HU finally gave out, I decided to go for aftermarket DD. Due to my budget, I am looking at these few models, what do you guys think about their user-friendiness and sexy-ness (the "look", you know what I mean). Above all, I consider quality of product and quality of sound to be utter most important factors (I am a heavy rap, heavy bass, high volume listener)
1. Pioneer AVH-P4200DVD vs. P3200BT. How does sound quality compare? More importantly, will they both work out w/ my stock bose subs since I will be using them for a little while. And the second one has Blue Tooth, which is preferable I guess. I never used car stereo BT before so don't know what's it feel like or will I enjoy this feature.
2. what about Kenwood DDX616 or 516, knows pretty much nothing about it, how does it stand against the Pioneer's?

Just another questions, what does "RMS Power Output" do anyway? crutchfield has it that higher the better. it seems Kenwood beats Pioneer on this, but does it matter w/ stock bose system?

You see, I am a Canadian, living in Toronto. I was quoted $1000 incl. tax to have a AVHP4200DVD installed w/ metra kit, without even programing the steering wheel interface. Everything seems so much more expensive in Canada let alone the 13% HST tax. So I am thinking, maybe I can call up a few audio shops in Buffalo and have them install my aftermarket HU? Probably will save me up a few hundred bux and also avoid the duty tax on the way back to Canada. What do you guys think? How will the warranty/workmanship work out? Or is it even possible (maybe there isn't any audio shop in Buffalo, researching on this as I write)

Sorry for the long post, but guys, come on and help out a fellow G lover!

 

4200DVD vs 3200BT - same internals really, big difference is the large flip-face screen on the 4200. If you have an automatic it's can't open when you're in park, and the 3200BT has bluetooth built-in. The bluetooth add-on for the 4200 is kind of expensive, but cheaper than a ticket for driving with a cellphone in your hand.

616 and 516 aren't bad, but their interface isn't as good as the Pioneers. Quality-wise they're about the same too, all four of these units are very good choices if you're not looking for in-dash navigation.

RMS is the "real" output, you probably won't hear any difference between the two, and if you get an external amp, the headunit's RMS doesn't matter one bit.

That $1000 is way too high, especially without programming the steering wheel interface. (which is easy, by the way).

Hit up the New York regional forums to see if there's somebody who has done the install that can help you out.

If you haven't checked out my DDin Shopping List sticky, do that, and check out the install resources to see if you really want the Metra, there's also a video showing me programming the steering wheel interface.

Even if you just buy everything yourself - 3200BT, JDM DD Kit, PAC SWI-PS, Trim Ring, Harness, Antenna Adapter, it'll be about $800. Do the install yourself, there's tons of resources and people that can answer any questions or problems that come up right here.

 

ic, I probably wouldn't go for kenword for a dvd receiver then. I found this one vid on youtube showing 4200DVD installed in a 04 coupe auto. Yes the face doesn't open all the way down when in park, but I wonder what's behind the flip face screen anyway. I plan to use USB to store my music, so do I really use the flip-face feature often? I mean if the flip face is not such a big hassle, then I think 4200DVD is a pretty good choice for its large touch screen.

Also, it may sound like a stupid question, but how does the built-in BT work anyway. So you turn your cell's BT on; it will connect to stereo BT, and when calls come in I get to use my car speakers and stereo interface to pick up the call? where is the mic located then? Do i have to install one in my car somewhere or do I have to speak into my phone (oh ****, this sounds like a stupid question)

I think the Metra kit for 04 coupe is fairly decent, I checked it out on a guy who has installed it, matched the interior pretty well. Mostly I don't have to deal with trim-ring (is it a big hassle?).

The thing is, I thought about doing it myself. I would like to learn and try. But I am honestly afraid that I will screw up and I got nobody to bail me out around me when I am in trouble. Also, I don't have a lot of knowledge about car stereo just before my stereo broke down, and let alone all the wirings and disassembling the factory HU. Most bothersome of all, I have no tools with me.

To be honest, I would like to try, but do you guys think DIY is plausible with my limited knowledge, even if I could get tools from my car mechanics?

Ya, parts are damn high in Canada, and the guy only charged me $100 bux for labour (since he also owns a 04 G). That's why I want to go to US for an easier way out lol.

Thanks for these info, I will definitely give it a try.

 

You mentioned wanting a DVD player, so I figured you'd be putting DVDs in it once in a while. You can throw it in neutral and put them in just fine.

When the phone pairs (usually about 30sec - 1min after turning the stereo on) then audio from calls will go through the headunit. You can still use the cellphone to dial or do other things. The unit will come with an external microphone that you mount. If only the driver needs to be heard, mounting it in the gauge cluster area can work, but arms or the spokes in the steering wheel tended to block my voice fairly significantly. I since mounted it by the rear-view mirror, and have had good results there, and it can pick up the passenger as well.

Metra's not horrible in 03-04, worst part is the buttons, and the paint isn't as durable (not as big of a problem if you're black interior). Trim ring isn't a hassle at all with the 3200, but on moving face units it can be a little tougher to get it set just right, any good shop won't think anything of it.

Tools needed are very minimal. A soldering pen ($15 or less) to make solid connections, $4 electrical tape and a screwdriver is all you need. Maybe some scissors to cut the trim ring, and some hot-melt glue to secure it in place. If you have a drill around, you can make new holes so you can mount the headunit forward or backwards a bit for a flush mount if that's what you want.

Others have done this as their first install, and with the 04, there's a full DIY video available, as well as the Metra kit install guide and other Dracov's guide (sticky'd also).

Hope you can get it done cheap... maybe have a friend in the states take delivery of parts in the US, install in a day, and head back north.

 

And no, for the record, I'm not advocating tax evasion.

 

Sorry didnt know you were online...anyways I sent u a private message you can check.

 

I guess this time I will have audio shop install them in US, since parts and labour are just much cheaper there than in Canada.. Just a few more questions hope you can clarify for me:

When you said "the paint isn't as durable", does it mean the paint will start to come off by itself overtime (that's just wrong), or it's just not durable, meaning it would come off easily only if I scratched against it?

I found a few vids on 4200DVD and quite like its interface. I wonder, does the 3200BT operate in a similar manner as the 4200DVD, despite having a smaller screen? Also, I wonder how much is the BT adaptor on 4200DVD? You see... I am struggling b/w larger screen or built-in BT, only hope I had a bigger budget lol.

 

Ah, thanks a lot for all you help, this tip is mostly helpful as well (LOL). now I am just steps away from getting the audio upgrade.

 

ha, a local, certainly nice to hear from you buddy! pm sent, and thanks for the feedback

 

Yeah, 3200 has the same interface. The price of the BT module is $175 - enough that if you were going to buy both the 4200 and the adapter, I'd highly recommend just waiting for a used Z110BT to hit the marketplace again.

You'll really never miss the extra screen space. I've got the F90BT (6.1") in my wife's and Z110BT (7") in mine, and I almost prefer her form factor with the physical volume **** instead of the tiny buttons at the bottom of mine.

The the paint will scrape off over time, I'm not sure how soon, since I don't own the Metra, but all the used ones I've seen look quite used. Not a problem if you're black to begin with.

 

$1000 is alot of money. Was that just the headunit and install or were you adding any other add on devices (i.e. GPS, SAT radio, HD Radio)?

I just bought my double din:

Clarion VX400 (includes BT) $379
Metra Dash Kit $159
Metra Harness $20
Antenna Adapter $20

Going to do the install myself from the how to video and DIY's I have read.

 

Are you in US or Canada? the $1000 quote is from a Canadian audio shop, it does seem quite high for sure. I am also collecting parts now, I wonder where I can get Metra kit cheaper in Canada.

 

Hey Wrathernaut, just a few more questions:
I dont quite understand how does the usb work with the HU. Do you just plug it in a usb slot and you can choose to play music from the usb? Is that how microsd card work as well? I suppose that if i also have ipod connected, they wouldn't conflict each other, right?

For 3200BT, all the slots (usb, sd, dvd, aux) are at front. I wonder where are those slots located on a 4200DVD, behind the flip-face screen? Then does it mean a bigger usb key/micro sd card won't fit in there?

Sry about these rather simple questions, I know I will figure it out when I had an aftermarket HU installed, but I just want to know about these stuff before I own a Pioneer.

 

MicroSD and DVD slot are up front, USB and AUX are in the back.

Yep, just plug the USB into the cable that comes with it, and choose usb as source.

 

I am in the US.

I bought my kit off of ebay. $159