Hey, I just wanted to see if there was a good recommendation on which headunit would be best to get.

Budget-wise, I'll have probably $1000-$1200. (Possibly under $1k, also, preferably bought as new. I've had pretty bad experiences with used things and it makes me kind of iffy about them now, but if need be, I can go used.)
I think I'll probably have to set aside ~300 for the Double Din Conversion kit.

As for features, I'm looking for the usual, MP3/WMA, iPod interface, CD/DVD, and Nav, Bluetooth (which I think are all basically standard for most headunits).



Thanks in advanced!

 

Bluetooth is still kinda a 50/50 in most. iPod, MP3/WMA CD & DVD are pretty much a given in double din units.

At $740, I'd have to recommend Pioneer X920BT. Best user interface, good navigation and definitely the best iPod/iPhone connectivity. For a couple hundred more ($950), you can get basically the same unit with a larger motorized screen in the Pioneer Z120. I love the voice recognition for searching iPod and navigation in these units.

You pay a big premium for it, but if you want Garmin navigation, the $899 Kenwood DNX-7140 from Kenwood's previous generation is still decent, but lags behind the Pioneer in every way but navigation.
Smaller screen, but it's from the current generation - the Kenwood DNX-6160 is also $899.


Of course, you can pick up the Pioneer 4200DVD for $400, and a separate Garmin with built-in bluetooth for about $600 total. Getting updated maps would be easier, and you can take it on trips for your rental car or whatever.

 

Thank you for the reply!

Actually, the Pioeneer 4200DVD seems to be the best choice for me. I actually thought of NAV and Bluetooth as somewhat on the basis of "extra" features, as I do have a TomTom GPS I've had for a while, and a bluetooth headset. I figured an upgrade would be nice.

Speaking of which, would upgrading to an in-dash navigation be worth it?

 

I like Kenwoods exceleon line (dnx8120/dnx9140/dnx9960) over most double dins
they sound great, have time alignment with the ability to go active, 13 band eq for front and a seperate 13 band on the rear. tons of crossover and each at 6/12/18db.

so to me the kenwood is a better option if you like to mess with sound settings

garmin nav is really nice and you can upload some items like red light camera locations, common speed traps, and other nice uploads from POIfactory.com

 

The Kenwoods are a little too expensive for me, but it seems like a great choice if I had the money. How do they compare to the Pioneers?

I DJ as a hobby, so I'm a Pioneer fanboy.

 

I'd say that Pioneers are equivalent to Macs. Less customizable, but perfectly fine out of the box if you don't want to mess with the technical stuff.

The Kenwoods, as blazeplacid said, like a PC, can be tuned very precisely, but if you don't know what you're doing, you're liable to make things worse.

Big deciding factor is price and if you use navigation enough that having garmin built-in is worth it or not.

Price-wise, it's hard to argue against the dedicated GPS + 4200DVD combo.

 

Yea, I agree. I think my best option would be the 4200DVD combo, since I don't use the GPS that often. At least, not as much as an in-dash Nav warrants. Heh.

Thank you for your advice!


I also just wanted to confirm.
Aside from the DD kit/with AC controls and the headunit, I should get this PAC-SWI and an iPod USB to iPod cable (which plugs into the back), right?

For the PAC-SWI, will this just do the trick? It was in the sticky, but the site gave a different and more expensive one.

What else I am missing? hahah



EDIT: Ah, I took a look at the sticky again and I need the AM/FM Antenna and the Wiring Harness. :O

 

Check to see if where you're buying from (I'm pretty sure sonicelectronics does) gives you free wiring harness and/or antenna adapter.

 

+1, DNX9140 can be had on the cheap these days... i got mine for 1200 NEW.

 

Sirius box, backup camera, am.fm antenna, ipod cable, jdm dd kit, wiring harness, steering wheel controls, subwoofer cable (if you have a sub). Thats what i had to get with mine.

 

Is there a DIY for the installation of the headunit?

Wires confuse the crap out of me.