Deceided to go with a Kenwood KDC-X794 as the Alpine was discontinued. Also ordered and recieved the Metra single din faceplate with AC/heat buttons and circuit board. My install shop got it in a day.

 

Cool unit

far from the best tho

 

So you go from wanting a $400-600 "best single din" to that?

If you're not going with a single din with better sound quality than the previously mentioned Pioneer AVH-3200BT, why bother going single din at all?

If you really wanted "best headunit for $150" you should have asked that in the first place.

 

I asked for advice on single din radios. I was getting an Alpine , but it was discontinued. I looked at this Kenwood as I hadn't gotten any viable alternatives from here. Any suggestions welcomed. I listen to XM with an occasional CD. I don't need Nav or Bluetooth.

 

Checked out the Pioneer AVH-3200BT. Too many gimmicks I don't want/need. I don't like a big screen, etc. No bluetooth. i don't want to pay for add ons that I won't use. There has to be a really good single din radio the gets XM and plays CDs. At 61 I don't need the features that the younger guys deem essential.

 

Well, there's the bluetooth-free $260 3200DVD http://www.sonicelectronix.com/viewitem.php?id=22418, I wouldn't say you're really paying for any gimmicks with it.

Nobody says you have to use the DVDs player function, but you can always use it to keep the grandkids occupied on those long drives to the metamucil store.
Big touchscreens should be easier to see without your bifocals.
The front AUX input can be connected to a turntable.

Old jokes aside, it's got 4v preamp outputs, so a cleaner signal than the Kenwood, 8-band EQ, so more tuning options, and the illumination can be changed to match the interior lighting.

If there were a single-din that was better for this price, I'd recommend it, but even the single-din units that cost *more* aren't better - http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...-KDV-415U.html - only 2.5v preamp outputs, 3-band eq, fixed (blue) illumination.

Like was mentioned much earlier, there's some very good, very expensive single-din units, but in the $400-600 range, it'll be very hard to get a new unit that can outperform some of the double-din units in that range.

 

From april thru nov. I listen to my XM while towing my 600hp vette to various road racing tracks along the east coast and canada. I might be older, but I'm not an old fart. thanks for the info on the 3200 dvd unit. checked it out. it's a DD unit.

 

Yes, it'd a DD, I'm just trying to figure out why you'd get an inferior single-din if it's worse than the DD available.

If you have a SD for $260 that's better than the 3200DVD, go for it, but otherwise, I'm not seeing why you wouldn't go with it.

 

I don't spend a lot of time looking at the radio screen. I can change XM stations by touch. I'm not into the 'show' aspect of a DD.

 

I'm not into the show factor either. I change stations by touch from the steering wheel, but I do occasionally miss those 6 preset buttons. That's something that touchscreen lack.

 

Found the Alpine CDA-117. better than the Kenwood KDC-X794?

 

Kenwood's got double the warranty, the white buttons/illumination will fit the rest of the car better, and has a better signal/noise ratio for CDs, and it looks like the iPod interface on it is a bit better.

But the Alpine works with the Imprint.

So Kenwood's the better of those two, but, if the Imprint is something you really want, it's the way to go.

 

Had a friend in the business explain some specs to me. The kenwood seems to be the better radio (slightly) plus $100+ cheaper. Thanks again for your help.

 

Slightly better for significantly less = significantly better.

I think it's a much better looking unit as well, and double the warranty is also sweet. Good luck with the install. Don't break a hip. (mandatory old person joke)

 

As your location reads 'Southwestern Asia' , I'll let it slide. I did 2 fun-filled tours of Vietnam. Stay safe.