I need a new head unit for my car, but I'm not looking for one thats Ipod ready (I use a faux Ipod) or Bluetooth ready - satellite radio is fine. I need something great for sound because I'm trying to redo my car audio. I have 2 12" Kickers and a Kicker amp (not too bad of sound, but will upgrade soon). I like the Pioneer DEH-P780MP, but I won't use most of the stuff thats built in. Really want something with a built in amp, and great RMS. Any ideas?

9/6/2007 2:37:34 PM

are you looking for double din or single din....with navigation or without....

I'm using a AVIC-D1 and loving it! of course there are better ones out there like the Z1 which is HDD based and has bluetooth ready capabilities.

[Edited on September 6, 2007 at 2:45 PM. Reason : fda]

9/6/2007 2:44:54 PM

I don't want navigation, would be nice, but not worth it

I'm not sure about the din though - I just know its a Euro-Din 10-5/8" - so maybe double?

9/6/2007 4:36:19 PM

What kind of car is it?

go to crutchfield.com (don't have to buy from there) but you can put in your car model and it will show you all the available head units and customer reviews for each....best way to do it IMO

[Edited on September 6, 2007 at 4:37 PM. Reason : fda]

9/6/2007 4:37:24 PM

thats where I got those numbers from its a 04 Dodge Stratus coupe - I looked on there and didnt find any good deals, so I didn't know what would be best for what I want

9/6/2007 5:01:59 PM

Quote :

"E "Euro-DIN" stereos attach from the front through the 2" tall rectangular hole in the dash, sliding into a metal sleeve that attaches to the front of the dash."

so u ppl dont have to look it up

9/6/2007 5:04:17 PM

oh and the subs and amp I have are

2 Kicker 12” CVR12s

Kicker KX250.2 Amp


I'm probably gonna just upgrade the amp and hook a 15 to it - I really dont wanna get rid of what I already have (still gonna upgrade the head unit though)

[Edited on September 6, 2007 at 7:38 PM. Reason : ]

9/6/2007 7:33:29 PM

It depends on what your looking for, if your just pumpin bass though a 15 honestly it dosnt take a super high quality headunit.

If you plan to actually put decent speakers in througout the car, i would go with alpine, or kenwood excelon series.

you want front and rear outs and a sub out,

you want a 4 channel amp for your front and rear speakers and a seperate amp to run the sub.



[Edited on September 6, 2007 at 9:08 PM. Reason : dd]

9/6/2007 9:05:31 PM

well I had factory speakers throughout the car until tonite - I just went and bought some cheap walmart brand roadrunners to clear it up a little until I can afford some new speakers (the memphis speakers I was looking at are 150 for front and 200 for back)

I just want a good quality head unit, and since Ive always used my factory unit I didnt know where to go

9/6/2007 9:09:25 PM

expect to spend at ~1k if you want to fully equip your car with quality stuff.

Remember steros work on the weakest link

so 400 dollar head unit hooked up to a $50 amp and $20 wal mart speakers is going to soudn the exact same as a 100 dollar head unit.

i would evaluate your entire budget.

Speakers honestly, focus on your fronts get a good component set

For your sub, you dont need a giant ass 15, you can get good loud quality bass from a 12 (most people think i have alot more in my trunk than i do)

so if you want to save money,

i woudl go with a decent kenwood headunit, look for features you need. IGNORE THE HEADUNIT RMS, you dont want to run any half decent speaker off the headunit. ~$200

Buy a set of quality front compoenets, I have MB Quart, but go listen in stores, i also like the infinity components. ~150

Buy a 4 channel amp to run your in car speakers (not your sub) ~200++ (buy one rated slighting above what your speaker wants in RMS)

keep your subs, kicker is decent stuff, you dont sound like you have a shitton of money, 2 12s is more than enough.

Remember you want your soundstage up in front, not behind you (rear speakers are for fill)

Spend time actually TUNING your system. WHen you do it use the music you like to listen to, zero out everything and then start with the hardware until its where you want it. After that fuck with the headunit controls to finetune.

Remember your the one who has to listen to it, ive heard alot of systems that are loud as fuck. But they clip like a bitch, have no midrange, and the tweeters sound like sombody farting though their dick.


[Edited on September 6, 2007 at 10:21 PM. Reason : dd]

9/6/2007 10:19:19 PM

i love tp people!

9/7/2007 9:36:56 AM

^^what he said. btw i would geive those kicker more power , u are giving them less than 1/2 their rms. anyway i'm selling my 15" if u're interested.

9/7/2007 4:10:00 PM

yeah Im gonna get another amp - should I get a mono or 2 channel amp to run the subs off of? I'm gonna get a 4 channel for my interiors

9/7/2007 11:19:08 PM

the cvrs shoudl be dual voice coil can't really make a recomendation with out know the voice configuration. most mono amps will be more effcient and easier on ur electrical system

9/8/2007 1:42:14 AM

to save moeny if you get a nice 4 channel you can run your front and rears in parallel and your subs off the rear channel bridged.

9/8/2007 12:29:50 PM