Best head unit brands
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,294
Likes: 482
From: Brea CA
Best head unit brands
I have been a long time owner of Alpine head units. My 2002 C5 has a CDA-9388 single din head unit. It is starting to show its age.
In talking with a local car stereo shop, the owner suggested that the quality of Alpine head units is not what it once was. I am starting to look into online reviews from various review sites. I would like to get the feedback from the forum audio guru's what brands seem to be better than others.
What I am looking for is a single DIN head unit with 9 or more band eq, Bluetooth, USB and Apple/Android support. It should have 3v to 5V pre-outs with a seperate sub output. I know all brands have these basic features.
Thanks
Gary
In talking with a local car stereo shop, the owner suggested that the quality of Alpine head units is not what it once was. I am starting to look into online reviews from various review sites. I would like to get the feedback from the forum audio guru's what brands seem to be better than others.
What I am looking for is a single DIN head unit with 9 or more band eq, Bluetooth, USB and Apple/Android support. It should have 3v to 5V pre-outs with a seperate sub output. I know all brands have these basic features.
Thanks
Gary
Night Owl for life
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 24,725
Likes: 4,564
From: Bugs Bunny should'a made a left turn here
If you’re up to considering going double din, alpine makes a great sounding mechless design in the ilx-207.
Just recently put this model in my car and the sq is tons better than the kenwood I had previously in there.
Just recently put this model in my car and the sq is tons better than the kenwood I had previously in there.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 411
From: Somewhere in the middle of Kansas
I have been a long time owner of Alpine head units. My 2002 C5 has a CDA-9388 single din head unit. It is starting to show its age.
In talking with a local car stereo shop, the owner suggested that the quality of Alpine head units is not what it once was. I am starting to look into online reviews from various review sites. I would like to get the feedback from the forum audio guru's what brands seem to be better than others.
What I am looking for is a single DIN head unit with 9 or more band eq, Bluetooth, USB and Apple/Android support. It should have 3v to 5V pre-outs with a seperate sub output. I know all brands have these basic features.
Thanks
Gary
In talking with a local car stereo shop, the owner suggested that the quality of Alpine head units is not what it once was. I am starting to look into online reviews from various review sites. I would like to get the feedback from the forum audio guru's what brands seem to be better than others.
What I am looking for is a single DIN head unit with 9 or more band eq, Bluetooth, USB and Apple/Android support. It should have 3v to 5V pre-outs with a seperate sub output. I know all brands have these basic features.
Thanks
Gary
Are you positive you want to go single din? In regards to Alpine, if you purchase the right model you will have the best sound quality available at any price. I think you could debate the feature set of a Pioneer or Kenwood being better than Alpine but if you want sound quality, the Alpine is a beast for great sound quality.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
alpine still makes the best sounding decks out there short of mcintosh or sony's professional level
quality has not went downhill but the nice decks are all now double din. it's the flagship single dins that are no more
quality has not went downhill but the nice decks are all now double din. it's the flagship single dins that are no more
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,294
Likes: 482
From: Brea CA
Thanks for the feedback. Any input on the Alpine CDE-164BT or CDE-163BT? One of these would replace the 12yr old CDA-9833 I have. I would be unplugging the old and plugging in the new (some wire harness work also).
Thanks
Gary
Thanks
Gary
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 411
From: Somewhere in the middle of Kansas
I do not have experience with those models, but with the purchase of a $250 Metra double din bezel you can upgrade to double din and the Alpine double dins sound great. I have the INE-W960 and the SQ is right on par with all their good old single din offerings. Plus you get the convenience of navigation and control of your i-phone and hands free calling. I mean it brings your C5 up to a modern level interior with that feature set and oh did I mention how good it sounds??
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,294
Likes: 482
From: Brea CA
Well I just finished replacing my old Alpine CDA9833 with a Alpine CDE164BT. Had to fix a couple of wires that became brittle with age. Its working the way I wanted it to. Now to have my brother do the eq setup.
I did not want to go double din in this car since I had a good investment in other pieces that I would have to through out and I did not want to spend a fortune on the head unit.
Gary
I did not want to go double din in this car since I had a good investment in other pieces that I would have to through out and I did not want to spend a fortune on the head unit.
Gary
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,426
Likes: 2,307
From: Billings Montana. Out in the wild west
Pioneer all the way, I've been buying Pioneer for years and never had any problems with them, the only reason I've changed systems was to keep up with technology.