semlin
curmudgeon
WOB what price did you get for the 400? Nakamichi makes the nicest looking head units out there. no bling at all. I may try to pick up a discontinued 45 series.
Aftermarket 80 stereo head unit suggestions
- Thread starter IdahoDoug
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
- Thread starter
- #22
Looked at a bunch of head units at stereo shops today. I'm really wanting to get a large rotary volume knob as it's easiest to grab for quick adjustments. However, something is really bugging me about them. Like the Pioneer I put in the Subaru last year, the volume knob isn't "linear". If you spin it quickly, you don't move the volume much. What brands do not have this annoying "feature/glitch"?
DougM
DougM
- Thread starter
- #24
According to the 'FM sensititivity' measurement, the Pioneer models with the SuperTuner still pull in stations better just like they did back in the 70s when I was a teenager. I live in an area well known to be on the edges of broadcast range (nothing much East of here until you hit Missoula), so does this bear out in practice? My 1yo Pioneer SuperTuner seems to be weak on AM and I'm a talk show fan, and the FM doesn't seem to be notably better. With a sample of 1 I'm reluctant to pass judgement on it one way or the other. Anybody know if that measurement is indeed accurate and that less sensitive receivers are indeed problematic, or is it marketing hype?
The mute feature is one I hadn't thought to watch for - thanks, Joe.
Doug
The mute feature is one I hadn't thought to watch for - thanks, Joe.
Doug
I have been very happy with Eclipse (bought two in the last 6 years), awesome sound and useful features, not alot of extra crap, don't know if they have a tape and CD player. The PO had a JVC double-DIN installed about a month before I bought the LC, it is AM/FM/CD w/MP3 input (mini-jack on the front) I have just been plugging in my 40Gig Ipod and use the CD player occasionaly. Don't own a any tapes, so have never used the tape player. I've been pretty happy with the sound it puts out. If you don't need the tape player I would go with a single din which gives you the option of using the other slot for something else. If you will get a MP3 player in the future, look for one with the mini jack on the face, you can use a FM transmitter, but I'm not sure what the quality is.
Also liked the idea of the Nakamichi amplified (I think), single DIN AM/FM 6CD in-dash changer. Haven't actually heard one though.
Also liked the idea of the Nakamichi amplified (I think), single DIN AM/FM 6CD in-dash changer. Haven't actually heard one though.
[quote author=semlin link=board=2;threadid=11518;start=msg107567#msg107567 date=1077242103]
WOB what price did you get for the 400? Nakamichi makes the nicest looking head units out there. no bling at all. I may try to pick up a discontinued 45 series.
[/quote]
Here's the link...
http://www.acaraudio.com/default.php?cPath=21_29&sort=2a&filter_id=24
They still sell the 45z. I paid $350 for the 400. Please don't reply with "You could have bought it for $200 at xyz."
Oh, yeah. I like the Nakamichis b/c they light up green, and most importantly, they still have a real life knob on them. WTF is up with the Pioneers that show swimming dolphins on the face plate?
WOB what price did you get for the 400? Nakamichi makes the nicest looking head units out there. no bling at all. I may try to pick up a discontinued 45 series.
[/quote]
Here's the link...
http://www.acaraudio.com/default.php?cPath=21_29&sort=2a&filter_id=24
They still sell the 45z. I paid $350 for the 400. Please don't reply with "You could have bought it for $200 at xyz."
Oh, yeah. I like the Nakamichis b/c they light up green, and most importantly, they still have a real life knob on them. WTF is up with the Pioneers that show swimming dolphins on the face plate?
both the Eclispe and the Alpines I have have volume knobs that work like you would like, ie linear. The Alpines have a mute, not sure if the Eclispe does.....I'll have to look.
On a side note, I got my new OEM CD replaced in the 100, it does sound pretty darn good! While it didn't cost me anything I think the dealer paid $175 for the re-maned unit from Fitsu(sp) Ten.......who make Eclispe
[quote author=IdahoDoug link=board=2;threadid=11518;start=msg107719#msg107719 date=1077256504]
Looked at a bunch of head units at stereo shops today. I'm really wanting to get a large rotary volume knob as it's easiest to grab for quick adjustments. However, something is really bugging me about them. Like the Pioneer I put in the Subaru last year, the volume knob isn't "linear". If you spin it quickly, you don't move the volume much. What brands do not have this annoying "feature/glitch"?
DougM
[/quote]
On a side note, I got my new OEM CD replaced in the 100, it does sound pretty darn good! While it didn't cost me anything I think the dealer paid $175 for the re-maned unit from Fitsu(sp) Ten.......who make Eclispe
[quote author=IdahoDoug link=board=2;threadid=11518;start=msg107719#msg107719 date=1077256504]
Looked at a bunch of head units at stereo shops today. I'm really wanting to get a large rotary volume knob as it's easiest to grab for quick adjustments. However, something is really bugging me about them. Like the Pioneer I put in the Subaru last year, the volume knob isn't "linear". If you spin it quickly, you don't move the volume much. What brands do not have this annoying "feature/glitch"?
DougM
[/quote]
I would not pay any attention to most of the ratings you see on Car Stereo boxes. They are all tested at different facilities and they can make their numbers appear as good as they want to. The LC antenna is really going to be your weak link in the reception department. It isn't a very efficient unit. (Hmmm! why did I just order another one?) The specified wattages are what always cracks me up. If you look the higher the wattage on head unit the more distortion they have at that rating.
I would not recommend any of the multiple CD in dash players. Not from any brand. They are definitely cool. But lots of little moving parts that wear out and break. Lots of heat generated in the process too and that kills electronics.
You can always buy gear cheaper somewhere after you've purchased it. I don't always shop for the lowest price. It is good to have a place that if there is a defective unit that they will help you out. Cheap is not good if it gets you no support when there is a problem.
I've not figured out the Pioneer swimming dolphins. The Japanese are into gadgets and they demand that life be interesting. The Japanese spec stereo gear is a lot more gadget oriented than most of the stuff we get over here. I have to admit, that I have considered the new Sony headunit that uses Magic Gate Memory Sticks. I could shoot my own video on a Memory Stick and download my own images to use on my stereo. My thoughts have been to put a video of my kid or a video of my Cruiser. I really doubt I will pony up for one of these units though. They are pretty gadget oriented. More gadgets=More things to break.
One other option that might be worth having is a flip down face. I prefer the mechanical type over the motorized as they have less moving parts. But this really seems to help seal out the dust and makes the CD mechanism last longer. Probably more important in a 40 or a 60, but that is where I've come from and my 80 gets covered in dust inside and out. I just haven't learned to wheel with the windows up yet. Really if you wheel your 80 hard you are putting the electronics into a harsh environment. Lots of bumps, vibration, dust, etc... Also the heating vents run fairly close to the radio which isn't the best for a radio. To make a CD player last longer it is best to listen to the radio when 4 wheeling and save the CDs for the highway. The dampening really gets a work out if you listen to a CD while wheeling. That said, I'm super hard on my CD players. I always listen to Metallica the Black album when I'm doing a difficult obstacle. That way I don't hear the bad things happening to my Land Cruiser and I can stay happy.
I would not recommend any of the multiple CD in dash players. Not from any brand. They are definitely cool. But lots of little moving parts that wear out and break. Lots of heat generated in the process too and that kills electronics.
You can always buy gear cheaper somewhere after you've purchased it. I don't always shop for the lowest price. It is good to have a place that if there is a defective unit that they will help you out. Cheap is not good if it gets you no support when there is a problem.
I've not figured out the Pioneer swimming dolphins. The Japanese are into gadgets and they demand that life be interesting. The Japanese spec stereo gear is a lot more gadget oriented than most of the stuff we get over here. I have to admit, that I have considered the new Sony headunit that uses Magic Gate Memory Sticks. I could shoot my own video on a Memory Stick and download my own images to use on my stereo. My thoughts have been to put a video of my kid or a video of my Cruiser. I really doubt I will pony up for one of these units though. They are pretty gadget oriented. More gadgets=More things to break.
One other option that might be worth having is a flip down face. I prefer the mechanical type over the motorized as they have less moving parts. But this really seems to help seal out the dust and makes the CD mechanism last longer. Probably more important in a 40 or a 60, but that is where I've come from and my 80 gets covered in dust inside and out. I just haven't learned to wheel with the windows up yet. Really if you wheel your 80 hard you are putting the electronics into a harsh environment. Lots of bumps, vibration, dust, etc... Also the heating vents run fairly close to the radio which isn't the best for a radio. To make a CD player last longer it is best to listen to the radio when 4 wheeling and save the CDs for the highway. The dampening really gets a work out if you listen to a CD while wheeling. That said, I'm super hard on my CD players. I always listen to Metallica the Black album when I'm doing a difficult obstacle. That way I don't hear the bad things happening to my Land Cruiser and I can stay happy.
the wattage issue
the Alpines I have are 40x4(or 35x4)
the Elcipse is 13x4.......and is a loud or louder than the Alpine
I agree I don't like the disco effects that alot of the head units have, I don't need my CD player to look like Toyko at night :
the Alpines I have are 40x4(or 35x4)
the Elcipse is 13x4.......and is a loud or louder than the Alpine
I agree I don't like the disco effects that alot of the head units have, I don't need my CD player to look like Toyko at night :
- Thread starter
- #30
Pimp,
So your volume controls are such that you CANNOT quickly twirl the volume and get just a bit of change in volume? I wasn't sure what you meant by linear as all the ones I tested were linear in the sense that the same revolutions to go up brought it back down. But if you twirl them quickly, something can't keep up. Thanks.
Doug
So your volume controls are such that you CANNOT quickly twirl the volume and get just a bit of change in volume? I wasn't sure what you meant by linear as all the ones I tested were linear in the sense that the same revolutions to go up brought it back down. But if you twirl them quickly, something can't keep up. Thanks.
Doug
MoJ
Moderator
I'm enjoying the Pioneer that came with my 94. Has a remote (which most do now). The remote buttons are easily memorized so I can change volume, scan, seek, select pre-sets or CD tracks without taking my eyes off the road. I doubt different brands would make much difference to me. I just like the couch potato remote. If I had kids I imagine it would be something they would lose or fight over. Little punks.
