Stereo & Electronics - Recommend me a head unit

My Pioneer DPH-P960MP just died (for some reason, when the face opens it shuts its-self off.. weird stuff) so recommend me a good headunit.

I need iPod connection, whether built in or with an add-on. It *NEEDS* to be easy to use the interface, though. I don't listen to cds or radio, just my iPod.. so it has to be a good setup. The Kenwood in my car when I got it was horrible.

I have a system, so it'll need some good bass controls.

Bluetooth would be nice, but is it something like you just connect it and your phone, and it works like a headset?

Gizmos and gadgets, while nice, aren't really important..

Thanks guys.

I just picked up an Alpine CDA 9887, it has an I pod feature but I think you have to purchase an I pod adapter for it for about 2 bills I believe.

Alpine 9856 here...waiting on HUMount.com to be installed....

an alpine would be nice.

im fond of the newer Kenwood Excelon series and the Panasonics. they have great features, look nice and are straight forward to play around with, not confusing BS that requires a manual.

you can get the Ipod cable hookup for most aftermarket HU's now. usually run about 20-40 bucks but keep in mind this is only to hook it up and control everything through the Ipod, not on the HU like some of the higher end ipod hookups. but anyways, you can get them for almost any current brand (eclipse, kenwood, alpine, panasonic, sony,)

if your not worried about cds id go with the new alpine x0001 i think thats the model number its really really nice i just got the 9883 from alpine and love it!

http://mobile.jensen.com/jensen/JensenProductDetail.do?ACTION_TYPE_ID=ACTION_TYPE_ PRODUCT_DETAIL&ACTION_CATEGORY_ID=STR_CATAGORY_MOBILEMULTIMEDIA&ACTION_PRODUCT_ID=VM9512

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2006/05/pioneer-dehp810-a-indash-a2dp-bluetooth.php

:)

please dont get that jensen. pioneer looks nice but id still go with a panasonic, alpine, kenwood or eclipse.

You might not want to go with Pioneer again but if u do I love mine i have the
Pioneer (DEHP5900IB) I got a great deal via Crutchfield.com and they threw in the ipod cable for free. I bought it early this summer connected to 2 Kicker CVR 10in subs and i love how it sounds.

I almost bought the Pioneer above this one that has bluetooth for your phone!!!! The one i got was the best for the money!!! Good luck!

http://cgi.ebay.com/JVC-KD-AVX2-EXAD-DVD-CD-MP3-PLAYER-w-3-5-LCD-MONITOR_W0QQitemZ170134684162QQihZ007QQcategoryZ50 559QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

So far I've been loving my RCA RCM628. It's got a USB port on the front, you can play music off usb sticks, mini usb hdd's, ipods and other mp3 players. It's way out of the norm for decks though (pioneer, alpine, kenwood etc) so people probably haven't even heard of it.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/Shockwave179/Picture023-1.jpg?t=1191294088

http://businessflow.mainstreetcommerce.com/current/media/get_image.aspx?domain=audiosavings.com&image_guid=d943cd97-fc5d-4b71-842d-51f1b9c8a443&size=2

http://businessflow.mainstreetcommerce.com/current/media/get_image.aspx?domain=audiosavings.com&image_guid=f755d0af-e5e6-421c-8163-5bda6b15d2ea&size=2

I can't reccomend this as I haven't gotten a chance to use it, but you might want to look into an alpine ida-x001. It's basically a head unit made specifically for ipods. It doesn't have a CD slot and (from what I hear) its radio controls are crappy. Here's a link.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=iDA-X001

The color screen resembles an ipod and looks pretty cool and it shows the album artwork and stuff. The reviews say it's hard to see in direct sunlight though. The controls are supposed to be way faster than any other head unit's though. It has the lists and you can scroll through them like on an ipod.

The thing costs like 400 bucks and the blootooth controlls are another couple of hundred. It only has 2v preouts. I've been wanting to buy this thing since the end of the summer, but I keep hoping something will come out that can play videos and lossless files and stuff. Check it out though.

Edit: I was just reading some stuff on it, make sure you have a 5th gen ipod if you want this because apparently the other ones are still slow with it.

ive had really good luck with pioneeer premier

I ended up getting the Alpine IDA-X001. Should be getting it shipped to me soon, I'll let you guys know.

I decided on that because all the ipod-adapted headunits I've used have been horrible. I have 5000 songs, probably 30% of which I regularly listen to.. so that means I'm switching from the As to the Bs to the Ss to the Ms, etc. Pioneer was AWFUL.. slow as hell, only showed 7 chars, etc.. so I decided NOT to go with Pioneer again (while I do like its features). Alpine, I heard, had the best interfaces.. but I heard alot of complaints with the highest end model, but alot of good things from the IDA-X001. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

If it's not too much to ask, could you post up a review and things you like and dislike about it when you get it? I think I'll probably end up with it if something doesn't come out soon that's better than it. Anyone know when the 2008 models are coming out?

RENXWAR - ditto on the poor searching features on the Pioneers

Pioneer Premier DEH-P8MP

Awesome HU, puts out 6.5 volt pre-outs!

Looks great.

Kind of pricey. But I don't go cheap on my shit.