Good Quality Head Unit?

[Old77]

Ok, guys. I have not bought a new head unit in years so I need some pointers from you guys that may still be in the car audio/video game. This is for my DD. The display has gone out in it and it drives me nuts so I'm looking at possibly just replacing the head unit but I don't want to spend a bunch of money. I was thinking $200 or less and it'll most likely just be pushing the stock speakers as I have young kids riding in the back seat a lot of the time so that prevents me from putting any kind of system in it other than possibly upgrading the stock speakers.

Anyway, back in the day I used to just stick with Alpine. Are they still a good brand or is there another brand out there where I could get more bang for my buck in that $200 or less price range? I see a lot that are $100 or less but I worry about their quality as I don't want just a piece of crap either.

Any thoughts, suggestions, or advice is welcome. Thanks!

 

[crazy4offroad]

Alpine is still good, just look for something with mp3, wav and wma compatability, and a front mp3 player jack. I dont listen to ordinary music CDs anymore, I can put 8 or more CDs on one mp3 CD. I dont use an mp3 player but if my friends/family have one they can plug it right in and jam. They also have units with front USB input, so you can pop some songs on a thumb drive instead. I have a thumb drive that holds 16GB, that's a shitload of music.

 

[82chevy350]

i like jvc they sound real good but im sure alpine is still good

 

[nxtlevl]

The PO put a Sony deck in mine with (2) 6x9s and (2) 5 1/4s..?..behind the rear seat. He had them in a homemade box, but I couldn't slide the seat far enough back for me to drive comfortably so I took them out of the box and just have them sittin' back there for now.....It sounds OK, but it needs a sub/amp to go with it...

 

[Mr Clean]

I've got a Sony Explode, with Sony Explode 6x9s two inthe door and two behind the seat in the corners of the cab. I can play CDs, and I can use my Ipod, it has a jack on the front. I've been real happy with it and I paid about $220.00 for it all.

 

[Old77]

You got the speakers AND head unit for 220??? Was there a sale going or something?

 

[Mr Clean]

I got it all at Wal-Mart.

 

[Old77]

Wow! I never even thought about looking there. I'll have to do that before I spend more money at Best Buy. How long have you had the setup?

 

[Mr Clean]

I bought it for my 82 LWB a couple of months now.

 

[Old77]

Did you do the install yourself? Was it pretty easy?

 

[crazy4offroad]

I have a cheap-ish Sony head unit, mp3 cd compatable, and a pair of Sony 6x9s too in the big truck. The head unit was only around $110 and the 6x9s were only about $30 for the pair! Of course, I got em at Wal-mart too I made up a pair of plates out of sheet metal for the speakers to mount in the corners behind the seat.

 

[Old77]

Hmmmm...I may have to check out the Wal-Mart head units if they are that cheap. I bought a $100 head unit one time and it lasted like 6 months so I'm kinda leery about them since then.

 

[greencountry05]

I like Alpine and believe it or not Dual is now a pretty good brand. Had one of their DVD/CD players in my '04 and I LOVED it, want to get another for my S-10. They're only 300.00 brand new from "Crotchfelt".

 

[RetroC10Sport]

My squarebody is getting a factory Delco CD from a 1994 Cutlass Supreme...

I have no input...Except my Sony CDX-F7700 is slowly dying. Can't complain, it's 5 years old and been in 6 different cars.

 

[89Suburban]

I have an Alpine CD/AM/FM that's about 15 years old and it still kicks ass. It's been in 3 vehicles and 4 boats so far. And it has a remote.