An impossibility in a Head Unit????

[chucky2 10+ year member]

I beginning to wonder if what I'm looking for in a Head Unit is just not going to exist. Here's what I'd like:

1.) Dual knobs, one for volume, one for going up and down the FM band/through USB drive.

2.) On right knob, the up and down should work by turning the knob clockwise/counterclockwise...not pushing the whole knob left and right each time, i.e. how the genius's at Kenwood have F'd up their line of radio's making them a hassle to use.

3.) Native USB support via rear cable - reaching around the USB drive sticking out the front of the unit is retarded.

4.) 18w x 4 or greater RMS power - for the foreseeable future, no amp/component speakers.

5.) Front, Rear, Sub preouts, ideally 4v or higher.

6.) Ideally, can change color to match vehicle interior (green for my Ranger). This is not a deal breaker.

I'm just striking out finding a good brand head unit that meets at least the first 5 requirements. Alpine doesn't.

Kenwood would, except they've gone and F'd up their dual wheel head units by having the user click the right wheel left or right each time one wants to change an FM channel (this is insanely painful for channel surfers like me) or move within USB folders between songs/folders. My brothers KDC-X891 is painful to use because of this, and the -X991 and upcoming -X993 and -HD942U head units also have this sh1tty interface.

I was really leaning towards the Pioneer Premier DEH-P800PRS, however reports of some weird USB operation, plus it's right wheel operating like the Kenwood's turned me off.

Is there any Head Unit out there, that isn't sh1t, that meets 1 - 5????

Thanks in advance!!!

Chuck

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[Rich B 5,000+ posts]

Eclipse CD5000?

- I dont know the capabilities, but it looks like you described.

 

[chucky2 10+ year member]

Yeah, that's the problem, there's a bunch that look like I describe (and when I bought by brothers Kenwood KDC-X891, I just assumed that's how the right wheel worked...little did we know...), yet when you look in the manuals (painful lesson learned after the -X891), it's a push to the let or right, not a turn to the left or right.

I just looked at the manual for the CD5000...low and behold, it actually works the way I want. Thanks Rich B, I finally have one to make my short list!

Chuck

 

[SWFL 10+ year member]

I wish they made a Double din with nav/dvd where you dont have to have the nav cd in it in order to use the nav.

A direct usb plug in the back.

7" screen.

4volt preouts front/rear/sub

at least a 7 band eq even if it didnt come with a eq i would just add a external eg but if it had a 5 band at least or better 7 or 9 band eq for around 500-600 bucks that would be the perfect double din

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

I beginning to wonder if what I'm looking for in a Head Unit is just not going to exist. Here's what I'd like:
1.) Dual knobs, one for volume, one for going up and down the FM band/through USB drive.

2.) On right knob, the up and down should work by turning the knob clockwise/counterclockwise...not pushing the whole knob left and right each time, i.e. how the genius's at Kenwood have F'd up their line of radio's making them a hassle to use.

3.) Native USB support via rear cable - reaching around the USB drive sticking out the front of the unit is retarded.

4.) 18w x 4 or greater RMS power - for the foreseeable future, no amp/component speakers.

5.) Front, Rear, Sub preouts, ideally 4v or higher.

6.) Ideally, can change color to match vehicle interior (green for my Ranger). This is not a deal breaker.

I'm just striking out finding a good brand head unit that meets at least the first 5 requirements. Alpine doesn't.

Kenwood would, except they've gone and F'd up their dual wheel head units by having the user click the right wheel left or right each time one wants to change an FM channel (this is insanely painful for channel surfers like me) or move within USB folders between songs/folders. My brothers KDC-X891 is painful to use because of this, and the -X991 and upcoming -X993 and -HD942U head units also have this sh1tty interface.

I was really leaning towards the Pioneer Premier DEH-P800PRS, however reports of some weird USB operation, plus it's right wheel operating like the Kenwood's turned me off.

Is there any Head Unit out there, that isn't sh1t, that meets 1 - 5????

Thanks in advance!!!

Chuck

shitty and shit arn't blocked words //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[ForTiLLiaN 10+ year member]

Pioneer DEH-8600MP it it an oldie but a goodie. I had this deck for about 2 years never had a problem with it. I upgraded to the 9800BT about a year ago.

 

[chucky2 10+ year member]

Ahhh geez, strike the CD5000 off the list. No USB support. If only I could get the right wheel control of this Eclipse and graft it onto the Pioneer or one of the Kenwood's.

Why is life so hard???

Chuck

 

[Rich B 5,000+ posts]

I just looked at the manual for the CD5000...low and behold, it actually works the way I want. Thanks Rich B, I finally have one to make my short list!
Chuck

Crap, read your post above, sorry!

 

[Savag3 10+ year member]

I wish they made a Double din with nav/dvd where you dont have to have the nav cd in it in order to use the nav.
A direct usb plug in the back.

7" screen.

4volt preouts front/rear/sub

at least a 7 band eq even if it didnt come with a eq i would just add a external eg but if it had a 5 band at least or better 7 or 9 band eq for around 500-600 bucks that would be the perfect double din

eclipse

 

[chucky2 10+ year member]

Pioneer DEH-8600MP it it an oldie but a goodie. I had this deck for about 2 years never had a problem with it. I upgraded to the 9800BT about a year ago.

Thanks for the suggestion, that looks like a nice player. Unfortunately, it lacks USB support, and the owners manual lists it as having to push left or right on the right wheel rather than turning clockwise/counterclockwise.

Chuck

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

Pioneer DEH-8600MP it it an oldie but a goodie. I had this deck for about 2 years never had a problem with it. I upgraded to the 9800BT about a year ago.

i have one of those...a nice deck //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[RipDaJacka]

why you gotta bitch about it? just push the f'n knob or keep the stock radio

 

[chucky2 10+ year member]

why you gotta bitch about it? just push the f'n knob or keep the stock radio

The stock radio is about to be broke...it's on its last legs. So, it's going to get replaced anyways.

As far b1tching about it, I just don't prefer pushing the wheel knob to change stations/tracks/folders. In Chicago rush hour, I want my concentration to be mainly on the road...not getting the left/right push precise so the HU doensn't do something F'd up because I didn't perfectly get the left/right push correct. A rotation based selector is infinitely easier to use - which is why they use them so much for the Volume selection.

Granted, I could get a button based selector, but, if I can find something I'd prefer, why wouldn't I just get that??

Chuck

 

[ForTiLLiaN 10+ year member]

As for the USB support of the 8600 you have to buy the adapter for the IPBUS , and for selecting tracks if you turn the knob, find the track name and press in to select the track. You are correct in having to press right to skip to next track. Then again i use the remote so i can just lean back and enjoy //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[jmanpc 5,000+ posts]

Does the 800PRS have USB? Seems like it would fit the bill if it does.