Best Head Unit Under $175

[DanH 10+ year member]

I recently got my JL XR coaxials and my Pioneer Premier amp installed in my car and my system sounds fantastic except it now put on a display of how much my head unit sucks. It's a Sony CDX-GT310 and it has a rather weak digital audio converter, equalizer, and only a rear set of RCA preouts so I have to fade "backwards" in order to get more front speaker.

I'm looking for a head unit that has a better audio converter, something to help "fluff" out compressed files, and AUX in port, and a set of front RCA preouts for $175 and under.

Any ideas?

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[stocker08 10+ year member]

If you dont mind getting an older head unit, a lot of the older Alpine head units come with MX(MediaXpander) which really does a nice job of making the music more "proportional".

I dont think i have ever seen a head unit with front RCAs.......

 

[DanH 10+ year member]

What I mean by "front RCA" is having one that's dedicated front and any others "rear" or "selectable sub." Since my Sony only has a rear/sub RCA port, I have to fade my speakers "backwards" in order to fade them forward.

 

[Xero.Limit 10+ year member]

I have an Alpine CDA-9883 it was something like 200 when I got it almost a year ago, price has probably come down and it has Front Rear and Sub RCAs.

 

[snipe523 10+ year member]

If you are looking for a new unit, the Pioneer 5000UB would be my recommendation for that price.

 

[ReDemoN 10+ year member]

Check out this ebay Id# 190211582951

I have bought like 6 radios from this guy.

Very nice units look brand new.

That one he is selling has everything you need.

 

[Pyro_By_Nature 5,000+ posts]

I recently got my JL XR coaxials and my Pioneer Premier amp installed in my car and my system sounds fantastic except it now put on a display of how much my head unit sucks. It's a Sony CDX-GT310 and it has a rather weak digital audio converter, equalizer, and only a rear set of RCA preouts so I have to fade "backwards" in order to get more front speaker.
I'm looking for a head unit that has a better audio converter, something to help "fluff" out compressed files, and AUX in port, and a set of front RCA preouts for $175 and under.

Any ideas?

My Alpine CDA-9813 would fit the bill, check link below.Flexible on price. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

 

[Americanstrat21 10+ year member]

Any of the low end Pioneer decks.

 

[DanH 10+ year member]

Besides the warranty, what's the difference between the comparable Pioneer decks and the Premier decks?

And I've noticed some of the upper JVC decks come with a Burr-Brown DAC. Are any of these decks worthwhile or should I just stick with Pioneer?

 

[silvercookie 5,000+ posts]

pioneer premier 490ib

i got it and it has front, rear, and sub pre-outs

 

[DanH 10+ year member]

Does anyone have any experience with the JVC KD-AR880? It's got a Burr-Brown DAC and it's around $200.

 

[90accordman 5,000+ posts]

i like the Ec;ipse cd4000 form sonixelectronix for 140

 

[DanH 10+ year member]

Does anyone also know on the Pioneer 4000 and 5000 if you can control the iPod from the USB port or if you need the adapter to control it (or do you need the adapter to use the "Passenger Control Mode")?