Cheap bastage needs your help!

[Wick3D]

So I am cheap, but I still like something that works good.. I was wondering if any of the "lower" brand name head units are any good?

I am currently working with one of those cheaper model pioneer HU and it only has 1 LPF only rca out, which isn't going to work for me in the long run.

A guy locally has an Alpine 9813(I think that's the model) for 100$, it has the outputs and 27 watts rms!! But It needs an adapter to run aux in and besides the fact I think it would sound amazing, I started wondering if I couldn't get a cheaper lower brand name HU with more features/input options/screens/etc.

Power acoustiks has some reasonable priced slide out dvd HU's along with some other brands...

Are ANY of them worth getting or should I stick to better brand lower feature HU?

Click to read more...

 

[disturbed471985 5,000+ posts]

Friend has a DUAL brand HU and its decent its one of the highest priced units but it offered what he wanted and being as its used as a dead head it works fine for his needs..

 

[Papermaker85 5,000+ posts]

its apparent you dont care so just buy what looks good to you..

 

[Wick3D]

its apparent you dont care so just buy what looks good to you..

That's why I am asking... If I didn't care I would have just bought some random HU... I was just wondering if any of the brands were a "diamond in the rough" kind of deal. I've always bought pioneer decks because they work good, sound good, and fairly priced... I was planning on going alpine this time around, but all the used alpines I find are missing input options, some which I really want.

 

[Papermaker85 5,000+ posts]

That's why I am asking... If I didn't care I would have just bought some random HU... I was just wondering if any of the brands were a "diamond in the rough" kind of deal. I've always bought pioneer decks because they work good, sound good, and fairly priced... I was planning on going alpine this time around, but all the used alpines I find are missing input options, some which I really want.

KDC-X496 - Kenwood Excelon In-Dash CD/MP3 Car Stereo Receiver with Pandora Support

24 bit dac decent preamp output section. Diamond in a ruff

 

[dbjunior 10+ year member]

The head unit is the most important part any shortcuts with it will be heard thru everything else. Look for used of you want to save money.

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

JVC KD-AR565 Single DIN In-Dash CD/AM/FM Car Stereo with Front 3.5mm Aux and USB Inputs

There is CHEAP!! Not the Best of what Id expect to buy for myself, but for under $100 bucks , its worth it

 

[tymoto21 10+ year member]

If you are looking for a screen at all stick to eBay for a few days

I've gotten some nice pioneers for under $200 with 3 sets of pre outs and aux and usb

I would not go with a dual or what ever other brand unless it was a temporary setup

For only a little more you can get something nice that will last

 

[TheUnderFighter 10+ year member]

No. There's no diamond in the rough. They all pretty much **** if you want to keep it for any length of time.

Alpine 9813 is a great unit though, and a good price. I'd snag it.

 

[Wick3D]

Sounds like the general consensus is to stick with Pioneer, Kenwood, or Alpine decks.

Yea that alpine 9813, has everything I'd want for SQ and outputs. I just wish it had an aux in and/or usb/sd card options. These days using discs are a waste of time, large cap sd cards and usb thumb drives are so cheap, they are actually cheaper than buying a new cd most of the time. At least with the aux in i could use a tablet. Course I could get an adapter for that...

I was actually considering doing an in-dash computer type deal with a raspberry pi or such mini computer, then get an equalizer like a clarion or something for the rca outs. This setup could actually end up cheaper than a good screen'd deck and have tons of fun things you could do with it.

 

[cfox10 10+ year member]

Check out RADXA... I currently use a quad core unit with 2gb ram running Android 5.1.1 in my truck using a USB DAC to a series of mini dsp's (I started with one 2x4 and added more later on) going to my amps. All in all was a fun build and works flawlessly with my steering controls, bluetooth mic, excellent sound quality, backup camera, everything you could find in the play store, etc. The kernel I'm using allows the unit to boot up within 10-15 seconds and use backup camera while the unit is still booting.

If you aren't a diy person stay away though lol

 

[Wick3D]

What do you guys think about Clarion these days? Back when I was growing up they were the bees knees, best sounding decks you could find, haven't heard from them lately though?

How important are 4v rca outs vs 2v outs? I understand that the 4v can carry a higher quality signal, but is it worth specifically shopping for decks with 4v or no big deal?

I actually started thinking that I could get a mechless deck and save money that route.. Here's what I was eye balling..

4v rcas:

Kenwood KMM-BT515HD Single-DIN Digital Media Car Stereo with NFC Bluetooth

JVC KD-X330BTS Single DIN Bluetooth In-Dash Digital Media Car Stereo w/ Pandora & iHeartRadio Support, FLAC Playback and iPod/iPhone connectivity

2.5v rcas:

Kenwood KMR-M315BT Single DIN Bluetooth In-Dash Digital Media Car Stereo w/ Siri Voice Control Pandora/iHeartRadio App Ready for iPhone and Android and SiriusXM Ready

2v rcas:

Clarion FZ105BT Single-DIN Bluetooth In-Dash Mechless Car Stereo

Alpine UTE-52BT Digital Media Car Stereo w/ Bluetooth & Aux

The Clarion has an sd card slot, which is bonus. The Kenwood M315BT has a bit more amp power at 22 rms. What do you guys think?

Also what do you guys think about going with a cheaper version of one of these brands with a single rca out and ordering an equalizer with it?

 

[Wick3D]

Check out RADXA... I currently use a quad core unit with 2gb ram running Android 5.1.1 in my truck using a USB DAC to a series of mini dsp's (I started with one 2x4 and added more later on) going to my amps. All in all was a fun build and works flawlessly with my steering controls, bluetooth mic, excellent sound quality, backup camera, everything you could find in the play store, etc. The kernel I'm using allows the unit to boot up within 10-15 seconds and use backup camera while the unit is still booting.
If you aren't a diy person stay away though lol

Yea, I was actually thinking about a windows or linux based deal. Wifi and all. Cheap SSD and it should boot in seconds. With a windows build there's a lot of interesting things you could do //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif Raspberry pi-2 is actually working with microsoft to have a free version of win 10 that's compatible. If I went andriod I would think a 40$ walmart tablet mounted to my dash would be pretty easy.

Just looked at that radxa, pretty interesting.. Definitely another option to consider. Wonder what kind of fun you could have with that that 80 pin connector?

 

[giltyler]

For full features on the cheap look at Jensen

You get a lot of bang for the buck plus you can always upgrade later on

https://jet.com/product/Jensen-Vx3012-1-Din-Multimedia-Receiver-7-Inch-Touch-Screen-With-Bluetooth-And-B/15790eccbdfb40bc852fe9774d0b14f5

 

[Wick3D]

For full features on the cheap look at JensenYou get a lot of bang for the buck plus you can always upgrade later on

https://jet.com/product/Jensen-Vx3012-1-Din-Multimedia-Receiver-7-Inch-Touch-Screen-With-Bluetooth-And-B/15790eccbdfb40bc852fe9774d0b14f5

I've never been a fan of Jensen.. I know some people that roll with phase linear, which I believe is Jensen as well. I've just never heard a good sounding Jensen anything. Maybe I'm wrong though.

The cheaper deck(190$) that I was looking at before was this power acoustiks: Power Acoustik PDN-726B Single DIN GPS In-Dash DVD/CD/AM/FM/Digital Media Car Stereo w/ 7" Flip-out LCD Touchscreen, Bluetooth, and Front 3.5mm Auxiliary

From the PA stuff I've messed with in the past they seem to make solid products, if maybe not the highest if qualities, but their subs are sturdy and can handle a beatin(sound a bit dead though).

This deck has pretty much all the features I could ever want, short of 4v rca's and a SD slot.. It still as 3 sets of 2v though. And it has navigation which could come in handy... Right now I just see PA as the best you can get on a budget.. Maybe that's wrong? Can anyone chime in on PA? If I don't go this route I really think I am gunna go Alpine considering I already have a Alpine sub and amp...