Is a good HU essential?

[SPLV 10+ year member]

I'm putting together a sound system for my 1991 Toyota MR2. Do I NEED a good or better head unit? Will my crappy old Pioneer really be a bottleneck for my setup? The following is a list of my setup if it helps in answering my question:

-Rainbow SLC 265

-2 TC1000 8" in sealed boxes (don't remember the dimensions)

-Kicker ZX350.4

-Kicker ZX750.1

Currently in my car is an old school Pioneer which I honestly don't even know the model. Let's just say it's safe to say the HU is from the 90s.

IF I absolutely need to get a new/better HU, I'd like to hear some suggestions. Here are some rough guidelines of what I want in a new HU.

1) Budget less than or equal to $200

2) iPod ready (you can control iPod using HU face)

3) A HU that will sit flush to the dash as oppose to one with a removable face. JVC had a really nice one back in the day, I'll have to look around for pictures. I really want to avoid fancy HU's with flash knobs and such. I need the HU to be clean and simple. Sleek.

Thanks for the help.

Steve

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[Babs 10+ year member]

crap in, crap out....

Good processing of the CD signal upfront makes all the difference when it hits the amps and speakers down the chain. Mediocre DAC's and Preamp will kill the sound quality from the start.

For simple clean iPod controlling head unit in your budget, it's a tough one.. Bump the budget a little bit and there is the IDA-X001 (iPod ready non-CD unit that is reported to sound awesome for what it does).

 

[SPLV 10+ year member]

Thanks. I didn't know the iPod-ready HU's cost so much more than the regular HU's.

My apologies if this is a noob question, but is there a way to use the iPod with a system besides via the cumbersome FM radio transmitter?

Thanks.

 

[hasa68mustang 10+ year member]

Thanks. I didn't know the iPod-ready HU's cost so much more than the regular HU's.
My apologies if this is a noob question, but is there a way to use the iPod with a system besides via the cumbersome FM radio transmitter?

Thanks.

some HU's have ipod controllers, others have AUX inputs... and some have BOTH! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eek.gif.771b7a90cf45cabdc554ff1121c21c4a.gif

 

[saturnspl1991 10+ year member]

its basically the same thing in a chain , if you have a weak link the chain falls apart , no good headunit = no good sound

 

[DejaWiz 5,000+ posts]

A decent choice would be the Pioneer Premier DEH-P690UB. Check out some of the online retailers like onlinecarstereo and cardomain.

 

[saturnspl1991 10+ year member]

my cuzzin has that h/u its awsome very clear and has a TON of features he paid $180 , my aunt is a pioneer dealer and we get preety much everything at wholesale price , i got my mp770 for $120 when it came out //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[DejaWiz 5,000+ posts]

my cuzzin has that h/u its awsome very clear and has a TON of features he paid $180 , my aunt is a pioneer dealer and we get preety much everything at wholesale price , i got my mp770 for $120 when it came out //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I'm soon to be in the market for an 880PRS you know. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[Babs 10+ year member]

Uh, Yeah.. I could be swayed for an 880 myself probably too. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/naughty.gif.94359f346c0f1259df8038d60b41863e.gif

 

[krisfnbz 10+ year member]

A decent choice would be the Pioneer Premier DEH-P690UB. Check out some of the online retailers like onlinecarstereo and cardomain.

x2

I have the DEH-5900IB so the 690 is the upgrade to that and its a great budget head unit especially for the price