Older Head Unit Help

[resevil83 10+ year member]

I am buying a new car next week. (97 Ford Contour) Ha. Anyways, I wanted to get a cheap system for this car. I wanted to do a basic Head Unit, component speakers, small sub and amp. I'm REALLY on a budget and was hoping I could just e-bay some older head units. I was hoping you guys could guide me to a head unit that had a removable faceplate (I don't want my hu getting jacked) I want it to be able to synch up to an I-pod. I remember seeing head units with RCA inputs on the back so I could just put an adapter back there and run the cord to my cupholder. I'm not sure if this is how it's done anymore though. http://www.amazon.com/Male-3-5mm-Stereo-Female-Y-Cable/dp/B000I23TTE

I plan on running an amp and a 10 inch sub. I will most likely amp the components also. I don't know too much about this sort of thing anymore so any help would be appreciated.

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[D_Jack 10+ year member]

why settle for older slow HD when you can get this http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-PIONEER-DEH-P4000-CD-MP3-CAR-RADIO-STEREO-RECEIVER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c39Q3a1Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem170273022133QQitemZ170273022133

and this has a USB port that come out the back you simply plug ur ipod into that and boom you have good quality sounding MP3 playback in you car you can control on the HU!!

 

[cf2004 10+ year member]

whats your budget for everything? are you doing the work yourself?

there are lots of good decks out there that are new and do what you want for a cheap tag.

 

[cf2004 10+ year member]

check this out

http://cgi.ebay.com/PANASONIC-CQ-RX400U-CD-AAC-WMA-MP3-FRONT-USB-AUX-IPOD_W0QQitemZ160288905066QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160288905066&_trkparms=72%3A1240%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

front usb port for an ipod or thumb drive stick. it seems that it has everything you were asking for.

looks to be a nice deck.

edit: here is some info on it about an ipod

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?cc=02&g=300&i=133CQRX400&tp=5684&tab=detailed_info

 

[IDSkoT 5,000+ posts]

Don't worry about getting jacked.

I have a $225 dollar head unit and zero tints, and I've never even had anyone take a second look at my car. Truth is, as long as it's not flashy and yells "I'M EXPENSIVE!" You should be fine. Thieves like to steal double dins, with touch screens and fancy things.

 

[cf2004 10+ year member]

Don't worry about getting jacked.Truth is, as long as it's not flashy and yells "I'M EXPENSIVE!" You should be fine.

i wouldnt say all that. it really depends on where you live and drive around. people will steal anything.

But i get your point and agree with your statment. Use caution and lock your doors and all should be well.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

 

[resevil83 10+ year member]

I'm looking to spend about 150.00 on the HU, and I was planning on buying the rest later. I wanted to run the wires for the sub and speakers and do the sound insulation before I actually bought anything. I will be doing the install myself. I don't want to spend anymore than 600.00 on the rest.

 

[cf2004 10+ year member]

I'm looking to spend about 150.00 on the HU, and I was planning on buying the rest later. I wanted to run the wires for the sub and speakers and do the sound insulation before I actually bought anything. I will be doing the install myself. I don't want to spend anymore than 600.00 on the rest.

Head Unit: http://cgi.ebay.com/PANASONIC-CQ-RX4...d=p3286.c0.m14

Sub: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ALPINE-SWR-1042D-10-TYPE-R-SUBWOOFER-1500W-SWR1042D_W0QQitemZ270287875631QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270287875631&_trkparms=72%3A1240%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Sub Amp: http://cgi.ebay.com/HIFONICS-BRUTUS-BXI-1208D-MONO-CLASS-D-CAR-AMP-BXI1208D_W0QQitemZ360098646808QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item360098646808&_trkparms=72%3A1240%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Highs: http://cgi.ebay.com/PHOENIX-GOLD-RSd-65cs-6-5-COMPONENT-SPEAKERS-RSd65cs_W0QQitemZ140275702090QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item140275702090&_trkparms=72%3A1240%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Wiring: http://www.knukonceptz.com/productDetail.cfm?prodID=KLM-K4

This adds up to about $510.00 w/o a box. You should have some extra cash to buy a box, or you can build one and save more.

The RSD's would proly sound better if you powered them off of a separate amp but should do ok off of the deck for now.

This was stuff from a quick search search and that has been used through out the people on this forum.

 

[resevil83 10+ year member]

Hey! Thanks for the quick setup there. One thing is the ebay item link that you gave me to the Head Unit was not working. Can you post me another link?

 

[resevil83 10+ year member]

oh' and out of curiosity, how would that system stack up as far as quality goes. I'm not looking to get into competitions or anything like that, but I was just wondering if in the car audio world people would laugh and say something like, why did you shop at Toys R Us for your car audio stuff? I just wanted to buy a good system that sounded pretty decent to me. Basically what I'm getting at is, is my budget too cheap for a full system? Should I be saving up more? I don't like to cheap myself out, even though I'm probably not.

 

[resevil83 10+ year member]

I already answered my question about the recommended HU, however I think that the front USB input is no good. I want a really clean look and wanted to run the wires out the back, under the center console and make a custom dock for it. I don't want to have a wire hanging out my front. That doesn't appeal to me. Any other recommendations?