Single Din Digital media player and .5 eq

[Radix 10+ year member]

I'm looking to get a new system for my car since mine is stolen.

I don't use CDs, ever, never have. So the best choice for my would be the digital media player. All I'll use is an iPod/iPhone and possible a hard drive in the future.

I'm looking to spend a maximum of $300

My current choice is the kenwood KIV 701

Im also looking for a good EQ for about $50

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[shnitz 10+ year member]

It depends what all features you want. For example, for the same price as the KIV-701, you can buy Kenwood's best single-DIN head unit, the Excelon KDC-X996. You get HD Radio, Bluetooth, Pandora without the use of the KIV-701's goofy adapter cable, Android app, better sound and EQ controls, etc. Yes, the X996 has a CD player behind the face, but just because it is there doesn't mean that you have to use it! If you were paying less for a media-player-only device then sure, by all means go for it. But I'd rather have all the features I just mentioned than a color screen, especially for $300, which is Pioneer 80PRS territory.

Plus, at $300, you say you want a single-DIN, but at $300 you're just about at double-DIN territory, for the DDX319 and DDX419. If you're already choosing the KIV-701 over the KDC-X996 because of the color screen, you might as well step up and get a real-sized color screen.

 

[Radix 10+ year member]

There's no room for double din.

If I could just have my head unit to be a speaker with an AUX input that would be perfect for me.

I don't want blue tooth, I dont want pandora, none of that extra crap. I just want to play my iPod, and thats it.

It's not for the color screen, or any of that. My car ligh color is an orange/red with a black/gray interior so I want to match that.

I want best SQ, and most simplistic controls and look to it. It would b cool to hook up a backup camera to it, but if you can recommend me one that's better please do!

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

if you want just an aux for your ipod or what ever.then my alpine cda 9855 would be perfect ,its also a 3 way active hu ,no pandora or bluetooth stuff either

 

[Radix 10+ year member]

Well I would like good SQ, sleek look(like I said) and color changing to match my interior

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

Alpine CDA-9855 CD receiver with MP3 / WMA playback at Crutchfield.com

 

[Radix 10+ year member]

I can get better and closer to what I'm looking for somewhere else, thanks

 

[Radix 10+ year member]

Any other opinions?

To refine what I'm looking for:

I want something sleek and without many features. If I could I would want I a speaker with an AUX cable. I want good SQ. I never use CDs so that feels like a waste to me. The Digital media player is good, especially since a backup camera would be cool. I am not using Bluetooth, pandora, android, or anything of the likes. So good quality with low features.

 

[shnitz 10+ year member]

That digital media player is the cheapest that you're going to get for a video monitor in a single DIN deck; actual screens aren't that common in single DIN units. So if you want a backup camera, that's your best bet. You could just get any of the cheapest decks from Alpine, Clarion, Kenwood, Sony, JVC, or Pioneer as they're all equally good. I'd recommend a 30-pin instead of a simple AUX because of a few reasons:

-control of the ipod/iphone through the head unit

-Line out instead of the headphone jack, which means that the volume, equalizer, and amplifier of the iphone are all bypassed

-Charges your ipod/iphone when plugged in

Also, if you get a headunit that's at least $130 at Crutchfield, you get free installation equipment, so you gain additional features for free pretty much. Otherwise, here are a few good-sounding headunits from Amazon:

-http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-DEH-2400UB-DEH-2400Ub-Iphone%C2%AE-Playback/dp/B0068Y7FXC/ref=sr_1_84?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=car&ie=UTF8&qid=1342886722&sr=1-84

-http://www.amazon.com/JVC-KDHDR44-Radio-Receiver-Inputs/dp/B004UI4OCI/ref=sr_1_76?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=car&ie=UTF8&qid=1342886722&sr=1-76

-http://www.amazon.com/Sony-CDXGT360MP-Car-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B005I7HS0K/ref=sr_1_77?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=car&ie=UTF8&qid=1342886722&sr=1-77

 

[Radix 10+ year member]

I don't want to control the songs from the HU, I only want to use the iPhone for it

I also don't care if it's somewhat expensive.. It can be a bit over $300