Anyone bought a ~$200-250 head unit recently?
#11
I'm currently head unit shopping for my new-to-me 05 s2k.
The The Kenwood units are the only units I can find that have dual (front and rear) USB ports, which would be convenient for me - semi-permanent ipod in rear USB and I can charge my phone up front with a short cable.
But the idea of the Alpine Power Pack hidden away in the passenger side knee/dash area (I'm new here, idk what to call it) convinced me to wait for the new Alpine units - available April 8 for reasonable prices according to Crutchfield.
http://www.alpine-usa.com/company/pr...-cd-receivers/
Here's the full-featured Kenwood with front and rear USB
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113BT95...C-BT955HD.html
Make sure the head unit you get is compatible with steering wheel controls!
Edit - my plan is to run a USB extension cable and let it stick out the bottom of the dash on the passenger side near the little storage net. Along with a set of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Techno...dp/B003T5KXJQ/
The The Kenwood units are the only units I can find that have dual (front and rear) USB ports, which would be convenient for me - semi-permanent ipod in rear USB and I can charge my phone up front with a short cable.
But the idea of the Alpine Power Pack hidden away in the passenger side knee/dash area (I'm new here, idk what to call it) convinced me to wait for the new Alpine units - available April 8 for reasonable prices according to Crutchfield.
http://www.alpine-usa.com/company/pr...-cd-receivers/
Here's the full-featured Kenwood with front and rear USB
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113BT95...C-BT955HD.html
Make sure the head unit you get is compatible with steering wheel controls!
Edit - my plan is to run a USB extension cable and let it stick out the bottom of the dash on the passenger side near the little storage net. Along with a set of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Techno...dp/B003T5KXJQ/
#12
I'm currently head unit shopping for my new-to-me 05 s2k.
The The Kenwood units are the only units I can find that have dual (front and rear) USB ports, which would be convenient for me - semi-permanent ipod in rear USB and I can charge my phone up front with a short cable.
But the idea of the Alpine Power Pack hidden away in the passenger side knee/dash area (I'm new here, idk what to call it) convinced me to wait for the new Alpine units - available April 8 for reasonable prices according to Crutchfield.
The The Kenwood units are the only units I can find that have dual (front and rear) USB ports, which would be convenient for me - semi-permanent ipod in rear USB and I can charge my phone up front with a short cable.
But the idea of the Alpine Power Pack hidden away in the passenger side knee/dash area (I'm new here, idk what to call it) convinced me to wait for the new Alpine units - available April 8 for reasonable prices according to Crutchfield.
I agree that a rear USB is a must, and your solution with the new Alpine units and the extension cable will work, but if you do decide to go with the Kenwood or another dual USB HU, you can definitely still use the 445U amp.
#13
Originally Posted by rtm5003' timestamp='1364778601' post='22441823
I'm currently head unit shopping for my new-to-me 05 s2k.
The The Kenwood units are the only units I can find that have dual (front and rear) USB ports, which would be convenient for me - semi-permanent ipod in rear USB and I can charge my phone up front with a short cable.
But the idea of the Alpine Power Pack hidden away in the passenger side knee/dash area (I'm new here, idk what to call it) convinced me to wait for the new Alpine units - available April 8 for reasonable prices according to Crutchfield.
The The Kenwood units are the only units I can find that have dual (front and rear) USB ports, which would be convenient for me - semi-permanent ipod in rear USB and I can charge my phone up front with a short cable.
But the idea of the Alpine Power Pack hidden away in the passenger side knee/dash area (I'm new here, idk what to call it) convinced me to wait for the new Alpine units - available April 8 for reasonable prices according to Crutchfield.
I agree that a rear USB is a must, and your solution with the new Alpine units and the extension cable will work, but if you do decide to go with the Kenwood or another dual USB HU, you can definitely still use the 445U amp.
Thanks - very useful info! I hadn't considered trying to the Power Pack without an Alpine HU...
I was hoping that it was bridgeable - I might need to give this a shot with the irresistibly-priced Polk DB6501's running 90W RMS per channel. With this much power I could even drive a set of Type-R's pretty nicely.... Hmmmmmmm.
I'm definitely not putting a sub in this car so I'd like to get as much bass from the door speakers as possible..... Uphill battle, I know!
#14
Thanks - very useful info! I hadn't considered trying to the Power Pack without an Alpine HU...
I was hoping that it was bridgeable - I might need to give this a shot with the irresistibly-priced Polk DB6501's running 90W RMS per channel. With this much power I could even drive a set of Type-R's pretty nicely.... Hmmmmmmm.
I'm definitely not putting a sub in this car so I'd like to get as much bass from the door speakers as possible..... Uphill battle, I know!
I was hoping that it was bridgeable - I might need to give this a shot with the irresistibly-priced Polk DB6501's running 90W RMS per channel. With this much power I could even drive a set of Type-R's pretty nicely.... Hmmmmmmm.
I'm definitely not putting a sub in this car so I'd like to get as much bass from the door speakers as possible..... Uphill battle, I know!
#15
Originally Posted by rtm5003' timestamp='1364840867' post='22443498
Thanks - very useful info! I hadn't considered trying to the Power Pack without an Alpine HU...
I was hoping that it was bridgeable - I might need to give this a shot with the irresistibly-priced Polk DB6501's running 90W RMS per channel. With this much power I could even drive a set of Type-R's pretty nicely.... Hmmmmmmm.
I'm definitely not putting a sub in this car so I'd like to get as much bass from the door speakers as possible..... Uphill battle, I know!
I was hoping that it was bridgeable - I might need to give this a shot with the irresistibly-priced Polk DB6501's running 90W RMS per channel. With this much power I could even drive a set of Type-R's pretty nicely.... Hmmmmmmm.
I'm definitely not putting a sub in this car so I'd like to get as much bass from the door speakers as possible..... Uphill battle, I know!
That's disappointing to hear of the Polks. They are rated for 100W RMS! I'm pretty set on the 445/U since I can stash it in the dash somewhere and not worry about messing with my seat movement.
90W RMS can drive some semi-serious speakers. Do you have any input on 90W x 2 to the doors vs. 45W x 4 with some mid-priced coax's behind the seats?
It's not that my budget is super tight - it's that I don't expect audiophile-quality sound in a rattly roadster! Just need to get rid of this stock garbage.
#16
I'm in the market for a headunit myself. I keep leaning towards the Pioneer DEH-80PRS now that it's under $300. I just haven't heard much about how well it fits and if the volume knob hits the door.
There doesn't seem to be too much activity in this subforum unfortunately so it's hard to get decent input.
There doesn't seem to be too much activity in this subforum unfortunately so it's hard to get decent input.
#17
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Backroads between Pinole and Concord ;)
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i just installed the pioneer 9400bt and the volume does hit the door...might have to do some trimming...
figured while i'm posting here's my usb mounts
figured while i'm posting here's my usb mounts
#19
OP - sorry for threadjacking
That's disappointing to hear of the Polks. They are rated for 100W RMS! I'm pretty set on the 445/U since I can stash it in the dash somewhere and not worry about messing with my seat movement.
90W RMS can drive some semi-serious speakers. Do you have any input on 90W x 2 to the doors vs. 45W x 4 with some mid-priced coax's behind the seats?
It's not that my budget is super tight - it's that I don't expect audiophile-quality sound in a rattly roadster! Just need to get rid of this stock garbage.
That's disappointing to hear of the Polks. They are rated for 100W RMS! I'm pretty set on the 445/U since I can stash it in the dash somewhere and not worry about messing with my seat movement.
90W RMS can drive some semi-serious speakers. Do you have any input on 90W x 2 to the doors vs. 45W x 4 with some mid-priced coax's behind the seats?
It's not that my budget is super tight - it's that I don't expect audiophile-quality sound in a rattly roadster! Just need to get rid of this stock garbage.
If you have more to spend on fronts, I've heard very good things about Hybrid Audio speakers - their Imagine and Unity lines are $300-400/pair. The polks are still a nice upgrade over stock, though, and they do benefit from the amp. They can handle the power fine, they just don't sound very good that high because they start to distort and the treble gets too harsh when they get too loud.
OK, threadjack over.
Vee2k, those USB plugs look very slick. Nice work!
#20
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Backroads between Pinole and Concord ;)
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Edit: came to have my alarm adjusted at Custom Car Stereos in Concord and they offered to readjust the stereo so the door closes for 30 bucks. Saves me the hassle of pulling it out and drilling the brackets!