Ok, so I'm looking for a reciever for a 1995 Chevy Camaro. So, I'm not sure what all will fit, and what all I will need exactly. I know when I got my unit for my Ford Ranger, there was a wiring harness I needed, and something else, but I forget what it was. Please let me know of everything I'll need for installation in this car. Thanks!
Second, I've picked out some head units I like. I want to know more about them though from users here... Like... Are they good? Good quality? Which would you recommend out of all? And anything else! The units I've picked out are the Alpine iDA-X200 (for the iPod controls), the Dual XDVD8130 DVD player (I can't find much about this unit... Please help on this one!) Maybe the Boss BV7985 touch screen. Umm... And possibly the Boss BV7965 reciever. All of these are DVD except the Alpine, but I just want to know which ones are nice quality, and if they'll fit my car etc. Any help is huge.
Also, I plan on installing dual amps (Not the company, just 2 amps) so, I'm not sure what the unit will need or if it needs anything special to be able to do that. Please help me here too, and tell me which units I've chosen (or alternatives that are nice that are not listed above) that will allow me to do dual amps. Thanks!
Or if either of you amps have RCA OUTPUTS - you can just run from one of those to the inputs of the other amp and you don't need the Y-adapter.
If you got to outfit my car, it will show you what units fit and what you need to connect it in your car (which isn't much).
HU (head unit, receiver, deck) choice is highly subjective, but IMHO, top tier brands are Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer, and Eclipse. Sony, JVC, Clarion, and Blaupunkt would be second tier. Dual, Jensen, and Boss would be third tier - and probably in that order.
Let us know what features are REALLY important to you and we can make some suggestions - personally, I'd prefer a quality non-DVD unit to a 2-inch screen lesser unit, but it's personal preference.
Alpine is definitely the best quality of the units you are considering - I can't speak to the iPod interface but that's what that series was designed for, so I wouldn't expect it to have problems. It won't play CD's though, if that is important to you. CF used to carry the Dual, but there aren't any reviews of it - reviews of their other gear has been positive. Boss has generally a pretty negative reputation - although some members have liked their powered subs and some members have liked their subwoofer amps okay. CF only recently started carrying two of there HU's and reviews hint that the DIN sleeve is poorly designed and the power wires might be reversed in the schematics - doesn't give me a lot of confidence.
Dual amps are not really a problem, but if you will be running subs I would look for a unit with subwoofer mode pre-outs.
Hope This Helps!!!
2002 Ford Focus Sony CDX-GT410u Sony XT-100HD HD Tuner Stock speakers, no amp, no subs
I can't testify to this myself, but I've heard that several people were having trouble using their ipods with Alpine's iDA-X*** series. Just search the term iDA-X303.
As for installing two amps, the head unit type depends on what the amps are going to be powering. If both are going to power the subs, you could use a HU that has only 1 RCA output.
I have a Jensen VM9412 HU myself. It is definitely a good HU. It has Ipod controls (but you have to buy a cable for it). Here's a link to the manufacturers page:
http://mobile.jensen.com/jensen/JensenProductDetail.do?ACTION_TYPE_ID=ACTION_TYPE_PRODUCT_DETAIL&ACTION_CATEGORY_ID=STR_SEARCH_RESULT&search=VM9412&ACTION_PRODUCT_ID=VM9412
1992 Chevrolet pickup; Jensen VM9412 HU; Alpine 4x6 2-way dash speakers x 2; Pyle Blue Label 4x6 3-way rear speakers x 2; Pyle Blue Label 12" subs x 2; Crunch GVP700.2 "Ground Pounder" subwoofer amplifier; Custom Subwoofer box
Yes, the dual amps will be powering 2 woofers. And I thought you would need like 2 RCA outputs? 1 for each amp?
You could use an RCA Y-adapter to split the output. Since they are powering the same thing, it will work nicely.
Do those like turn 1 RCA output into 2?
As far as the HU is concerned, it's only 1 RCA jack. But it does give you 2 RCA jacks for the amps.
Okay, all of this helps alot. I'll look up some information on the Hifonics amps I'm looking at and see what they have, and try to map out the car.
As for HUs, I'd like to have a nice quality HU of course. I just thought the screen was kind of sporty you know? But, if it comes down to it being a poor quality Unit, then I'd like to have the iPod hook up (not a must, but would like it), I'd like to have the USB Port if it doesn't have the iPod option, and CD's ALMOST a must. The only acception for not being able to play CDs is the Alpine iDA (I really like this HU).
If I could have any receiver I wanted...
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130P7100BT/Pioneer-DEH-P7100BT.html?showAll=N&tp=5684
I definitely second Tiger on this one. Boss, Dual, Jensen, and the like are not exactly why I would call "high quality" but you do get quite a few features. Personally, I would look at Alpine, Pioneer and Kenwood, in that order, but that's just me. In my experience, Alpine (at least in the last few years) have had the fastest, most intuitive ipod interfaces, but are arguably lagging in the looks/features department (ie sleeker faceplates, more color options, etc.)
My top picks (as far as DIN receivers go) are the Alpine CDA-9886/9887 or the Pioneer DEH-P7100BT/DEH-P6100BT
That said, what you end up with just depends on what your price range and tastes are.
02 BMW 330Ci, Alpine DVI-9965, Alpine MRA F350 5ch, Alpine MRP T220 + 2x Kicker 6x9 FreeAir, Kicker KX1200.1 + Alpine 12" Type-R, 2-Way Security, Keyless Entry, Remote Start
I think Ninja pretty much nailed this as well.
I'm not quite ready to go Alpine, Pioneer, Kenwood, IN THAT ORDER - well, basically I am, but it would be shades of difference. IOW, I wouldn't say on a 1-100 scale Alpine is 95, Pioneer is 75 and Kenwood is 50 - More like Alpine is 95, Pioneer is 92, and Kenwood is maybe 87-90. They are all very good units.
Alpine - best (cleanest) internal amps (probably best SQ), best iPod interface, and the newer units like the 102 and 105 now include USB at a VERY reasonable price.
Pioneer - best FM section (which is important to me), hold up well - wish they came in some color other than blue.
Kenwood - I wasn't impressed with one I had, but that was 12-years ago. Reviews have said they have a very good USB input and many of them have switchable illumination (and personally I like the styling of the 2009 models.)