Why do aftermarket headunits still look so tacky?

shauncr91

shauncr91

shauncr91

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Started looking for an aftermarket single din headunit for my Clio with bluetooth streaming capability.

This is the first time I've looked at headunits in about 6yrs and I can't believe they still look so horrible and out of place, flashy LED's with sharp edges and completely unnecessary styling.

Is there any option available that doesn't look fresh out of Max Power?
 
The higher end alpine stuff looks OK, remember you can normally change the led colour to match the dash
 
I'm amazed the industry is still going. I can't even think where I could install one in any of the current range from quite a few manufacturers.
 
I'm a fan of Blaupunkt headunits.

http://www.blaupunktdirect.co.uk/car-audio/single-din/toronto-440-bluetooth-head-unit.html

Got an Alpine myself as it matched the rest of the dash.

61VVzPOqtML._SL1500_.jpg
 
[TW]Fox;29675500 said:
I'm amazed the industry is still going. I can't even think where I could install one in any of the current range from quite a few manufacturers.
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Unfortunately it's still there for us plebs with older cars ;)
 
[TW]Fox;29675500 said:
I'm amazed the industry is still going. I can't even think where I could install one in any of the current range from quite a few manufacturers.
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Pretty much everything you come out with normally is extremely sensible and thought out. But seriously? That's an Acme level of "wtf" comment.

You do realise that not everyone has a current model car? There are millions of cars on the road and heavily integrated audio and nav systems with USB, Bluetooth etc have only become commonplace on mainstream cars in the last generation or so.
 
for cost reduction car manufacturers are making integrated entertainment/nav/control/audio units, and squeezing the likes of Blaupunkt/Alpine/Kenwood/Pioneer out of the market (surprising they have no recourse like Microsoft pushing Internet Explorer on folks)
The integrated units are marketted with the branding of Bose and other high marketting budget brands (the consumer laps them up like Beats !), but I would think my 7 year old Alpine (made in Japan w/cd multi-changer) sounds better, reasonable amp+dac , programmable equalizer and sound time shift equalization (maybe that was a gimmick) look and aesthetics were fine too.
Now that there are no mechanical parts (cd drive) newer Alpines from China should be fine too.
It seems surprising the likes of Alpine have not associated themselves openly with the manufacture of some of the integrated systems
 
danza said:
Becker.

Expensive, but they look OEM.
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Cannot see anywhere to buy these..? Just wanted a browse out of curiosity cos I hate spangly head units...

And oi, don't make me a measurement of stupidity. :p
 
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iaind said:
Pretty much everything you come out with normally is extremely sensible and thought out. But seriously? That's an Acme level of "wtf" comment.

You do realise that not everyone has a current model car? There are millions of cars on the road and heavily integrated audio and nav systems with USB, Bluetooth etc have only become commonplace on mainstream cars in the last generation or so.
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Yep
 
My guess, it's a dying market, so investment is all but gone. It's flogging a dying horse to maximise revenue from the existing range and tech.
Why build a new, all signing, all dancing unit when no new cars wil ever need them and your target market shrinks by the day?!
 
I was wondering why on earth headunits are so expensive. they can't be *that* complex and they still cost a fortune. I spent £55 on an ancient Alpine unit that I dearly love on ebay and got outbid so many times on other auctions. I can't see why it's expensive.
 
jpaul said:
It seems surprising the likes of Alpine have not associated themselves openly with the manufacture of some of the integrated systems
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Alpine do, or at least did, make a lot of the integrated units within cars. They made the multi-cd changer in Jags and Land/Range Rovers up to about 10 model year.
A lot of the integrated components are made by companies most people would not have heard of before. A staggering number of companies supply components that go into a modern vehicle.
 
I genuinely don't understand why so many head units have an aux on the front. It's ugly, awkward and annoying.
 
People are generally twreified of doing anything outside of unplugging a box and plugging a new one in, so the thought of running a cable a few mm along to either the glove box or arm rest can be terrifying.

Plus it's probably cheaper in some way
 
Hxc said:
I genuinely don't understand why so many head units have an aux on the front. It's ugly, awkward and annoying.
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Its so hip younguns like me can pick up their friends and proffer them an aux cable. I then become the best person in the world instantaneously.

Though this is now slightly nullified by the fact that they can just bluetooth to it instead...
 
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