Best headunit for £200?

-Neil- · 29 Jan 2007 at 22:39

As title, what's the best headunit for ~£200?

Currently got a Medion headunit and these speakers in the front only:

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/pioneer-tse1396-p-3144.html

Not many requirements, just be able to plug my iRiver mp3 player into it via AUX. Bluetooth would be a nice addition as well.

Neil.

uchuff · 29 Jan 2007 at 22:54

I've just fitted a Pioneer P55BT into my car, its not the most classy looking head unit ever but you can change the colour of the display/button back lights so it fits in with the rest of the dash. It plays MP3/WMA CDs, has Bluetooth for hands free phone, an AUX port on the back and sounds much better than the stock Vauxhall HU did.

Sonea Fifer · 29 Jan 2007 at 23:28

I've said it before and i'll say it again Alpine rock - the best imo

http://uk.four.ebid.net/perl/auction.cgi?auction=1165462622-7656-0&mo=auction&from=froogle

rG-tom · 30 Jan 2007 at 03:17

uchuff said:
I've just fitted a Pioneer P55BT into my car, its not the most classy looking head unit ever but you can change the colour of the display/button back lights so it fits in with the rest of the dash. It plays MP3/WMA CDs, has Bluetooth for hands free phone, an AUX port on the back and sounds much better than the stock Vauxhall HU did.

quoted for truth

ramirez · 30 Jan 2007 at 07:44

Second hand Pioneer DEH P-77MP.

paradigm · 30 Jan 2007 at 09:39

uchuff said:
I've just fitted a Pioneer P55BT into my car, its not the most classy looking head unit ever but you can change the colour of the display/button back lights so it fits in with the rest of the dash. It plays MP3/WMA CDs, has Bluetooth for hands free phone, an AUX port on the back and sounds much better than the stock Vauxhall HU did.

P55BT is a classy looking HU in the way that its simple, and not garish in the slightest. Best £160 i've ever spent for a car accessory IMO.

ramirez said:
Second hand Pioneer DEH P-77MP.

Garish looking unit IMO, and none of the benefits of buying new.

Sirrel Squirrel · 30 Jan 2007 at 09:46

I've got one of these http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/jvc-kdlhx552-p-4040.html a fantastic bit of kit, it's £400 in Halfords so bargain buying it off the net. It's touch screen, which at first is cool but doesn't serve a lot of purpose other than keeping the unit look very neat and tidy, plus the brushed aluminum fascia looks damn sexy.

It's got an SD card slot on it too so you can buy a large SD card and cram it full of songs, the unit can display album art too and you can make little videos to put on the display although these are pixely and are what ever colour the display is (it changes colours!) Also when you turn your headlights on the display switches to negative mode so you don't get distracted in night time driving as the display is very bright in positive mode.

It's got aux in too, plus the option for a dab aerial and cd changer, so all in all it's excellent and the sound quality is superb too! All it needs is bluetooth

Bes · 30 Jan 2007 at 10:47

paradigm said:
P55BT is a classy looking HU in the way that its simple, and not garish in the slightest. Best £160 i've ever spent for a car accessory IMO.

Garish looking unit IMO, and none of the benefits of buying new.

Paradigm- Does it have a built in FM amplifier? As I know Sonys etc dont and therefore give very poor fm reception in the Leon?

paradigm · 30 Jan 2007 at 10:49

Bes said:
Paradigm- Does it have a built in FM amplifier? As I know Sonys etc dont and therefore give very poor fm reception in the Leon?

I can only assume they do, as my FM reception is crystal clear. AM on the other hand is dire, but I don't listen to anything on AM so its a non-issue.

lordrobs · 30 Jan 2007 at 11:28

Bes said:
Paradigm- Does it have a built in FM amplifier? As I know Sonys etc dont and therefore give very poor fm reception in the Leon?

Put it this way- I pick up European stations

never had the signal drop out (I own the same HU as Paradigm)

What I can't stress enough is just how good the bluetooth is on this unit :cool:

and theres enough colour options for both screen and buttons that it won't stick out like a sore thumb... unless you want it to of course

pinkaardvark · 30 Jan 2007 at 12:19

Bes said:
Paradigm- Does it have a built in FM amplifier? As I know Sonys etc dont and therefore give very poor fm reception in the Leon?

VAG cars usually need an extra bit between the HU and aerial lead, certainly all the ones I have experienced did and have never had any specific probs with Sony's in this respect.

nicRob · 30 Jan 2007 at 12:26

P55BT rocks

Defcon5 · 30 Jan 2007 at 13:14

Is it better to replace the head unit first, and then the speakers? I cant afford to do them all at once, so which one would be best to change first?

Cybershot · 30 Jan 2007 at 13:16

Defcon5 said:
Is it better to replace the head unit first, and then the speakers? I cant afford to do them all at once, so which one would be best to change first?

I found that changing the head unit alone gave a noticable difference in sound quality through the stock speakers.

Sirrel Squirrel · 30 Jan 2007 at 13:19

tough call really, I changed my head unit first and it did give better sound through my rubbish stock speakers, I then changed them and the difference was brilliant.

Bes · 30 Jan 2007 at 17:07

pinkaardvark said:
VAG cars usually need an extra bit between the HU and aerial lead, certainly all the ones I have experienced did and have never had any specific probs with Sony's in this respect.

What I meant is that the standard Leon stereo comes with a built in radio amplifier- most brands like Sony, etc do not (I only say Sony as my HU is a Sony). However, I have read that some Pioneers do.

pinkaardvark · 30 Jan 2007 at 17:33

Bes said:
What I meant is that the standard Leon stereo comes with a built in radio amplifier- most brands like Sony, etc do not (I only say Sony as my HU is a Sony). However, I have read that some Pioneers do.

ah right I get ya. I was meaning one of these http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/aerial-adaptor-p-211.html which you need in most VAG cars else you lose the aerial amplification. I'm guessing instead of this the leon has this amplification incorporated into the HU somehow?

daz · 30 Jan 2007 at 17:48

Take a look at some Blaupunkt units too. They're excellent.

I.e.
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/blaupunkt-casablanca-mp56-p-5418.html

paradigm said:
Garish looking unit IMO, and none of the benefits of buying new.

The 77MP is one of the best sounding head units around.

ramirez · 30 Jan 2007 at 18:13

daz said:
Take a look at some Blaupunkt units too. They're excellent.
I.e.
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/blaupunkt-casablanca-mp56-p-5418.html

The 77MP is one of the best sounding head units around.

yep - i agree, heard nothing at all like them in price range with and theres quite a market for them at the moment.

-Neil- · 30 Jan 2007 at 18:41

paradigm said:
P55BT is a classy looking HU in the way that its simple, and not garish in the slightest. Best £160 i've ever spent for a car accessory IMO.

Looks good, where did you get it for £160 from?

Neil.