What head unit?

Von Luck · 17 Jul 2006 at 09:28

Currently got the standard VW Gamma HU with in-dash 6 CD changer. Works fine, but I hate the display (LCD which disappears in sunlight) and the fact that I can't play MP3s.

Not sure what to replace it with - was originally looking at HUs which allow MP3s to be played from DVDs, but they're pretty pricey and I'll never use videoplayback.

Currently considering a Kenwood KDC-W534UA - which has a rear USB port to allow usb sticks etc to be hooked up.

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=5118

Anyone used one of these? Any other suggestions?

Would ideally like something with blue backlighting to match the rest of the dash.

Scrutinize · 17 Jul 2006 at 09:49

Oh yea go for a food mixer in your car why don't you. :rolleyes:

Time, money and experience = Alpine or Pioneer > anything else in the budget HU wars

With that Kenwood you may get the pen dirve but you get a gash HU.

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=4788 This is a much better sound quality HU imo and you just need to burn a MP3 disk. Takes a bit longer but no more of an effort than a USB drive once your musics on the PC.

Von Luck · 17 Jul 2006 at 10:09

mrk1@1 said:
Oh yea go for a food mixer in your car why don't you.

Time, money and experience = Alpine or Pioneer > anything else in the budget HU wars

With that Kenwood you may get the pen dirve but you get a gash HU.

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=4788 This is a much better sound quality HU imo and you just need to burn a MP3 disk. Takes a bit longer but no more of an effort than a USB drive once your musics on the PC.

Aiieeeee, MY EYES!

Holy jesus that Pioneer MINGS.

Tbh I've had lots of Kenwood and Pioneer HUs over the years and never noticed any difference between them in either build or sound quality. Not had an Alpine before, but have heard they're good.

Single CD HUs are deffo out - I don't want the hassle of only having 700mb of MP3s and needing to swap discs. Needs to be either a changer (although not keen on this as I'd have to boot mount and it starts getting trickier to install), DVD based, or offer some other kind of mass storage (wouldn't get the bundle with the Kenwood - would pickup a cheapo 4gb pen drive instead).

Scrutinize · 17 Jul 2006 at 10:29

Von Luck said:
Aiieeeee, MY EYES! Holy jesus that Pioneer MINGS.

Tbh I've had lots of Kenwood and Pioneer HUs over the years and never noticed any difference between them in either build or sound quality. Not had an Alpine before, but have heard they're good.

Single CD HUs are deffo out - I don't want the hassle of only having 700mb of MP3s and needing to swap discs. Needs to be either a changer (although not keen on this as I'd have to boot mount and it starts getting trickier to install), DVD based, or offer some other kind of mass storage (wouldn't get the bundle with the Kenwood - would pickup a cheapo 4gb pen drive instead).

This is the reason I rarely post ice advice here. Meh what can you do?? If you know what you want you may as well buy it. Luckily for me, i don't really care what you get as it won't have to grace my ears

You know how many MP3s you can get on one disk? Hardly a problem unless you are in your car forever. Plus replacement costs are cheaper, loose the pen drive and te he he.

Von Luck · 17 Jul 2006 at 10:32

mrk1@1 said:
This is the reason I rarely post ice advice here. Meh what can you do?? If you know what you want you may as well buy it. Luckily for me, i don't really care what you get as it won't have to grace my ears

No need to sulk matey

Just clarifying my needs - I've no great preference for one brand over another. If there are any Pioneer HUs that have rear USB connectivity or DVD wotsits (and pref don't look like they came from the Starship Enterprise

) then I'm all ears.

Alpine DVA-9860R looks quite good too, but then I'd quite like DVD-RW playback, which would mean stumping up an additional £50 for the 9861Ri.

Scrutinize · 17 Jul 2006 at 10:34

Von Luck said:
No need to sulk matey

Just clarifying my needs - I've no great preference for one brand over another. If there are any Pioneer HUs that have rear USB connectivity or DVD wotsits (and pref don't look like they came from the Starship Enterprise ) then I'm all ears.

Lol, you may as well go for the Kenwood. If its serving the purpose you want it for then all is good.