Simple as that, what is the best aftermarket HU for the price?

Brand/Model, and Why??

 

IMO anything form Alpine is worth it, ive had my Alpine HU for 5.5 years and haven't had one issue with it. My rule with buying them is set a price you want to pay and see what is offered under that.

 

I agree... If you can get a hookup, or even without... the Alpine IVA-W200 is an awesome headunit and the iPOD, XM, and DVD with blackbird capability is plain sweet.

 

I should've mentioned, i'm not in the market for a DVD unit.

What do you all think of eclipse units?

More recommendations would be appreciated as well!

 

pioneers are very good. i've never had a problem with them. eclipse and alpine are also very solid

 

I don't care for eclipses, im not knocking thier quality, but they are way to flashy for my taste, they look too much like the Sony X-Plodes and the JVC (if its flashy they will buy) decks.

Great deck & features for under 200 http://www.alpine-usa.com/en/product...model=CDA-9856

My personal choice http://www.alpine-usa.com/en/product...model=CDA-9857 its more pricey but if i were upgradeing id get that one

 

I see what you mean that the alpine is much less flashy. I've never had an aftermarket HU before, are the flashy units like the eclipse intrusive while driving?

The one i'm looking at in particular is the cd3000 from eclipse

 

i dont think that they would be all that distracting, but also look at ease of interface use as a buying guide. It sucks to try and figure out how to turn up the bass at 70mph in rush hour traffic

 

haha, yea I hear ya. But as a technology person, I figure to have it down after no more that 3 trips in the car.

My worry is that it is just going to look too "busy". The alpines look a lot more simplistic

 

Alpine Decks are awesome. They give a lot of options!

 

Is it worth buying a steering wheel interface adapter in your guys opinions? +/- $60

 

Alpine, no competition! Ive had mine for 2 yrs and love it, no problems! I plan on getting the new 06 model CDA-9857! I wanted 2 lines of text since i have an iPod! BTW, i have my iPod hooked up with my HU right now and it works great! eBay has the CDA-9857 for around $270 shipped! Not bad for a $400 HU!

 

Alpine is one of the best HU. ....chinatown in NY, you can save $50 to 150 from any alpine unit depending on model. plus you don't pay shipping or tax....

 

Anyone here use a steering wheel interface adapter for their '06 or '07 steering wheel controls with an aftermarket HU? Any reviews? Successful/Unsuccessful? Reduces Quality??

 

I'd like to know this too, I want an aftermarket HU but i love the stearing wheel controls and the aux connector in the console (for my ZEN).

 

jfc, I'd love to be in 70mph Rush hour traffic!!!!

 

Come to SoCal. We have that every day. Bumper to bumper at 75. Imagine NASCAR with 25,000 cars on the track.

 

You need an Alpine CDA-9857 w/ KCA-121b(aux input cable for your Zen) and a Peripheral steering wheel adapter made for the alpine heads it plugs into the back of radio instead of that stupid IR reapter.