so im thinking of starting my quest to build a nice sound system in my box.... im going to do it step by step, not all at once so im starting with the head unit. in my previous cars i've had the huge mega watt/high budget stereo, thats not what im going for here. i want something moderatly priced, that sounds good most of all.

here is the head unit im looking at

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Re7rhEp...300&I=158GT510

i had kenwood in my last car, and didnt like it. WAY to complex. i want simplicity.

is there any reason in particular i should not go with this?

ALSO, VERY important. is there a way to still use my steering wheel audio controls?

 

i personally have never had good experience with sony. i had one, my friend had one, grandparents had one, and they all just stopped working about 6 months to 1 year after installing them. i have never heard anything good about sony and car audio, but on the other hand all other types of electronics they make i have heard good things about.

i actually just ordered the Panasonic CQ-C8303U. i read nothin but good reviews from it...so we will see how it is hopefully this weekend

 

so what about the steering wheel controls?

 

There are steering wheel control adapters for some headunits. The adapters are universal and work with headunits that have remote control capability. You must get an adapter that is compatible with the type of remote system used by your headunit. The adapter I bought needed to have an IR eye mounted in front of the IR receptor of the headunit (anywhere in front up to maybe 4-5 feet away, but must have line of sight). I saw nowhere in my xB that I wanted to place this IR transmitter. It also seemed from reading the adapters instructions that I would likely only gain volume control back and not the mode control, so for the hassle of it and the lack of a good transmitter mounting spot I returned the adapter. So far I am surviving just fine with non functional steering wheel control switches.

I have also have not so great luck with Sony HU's, I also have had failures. I reccommend Alpine or Kenwood or Clarion. I have seen threads about a headunit ( I am pretty sure it is a Pioneer....EDIT ...as posted below the plug and play hu's are Eclipse brand) that is directly compatible with the xB steering wheel controls. The unit as I recall is a DVD unit and is way way beyond the price of the Sony you linked.

 

I've heard that Eclipse headunits are suppose to work with the steering wheel controls.

 

wow, i cant, that with ALL of the people who have stereos in their Xb, they dont have an easy way to do the steering wheel control..... im sure a car audio place could figure it out..

 

You have to remember that the steering wheel controls are new for 2006 so not that many boxes have it.

 

Yeah, the newer Eclipse are pretty much plug and play...if you have navi & dvd then you've just gotta tap back up lights, speed sense wire, and the p-brake switch (or just ground this wire).

 

Steering wheel control w/ aftermarket HU:
http://www.pac-audio.com/products/pr...el%20Interface
It looks like the PAC SWI-PS will cover your choice of Sony HU

There is nothing wrong with Sony. I have had several Sony HUs over the years and have not been let down. They may not have the options to match Kenwood or Alpine, but they do well.

 

If you're sold on the Sony brand, wait a few weeks and get the CDX-GT610Ui- it's 30 bucks more but it adds a USB jack to the front of the faceplate and it has a integrated iPod dock cable. The unit has front and rear RCA outputs (the rears can be switched to non-fading subwoofer out) so it'll 'grow' with the system you're building in your box.

 

Yup a PAC product was what i got and decided not to use.

 

Eclipse FTW!!!

 

I am good with Sony, but, I would get the least expensive unit they offer with front,rear and subwoofer outputs and EQ 7 over the EQ3.There are a couple of choices for the steering wheel, but I chose my deck's remote over the wheel.Good luck.