Which new stereo?

[tbourner]

I quite fancy a new MP3 head unit, I also like the idea of a touch screen one.

I've been warned off JVC by a few people, especially as I have a Pioneer at the moment and would be getting rid of it. But some people have also said the top end JVCs are OK (similar story with Sony).


Clarion (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3057)

Dension (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3677)

JVC 1 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3174)
JVC 2 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3695)

Pioneer - similar to mine (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3079)

Sony 1 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3073)
Sony 2 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=2156)
Sony 3 (http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=3200)


Quite a broad price range, I quite like the idea of the Sony 1 but it looks a bit crap quality wise.

Trouble is I want a snazzy bling one but that generally means the quality's not as good!!!

Any other ideas? £300-£400 really.

[geoffvalenti]

Hi Trev

Have you seen this thread http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21647&highlight=alpine

Its recommended by Matt H, so its got to be good :)

[JamesG]

I got the Sony CDXM9900. Thread here:
http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22678

It's not perfect but it's good and looks great in the car.

James.

[tbourner]

What's the quality of them compared to Pioneer though? Mind you my Pioneer's going a bit pants recently so can't be that good!!!


I don't like Alpine's I never have, can't stand the design of any of them.


I like that Sony though. Think I still prefer the Clarion.

[JamesG]

Originally posted by tbourner
What's the quality of them compared to Pioneer though? Mind you my Pioneer's going a bit pants recently so can't be that good!!!


What do you mean by "quality"? Sound quality? I haven't had a Pioneer headunit so can't comment on them, but the Sony one sounds fine to me. It has lots of equalizations and filters if you feel the need to fiddle. I have a separate 4-channel amp, so the quality of the internal amp doesn't matter to me.

Looking at the spec list of the Alpine, it looks a lot more tweakable than the Sony, but it also looks like the face was designed by a blind man :)

The Sony has a bad user interface though. If you go for the CDXM9900, let me know and I'll tell you more, so you can decide whether it would put you off it.

James.

[tbourner]

Just overall quality, I haven't been into stereo for a while now.

When I was doing stuff it was usually Pioneer who were the best of the cheap household names, Kenwood were never really brilliant, and Sony were to be steered clear of.

Now for home stereo I'd never buy a Kenwood, and I'd try and get Bose if possible (again this is the cheap every day market).


I wondered if there were any people on here who really knew thier stuff?

[Lazarus]

I've had the Sony CDXM 8800 in mine for about four months and I'm quite happy with it, I'm not big into ICE though so I haven't done any big comparisons. As for build quality, I thought it looked quite strong and it hasn't caused any problems yet, still only four months though so plenty of time for it to f**k up yet! LOL!:)

[Matt Harwood]

Originally posted by tbourner
Just overall quality, I haven't been into stereo for a while now.

When I was doing stuff it was usually Pioneer who were the best of the cheap household names, Kenwood were never really brilliant, and Sony were to be steered clear of.

Now for home stereo I'd never buy a Kenwood, and I'd try and get Bose if possible (again this is the cheap every day market).


I wondered if there were any people on here who really knew thier stuff?

You're still pretty acurate with your assessment on this lot, but as someone has already said, I'd go for the Alpine. I don't really like blingy stuff, I prefer good quality, (both build and sound), and decent functions... I've never got my head around why it's good to upload new pictures to the front of the stereo? :conf: Touchscreen doesnt really do it for me as you can't feel where the buttons are, so that means you have to take your eyes off the road to use it.

I like the comment about the Alpine deing designed by a blind man... Maybe that's why I like it :p - But at least he built it with his ears! :D

Whoever told you the new top end JVC's were OK is correct. The Exad products are quite different internally from the usual JVC stuff.

As for really knowing their stuff, I've been into car audio since the late 80's and working in the industry for 11 years, so I guess I may have learned a little bit by now! ;) But, one thing I have learned, is that everyone has different tastes. In both hearing and styling :)