Recommendations for car audio?

Tek7

Tek7

CGA President, Tribe of Judah Founder & President
Staff member
The CD player in my car's audio system stopped working, oh, about 2 years ago. Since then, I've used a MP3 player and an FM transmitter to get by. (Radio stations are pretty terrible where I live.)

I'm considering getting a new deck for my car for my birthday in May, but I don't know what to get.

My car has Bose speakers, so I'm only concerned about the deck.

MP3 playback is a must and a USB slot (for a thumbdrive packed with MP3s) would be nice, but not necessary.

I'm hoping to keep it reasonably inexpensive (since there'll be the cost of the deck PLUS the cost of install), but it doesn't have to be uber-cheap.

Suggestions?

EDIT: Oh, and I have to admit it would be kinda cool to be able to make phone calls using my car's audio system, but that's not a must-have, either.
 
Define this sentence:
I'm hoping to keep it reasonably inexpensive (since there'll be the cost of the deck PLUS the cost of install), but it doesn't have to be uber-cheap
Click to expand...
 
Step 1: Go to Crutchfield. Put in your car's information and browse the selection of aftermarket radios. You can pick the features and price you're looking for.

Step 2: Search for the radio elsewhere (ebay?). Usually a google search, "Pioneer KD-AVX2 wholesale" will do the trick.

Step 3: Do research on the website you plan to buy from. "Consumer opinion on randomaudiostore.com."

Step 4: Buy.

I have purchased 3 radios thus far in my lifetime following this exact process. It works like a charm.
 
Last edited:
Tek7 said:
The CD player in my car's audio system stopped working, oh, about 2 years ago. Since then, I've used a MP3 player and an FM transmitter to get by. (Radio stations are pretty terrible where I live.)

I'm considering getting a new deck for my car for my birthday in May, but I don't know what to get.

My car has Bose speakers, so I'm only concerned about the deck.

MP3 playback is a must and a USB slot (for a thumbdrive packed with MP3s) would be nice, but not necessary.

I'm hoping to keep it reasonably inexpensive (since there'll be the cost of the deck PLUS the cost of install), but it doesn't have to be uber-cheap.

Suggestions?

EDIT: Oh, and I have to admit it would be kinda cool to be able to make phone calls using my car's audio system, but that's not a must-have, either.
Click to expand...

if its not a stock setup tek, you could easily install a new deck yourself. Its when you convert from stock to something else that it becomes a pain.

otherwise i endorse tjguitarz
 
Atown said:
if its not a stock setup tek, you could easily install a new deck yourself.
Click to expand...
If "stock" means "what the car originally came with," then yes, it's stock.

Atown said:
Its when you convert from stock to something else that it becomes a pain.
Click to expand...
Uh oh.

Odale said:
Define this sentence:
Click to expand...
Basically, I'm looking for a mid-range deck. I don't want cheap low-end parts, but I'm not concerned with 7" LCD screens and a bunch of other features that don't really matter.

I'm looking for:
  1. MP3 playback
  2. Easy-to-use interface
  3. XM/Sirius/Satellite radio-ready
  4. Excellent audio quality
  5. (Optional) USB slot for a thumbdrive with MP3s

DVD-R/DVD+R playback would be pretty sweet, I have to admit, but I don't think that's an option on the mid-range models.
 
Tek7 said:
If "stock" means "what the car originally came with," then yes, it's stock.

Uh oh.
Click to expand...

its not as bad as it sounds, its just not something i would suggest for a first time DIY project.
 
Atown said:
if its not a stock setup tek, you could easily install a new deck yourself. Its when you convert from stock to something else that it becomes a pain.
Click to expand...

I disagree! Installing an aftermarket deck is very easy. Crutchfield will tell you if there are certain wire converters that you need (like I did for my car). The radios Crutchfield displays fit your car. I did this alone three times with no issues.
 
i think it's more of a function of what kind of car you have. for example, swapping out the radio in my old jeep was child's play (i even did it in the middle of the night w/ just a flashlight :) ) ...cars with more electronic integration, e.g. nav systems & the like, good luck.
 
You should buy it and install it yourself. If you aren't going for HD Radio, then it should be as simple as unplug the old radio and plug in the new one.
 
/bump

I have two Best Buy Reward Zone certificates and there's a 2-day 10% off sale on select car audio this weekend, so I'm back to browsing the Best Buy site. (I also have ~$100 in gift money I haven't spent yet.)

I've decided I do want a USB port on the deck, especially if it will work with my Sansa Clip 4GB MP3 player. (If not, I'll just pick up a cheap 2GB thumbdrive and use it instead.)

I'd also like Bluetooth compatibility so I can use my car's speakers to make a call but, again, it's not a requirement.

One feature that I am making a requirement for my next deck is satellite/HD radio integration out of the box. Once I start working again, I plan on subscribing to HD radio, at least for a month to try it out.

So what decks do you all recommend?

I was thinking of the Sony 52W x 4 Apple® iPod®/Satellite Radio-Ready In-Dash CD Deck.

EDIT: Way too expensive and out of stock, but...

/drool

Jensen VM8023HD

EDIT: Okay, I found a review that panned the VM8023HD, but then I found several other receivers that fit double-sized dash openings (which my Maxima features). So now I'm looking at double-sized receivers.

The problem I'm running into is that most require add-ons for features like satellite radio. Considering these receivers are already more expensive, tacking on a HD tuner puts the package out of my price range.

EDIT: I should mention that I'm also looking for something that allows me to swap CDs out easily.
 
Last edited:
Stay away from Best Buy. You can find better deals under a box of kleenex. Once you've decided on a receiver, throw in Google "<name of your receiver> wholesale." Review your options and look for customer reviews with the business. I've easily saved 50% that way.
 
After spending about 20 minutes on the phone with a Crutchfield rep, I'm leaning toward the Dual XHD7714. I'd have to drop the faceplate to swap CDs, but I'd likely be using MP3 CDs exclusively, so that's not as much of an issue as I first thought.

The deck comes with Bluetooth and HD tuner built-in, which is rather nice. Granted, there are only 6 HD radio channels where I live right now, but that should increase in the future.

...Right?

The only thing about the 7714 that stings is that it's not satellite radio-ready. Ouch.

Then again, XM Sirius radio costs $13 a month. I'm not sure if I can justify that cost.

Ugh, I'm torn. There's no deck that includes all the features I'm looking for and the Dual 7714 comes closer than any others I've found. It costs about $50 more than I wanted to spend, but the Bluetooth integration sounds pretty cool.
 
Okay, so right now, it's between the Dual XHD7714 and the Sony MEX-BT3700

The Sony unit is satellite radio-ready while the Dual deck is not; however, the Dual deck includes a built-in HD radio tuner and costs $20 less.

Both cost more than I had originally planned on spending, so I'll likely wait until I get a job to make any purchases. (I still have over $100 in gift money burning a hole in my pocket, but I'll save it up to put toward the purchase of a car audio deck.)

On a related note, I axed the Kenwood KDC-BT742U, Pioneer DEH-P6100BT, and Pioneer Premier DEH-P610BT because of poor reviews.

The only reason I mentioned Best Buy before was because of the two Reward Zone certificates I need to spend by the middle of September.

EDIT: Also liking the JVC Arsenal KD-A805.

What really surprised me is the JVC and Sony units I'm looking at don't have a radio scan option. I doubt I'll be listening to the radio much, but it's still a nice feature to have.

Ah, decisions, decisions.
 
Last edited:
My parents have XM because it came with the new vehicle. IMO it isn't that great. The actual bit rate is somewhere around 60-90kbps and it sounds FLAT with a hideous low end. In all honesty it isn't the worst audio I have heard, but it comes close enough to where I would not pay for it personally.
 
vibrokatana said:
My parents have XM because it came with the new vehicle. IMO it isn't that great. The actual bit rate is somewhere around 60-90kbps and it sounds FLAT with a hideous low end. In all honesty it isn't the worst audio I have heard, but it comes close enough to where I would not pay for it personally.
Click to expand...
I did not know that.

But when did your parents try it? I read somewhere (Wikipedia? I don't recall) about Sirius increasing the quality of their broadcasts.

EDIT: What in the world is a rear USB input and how does it work?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top