Looking for a new Car Stereo Deck

[iClark]

I need a new stereo-- somewhere under 100 with good watts, sounds good, works good etc.

Any reviews? links? experience with them?

Thanks TN

[knj27]

If you're looking in the low budget range and still want a name brand I would say Sony. They aren't quite as nice as Alpines or some other but they've nailed it down in the bang for your buck category.

If you want to go real low cost, just go to Walmart and pick up whatever is cheap and looks ok.

[TNRabbit]

I have mostly Kenwood in my vehicles & I've been VERY happy with them for both sound & longevity/build quality. I suggest buying a GOOD used unit versus a crappy, new unit for the same price.

[Blue Bowtie]

I have a cheaper pioneer from walmart, it cost me like a $99 or $109. For a cheaper CD player, it's actually a really good HU. Great sound quality, much better than I would have guessed. Also, even with a good HU, if you have crappy speakers, it wont matter.

[Murakami]

^ yeah, i would invest in a good set of speakers for behind your seat or in your extended cab. I bought a old sony deck at a shop for $45 then bought a nice set of 6x9 pioneer speakers for $70 for behind my seat and now the system sounds great.

[iClark]

Yeah I just bought some infinit 6.5's... so I need a good system.

[DSMahon]

www.crutchfield.com

Very helpful website. You just punch in your truck specs and it'll only show you listings of stuff that'll specifically fit your truck. Can also be organized to show cheapest listings. Sells anything even remotely related to automotive audio equipment, down to the Dynamat.

I bought a Kenwood DPX503 for around $200 with new Boston Acoustic speakers and wired up a subwoofer box w/ 18 ft of extra wire. Stash the extra wire and when we go camping I'll just drag out the woofer and set it up next to the fire

[THE93toyota]

why ? so you can listen to nothing but bass tones while you cook your franks and beans?

[DSMahon]

I'm not saying it's top of the line. I'm more of a blues man so I kind of like to sit back and relax to some slow blues tunes while I cook my franks and beans. I didn't specifically buy the subs for that exact purpose (I didn't even buy it) I just found it lying around the house and thought it would be a neat idea and so far it's worked pretty well. The only thing I had to buy was the wires.

[ChipNOreo]

I put a Sony Xplode series in mine. It was $109 at Best Buy... i didn't shop around much. Sounds great (i also put 6X9s in my front doors and some 6" in my rear storage compartments )

[DSMahon]

I've heard a whole shitload about the xplod's but never had the chance to hear one myself. They sound pretty cheap ($100 at wal-mart?) but that may be why they're so popular? Hey, where in Alaska are you situated?

[knj27]

Originally Posted by DSMahon

They sound pretty cheap ($100 at wal-mart?) but that may be why they're so popular?

That's exactly why they are so popular. Personally I would recommend Alpine, Kenwood, or Pioneer over Sony for your speakers.

[DSMahon]

I just love my kenwood I got. When it's on its got a big double-din screen that lights up to whatever color you choose with accents around the knobs and border of the receiver and looks very elegant. But when you shut it off it looks very simple and unimpressive which is PERFECT to demotivate potential thieves. It's also got a blinking red led light which kind of looks like a warning that it has an alarm.

[Patty Robs]

when buying a head unit, its really more what you want to do with it that increases the price. its obvious that a sony will be cheaper than a kenwood though.

if you want ipod control, it will be more.
if you're adding a sub, it will be more since it needs a dedicated output.
bluetooth, more.

buy what you need, not the price. if you're just playign cd's, $100 unit will be fine. but beyond that, expect to pay more to get good quality.

stay away from freeway.