Who knows car stereos? Help me out!

[winterwinter]

I want a new stereo but I know nothing about them. Just a deck, no amp or anything. What should I
get? I want something that
-has bluetooth for my mp3 player
-also has an 1/8" aux input
-Sounds good
-something thats worthy of an amp and speaker upgrade in the future
-something thats not not a peice of st yet doesnt break the bank
The other day, I just looked into this Sumas SM-310T 3" Touch Screen Car Stereo.
http://www.dealstudio.com/searchdeals.php?type=id&...
Am I on the right track? Will I be disappointed?
What should I get? Whats the price breakdown between, low, mid, and high quality st?

[greggy50]

Just spent £2/300 on a decent quality alpine and you cant go wrong to be honest. Had a few different stereo's around the price range and they always sound the best to me. Not sure what latest models are as they get updated quite regularly but should get a nice one on ebay for under £200 with what you need to be honest

[Nash_wrx]

+1 on the Alpine

[missing the VR6]

Short of going all out on a Nakimichi (spelling?) or the like Alpine is the safest bet. Never been disappointed with them and I've owned 3 and dad has just bought one with handsfree for his Iphone and it's nice bit of kit.

[winterwinter]

Nash_wrx said:

+1 on the Alpine

Alpine? so it's reasonable to go with Alpine? thanks. Any other options?

[scorcher]

Alpine/Kenwood /Pioneer/sony. They're all much the same.I've always had Alpine Head Units because I think you get a slighty better reproduction of sound over the others.This of course depends on a lot of other things aswell,but it is a good starting point.Others prefer Kenwood for different reasons. Go into Halfrauds and have a twiddle with their stuff or get yourself into a proper car hifi shop.

[eybic]

Another + for Alpine here. I used to have Pioneer & Kenwood but since having an Alpine I've always stuck with them. They are generally decent power output and have good sound setting adjustments built in.

[defblade]

I wouldn't touch Sony car stuff and the most problems I've had have been with Kenwoods.

So I'd say Pioneer or Alpine.... I'd love an Alpine, but they've never had exactly what I wanted at the time (I'm a lot more specific than you ) so the last couple have been Pioneer.

[wildoliver]

I've always used Kenwoods and find them great.

For very little money you can get the set up I have which is CD/MP3/USB port/Aux port/Bluetooth car kit. Infact including the nice speakers I have in my car I suspect the whole lot cost circa £300 and unless your very heavily in to music or want masses of base (I'm neither) it sounds fantastic for most music (I listen to classic rock, pop, chart, dance and classical).

[Lexual]

I was well into my car audio in my earlier years and spent thousands on systems. Id say Alpine all day, Pioneer would be second choice. Wouldnt go near a kenwood head unit but the Amps are good. Check out Audiobahn for speaker/amp/sub upgrades, but I would also go with Alpine component speakers and you should definitely replace the factory speakers. Even gear thats a couple of years old is still gonna be great.. I doubt things have progressed that much in the last 5 years really.

[boobles]

Alpine head unit.
Polk audio door speakers/tweeters.
Kicker Impulse Amp/Sub.

[nottyash]

Ive just bought a JVC on amazon for £58 well specced but with no bluetooth.
ebay is expensive at the moment so try amazon.
Ive had Sony, Kenwood, Blaupunkt, Clarion, Pioneer, Panasonic, JVC and Alpine in the Past.
Alpine is very good but expensive and Pioneer is just as good, Panasonic, Sony and JVC have best sound for value in my opinion. I found Kenwood and clarion a bit tinny in the past but it was years ago.
Heres some examples with bluetooth:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pioneer-DEH-6200BT-CAR-PLA...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-MEX-BT2700-Bluetooth-...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kenwood-KDC-BT50U-Bluetoot...


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alpine-CDE-9880R-Player-Bl...

Edited by nottyash on Tuesday 28th December 19:44

[Rich_W]

I've always had Alpines. I also recommend Car Audio Direct (google them) (not connected with company blah blah blah)

[carsounds_dan]

I run a specialist car audio company and tbh the Kenwood KDC-BT60U is damn on the money.

Kenwood have sorted their reliability issues, the bluetooth utilises the Parrot software which is terrific and the USB lead can have your iPod/iPhone lead plugged into it to have full control..

I don't want the sale though. Simply because I don't have any in stock.

Google Car Audio Direct or even Road Radio, both of which are within 10% of what I'd pay at trade. (I'm not affiliated with either)

[Sods Law]

carsounds_dan said:

I run a specialist car audio company and tbh the Kenwood KDC-BT60U is damn on the money.

Kenwood have sorted their reliability issues, the bluetooth utilises the Parrot software which is terrific and the USB lead can have your iPod/iPhone lead plugged into it to have full control..

I don't want the sale though. Simply because I don't have any in stock.

Google Car Audio Direct or even Road Radio, both of which are within 10% of what I'd pay at trade. (I'm not affiliated with either)

I would vote for CarAudioDirect.co.uk know them for 10years now always great service and products, also not affiliated.

D

[IainZ]

I'd go with Alpine - not least because you can really easily add one of these things for about 100 quid:

http://www.alpine-electronics.co.uk/products/detai...

You'll never get more than about 20W a channel (RMS, not peak) out of a head unit on its own & these things are a really easy way to add some amplification. Very handy in small cars where there isn't room to start installing amplifiers.

[v8will]

Have my Alpine for 7 years now and touch wood no problems. Sounds great and does what I need it to do.

[greggy50]

Basically OP I think you should now get the idea that alpine is a good bet
Something like this seems like it would fit the bill well under £200
http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-cde125bt.ht...
Edit:-
If want a really good stereo try adding a 4 channel amplifer and a set of components for the front and some uprated speakers for the rear. This along with a sub if that's your sort of thing can give you all the system you would ever need.

Edited by greggy50 on Wednesday 29th December 00:42

[collateral]

If I were you I'd go with external amp(s) (all the "50w/channel" heads aren't quoting their RMS output), and forget about the rear speakers - they just pull the sound backwards.

Head, amp(s), decent pair of components up front and a sub = done

iirc Sony stuff is very poorly thought of. ime Pioneer kit is decent

Jargon-wise, if you happen to look at a forum, 'SQ' (Sound Quality) is audiophile stuff and 'SPL' stands for Sound Pressure Level

Edited by collateral on Wednesday 29th December 01:25

[Mattt]

http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-cde-114bti....

I have this, good unit.