Head Unit Recommendations?

[woodard1983]

It appears that my pioneer h/u has finally taken a crap...starting to get white noise and I'm pretty sure it's coming from the pioneer

Anyways, when I was looking at the pioneer my second choice was the alpine CDA-118M and the MC20 remote, but it appears that alpine has stopped making the marine head units....which now has me at a loss on what to do?

I'd prefer an alpine unit as I've had nothing but great experiences with them in all of my car stereo endeavors, does anyone know where you can still get them? Any other ideas and/or recommendations for a good quality unit?

I don't need anything to fancy as I have the wetsounds 420 for zone and eq capabilities

Thanks in advance!!
Josh

 

[Julian]

I do NOT recommend a Clarion M502....the one button I find to be a PITA....I asked about this before I bought and others didn't mind it....but I am an Android user not an iPhone user too....perhaps that is part of it?

Are you sure you don't just have a bad connection somewhere?

 

[txav8r]

I was on your same wavelength Josh @woodard1983 , @David Analog had me feeling the Alpine was the best of them. But like you, I find they are getting out of the HU game. I have found them however, I just didn't want to go into something that didn't or wouldn't have continued support. I am going to be entering round two on the stock JBL HU game. They changed the harness, and I still have issues, so looks like the HU will be next. Not sure if I will follow it to the end of that trail or jump ship and install a good one.

 

[ToddW850]

I had the marine Kenwood KMH-355U??? (something like that) last year. Was in the boat when I bought it. I really liked it, but stopped working when boating season kicked off this year. Believe I traced it to water slipping under my gas gauge and dripping into the unit. I had planned to go back with the same unit when I happened upon a great deal on a Sony marine head unit that was on sale at Best Buy. I does not have the CD player, but I wasn't using CD's anyway. I do like this Sony, but kinda liked the Kenwood one better.

 

[Glassman]

OK, you guys figure this out and let me know, I'll be thinking about swapping out my entertainment center sometime soon.

I just put a new needle on the record player, so I should be good for this season. But after that look out. Might even splurge on a tape deck!

What do you think....8 track or cassette?

 

[Jump Right In]

Buy a Fusion IP700i - it's expensive but worth every penny in my brief experience. The difference between a decent unit and a really good unit is a couple of tanks of gas!

 

[Rigger]

Fusion ip600g or better. 5 years experience with one and zero regrette. Rugged, water proof, easy to use and looks pretty good.

 

[woodard1983]

I do NOT recommend a Clarion M502....the one button I find to be a PITA....I asked about this before I bought and others didn't mind it....but I am an Android user not an iPhone user too....perhaps that is part of it?

Are you sure you don't just have a bad connection somewhere?

yea, I've ran through all of the connections and am almost positive that is not the issue. Pioneer is also known for their ground loop issues tied to their RCA outs, so i'm almost positive that's the issue....

I've looked at the Fusion units, but honestly I'm not that much of a fan, they are big/bulky which doesn't fit well with my 07 model &the big benefit to them is the zone control, but with my 420 I already have that, plus a much higher quality EQ and built in line driver

 

[woodard1983]

OK, you guys figure this out and let me know, I'll be thinking about swapping out my entertainment center sometime soon.

I just put a new needle on the record player, so I should be good for this season. But after that look out. Might even splurge on a tape deck!

What do you think....8 track or cassette?

LMAO, 8 track for sure!!!!!!

 

[KXCam22]

Get one with a 24bit D/A convertor. My preference (in auto anywhay) is JVC. The 24 bit makes a noticeable difference in listening quality. You will never go back. My sons (1 DIN) bypasses his ipod 1 bit D/A and runs it through the 24bit D/A for about the best ipod sound you can get. Cam.

 

[Joel Caron]

If you are on a budget, I have been happy with my Sony DSX-M50BT. It does not play CDs, but it has bluetooth streaming, or you can plug your phone in through a USB sync cable. I usually just make a Spotify radio station and let it go, no commercials at all.

I paid about $130 for mine.