I was just wondering which unit to get for my e34. I need the head unit that also plays MP3s, and I'd rather have something more simplistic, without any unnecessary features (different backlighting colors, picture display, etc.). So now, I'm kinda stuck between pioneer or alpine. Are there any other good brands? I've heard that sony sucks and panasonic has a bad sound quality. I might also consider kenwood, because I got one in my older car, and it's still working fine after 2 years.
__________________ There IS a replacement for displacement - it's called volumetric efficiency
Originally posted by Andryuha@Dec 17 2004, 11:14 AM I was just wondering which unit to get for my e34. I need the head unit that also plays MP3s, and I'd rather have something more simplistic, without any unnecessary features (different backlighting colors, picture display, etc.). So now, I'm kinda stuck between pioneer or alpine. Are there any other good brands? I've heard that sony sucks and panasonic has a bad sound quality. I might also consider kenwood, because I got one in my older car, and it's still working fine after 2 years.
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OK, finally something I know something about! I've been into high-end car audio since 1978 (Back when Concord was THE Brand to aspire to). OK, so I am dating myself.
Anyway, your sound quality will depend far more on the amount of money you're willing to spend, than the brand. It's like asking if a Ford or a Chevy is better. Well if you're comparing a Focus to a Corvette, you'll get a different answer than when comparing a Cavalier to a Roush Mustang GT. A $35,000 Ford will beat a $14K Chevy every time and vice-versa.
I DO have first-hand experience with a lower-end Alpine CD/AM/FM deck that I thought sounded bad in a used car I bought last year. When I replaced it with a new lower-mid-level Pioneer unit (4400 model), it was like night and day - the Pioneer sounded good. Similarly, I had a Pioneer in another car I bought, and liked that unit from day one. I have had consistently good experience with Pioneer and think it's hard to beat for the money. On the other hand Alpine has been a MAJOR player in high-end car audio for years, and we ARE talking BMW here.
So, my advice is that if you are talking spending under $450 for the head unit, I think you'll be happier with Pioneer. If you're going more exotic than that, it will be hard to go wrong either way, so pick based on feature mix and sale/deal.
__________________ <span style='colorurple'>Eric S.</span>
2006 Honda Odyssey EXL-RES
2006 Honda Accord V6 EX-L Sedan
1999 BMW 540i 6-Speed (Sold to M3UOND on 9/21/06)
1991 Honda Civic Si - Occasional Beater
Originally posted by Andryuha@Dec 17 2004, 11:14 AM I was just wondering which unit to get for my e34. I need the head unit that also plays MP3s, and I'd rather have something more simplistic, without any unnecessary features (different backlighting colors, picture display, etc.). So now, I'm kinda stuck between pioneer or alpine. Are there any other good brands? I've heard that sony sucks and panasonic has a bad sound quality. I might also consider kenwood, because I got one in my older car, and it's still working fine after 2 years.
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In fact, in re-reading your post, it sounds like you want exactly the Pioneer CD/AM/FM deck I recently bought and mentioned in my post - the DEH-4400MP. It can play MP3, WAV, and other files from CD's just fine, it sounds awesome, and is usually available on sale for somewhere around $150 or a little higher. VERY nice unit for the money, and sounds GREAT!
__________________ <span style='colorurple'>Eric S.</span>
2006 Honda Odyssey EXL-RES
2006 Honda Accord V6 EX-L Sedan
1999 BMW 540i 6-Speed (Sold to M3UOND on 9/21/06)
1991 Honda Civic Si - Occasional Beater
looks like we got a winner! I'll go shopping for pioneer today, although none of their head units seem fo match my interior. Well, what the hell, it's the sound quality I'm after (plus it's not like I'll be taking it to car shows any time soon)
__________________ There IS a replacement for displacement - it's called volumetric efficiency
meh, how can you not like alpine though...especially for hu's that match interior. i've had nothing but alpine in my car, and personally i don't think it could sound better...
Nobody thows in Clarion. I love mine and have not heard anything bad from anyone. I would go Alpine or Clarion but I have no experience with Pioneer so can;t really tell you about that. Clarion is definately simple design. All black except the knob and not slanted liek the Alpine units are. My Clarion looks great in the car and sounds great too. It plays mp3 and wma and has the backlight features so you can change it to match the interior. Although a Clarion is gonna run you somewhere above $250. I would backup da bull and say listen, listen, listen. It is your ears that are gonna tell you the difference. Although don;t do this at a Best Buy or someplace like that, because they often have different quality wires going into the units and they are ran though so much stuff that you will not get a true idea of the quality. Try out friends units and such.
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urple'>Eric S.</span>
I'll go shopping for pioneer today, although none of their head units seem fo match my interior. Well, what the hell, it's the sound quality I'm after (plus it's not like I'll be taking it to car shows any time soon) 
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