Please help a newbie pick out a new head unit.I'm sure alot of you have experience with stereos. I want a head unit that is satellite ready. I want to play cds, although i don't want a changer, just one cd at a time. I won't use an I Pod or mp3's. Looks like the price of head units goes up as features are added. I don't mind paying extra for features i don't need IF it means the sound is better.Can sound be better out of the box without adding an amp and using OEM speakers?. In the future i will upgrade to better speakers, not component speakers.Finally, what head units have security codes built in in case it gets ripped off,so no one use it? Hoipe i wasn't too long-winded. Looking forward to reading the replies.

 

whats your budget? That would help us help you.

 

I am willing to spend up to $350.00. I think any more than that it would be for features i won't need.Looks like Pioneer, Eclipse, and Alpine are some of the more popular brands.

 

Check www.crutchfield.com they will break it down for you to the smallest feature and their prices tend to be second to none, including install kit and wiring harness.

 

I've already used Cruthchfields website to check out head units that will fit my truck.The problem is i don't know which ones sound good. That's why i would like opinions what tuners sound good and what tuners are reliable

 

Look at Alpine (my favorite) and Eclipse. I have used both and each have great SQ.

 

Well if you dont care about the bells and whistles and more about sound then i would get the Nakamichi CD400. They sound EXCELLENT, simple to use and can be found for 300. Faceplate is simple and easy to navigate. The head unit is all about sound quality.

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...Product_ID=760

If you want to go along with the bandwagon (and its perfectly fine if you do)then go alpine, pioneer, or eclipse. For Alpine, i recogmend the CDE-9847 instead of the 9853 or 9855 due to the fact that, for one, you dont need those options like you said and two their new glide touch thing is fu*king annoying to operate especially while you are driving. Eclipse i cant really help you on which one to pick cuz i never owned one but only heard from other peoples raves about them.

http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm?...roduct_ID=2417

Just do yourself a favor and stay away from sony, kenwood, and clarion. Dont get me wrong they have SOME awesom stuff but not in the price range you are asking for.

Good luck on your search

 

I agree. I still think these two are a cut above the rest. Although I am not sure the new Eclipse stuff quite measures up to their stuff from a couple of years back.

 

Although I have a 2005 model Alpine IVA-D310 (because of video ONLY), this statement is true about both.

I like the models from both a few years back...i.e., Alpine 9815 (hence the one in my sig) and the Eclipse 8053 (which I have owned too).

The Eclipse has higher pre-out voltage which is good at higher volumes (especially for competition), but for the average daily driver you wont be able to really tell the difference with a clean install.

The Alpine has "bigger bang for the buck" features matched with overall SQ is in my opinion the best way to go for the "average" daily driver.

 

I think Eclipse is the only HU that will have a security codes IIRC.

I agree with dconder on the part that Eclipse isnt quite what it used to be.

Alpine and Pioneer Id sugest too. Probably the Alpine before the Pioneer, I have Pioneer, it just seems 'cheaper' or something than the Alpines. But its still a good HU.
The Alpine glide touch thing is a biach, as mentioned before. I hope they get rid of it in there next models.
I think a Pioneer 8600 might be my next new HU though.