Would it be accurate to say that any factory 6 disc head unit with the 3 connectors (as opposed to 2) on the back is an audiophile HU?

Reason I am asking is that I have a single disc changer in my '06 and want to upgrade the head unit and speakers. When I look on ebay sometimes they advertise the 6 disc changer with 3 connectors as audiophile and other times they don't mention it. I like the look of the factory system but would like a 6 disc changer. I wouldn't mind adding the audiophile sub but I doubt my XLT screw came prewired for it - in that case I don't see a benefit to the audiophile head vs just the standard 6 disc changer - am I right?

I know a lot of you will say to go aftermarket for a head unit but I personally don't like the small single din units and there are only a handful of double dins I've seen.

Eventually I will upgrade the speakers but that is for another thread. Or maybe I should just do the front speakers now and then decide on what to do for a head unit?

Thanks

 

as for the audiophile question, it would be a safe bet that the ones w/ 3 connectors ARE audiophile, the ones that don't mention it, simply don't know. might be a way to pick one up a little cheaper. who knows. i bought a couple audiophile units a month ago, got 175 in one, and 100 in the other, installed one of them, resold the other on ebay for 229. seems that two and a quarter are the goin rate. good luck

 

Thanks - that was what I was thinking.

 

Personally, I think the 1-DIN head units look horrible in a DDIN chassis like the Ford. I'm starting to see more and more after-market DDIN head units. Kenwood, Clarion and JVC now have entire lines of DDIN units. I don't think anyone makes a head unit that compares to the OEM 6 CD/MP3.

The single CD head unit has more power and better sound quality than the 6 CD units. The 6CD units do have enough power to push a decent set of after market speakers. Any after-market 60 watt rms speaker will sound better than the OEM 25 watt speakers. The OEM head units sound pretty darn good with just a set of Polk db570's, or any other quality 6X8 or 5X7 speaker.

I have tried several different brands of component speakers in the front doors of Fords. To me, the tweeter is too close to your ear, and they sound kind of "tinny", even after attenuating the tweeter. The Bose systems in Jeeps often put the tweeters up on the dash, and they sound better (to me anyways).

If it were me, you'd get the most bang for your buck upgrading the speakers, and doing the head unit later. You can always add an amp, sub woofer, or even a powered sub-woofer to an OEM stereo.

 

I agree about the single DIN units. The double DIN units I've seen in my price range that I think I might like are the Kenwood DPX701/501 or the Clarion DFZ675MC http://www.crutchfield.com/S-wob5Mod...n&i=020DFZ675M. I think the specs on Kenwoods are better but the Clarion has some nice features and you can adjust the colors to match - although I think some are fixed blue.

I definately am upgrading my speakers. I'd like to do components but then from what I understand I will almost definately have to add an amp then, so I am not sure yet. I also want to add a small sub as well.

If I went with a 6 disc audiophile then I need the audiophile sub, but would still upgrade the front speakers.

If I added an aftermarket head unit, then new front speakers and maybe a small powered sub like this Kenwood:http://www.crutchfield.com/S-wob5Mod...sp?i=113KSCSW1

 

Circuit City just had a good deal on Kickers. Buy one pair, get the second for half off. I just bought two pair last week. Don't remember the model number, but they were coaxials and sound 10 times better than the stock speakers.

 

3 connectors is the audiophile unit. harness will do the amp integration.