Ok, so after 3-4 years, my Sony CD player, with a motorized fold-down faceplate finally kicked the bucket. Still works, but only certian buttons and I'm thinking of upgrading from CD's to an MP3 player this christmas. I would prefer to get a Sony, but can you guys reccomend a good CD/MP3/etc player that (preferably) has a motorized head unit? My sis has a cheap one that you press a button and the plastic faceplate comes off, but I was the only one in my county with a "solid-feeling" cd-player with a cool motorized function and I would love to get another one just like it, thanks!

 

Check out the new Pioneer 6900 and 7900 series, Alpine 9883, 9885, 9887; Eclipse 3100, 5100, 7100. Just a couple ideas for radios...
Sony is not for the car...

 

X2. IMO sony sound is awful. I wouldn't put sony audio equipment in my house or car. TV's and such, cool, but not for any audio applicaton

 

Can you narrow down to top 3 or so based on what you know? I have no idea on which is better and need someone to filter out the bad ones. I'm looking to spend around $200 max on a head unit, thx

 

good luck finding much of anything for $200 or less that is of any mentionable quality. most of the alpine/eclipse double-din units are going to run $500 or higher. you can probably get a lower end single-din unit that does mp3 for around the price you're looking, and the sound definately be better than the muddy factory unit, but will probably skip. if you own an ipod, i'd focus on ipod interlink capabilities. some people will argue am fm modulator, but i disagree. i bought the TransDoc micro and had a horrible time finding a broadcast station that didn't get walked on. i had to resort to having 3 presets on my HU that i would cycle through searching for a decent sound.

 

I have always leaned towad Pioneer---I have always had one since the late '70's. The 5900 is on sale now at Crutchfield for 219.99, and the 6900 and 7900 are very impressive decks. All thre have 7-band graphic equalizers and sound great.

Tim C.

 

Pioneer is good....But it really just depends what you like...

 

Look the Pioneers and the Eclipse's I put on the list have the motorized face. 200 prolly not so much. 300 and everything but the Pioneer 7900BT, Alpine 9887 and the Eclipse 5100/7100 will work. Its all about the benjamins bro.

 

You really don't want to cheap out on a HU that WILL be used everytime you use your truck..just keep that in mind

 

Ok, I found a Pioneer 6900 (NEW!!) for $200 on eBay, but I'm going to have to wait a week until I get paid. To improve sound quality, I'd like to get some speakers to replace my stock Ford units. Any good recommendations for 4x good speakers that will fit in the stock Ford unit's place?

 

Alpine SPS-57C2 sound great.

 

Check out mine. pics in gallery and headunit in signature. Its Kenwood Excelon 591... Pretty nice. Has USB function and you can buy a adapter for your ipod.

 

another good speaker that will fit in an f150 is kenwood kfc-c6880ie...i just ordered 2 pairs from crutchfield for my '97 f150 http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...3KFC6880&tp=92

 

I have an Alpine CDA-9856 (they quit making them early this year) but there are comparable units availible now. I like it because I can operate and control my Ipod and Sirius right through the deck itself and not have a seperate Sirius tuner hanging around and keep my Ipod hidden and charged. It has more than enough sound settings to tune a good sound even with factory speakers, a decent FM tuner (pulls in stations just as well as the factory radio) and looks good. The only thing I miss about this and most aftermarket head units is the RDS and speed-sensitive volume that the factory radio offers but it is a trade off. Pioneer and Kenwood are also good and I have owned both brands in the past. Sony head units are not nearly as good IMO.

As far as speakers, I had this same head unit and Pioneer 5x7/6x8 3-ways in all 4 locations is my Ranger (that I traded in for this F150) and it sounded very good and you could really crank it without distortion. Good mids and highs and decent bass for a regular speaker. They were cheap too. You can actually find them at Walmart!

 

You could get really tricky and get one of those that play the DVd's... That would really impress the county folks.

Roach