Head Units - Opinions

kdavis · 07-22-2003, 09:59 AM

I've always been a Kenwood man, since the 1st gen CD player I had back in 89/90. They've been reliable, nice looking, etc.

I see, however, that there are a lot of units out there with the features I want...CD, pre-outs, etc. (I don't care about MP3 or MX, my CD burner converts anyway, and I'll never do MX...I'm cheap).

There seem to be a lot of choices with decent features under $150. Are these just junk? I'll have high and low amps and good speakers, so I'm not trying to power the system from the head unit.

I'd love to have an Alpine, but $400-$500 is a little pricey for me.

Any opinions would be appreciated. I'm making my Christmas wish list now a bit early.

Thanks.

TonyTJ · 07-22-2003, 11:29 AM

I have the base kenwood excelon head and it is great. It is 50wx4 with all the pre-outs. It is alot better than my old Panasonic. I bought it at Crutchfield for about $200

kdavis · 07-22-2003, 11:31 AM

Thanks, good feedback!

bonehead99 · 07-22-2003, 01:10 PM

I had a pioneer 2100 high power(think) which had one set rca and was 21 x 4 RMS. Look at the RMS rating cuz that is continous power, peak is just momentary. I think mine was 50 x 4 peak. I just got a Clarion which I don't like cuz the volume knob is rotory(hard turn down when you see a cop) It has all the same power and outputs but doesn't seem to be as loud. I would recommend a Pioneer.

**DanG** · 07-26-2003, 11:51 PM

i have had several brands in the past eclipse, alpine, and kenwoods. i like the sound of the kenwood excelons. i have had 3 of them in different vehicals, ranging from base model to top of the line. the only problem with the kenwoods is the all !!!!!!!!! skip when you hit bumps after about a year. but al in all the are great for the money.

Sidewalkman · 07-29-2003, 03:35 PM

I've got a Kenwood but will get another that plays MP3. You said your computer converts but if you could instead of 15-18 tracks have 150-200 songs........why convert.

Just my .02. MP3 is the future man..climb aboard.

lead, follow or get out of the way.

kdavis · 07-30-2003, 09:57 AM

HMM, interesting perspective, didn't realize there was that much of a difference in track number, I'll have to check that out.

Thanks.

idcx3 · 07-30-2003, 06:01 PM

im running a pioneer dehp8000, i have always been a pioneer guy...as for the MP3's i highly recommend them! i was the same as you with the logic of why should i, i can always convert...but as stated...the 200 song disc made a believer out of me! and there isnt a noticeable decrease in sound quality

Also, with mp3's there is no skip!!! because the song is loaded into onboard memory you cant go wrong with mp3's ESPECIALLY in a wrangler

kdavis · 07-30-2003, 07:29 PM

200 and no skip? Good to know...

KD

Seapahn · 07-30-2003, 07:48 PM

I am with idcx3 ... I give 3 thumbs up to my Pioneer 8400 (I've had it in my blazer for about a year now)... the new ones are 8500 I believe. It's more expensive than your $150 range but I highly recommend it! The MP3 playback feature is great and the features and sound quality on this deck are awesome.

Pioneers are great and you can't go wrong with a new one. Stay away from Sony and Aiwa.

awachwhiteboy · 08-02-2003, 11:43 PM

I have always used pioneer, they are the best in my opionion. I bought one kenwood and I think it is a so so unit. I was in a headon collision at 50mph and my old pioneer still played flawlessly in another vehicle.

TJnTN · 08-12-2003, 07:40 AM

i just plug my ipod into the tape deck for now and I've got 2500 songs

only lame thing is sound quality suxors through the tape deck but at least my jeep isnt a target

Shift · 08-12-2003, 05:58 PM

Eclipse decks are my favorite ones. For the money nothing can touch them.

CLB · 08-14-2003, 01:32 AM

I personally love panasonic decks, ive had 2 and both have been top of the line. especially when i buy a 250 dollar headunit for 100 on ebay and its brand new in mint condition with great options and a beutiful display

CLB · 08-14-2003, 01:33 AM

however the new eclipse's have built in tracking devices if you regester it and it gets stolen, you can hunt that bad boy down

07-22-2003, 11:29 AM	#2
TonyTJ Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 367 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I have the base kenwood excelon head and it is great. It is 50wx4 with all the pre-outs. It is alot better than my old Panasonic. I bought it at Crutchfield for about $200 __________________ '97 TJ 2.5L, custom intake with K&N cone air filter, Borla Exhaust, Poweraid throtle body spacer, OME 2" lift, 31" BFG AT's and 31" MT/R's, IPF head light upgrade, grill guard, 4 fogs, and 11 speaker sound system Green Jeep Club #10 2004 GTO 335 rwhp / 346 rwtq

07-22-2003, 11:31 AM	#3
kdavis Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Belgrade, Montana Posts: 665 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Thanks, good feedback! __________________ <>< KD ><> What I Have: 1994 Grand Cherokee Limited 2.25" 4 Wheel Customs Spacer Lift Cragar Soft 8's, High Tech Retreading OTR Muds, New Front End What I Do: MT Web Guy

07-26-2003, 11:51 PM	#5
DanG Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: RHODE ISLAND Posts: 418 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	i have had several brands in the past eclipse, alpine, and kenwoods. i like the sound of the kenwood excelons. i have had 3 of them in different vehicals, ranging from base model to top of the line. the only problem with the kenwoods is the all !!!!!!!!! skip when you hit bumps after about a year. but al in all the are great for the money. __________________ 89 RED YJ sitting in driveway next to wrecked car [URL=http://www.cardomain.com/id/djg6678]my jeeps page[/URL] [SIZE=4] [COLOR=red]NE[/COLOR][COLOR=white]Off[/COLOR][COLOR=blue]Roading[/COLOR] [/SIZE] H2RT MEMBER [color=red] RED JEEP MEMBER #49[/color] POS JEEP MEMBER #3

07-29-2003, 03:35 PM	#6
Sidewalkman Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: rent free Posts: 119 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I've got a Kenwood but will get another that plays MP3. You said your computer converts but if you could instead of 15-18 tracks have 150-200 songs........why convert. Just my .02. MP3 is the future man..climb aboard. lead, follow or get out of the way. __________________ I do hate you, it's a given!

07-30-2003, 09:57 AM	#7
kdavis Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Belgrade, Montana Posts: 665 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	HMM, interesting perspective, didn't realize there was that much of a difference in track number, I'll have to check that out. Thanks. __________________ <>< KD ><> What I Have: 1994 Grand Cherokee Limited 2.25" 4 Wheel Customs Spacer Lift Cragar Soft 8's, High Tech Retreading OTR Muds, New Front End What I Do: MT Web Guy

07-30-2003, 06:01 PM	#8
idcx3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 93 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	im running a pioneer dehp8000, i have always been a pioneer guy...as for the MP3's i highly recommend them! i was the same as you with the logic of why should i, i can always convert...but as stated...the 200 song disc made a believer out of me! and there isnt a noticeable decrease in sound quality Also, with mp3's there is no skip!!! because the song is loaded into onboard memory you cant go wrong with mp3's ESPECIALLY in a wrangler Last edited by idcx3; 07-30-2003 at 06:03 PM..

07-30-2003, 07:29 PM	#9
kdavis Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Belgrade, Montana Posts: 665 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	200 and no skip? Good to know... KD __________________ <>< KD ><> What I Have: 1994 Grand Cherokee Limited 2.25" 4 Wheel Customs Spacer Lift Cragar Soft 8's, High Tech Retreading OTR Muds, New Front End What I Do: MT Web Guy

07-30-2003, 07:48 PM	#10
Seapahn Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 137 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I am with idcx3 ... I give 3 thumbs up to my Pioneer 8400 (I've had it in my blazer for about a year now)... the new ones are 8500 I believe. It's more expensive than your $150 range but I highly recommend it! The MP3 playback feature is great and the features and sound quality on this deck are awesome. Pioneers are great and you can't go wrong with a new one. Stay away from Sony and Aiwa. __________________ 03 Rubicon { [url=http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=89274]details[/URL] } 6" FT long arms and 35x12.5 MTRs. 01 BlaZeR2 { [URL=http://home.earthlink.net/~seapahn/images/zr2/zr2_updated.jpg]1[/URL] [URL=http://home.earthlink.net/~seapahn/images/personal/sip_lb.jpg]2[/URL] [URL=http://zr2.cs.ucla.edu/seapahn/zr2/leg_up.jpg]3[/URL] [URL=http://home.earthlink.net/~seapahn/orgal_index.htm]pics[/URL]}

08-12-2003, 07:40 AM	#12
TJnTN Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 145 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	i just plug my ipod into the tape deck for now and I've got 2500 songs only lame thing is sound quality suxors through the tape deck but at least my jeep isnt a target __________________ [COLOR=white][FONT=verdana]The American dream does not happen by asking Americans to accept what is immoral and wrong in the name of tolerance." -- J.C. Watts[/FONT][/COLOR]

08-12-2003, 05:58 PM	#13
Shift Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New Jersey Posts: 37 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Eclipse decks are my favorite ones. For the money nothing can touch them. __________________ Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.

08-14-2003, 01:32 AM	#14
CLB Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: yakima, wa Posts: 432 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I personally love panasonic decks, ive had 2 and both have been top of the line. especially when i buy a 250 dollar headunit for 100 on ebay and its brand new in mint condition with great options and a beutiful display __________________ [SIZE=1]91 XJ Laredo 6.5" Rustys, RR Adj Trac Bar, RE Adj UCAs/LCAs, DT3000, M.O.R.E steering box brace, Rancho steering stabalizer, custom cone intake, Poweraid TB spacer, home-brew roof rack, lights everywhere, +10 HP Jeep Seatbelt pads, hole in the fender from previous snorkel, plus a lot more crap [COLOR=red]RJC[/COLOR] #42 [B][URL=http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4286688789&code=9974543&mode=invite&cmp=EMC-IS_other&creative=album-invite]Old XJ pics[/URL][/B][/SIZE]

08-14-2003, 01:33 AM	#15
CLB Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: yakima, wa Posts: 432 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	however the new eclipse's have built in tracking devices if you regester it and it gets stolen, you can hunt that bad boy down __________________ [SIZE=1]91 XJ Laredo 6.5" Rustys, RR Adj Trac Bar, RE Adj UCAs/LCAs, DT3000, M.O.R.E steering box brace, Rancho steering stabalizer, custom cone intake, Poweraid TB spacer, home-brew roof rack, lights everywhere, +10 HP Jeep Seatbelt pads, hole in the fender from previous snorkel, plus a lot more crap [COLOR=red]RJC[/COLOR] #42 [B][URL=http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4286688789&code=9974543&mode=invite&cmp=EMC-IS_other&creative=album-invite]Old XJ pics[/URL][/B][/SIZE]