Aftermarket Radio Oppopinions 

"LongbowMkII" (longbowmkii) 08/17/2015 at 18:07 • Filed to: None

1

16

It would appear that the factory CD player in the Impala has finally let go. Naturally I’m going to try cleaning and fiddling with it before I put any money into it, but I don’t have high hopes that cleaning will fix it.

/with a budget of only about ~$100, what brands are good? more importantly what brands should be avoided? My first inclination is this:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Back in the day my dad had a couple kenwood pieces in his truck and they were fine, Have they fallen out of favor?

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > LongbowMkII 08/17/2015 at 18:09

0

I got great sound for the money out of my pioneer head unit. Only cost about £35.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 08/17/2015 at 18:15

1

I agree on Pioneer. Friend got a double-din touchscreen one that looks factory in his IS300.

Kenwood also is pretty good.

Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy > LongbowMkII 08/17/2015 at 18:16

0

Single or Double-DIN?

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > LongbowMkII 08/17/2015 at 18:21

0

Pioneer or Sony. Philips is okay.

Megamullin > LongbowMkII 08/17/2015 at 18:22

2

For my money, the best stereo receiver is the best Bluetooth receiver. All the apps, etc. don’t measure up to what your smartphone will do. I agree with the Pioneer pick:

Here’s the review to back it up:

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-b…

LongbowMkII > Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy 08/17/2015 at 18:23

0

single, but there are double din kits also.

LongbowMkII > Megamullin 08/17/2015 at 18:28

0

I’m an old guy. Need my CD player.

TheOnelectronic > LongbowMkII 08/17/2015 at 18:31

1

I’ve got one of Pioneer’s Bluetooth-only models in my Tacoma. You say you need CD’s so that’s out of the question I guess. Really, just go for the one that looks the best from one of the major brands. They’re probably going to be pretty similar.

Megamullin > LongbowMkII 08/17/2015 at 18:45

2

I can understand that. This one is currently $120 (just out of your range) but it has all the benefits of the previous pick plus a CD player.

That way, if your CDs go bad (and they will, in my experience) you’ll still have all the benefits of my previous pick. Also, you can use all the benefits of the new tech and still have the CD player. Who knows, you may find you like the new tech more than your CDs....

boxrocket > LongbowMkII 08/17/2015 at 18:49

0

JVC.

Easy to use, big-enough buttons, not detestably-cheap. My 2004-era one still worked essentially flawlessly when I sold it with the Volvo (and, had I a spare to easily install with it, I would have kept it!)

Avoid Dual. Pioneers are a tad bass-ackwards IMHO, Kenwoods have/had tiny buttons and indecipherable fonts, Sonys are overpriced, Jensens are a shadow of their former selves.

Sneaky Pete > LongbowMkII 08/17/2015 at 18:58

0

How are Alpines these days? Had one in one of my cars back in the day and loved it. Viper needs stereo work as the original 20ish year old system sounds like muffled diarrhea.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > LongbowMkII 08/17/2015 at 19:08

0

I’d just shop crutchfield, they have fit kits with all of their stereos and good reviews. I bought an Alpine head unit and loved it. It sounded terrific, the sony I bought works fine but is no match for the alpine.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > LongbowMkII 08/17/2015 at 19:31

1

I’m pretty sure you can get a slightly used RCA 8-track for under $100...

LOL

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > LongbowMkII 08/17/2015 at 19:32

0

I’ve been happy with Kenwood and Pioneer. If you get a 2DIN screen system, the “You must be parked with the parking brake on” nonsense is more easily defeated on the Kenwood.

Not that I condone you doing anything against local law...but we did it because the screen was in the back of a motorhome to control the stereo.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > LongbowMkII 08/18/2015 at 00:29

1

only place I buy car audio from. Amazing support before and after purchase and extremely knowledgeable. Just put in your car and it shows you what will fit and even throws in connectors for cheap. ( you will need them for aftermarket head unit )

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-zqYaKMRiPmP

TheJMan92 > LongbowMkII 08/18/2015 at 12:49

1

My dad needed a new stereo setup fro his car, being the only tech/audio guy I got stuck with the job. He’s been using this unit now for a few months and it’s great.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00…

I ’ve been rocking a Kenwood KDC-352U that I picked up new on EBay for about $80 a few years ago, very good sound quality.