mpeters951

My 89 951 is tweaked enough, and Michigan roads are bad enough, that the original Blau Miami's CD playing capability is hosed and it needs a new home in the landfill.

I'd like to get thoughts on sub $300 head units.

I've looked extensively and am still unsure about various brands' ability to play CD's w/o skipping. I'm particularly intrigued by Clarion's Music Catcher (play from RAM) capability. Nakamichi seems often mentioned as being very well suspended and well immunized from skipping CD's.

Any brand/model recommendations based on experience?

RMills944

Clarion makes some good stuff. I have a Sony and I'm not impressed by it. I'd recommend an MP3 unit while you're at it. Pioneer and Kenwood both make some good units. If you can find one, my preferance is Alpine. This is an excellent one here, and it's $200 brand new!
Alpine CDA-9827. Crutchfield is expensive, but Etronics usually has the best prices.
http://etronics.resultspage.com/disp...10&image1.y=11

Techno Duck

Damn..i wish i saw the price at Etronics before i bought it at Crutchfield...i payed $250 for it 3 weeks ago! I have that Alpine deck and its great. I just started using the MP3 capabilities and im amazed at how well it plays. Ive hit some serious bumps in my area (they are repaving many of the intersections) and have yet to get it to skip. Overall, defenetley worth the money. A big plus in my book is that its not so 'bling bling'. Its fairly no nonsense.

Porsche-O-Phile

I've got the Blaupunkt Tokyo and love it. It's not too bling but looks good in the panel, makes great sound and I've yet to make it skip - and I've tried! Maybe you can get an upgrade credit?

charlotte951

I've got a JVC kdsh9700 and it works great. all the bells and whistles, never skips, but I payed 375 and I think it was supposed to be 425

ernestedward

Alpine. Pretty much all there is to it, IMHO.

Peckster

Let some air out of your tires.

Brian McCoy

NOT Aiwa... man, I have one now and it can't play without skipping while I'm sitting still. Piece of crap.. I just bought the apline CDA-9827 (same one linked to above) as it 'felt' the best when I was playing with **** and buttons. I thought I'd like the Clarion units more, but I actually hated the way they felt and the face layout. I hope it lives up to the hype....

Serge944

Sony is among the worst "name brands." The best is Clarion, followed by Alpine.

FletchDM

What's up with all the "rice" and "bling" in car stereos today? Doesn't anyone make a black headunit with amber illumination anymore? Maybe I'll fix my 11 year-old Pioneer DEH-M 990 DSP.

-David