Strike-Force

What head units do you recommend? I need to get a new one (CD/mp3 capability) and don't want to run an amp. What is the max W I can run w/o an amp? What CD players are good within this W range? TIA

Jakerx

well what speakers are you running? i have an amp powering my speakers because most head units just don't put out enough power to push speakers to their limits. personally i have a blaupunkt orlando. i got one for $150 and contrary to what other people have said it's been a GREAT head unit. you can run the speakers right from them with no problem.

o just fyi i have four 4x6's an two 6x9's....

Serge944

Just about any self amplified head unit will be able to power 4 4x6's which fit in the 944. Its hard to make a recommendation without a price range. However, i recommend you search ebay for clarion proaudio...I have seen several 400 dollar cd-m3 headunits sell for under 200 (refurbished of course, but who really cares?). People have their own opinions...but the best units are alpine, clarion pro audio, and pioneer premier. Of course, the $500 dollar Blaupunkt Seattle is top of the line as well.

I have a $160 dollar clarion cd-mp3 unit and am quite happy with it.

Jakerx

try and find the blaupunkt san francisco...way better than the los angeles. doesn't play mp3's but SUCH a grea head unit. and soooo many features.

theedge

Alpine all the way IMHO.

I have a 9815 in my car. It was a bit pricey at $700 something CDN, but its an awsome unit, doesnt look like *** like most new ones (cough SONY cough), has some great features, and when I asked the salesman for a no BS opinion he said Alpines are the least returned (for repairs or otherwise) brand they have.

I bought it basically because of the Digital Time Correction. You measure all the distances from the speakers to your ears, enter them into the unit or the website, and wammo, it delays sound to the speakers in such a way that its like they are all the same distance from your head. The difference is hard to explain, but trust me its night and day. Its a tough unit too, feels VERY well built and has yet to skip on either MP3 discs or plain audio cds. Not even flying over railroad tracks or big bumps.

Check out the CDA9833 on alpine-usa.com, only upgrades over mine are SAT Radio Ready, and iPod interface ready and the 512 color backlighting.

my87944s

I agree that you should go with Alpine... I have over $7.5k in my Focus, and just bought an IVA-D901 for my P-Car...
There are several MP-3 playing Alpines for under $250.

David Ray

I have the Alpine 7998 with a 360 Zapco amp that is awesome. The head unit is pricey, but well worth it and will run 4 speakers without an amp. Haven't had a CD that I couldn't play yet.

IMHO I think you'll loose a lot of qulaity without an amp. Anyway good Luck.

Jakerx

amp is a must...and yes i must agree that alpine i think is the best.

michaelathome

From some of the looking that I have done recently if you are undecided on an amp or not go ahead and get a powered head unit 25-50w should be ample to drive the 4 4x6's in the car. If you want to later some of the better head units will have a line level out which will allow you to add an amp in the future if you so choose to. I am actually still looking around for the right retro head unit for my '83 although I really like the look of the newer factory head units.

I do not know if they are powered or not. Any help on this one?

Michael

Strike-Force

I'm running 2 6x9's and 2 4x6's

michaelathome

As far as the size of the speaker it really doesn't make a lot of difference. What is important to look at is the rating of the speakers. A single cone 4x6 will likely have a different requirement than a dual cone 4x6. The same can be said with a single vs. a dual or even three-way 6x9. The line level out feature that I described earlier will allow you to send an un-powered output to an amplifier. If you use the amplified output of the head unit to power the amplifier you will likely just be distorting the amplified signal of the head unit.

Here is a good way to look at it. The head unit is just that, tuner + cassette, CD or maybe an MP3 player. If you add an amplifier to it you will be adding an additional task to that unit in a very small space. In order to accommodate that amplifier it will need to be "scaled down" in order to fit and quality can be sacrificed. A stand alone 4x50watt amp is generally larger than an entire head unit because you are allowed to put better/larger components in it to create a better product.

I would say start off with a head unit that has line level outputs which would give you expandability later if you decide you want it. Buy a unit that you like and spend the $ to go to the next model up if necessary to get the line level out. NOT all tuners have this..

There is someone here from crutchfield that posts, maybe look for a reply from them and see what they have to say.

My .02 for what it is worth.. (In todays dollars not much.)

Michael

michaelathome

Here were two of the suggested units in a thread that I posted.

The Indianapolis CD34 II http://www.midwestelectronics.com/ca...polis_CD34.jpg

Porsche Becker CDR-220 http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WDVW

Michael