AO

I've been looking at the untis with integrated bluetooth. I hate headsets and certainly do not want to hold onto the phone while driving or shifting. But I also want DVD capability (doesn't need a screen)and Ipod would be nice, but I figure a DVD holds 4.7GB and at 4MB per song that's about 1000 songs. More than enough. But I've only found one unit that has both of these and it's like $1,200 with nav and everything else. Too much. I figure in about 6-12 mos. these untis will be available for about $400. So I'm going to wait for a while before upgrading any further.

bwoyat

Andrew,

Myself I'm not in need of a navigation system or a DVD because those units do cost a lot more. However I have over 400 CDs at home I've collected which my wife wants me to throw out so I told her the new iPods can hold from 30 - 60 gb of data so I can transfer all my CDs onto my iPod plus its sync'd with my iTunes software through a docking station which gives me 15000+ songs with any new songs added always up to date on the ipod. I believe in a few years there will be no more discs, CDs or DVDs. It will all be portable, digital, wireless!

Good luck in your quest!

AO

To tell the truth, I just bought my wife a new 30GB iPod. Fun toy! Just getting to know it, so I may change my opinion on DVD. In which case there are several Bluetooth enabled head units out there already.

bwoyat

Try the pod for a while and I think you'll change your mind. Alpine's firewire is a piece of cake to set up and it transfers the data at much faster speeds than other units. Alpine is a great brand and one of the first to offer the iPod connection without any adapters. I purchased the CDA-9857.

Brent

Normy

I mounted a Pioneer DEH-6700P to my '85 last year. Along with the head unit, I bought/mounted an iPod buss controller, which sits under the center console along with the iPod.

-The problem that I have with this system, which sounds good and wasn't expensive [$360 for the pair] is that it is difficult to find songs using the head unit. It does NOT recognize artist names, which forces you to click through your playlists and then click through songs individually until you find what you want. Frustrating!

The low-buck cheap-*** Normy solution? Reorganize my iTunes so that each artist is now a playlist. Now I just page through the artist's songs until I find what I want.

No more CD's! My 15 gig iPod has over 8 gigs of music onboard...this equals 2025 songs. Who needs radio anymore?

N!

bwoyat

Normy,

When I get my car back from the shop I'll take a picture of my setup. Much cleaner than yours, all you see is the iPod , there is no adapter needed. Plus you the Alpine head unit comes with a remote control that takes has the same functionality as the iPod. Go to www.alpine-usa.com site and check out the demos! If you get the blue tooth receiver for a phone you can hide it under the dash and mount a little microphone where you want. It picks up the frequency on its own. Seamless!

Brent

Tenshieternal

I'm puting the Alpine CDA-9857 in both of mine and it conects to and controls the i-Pod with a single cable KCE-422i and nothing else.

cobalt

I installed the Nak CD-500 in my GTS great unit as other said and it looks almost stock. You can play your Ipod through the aux input but can't control it through the Head unit. I installed MB quart speakers which I powered using the 47 watt X 4 built in amp and powered the 6.5 mid basses using a seperate amp bass amp with the units Sub output. Nice sound looks stock and I had it delivered from Hong Kong in 3 days for cheap.

hans14914

I believe the Kenwood model mp928 has ipod support, also hd radio, sirius, phatbox control, mp3 input.... and its model 928. How much more appropriate can you get. Also has the rotary encoder like you asked for and a built in g-force meter.
Hans

theedge

Several of the new Alpine units have built in iPod support. And theyre great units.

EMan 928

I just came across a deck from Fusion called the CA-IP500. It allows you to put your iPod inside the deck behind the faceplate and then you control the songs from the buttons/rotary ***** on the front. The faceplate graphics are a little cheezy, but right now these are $149 at Best Buy. Certain IPods do not fit, so you'll want to check and make sure yours will.

auzivision

I have the Alpine unit that controls the ipod via USB. This allows access to Albums, Artists, Playlists, Genre, Etc... plus the album art work is displayed.

I think I got it for $180 on sale, but it doesn't have a CD player. I do like the big know and I think it ties in reasonably well given there is a 20 year mismatch.

cold_beer839

I put a Blaupunkt MP46 Bahamas in my '87 S4 and liked it. I think it is I-pod capable.

SW Stereo has the adpaters so you don't have to cut the factory wiring harness.

76FJ55

I installed a Pioneer DEH-P700BT shortly after I picked up my 928S.
DEH-P7000BT
It has Bluetooth, and I-pod controls, 1/8" Aux in and USB. It's also XM, Serius, HD Radio ready. It will read directly from a USB drive (it supplies the power and navigation, no MP3 player features needed). The BT will work as a hands free set or if you've got music on a BT device you can play it through the stereo. I agree it isn't quite the OE look but its a lot better than most of the current breed of indashes on the market.