Need advice on a new Head Unit for a 323F

[Gunbuster]

Hi All,

I want to replace the headunit in my cheapy Mazda 323F BA. I bought the car from my sister as my old Puma was written off and I needed a car sharpish. It's not the prettiest example, nice to drive. However the old JVC headunit (aftermarket, the original was a clarion) is knackered. The CD player is bust and using an FM adapter after my old Puma's Sony line-in headunit is a pain.

I was just going to buy a Sony again, nothing fancy as I don't plan on getting a changer or amps, etc.

I was warned off them by the chaps on the 323F forum and reccomended Alpine, Kenwood and Clarion in that order. Is this just snobbery?

Also where on earth can I find a car audio reviews site? I can find portable and home audio easy enough.

My budget is as cheap as possible, ie £60. I don't see the point in going nuts on a headunit when it will live in a very scuffed £700 car with stock speakers.

[Behemoth]

to be honest with you alot of it is just snobbery, one my mates has a Sony unit in his focus and he's been fairly happy with it.

Have a look at these guys http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/ it's where I got my current Pioneer unit from some 2 years ago (still going strong) they even phoned me up 10 minutes after ordering to see if I had all the bits I needed to put it into the car.

[Andeh13]

Or even ebay, for next to new ones. Getting one with a usb input is very very usefull, and im so pleased i paid more of it.


As Behemoth said though, a lot of it is snobbery. They all do the same job and all output a similar power so get one you like th elook of within your budget & it will do you fine!

iv bought from www.caraudiosecurity.com and www.caraudiodirect.com and i didnt have any problems.

[DannyM]

I've been warned off of Sony but in all fairness I did have a listen to one head unit whilst in Halfords and it wasn't all that bad. The three makes you suggested are all good makes.

However, from what I've gathered after my previous head hunt for a unit, your top makes are Alpine and Pioneer, I am suprised nobody recommended Pioneer to you!

I myself decided to go for the cheaper option in the end and got one of the cheaper Pioneer models: http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/pion...ource=googleps

And it's absolutely spot on, audio is good, has everything you need.

I'd highly recommend it for the price. I did buy some 6x9's with it, but I used the head unit without the 6x9's for a week or so in my Corsa C and I have to say I was suprised how well it sounded for the money!

It get's my recommendation a million times over

[Gunbuster]

Good point about Halfords, I may pop in and see what they look like in the flesh. I've heard the standard Mazda speakers aren't half bad with a bit of EQ tweaking.

Kinda tempted by the budget Pioneer model as my dash is all black with green back lights. http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/products...12E/index.html

[DannyM]

Good point about Halfords, I may pop in and see what they look like in the flesh. I've heard the standard Mazda speakers aren't half bad with a bit of EQ tweaking.

Kinda tempted by the budget Pioneer model as my dash is all black with green back lights. http://www.pioneer.co.uk/uk/products...12E/index.html

Well from what I've gathered, you can't go wrong with Pioneer!

[shaithis]

Of the 3 you listed, I would stay clear of Kenwood (had issues with them in the past and they make kitchen accessories ffs )

Currently on my second Blaupunkt and starting to wish I took more note of the old one dying.....as this one is playing up after 14 months now

I'd probably go with Pioneer myself next time as well, although always had a bit of a soft spot for Alpine TBH.

[digit]

I'm using a Pioneer Headunit myself (pioneer deh-3630MP) and its lasted through 4 cars and had about 5 years of use! Can't recommend them enough

I haven't really liked any Sony headunits I've used (xplod series) but they aren't awful sound quality like some people make them out to be.

Get yourself to Halfords, every store I've been in has a soundboard hooked up to various speakers and head units so you can have a fiddle with them and see which one you like the most.

[99Flake]

I have had some of the older Sony headunits (they were all minidisc) and they all sounded great. Not too sure about the newer stuff though, it doesn't seem as well built. Also the units I had were all top of the range being MD so that may have accounted for a lot of it.

Pioneer are very good as are Alpine (although I don't like the type of sound that their stuff produces).

If you don't want to spend the earth and want something functional most brands will be ok.

[kalniel]

I have a JVC CD/MP3/USB/FM/AM/LW that was £60. It's quite cheap and cheerful, but nothing's broken yet and the flexibility of inputs is wonderful.

[Gunbuster]

Know this may sound a wee bit odd. Would I be a better served by an old high end unit with aux on the back running through the 2nd din tray than say a new budget model?

[DannyM]

If you can get it cheaper, then get an older head unit, but for the sake of it, I'd prefer to get a new budget head unit.

[Behemoth]

If you can get it cheaper, then get an older head unit, but for the sake of it, I'd prefer to get a new budget head unit.

I'm with you on this, with a new one you have a warranty and the option to send it back if it's faulty on delivery. With a second hand one (been there done that, never doing it again) you've got no come back at all, no matter how much money you save, you'll end up buying a new one down the line anyway.

[Gunbuster]

Ok, it was more of a quality question than a pricing question.

Thanks for the advice folks, I will let you know what I get.

[Behemoth]

Quality if you mean sound all depends on the quality of the speakers in your car, but I suspect you know that already

I'd imagine though that build quality of any £60 unit is pretty much similar.

[pop80_uk]

Pioneer do one in Halfords with a USB input for £69.99 looks really nice.