Why Doesn't Anyone Make a Perfect Head Unit?

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I have grappled with this for a while now. I want to upgrade the CD player in my beater, but no one makes one with all the features I would want for a price I would pay. All I want is a CD player with a USB interface in the front that is capable of reading my iPod or a USB jump drive, HD radio built in, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and a volume knob-not buttons in a DIN/ISO chassis. It also has to have a built in sub crossover and gain control, and an onboard EQ. I also want it for under $300. Is that too much to ask? In fact, it does not even have to feature a CD player because I have little use for CD's anymore. I use the iPod for everything, and would probably just switch to jump drives if I could. They're so much less volatile than CD's.

 

[78mali350]

i got into a decent one that has like 1/2 of the things you wanted for $80.00 but if you want bluetooth capabilities your toast on trying to find one cheap.

 

[megaladon6]

you're asking for a shitload of options there, $300 is ridiculous. especially for satellite and bluetooth.

 

[dan2286]

I just saw an Alpine at Best Buy that has most, if not all of those features for 300. The one bad thing is that it didnt have the I-Pod connection up front.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I have most of those things right now, except for the USB, bluetooth, HD and satellite. I adapted the one I have now for the iPod using a $12 cable off Ebay that plugs in to the DIN plug in the back, and my current one allows it to be configured as a generic input. I have found one that was close, but lacked the HD, which is the whole reason I want the new head unit to begin with. My favorite talk station ( 970 WFLA) cuts it's power at sunset, and I can't hear it while I work. They have an HD signal though that does not get cut, so I really want one for that reason. I have a JVC right now, and kind of want to stay with the same brand because they have been reliable for me and tend to last a few hundred thousand miles. When you drive 35-50,000 miles a year, reliability becomes VERY important! :lol:

 

[pokertramp]

Alpine does make a stereo that is just for an I-POD, no CD player with almost if not all the other features you want:

$200

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/product ... l=iDA-X300

$300

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/product ... l=iDA-X200

 

[GP403]

now if somebody would make something like that in the old 2-post style instead of the newer style. I saw one out there not long ago but it was ugly and way overpriced. 🙁

 

[midwestls]

Yeah, X2 on the Alpine. Check them out. I've had lotsa different brands of equipment over the years and I'm kind of partial to the Alpine ones. Otherwise Eclipse are nice but for the features your looking for they might be a little more spendy. I'll go check. And GP403. I hear you on that also. Got to cut stuff 😢 to make something really nice work, Grand Prix's anyway.
Hey check out the Eclipse CD3200. I think you'll find it's about what your looking for. I've got a couple links for you but for some reason I get a error when I try to post and submit them. It says: Method Not Implemented. Whatever that means. Probably thinks I'm a spammer or something. :lol: Also crutchfield.com sells it for like $280.

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

I KNEW someone would offer that! I have been saying for a long time that CD's are on the way out and that iPods and flash drives were the wave of the future. The only bad is the HD and Bluetooth require external modules. Those modules usually cost $100 each. I'll have to look up what Alpine wants for them and compare it to the same idea with JVC. JVC has a reciever with built in Bluetooth, but the HD is an add on. I think it also has a rear USB. Then, they also have a unit with a front USB, but the Bluetooth requires a module as does HD. They also have an HD with no Bluetooth and no USB.

As for the GP dash cutting, couldn't you just use the radio panel from a 1984 or newer GP like you can on a Cutlass, Regal or Monte? The GM radios were all 1.5 DIN chassis size, even the old shaft style radios. The only change they made when they went to the "newer" style radios was the face. However, I still scratch my head as to why GM did not subscribe to the double DIN chassis format the rest of the world has. It would make upgrading to a double DIN chassis with GPS and video so much easier today.

 

[Tony_SS]

I was halfway looking around for a front USB head unit. I found a few, but I've never been able to buy anything other than an Alpine so I'm holding out for them to come up with one. I'd much rather do the flash drive, since I have one of those already and don't have an iPod.