New head unit

[Zippee]

Any recommendations for a chearish but decent head unit? I need to replace the aging Pioneer in my TVR but don't want to spend an absolute fortune. Would need CD & I-pod interface and above all else decent sound quality.
Happy to look a used but have no idea what is good and what isn't.

[Steve_F]

Been absolutely delighted with my Alpine one. Full Parrot connectivity and was sub £150, can't remember if it was this exact model, think it was just cost more than £99.99 then!

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[danyeates]

Mmm, I was going to recommend the one I have, but it has no CD! But as an iPod player, it's brilliant. Best I could find without going double DIN. Big screen, album artwork, big clear text and menus. So easy to use. I can't stand head units with millions of tiny buttons that do different things every time you press them. A head unit is supposed to be simple to use, you have to control it whilst you're driving!

Anyway, this is mine, in case you decide you really don't need a CD player:

http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/products/car/...

[FoundOnRoadside]

I got a cheap Philips one from Halfords of all places. Major bonus is, it has a really good DAB tuner, has USB, CD/MP3, and it sounds really good. Doesn't look too blingy either.

CEM2000B, the lower model:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

CEM3000B, the one I have:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[ReedyGT]

http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3...

Will be good quality, not sure who make the internals.... Can't go wrong at that and good looking unit compared to most...

[Zippee]

Steve_F said:

Been absolutely delighted with my Alpine one. Full Parrot connectivity and was sub £150, can't remember if it was this exact model, think it was just cost more than £99.99 then!

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Thanks all - like the look of this one as it'll give me bluetooth hands free at the same time.
Is the pick up on the mike good?

[rash_decision]

Zippee said:

Thanks all - like the look of this one as it'll give me bluetooth hands free at the same time.
Is the pick up on the mike good?

I also have one of these. I've had it almost a year now, and it's excellent! I have it in my 2.5 Pajero, which is kind of noisy on the road, and everyone I speak to via the bluetooth tells me there is no background noise and they can hear me perfectly. Great connectivity as well. A little tricky to use the phone book whilst driving, but for answering calls on the move it's a great piece of kit.

[rash_decision]

Zippee said:

Thanks all - like the look of this one as it'll give me bluetooth hands free at the same time.
Is the pick up on the mike good?

I also have one of these. I've had it almost a year now, and it's excellent! I have it in my 2.5 Pajero, which is kind of noisy on the road, and everyone I speak to via the bluetooth tells me there is no background noise and they can hear me perfectly. Great connectivity as well. A little tricky to use the phone book whilst driving, but for answering calls on the move it's a great piece of kit.

[NiceCupOfTea]

I've had the old version of that Alpine for ages, very good. BT works very nicely (phonebook not so much, but that is HTC's fault), great sound, USB is fine (but would prefer rear port), as is iPod interface.

Mine was about £150 iirc.

[Steve_F]

Got mine in my Transit so again a pretty noisy cabin. Never had any complaints from the people who are pretty quick to let me know if there's too much back ground noise. Mounted on the interior light it's a fair distance away in the van but still very happy with the pick up.

At that price I'd be getting one for my car too if it wasn't getting traded in!