budget head unit

danger boy
danger boy Posts: 15,722
edited April 2005 in Car Audio & Electronics
I've put this off long enough.. so now i'm finally ready to get a new HU installed in my 2000 Neon.

I only have $200-ish for the HU.

Ones i've demoed this weekend and made my short list are:

Alpine CDA-9847
Eclipse 3434
Pioneer Premier DEH-P470MP

any others in my price range I should be looking at? I'm looking for the most bang for the buck I can get. It has to be able to play MP3's, WMA's. good tuner. and best sound.

I won't be using any amp(s) with this.

I know my budget for the HU is limited.. but I can't plunk down anymore at this time.

thanks guys
PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
Post edited by danger boy on
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Comments

  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited April 2005
    Actually you can get a damn fine head unit for $200.

    All the units you listed are excellent and are quality made.

    Other features you may want to consider is pre-outs. I always recommend getting 3 (front/rear/sub) and to have them as high a voltage (4-8) as possible. You said you wouldnt be using any amps but you may in the future decide to and this would be a good thing to have if you did.

    Other than that, you really cant go wrong with either of those receivers. Personally Im partial to Alpine so thats the one that gets my vote.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • okstatefan
    okstatefan Posts: 9
    edited April 2005
    out of curiosity if i have pioneer speakers, is it better to stick w/ the same brand and go for pioneer head unit?

    im basically in the same situation as him. $200 limit.
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  • neomagus00
    neomagus00 Posts: 3,899
    edited April 2005
    doesn't matter a bit... i'm a big fan of pioneer, though, anyways...
    It's not good, very fundamentally simply not good. - geolemon

    "Its not good enough until we have real-time fearmongering. I want my fear mongered as it happens." - Shizelbs
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  • dakotaboy
    dakotaboy Posts: 47
    edited April 2005
    I also have around a $200 limit...:D I'm settling on the Pioneer Premier DEH-P77OMP from http://www.electronicscity.com/product_info.php?cPath=175_105&products_id=230&osCsid=92a532d84b9f9deea429ce7a2afafbe1 or possibly sounddomain if it gets off facrory backorder anytime soon...
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited April 2005
    that looks nice dakotaboy. I find the Pioneers offer a lot of bang for the buck.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • Joelsbass
    Joelsbass Posts: 637
    edited April 2005
    I definately reccomend the pioneers... they make great head uints
    MacLeod: I guess youre lucky Polk has such lax hiring standards.

    Josh: Damn skippy!
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited April 2005
    over the years of owning several different models of Pioneer Premiers. i decided to go with an Alpine. WOW! sound very, very good so far. with just the stock speakers. I can't imagine how much better it would sound with some good drivers in there. OMG!
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited April 2005
    Yup, Alpine is my choice.

    Pioneer is a close second though. I think the Alpines look much better than the Pioneers and thats actually all that puts them over the top for me.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited April 2005
    All right....let us know what you're doin', DB......don't just leave us hangin'......:D
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited April 2005
    I had a Alpine head unit installed in my Neon. It's pretty sweet. I like how easy it is to use. Sound is pretty incredible too. I'm very happy now.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited April 2005
    Awesome, glad you like it. Did you go with the 9847 that you had originally looked at?
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited April 2005
    I went with the Alpine CDE 9843
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited April 2005
    Awesome! Glad you like it!
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii
    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter