Head unit advice please!

[Babs]

Right, I'm looking for a head unit that will allow full proper iPod control, good SQ, doesn't look like a space ship and with a Bluetooth phone connection.

I can't find one that does all of these?

[Wardy]

The Alpine IDA-X001 I have is almost spot on, depends what you define as a 'space ship' though! Oh, and the BT is by way of an optional plug-in module, the KCE-300BT.

Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. - iDA-X001

Good general review type thread over on AV Forums:
Alpine iDA-X001 - The ultimate car IPOD headunit - AVForums

Probably the cheapest you'll find it is at Car Audio Direct - The UK's leading car audio and stereo resource.
That package price is good, seeing as you want BT anyway. Module on its own is £100.



Also, link to mine installed. Pic's not brilliant and the unit is off, but it should give you an idea (was actually taken to show the storage drawer)

HTH,
Steve

[Babs]

Looks good!

How does the Bluetooth work? Does it come with a mic, etc?

[KR MAN]

Have a look at the Pioneer 65bt or 85bt, depending on your budget. The bluetooth is built into the unit and the sq will be good. Looks are a personal preference thing, but have a look on caraudio security or caraudio direct, both are good sites and good retailers. Prices should be as good as your going to get as well.

[Babs]

Hmm... don't fancy either of those Pioneer ones, tbh... don't look nice to me

[VeedubyaGTi]

Alpine every time, that unit in the pic above looks superb!

[Babs]

Concerned over the lack of a CD player in it though... lol

[Wardy]

LOL, seems daft to me that - but to each his own. My thinking - if you've got an iPod containing anything upto 160Gb, what do you need to use CDs for?

If you don't want anything looking similar to the Alpines, check Becker out. They tend to look a lot more 'OEM' - not sure about iPod functionality though.

Steve

[Babs]

I've always liked Alpine, tbh.

I can see you point... but sometimes you go out, buy a CD and want to listen to it on the way home!

There's these other ones... what do you think?

Car Audio Direct - The UK's leading car audio and stereo resource.
Car Audio Direct - The UK's leading car audio and stereo resource. Alpine DVA-9861Ri iPod Full Speed - Alpine ALP-DVA9861RI
Car Audio Direct - The UK's leading car audio and stereo resource. Alpine CDA-9855R - Alpine ALP-CDA9855R

[Wardy]

First one looks good to me.

To answer an earlier question, there's a mic included with the BT module pack. Module just plugs into the back of the headunit, then pair your phone up with it.

If you've not already, I'd look through the 'iPod Friendly' section of CAD, and see what takes your fancy What's your budget anyway?

Steve

[Babs]

My budget is "whatever will do the job without going OTT", basically.

The ones for circa £300 are all fine, budget-wise.

[4x4t]

I had an alpine 9855r before my screen and it sucked i hated every second of using the GLIDETOUCH.It is nearly impossible to use properly when driving.I would dread to think what it would be like to select tracks when using an ipod.

The others looked fine if i was buying it would have to be this one
Car Audio Direct - The UK's leading car audio and stereo resource. Alpine DVA-9861Ri iPod Full Speed - Alpine ALP-DVA9861RI due to the extras it has.

[Babs]

Does the Alpine IDA-X001 allow the use of just a normal USB stick, or a HDD instead of an iPod?

[Wardy]

Yes, it does. Don't know of a maximum supported capacity, so see no reason why a small 2.5" based USB HDD couldn't be used. Only thing is folder navigation isn't as quick as having a Pod connected.

Tested mine with a 2Gb USB stick when I got it, but my 30Gb Pod is connected all the time. You could, if you wanted, swap devices on the fly too. The USB connector is available all the time, with just a small USB>iPod connector plugged in when iPod is required.

Steve

[Babs]

Hmm... just thinking, because I have no real use for a portable music player, and a 160GB USB HDD is far cheaper than a 160GB iPod!


Like this: Western Digital 160GB Portable Hard Drive USB2.0 - Retail Elements Drive - Ebuyer

Doesn't need external power, either (that's if the Alpine supplies the +5v on the USB, which it should do, due to it charging the iPod)

[Wardy]

I'd go for a Western Digital Passport or Toughdrive based drive, if it were me. Will then be a little better protected against any bumps and jolts.

I'd find a local audio shop with one available to test, and take a USB drive down with you. Just to test it and see that it does what you want. Shame you're not a bit nearer, you could have had a demo! Have a 120GB Passport too

Steve

[Babs]

I've been looking at the Kenwood DNX-7200 too... like Adam K's got in his Fabia.

I was gonna buy a Tom Tom, too... and that system looks like it'll do everything I need?

[Wardy]

Don't particularly like the Kenwood stuff myself - layout and interface.

But whatever does what you need

Steve

[Babs]

Just thinking it's all in one... then a 120GB WD Passport, and it should be job done!

[pagh]

What about the JVC KD-BT1?

It has CD, USB and BT phone handsfree and streaming.

The handfree is a little picky regarding your phone - it can echo quite a bit with a non-supported phone.

I`m very sattisfied with mine - but had to change my phone to get rid of the echo.

*EDIT*: Just saw that you needed IPOD support. You can add this with JVC KS-PD100 IPOD Interface Adapter.