Which One Should I Buy?

3037 Views 28 Replies 19 Participants Last post by zeptoplix, Jul 30, 2004

Discussion Starter · May 13, 2004

I was thinking either this Sony xplod
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2003/158/h158R3300.jpeg' alt='' width='600' height='186' class='attach' />[/url]

[url=http://www.crutchfield.com/S-epJjDX3MkmV/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?I=158R3300&s=0&wm=su]Sony Specs[/url]

or this Aiwa
[url=http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2003/055/h055cdcx937.jpeg][img]http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2003/055/h055cdcx937.jpeg' alt='' width='600' height='204' class='attach' />[/url]

[url=http://www.crutchfield.com/S-d0qEUiPXwAg/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?s=0&c=3&g=300&I=055CDCX937&o=p&a=0&cc=01&avf=N&search=]Aiwa Specs[/url]

I don't want to spend more than 150 so, which one should I choose? Are there any alternatives that you can think of?

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1 - 20 of 29 Posts

BF2001SES

· #2 · May 13, 2004

I used to be hardcore into car stereo, and the only advice I can give is NEITHER!
You are better off saving you money and getting a Pioneer or Rockford unit. Whenever someone at work here asks me for my recomendations (my rig in my old car was a big hit) I always say Pioneer Premier for the head, Alpine or Kenwood Amps, and JL subs. ITs all Ive ever used, and all I will ever use.

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NateNBeckie

· #3 · May 13, 2004

I agree on Neither.

I have hated every Sony product I have ever had and there was always something wrong with them. NEVER get a Sony. Aiwa has some quality control issues. I worked on so many Kenwood products because they burnt up it wasn't even funny. I blew up a couple of JL subs but I loved them anyway.

I bought my first Pioneer head unit years ago and will never buy anything else. I also loved my Pioneer amp. The best subs I ever had were Kicker (Stillwater). I have a Pioneer DEH-P6400 head unit now and I love it. You can find them on Ebay sometimes.

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12Volt_rep

· #4 · May 13, 2004

I will also agree and say neither. Obviously I am going to say Pioneer as well, but only because I know and believe in the quality of the product. Look at the DEHP3600 Pioneer, it is our best seller next to the DEH1600, which is a price point peice more than anything.

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cyrix142

· #5 · May 13, 2004

neither. I use a JVC head in my auto and It is a big success. I wasn't and still am not really all that impressed with sony products, or aiwa stuff.

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Discussion Starter · #6 · May 14, 2004

You all aren't much help :angry: LOL, j/k.

In the past, I've had a Kenwood, JVC, Clarion, and Alpine hu in my car. I loved the Clarion and Alpine, but the Kenwood and JVC were mediocre at best. I think I'm going to go against all of you and buy the Sony...I'll rebel this time

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godspunk32

· #7 · May 14, 2004

Originally posted by idriveataurus@May 14 2004, 08:27 AM
You all aren't much help :angry: LOL, j/k.

In the past, I've had a Kenwood, JVC, Clarion, and Alpine hu in my car. I loved the Clarion and Alpine, but the Kenwood and JVC were mediocre at best. I think I'm going to go against all of you and buy the Sony...I'll rebel this time

You're making a big mistake. Sony car audio is the most over-rated and worst performing company out there. At least if you buy a Pyle HU, you know that you're getting a piece of crap. Most people don't know a whole lot about car audio, and they just assume that Sony's flashy styling means that it works well. They break early and break often. You'd definitely be better off in the long run if you bought a Pioneer, Clarion, Panasonic, JVC, or Kenwood. A Sony is a mistake that only you can avoid...

JR

PS- Friends don't let friends buy Xplod.

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Myzery

· #8 · May 14, 2004

I dunno if this counts for anything, but, I have a Sony M630 in my veedub now, its the same one I've had in 2 other cars and NEVER had a problem with it. also, those aux audio in connections on the back come in handy.

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NateNBeckie

· #9 · May 14, 2004

Originally posted by godspunk32@May 14 2004, 09:16 AM
You're making a big mistake. Sony car audio is the most over-rated and worst performing company out there. At least if you buy a Pyle HU, you know that you're getting a piece of crap. Most people don't know a whole lot about car audio, and they just assume that Sony's flashy styling means that it works well. They break early and break often. You'd definitely be better off in the long run if you bought a Pioneer, Clarion, Panasonic, JVC, or Kenwood. A Sony is a mistake that only you can avoid...

JR

PS- Friends don't let friends buy Xplod.

Very well said! I couldn't agree more. That doesn't just apply to Xplod, it also applies to their other electonics. People think that because a lot of their stuff is "cutting edge" that it is the best, but I beg to differ. I have bought many "cutting edge" devices from them and I have had problems with all of them. If not sooner, than later. I haven't bought anything Sony in years. The only reason I had an Xplod in my Contour is the car came with it. It was the biggest piece of crap CD player I have ever seen. Cheap buttons, poor sound, CD player skipped, tuner was worse than stock, etc. I had a Sony tape deck back in 93-94 and it was equally as bad. The tape deck died about 4 months after I bought it and it is still sitting in my dad's basement in pieces.

Please save the world and yourself from another Sony Xplosion. Do yourself a favor and don't buy the sony. If you don't take any of our advice about the other brands, at least take this one. Buy the Aiwa.

-Nate

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golovko

· #10 · May 14, 2004

Originally posted by godspunk32@May 14 2004, 09:16 AM
PS- Friends don't let friends buy Xplod.

LOL.

I like Kenwood headunits a lot. I'm on my third one and I've loved all three I've had.

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Discussion Starter · #11 · May 14, 2004

Okay, I've decided to take 12volt's advice and get the Pioneer DEH-P3600

http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2003/130/h130DEHP360.jpeg' alt='' width='600' height='185' class='attach' />[/url]

But I also thought about the DEH-P4600MP...I really want MP3 play back and it's only 10 bucks more

[url=http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2003/130/h130DEHP460_1_LD.jpeg][img]http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2003/130/h130DEHP460_1_LD.jpeg' alt='' width='600' height='186' class='attach' />[/url]

What do you all think?

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NateNBeckie

· #12 · May 14, 2004

Now that's a tough decision...

They are both really nice. I decided against the version up from mine because Nero's CD burning software will rip MP3's back to normal audio files. MP3 playback was like 50 bucks more when I bought it.

At this point it's just a question weather you need the MP3 playback, or if you want to save a little money and rip your MP3s back to audio.

For 10 bucks, I would go with the 4600. Nice choice either way though. You'll be glad you changed to Pioneer!

-Nate

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Discussion Starter · #13 · May 14, 2004

I'll probably go with the 3600 because I like the display more, and my computer burns mp3's into normal cd's too. I just thought it would be cool to have 200 songs on one cd and never have change the cd

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socom58

· #14 · May 14, 2004

Definately Pioneer. Both head units look nice - your choice I guess - but if MP3 playback is only 10 bucks more, its probably worth having the option.

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qwertz9586

· #15 · May 15, 2004

I would recommend a Panasonic. It's cheaper than a Pioneer, but it's really good quality. Mine can play MP3s, WMAs, and even Sirius Satellite radio (I don't have the subscription, but if I do get it, it'll work). And this thing just won't skip! The roads around here are really crappy and the CDs play just fine over these crappy bumps. And it doesn't sound too bad on the stock speakers.

Here's my head unit:
http://www.superford.org/getfile.php?id=92...me=NewRadio.jpg

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Matt22Hawk

· #16 · May 15, 2004

What does every one think of Alpine HUs?

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socom58

· #17 · May 15, 2004

Alpine anything is good quality, IMO.

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golovko

· #18 · May 25, 2004

Originally posted by Matt22Hawk@May 14 2004, 08:43 PM
What does every one think of Alpine HUs?

Alpine is good - I'd rather have a Kenwood tho.

I'm going to agree with Qwertz on the panasonic - I'm not a huge fan or Pioneer, which is basically what most people seem to have around here.

Go to Circuit City or an audio shop and play around with them - see which one you like better. Features are cool and all, but functionality is a big consideration in my book as well.

Parker

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MaltaTaurus69

· #19 · May 25, 2004

All my mid range speakers and HU are Kenwood, and I love the product. Pioneer is also great, my friend has the 3600 in his Taurus and its a great HU, I'm just partial to Kenwood

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sixfofalcon

· #20 · May 25, 2004

Pioneer has been very good at making head units lately. Many years ago (like 10) they weren't so hot. It took me a while to give them a second try, but they are quite nice and most of them pump out a lot of power.

Kenwood has always been good by me. I bought one of their top of the line units in 1995, and it's still going strong. Someone tried to steal it in 1997, so I had to get a new faceplate and front trim ring, but several hundred hours of tunes later, it's still crankin'. Since then, I've put low-end Kenwood units in my sister's and my fiance's cars. They both love them.

Sony is crap. Even their TVs have very high failure rates.

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