Who here has an aftermarket headunit?

[HokieZHP]

I'm looking into a new headunit for my ZHP. My old car had a really nice Pioneer headunit with ipod interface and all sorts of other features. I would like an ipod interface in this car also but not an aux jack. I'd like an ipod cable that charges my iphone as well. Has anyone replaced the stock headunit with an aftermarket one? If so please post what you have as well as a picture if possible.

Thanks!

[johnrando]

I just added DICE/Connects2 to my stock HK unit, it plays/charges ipod with a cable (likely iphone but I have BB so I couldn't say for sure). I've also heard people speak highly of USA-Spec.

[mimalmo]

I have both an iPod cable and an aux-input cable installed with my OEM headunit.

If iPod/iPhone connectivity is what you're mainly after, I'd stick to the stock deck and add an iPod cable.

[HokieZHP]

Well I was thinking of that but aftermarket decks have a larger amp so they provide more power. Usually resulting in a better sounding stereo since the stock speakers are run at a much lower level than they can actually safely handle. That's the main reason why I was looking for an aftermarket deck and then just use an adapter kit.

Does anyone have an aftermarket deck?

[Smilez]

i been thinking of getting a double din pioneer for like 250. but damn faceplate is 100+ alone lol. 100 bucks for plastic :rofl:

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/p_27995_Pioneer_AVH-P2300DVD.aspx

[mimalmo]

You can still do that with the OEM deck. The wires on the plug by the amp in back are full 20Hz to 20kHz and are perfect for splicing into an aftermarket amplifier.

And the stock HK system has more power than any deck out there. If you want more power, an external amplifier is really needed.

I'm just a fan of keeping the dash looking OEM. Can you tell? :)

[HokieZHP]

Yes I can tell haha. I was thinking of a double din touchscreen basically because my dad has an alpine in his Audi and I like it a lot. Plus I'm 19 years old...so I like technology haha

Plus there's a lot more adjustability available with aftermarket deck. Plus they have gps which would be nice to have.

[Smilez]

Yes I can tell haha. I was thinking of a double din touchscreen basically because my dad has an alpine in his Audi and I like it a lot. Plus I'm 19 years old...so I like technology haha

Plus there's a lot more adjustability available with aftermarket deck. Plus they have gps which would be nice to have.

i think you forgot to mention "plus"

[HokieZHP]

haha yeah I was at work and wasn't paying much attention to how I was phrasing my message.

[Kootroc]

I got an alpine headunit in my car.
I got the OEM Convertible Centered Single DIN cover.
Here is a pic:
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/198520_1971089639623_1314476621_2340625_8005860_n. jpg

Sorry for the darkness... but if you want, I'll snap another pic for you.
EAS used to sell it but I can't find it any more.

[static667]

I have an old Pioneer DEH-P6800mp. I highly recommend upgrading to a non-factory deck. The sound quality and tunability is so much better. I've always had good experiences with Pioneer units. They have good output quality, are durable, and reliable. Sorry I don't have a pic right now.

[HokieZHP]

Well I'm hopefully getting my car tinted at Dedona in Greensborro Saturday along with my dads Audi. I convinced him he needs to tint his car as well!

So I'll ask about headunits there and hopefully they can help me out


Static-I also had a pioneer in my old car and loved it! Great units

[ryankokesh]

Got a dynavin a couple months ago. There's a review I wrote on here somewhere.

http://tapatalk.com/mu/4b5f7999-713e-988c.jpg

Sorry for the dumb picture. Lol

And someone mentioned that an aftermarket unit wouldn't have as good of amps: the amp is in the trunk for the h/k unit. Changing the headunit won't alter the powerage afaik.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Crickett]

^ What he said. I'm still stock, but I've heard many things (most good) about the Dynavin: stereo, aux, iPod, USB, microSD, GPS, etc. in one double-DIN package. And it looks like it could've been a factory piece!

[jvr826]

What you need to know about the H/K amp (and non-HK for that matter) is that it is multiple channels that power each individual speaker in the car. More-so, each channel in the amp is frequency limited... aka the crossovers are built-in to the amp, not external to the amp like a traditional car stereo is.

So, you can replace the head up front and retain the H/K amp simply by connecting the head's RCA outputs to the appropriate inputs on the H/K amp. If you intend to bypass the factory amp and retain the speakers, then some type of crossover will be needed to filter the frequencies that go to each of the 10 speakers in the car (and the subs if you plan to keep those too).

I have bypassed the H/K amp completely with my system. I've retained the factory head/nav, replaced the front speakers with a two-way component set with passive crossovers, nixed the rear channels completely and use those to power a 12" sub. My amp is three channels, 75w to each front side, 500w to the sub.

For the last year or more I've had some problems with the "head" and think it's the BM54 radio module failing. Most of the time when I start the car there is no sound produced from the system. Sometimes the left channel is weak or gone completely. Sometimes the nav unit freezes up or is non-responsive. The cure has been to shut it down and restart which solves it most of the time, but lately that isn't even working. Rather than spend the big bux to buy a new BM54, I'm thinking double-din touch-screen current technology head too. Seems a better place to put my money.

So the Dynavin is an option as is a more mainstream DD Pioneer, Kenwood, or Alpine unit. With the latter there is some modification to the HVAC ducting behind the head that is necessary. A bimmerfest bud spent some major bux having a spendy Kenwood unit installed in his 330ci, but he's really happy with it.

From his post, here are links to the install products his shop used...

Mounting Kit
http://www.janus-design.net/english/e46doubledin/e46doubledinmountingkit/index.php

Bezel
http://www.janus-design.net/english/e46doubledin/index.php

I will decide what to do when mine finally dies completely. I've been corresponding with a woman at Bimmerfest for months as she has been working thru exactly the same problems with her H/K with Nav. Last I heard she was going to the dealer to have it diagnosed. She's already purchased a brand new BM54 that did not completely solve the problem.

[HokieZHP]

^good info. Thanks.

A good stereo is important to me and my family is big on it too so I don't mind putting a little extra $$ into a stereo to get one that I'll love. My dad just put a $4k system into his Audi all alpine and JL and it's awesome! Now I'm not wanting to do all that now but I will be doing at least a headunit. I'm hopefully going to see my stereo shop tomorrow and I'll post back what I find out and what I end up doing.

[Jon D]

See my sig. Have ful custom stereo Alpine, Hertz Jl sub

[Nivo]

I will be installing this stuff in my ZHP.
http://www.e46turbo330ci.com/?page_id=9

http://www.e46turbo330ci.com/?page_id=105

http://www.e46turbo330ci.com/?page_id=130

http://www.e46turbo330ci.com/?page_id=215

The headunit shown is now in the SRT-4 so I am shopping for another one.

I was thinking the Pioneer MVH-P8300BT or Kenwood KIV-BT901.