Help Choosing a Head Unit.. Please..

**bobbykokinos** · 01-21-2007, 02:03 AM

I'm going to be swapping my stock head unit out for something after market.. I'm not really sure what yet.. My question is, how will my sound change?? I have a Scion xB and from what I understand, the stock head unit is "EQed" for our cars. With an aftermarket head unit make it sound better/worse/same?

Also, I'm not quite sure what the RMS wattage is on the stock Scion radios.. I dont need anything louder, but I'd like the aftermarket head unit to be at least as loud as the stock unit. What wattage should I be looking at??

To be honest, I'm trying to keep this as cheap as possible.. I'm going to be using this as a backup to a CarPC system. I'd hate to be on a long drive and the computer die and I'm left with no music at all.. So, I'm going to use the HU has an amp.. Only thing is, I'm looking for something that has rear inputs.. I've been looking at these three radios:

Clarion DB365USB: http://www.cardomain.com/item/CLADB365USB
Jensen CDX6311: http://www.cardomain.com/item/JENCDX6311
Kenwood KDC-MP632U: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-osCC5wB...32U&i=113MP632

The Kenwood would be my first choice if money wasn't a factor but its almost double the price than the Clarion and Jensen. The Kenwood has the highest wattage @ 22w x 4 RMS, Clarion @ 19w x 4 RMS, and Jensen @ 16w x @ RMS.. I'm not sure how big of a difference these wattages will yield me compared to stock.

Any help or suggestions?? The is the last part I need to order for my CarPC and I'm really stuck on it.

**XC-C30** · 01-21-2007, 02:18 AM

You won't notice the difference between 4x16 watts and 4x22watts to be honest.

I absolutely wouldn't buy jensen!!! And betweend kenwood and clarion, I prefer clarion. My advise: Go listen to those 3 (and maybe some more) HU's and make up your mind. As I said, you won't hear the difference if you go by the figures of that output, BUT the volume and sound may differ between one and the other because of the certain quality of used components.

**bobbykokinos** · 01-21-2007, 02:50 AM

Originally Posted by IC-C30

You won't notice the difference between 4x16 watts and 4x22watts to be honest.

I absolutely wouldn't buy jensen!!! And betweend kenwood and clarion, I prefer clarion. My advise: Go listen to those 3 (and maybe some more) HU's and make up your mind. As I said, you won't hear the difference if you go by the figures of that output, BUT the volume and sound may differ between one and the other because of the certain quality of used components.

Unfortunatly, the only thing I can find locally is the Jensen. Everything else doesnt have rear RCA inputs.. Everything at stores around here have the front input which WOULD work but I dont want wires running in front of the stereo.

So, I'm going to have to buy blindly. To give you an example, "Dual" radios are big here

**XC-C30** · 01-21-2007, 03:03 PM

dual is the biggest crap you could buy!!

I'd sugest looking into something from clarion, pioneer or alpine

**bobbykokinos** · 01-21-2007, 09:59 PM

How about Kenwood vs sub $100 Clarions?

**XC-C30** · 01-21-2007, 10:11 PM

close call, but I still prefer clarion, that'd rather have to do with the fact it matches my amps, since clarion is the same concern as McIntosh.....

See, if you buy a -$100 HU, they all are pretty much the same in my opinion, the difference lays in little things.... (as long as you stay away from sony!) so maybe you should come up with a few models to compare?

**bobbykokinos** · 01-21-2007, 10:29 PM

Originally Posted by IC-C30

close call, but I still prefer clarion, that'd rather have to do with the fact it matches my amps, since clarion is the same concern as McIntosh.....

See, if you buy a -$100 HU, they all are pretty much the same in my opinion, the difference lays in little things.... (as long as you stay away from sony!) so maybe you should come up with a few models to compare?

I did in my original post.. Its between these two now:

Clarion DB365USB: http://www.cardomain.com/item/CLADB365USB
Kenwood KDC-MP632U: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-osCC5wB...U&i=113MP63 2

**XC-C30** · 01-21-2007, 10:30 PM

Ow, I'm sorry, I'll look at them and let you know.

I couldn't find any info on the manufacturer's site that made me much wiser (models weren't even on the website), so can't help you....

**bobbykokinos** · 01-21-2007, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by IC-C30

Ow, I'm sorry, I'll look at them and let you know

thx

**XC-C30** · 01-21-2007, 10:42 PM

after comparing the specs (for what I could find), the kenwood seems best choise.... FM-reception is better on the clarion though....

Thread: Help Choosing a Head Unit.. Please..

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Display

Help Choosing a Head Unit.. Please..

Similar Threads

Sound Card and Head Unit

Taking internal amp out of head unit.

Can a car-computer replace a stereo head unit?

Head Unit: Sony/Panasonic?

Stock Head Unit

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions