Personally, I have a Pioneer head unit using the IP-bus to RCA interface and am delighted (Pioneers have great tuners built-in ). I don't know if they have a low-end CD-R/MP3 playing unit yet or not--though I'm sure they will soon.

I have had experience with a Jensen (I think it is 4010) which is not an MP3 player but has Aux-In's and Awia's MP3 player. The Jensen unit runs really hot and seems to have an unreliable record of perfromance (jams and intermittent operation/interface with the face plate). The Awia seemed to play OK. I didn't like the flashy (useless) graphics and the consturction seemed cheap. Word I've heard is it doesn't survive well on the road.

But like the others, I'm left wondering why search anywhere else? You can guide him to the best why consider the rest?

- tim