Okay I admit it I have spiraled into insanity Need Input

Okay I admit it I have spiraled into insanity. I sold my Empeg and went off to the local Store to get the New Alpine with the Ipod interface, then in a brief monument of clarity I looked at the interface, and after my horror wore off all I could think of was “its no empeg” So I have narrowed it down to 4 chooses.

It would be so much easier if the big stereo companies would just allow playback of mp3’s burned onto a DVD disk none of them offer this nor do they plan to offer it (I have e-mail tech supported and confirmed this fact) so I am limited to a crappy CDR/RW with mp3s, CDR/RW with mp3 changer none really have a search function and the Keg is not much better.
Looking for some unbiased opinions. All options have pros and cons (see below)

All I wanted was the ability to listen to high quality sound have a nice color touch screen and the ability to carry my MP3’s with me in one unit.
I have even considered mounting an Empeg and a Pioneer or Alpine head unit to get the best of both worlds but I would need to remold my dash to do it, all the ac/heater controls would need to be lowered down into the pocket and custom plates made (nearly 500 bucks worth of work) and it would be nice to have something with a warrantee again.


I am scaling way back now that I am getting older just 1 sub, 1 amp and 2 pairs of components. Going to use the following

Infinity Kappa Perfect 6.1 399.00 or Diamond Audio S600’s
Diamond Audio M6 10" Subwoofer Dual 2 ohm 300
Alpine MRV-F450 5 50 watts RMS x 4 + 200 watts RMS x 1 at 4 ohms

1.
Empeg 500
EQ 200
Mounting 200
Pros: Best interface in the known universe
Cons: No Sub out would need to use an external processor, no Nav, DVD playback and replacement parts getting harder to find Product had been EOL’ed no longer officially supported.



2.
CarPc
Screen 300
CPU 500
ITP and PS 200
Mounting 200

Pros: Most flexible, could add email, DVD, Nav, gps and a host of other things
Cons: Most complex, lower quality audio section. Expensive to custom mount the screen.

3.
Pioneer AVIC-N1
Will add an Ipod interface when it comes out second quarter 2005
Pros: built in DVD, NAV, GPS, Touch screen and MP3 Play back
Cons: MP3 playback from CDR only, Higher cost


4.
Alpine IVA-D901
With Crappy Ipod Interface
Pros: built in DVD, NAV, GPS, Touch screen and MP3 Play back
Cons: MP3 playback from CDR only, higher cost, crappy Ipod interface

Dension is the company to keep an eye on right now in mobile MP3. They're currently still making the best iPod adapter, and next to the empeg, arguably the best indash player as well. They also have plans to make iPod adapters for use with built-in nav screens of some cars. Send them an email to see if Pioneer or Alpine nav screens are on their list.

BTW, I said the Alpine interface was "the suck" in the thread on that subject a while back... But I guess I'm a little biased as I think everything from Alpine sucks. (and will always suck)

Don't look for any of the big car audio players to "get" MP3 or other current mobile audio technology any time soon. This is going to be the domain of the creative and daring smaller company. I see a lot more iPod integration coming as well.

Bruno

Keep in mind that any big-name head unit you buy now is probably only going to have a one year warranty. After that, you're going to have to pay to get it fixed, which will probably be more expensive than just getting the newer, better one. The empeg, while out of warranty and so on, is still supported by the community, and it seems that very few of us have had significant problems at all -- just the odd bad cable, bad fuse, bad header -- all fairly simple repairs. And since you can just pull the empeg out of the dash, there's no need to tear your dash apart every time something goes wrong.

Of course, the big-name head units I've had in the past were never too bad for needing to be fixed, either.

Quote:
so I am limited to a crappy CDR/RW with mp3s

But, you have the iPod interface on the Pioneer and Alpine (and, I guess, Dension like hybrid8 mentioned). So you don't need MP3CDRW, unless you have a RioVolt, which you don't need because you have (or will have) an iPod. So, grab the name brand head unit, the iPod, and the iPod interface and you're set.

But personally, if you want MP3s and a big color touch screen, I would recommend installing an empeg and a fancy retractable touch screen head unit. Requires a double din opening, but you could use the head unit as the empeg's amp and the head unit should have subwoofer out; so that's more scaled down. And check on some forums to see how other people have fit two head units into your dash. There might be instructions for moving the AC/Heat controls. It might be worth it in the end.