Best head unit to compliment empeg

Posted by: robricc

Best head unit to compliment empeg - 09/11/2005 13:45

I have another install to do and this time my car has two seperate DIN slots. I was thinking of getting a CD head unit with XM capability and piping the empeg into that. This would allow me to lend the car to people without explaining the empeg or having to take it out all together. Does anyone have a recommendation for a head unit that fits these specs?
  • Not flashy/annoying
  • Black exterior a plus
  • Multi-line dot matrix display a plus (for XM info)
  • Prefer black background with lighted characters for display (like empeg)
  • AUX input in the back for the empeg (must be seperate from XM input)
  • Removable face is probably good
  • A quality manufacturer (not Dual, Rampage, Audiovox, etc.)
Posted by: blitz

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 09/11/2005 14:39

I've got my eye on this. iPod interface. GPS navigation... but I think this is a single spindle unit so you can't play cds at the same time as you are navigating. With the empeg installed though you wouldn't care.
Posted by: petteri

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 09/11/2005 15:57

Perhaps this:

[image]http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2004/158/h158CDXM881-f_LD.jpeg[/image]

well no image there.. how does that work?

EDIT: My bad spelling doesn't help anyone!
Posted by: wfaulk

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 09/11/2005 16:30

I think it's just one of those where the BBS has decided it doesn't like the URL.
Posted by: canuckInOR

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 10/11/2005 02:00

Well, rats -- as soon as I saw the title, I was going to suggest that a second empeg would be the obvious choice, but then you went and stipulated CD/XM.
Posted by: Waterman981

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 10/11/2005 03:46

I had a friend looking at the iPod interface for a while. He changed his mind after he learned that yeah you can do advanced control of your iPod, but it is buried within the 1-6 preset buttons. Like the mute is buried in one of those rather than one that you would use to pause a CD, or mute the radio.
Posted by: blitz

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 10/11/2005 13:46

Quote:
I had a friend looking at the iPod interface for a while.


Was that the Pioneer interface?
Posted by: Waterman981

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 10/11/2005 18:37

Yup, the CD-IB100. Pricegrabber reviews.
Posted by: blitz

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 10/11/2005 19:00

Ouch! Too bad. I had looked at this one also... but no navigation.
Posted by: frog51

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 11/11/2005 07:02

Quote:
lend the car to people without explaining the empeg or having to take it out all together


I'm sorry? Trusting others with the pride and joy? Crazy talk
Posted by: robricc

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 11/11/2005 18:54

Quote:
Quote:
lend the car to people without explaining the empeg or having to take it out all together


I'm sorry? Trusting others with the pride and joy? Crazy talk

Nobody in my family other than myself drive a manual transmission very well. I only lend my automatics to them (which this new car is). I once lent a car to my mom to drive a couple hours and wouldn't leave her with the empeg. Yeah, I'm a jerk.
Posted by: cob666

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 17/11/2005 02:47

If you want a clean looking stereo that sounds NICE then look here: Nakamichi.
The CD-400 and CD-500 are EXCELLENT models. I've had Nakamichi HUs in my cars for years and have never had any problems with them. They all have AUX inputs but no native XM support.
Posted by: Daria

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 17/11/2005 02:57

Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
lend the car to people without explaining the empeg or having to take it out all together


I'm sorry? Trusting others with the pride and joy? Crazy talk

Nobody in my family other than myself drive a manual transmission very well. I only lend my automatics to them (which this new car is). I once lent a car to my mom to drive a couple hours and wouldn't leave her with the empeg. Yeah, I'm a jerk.


I have a spare empeg to loan, but the display is out. Of course at the moment I have one vehicle with a working install, and it's the minivan, which I'm days from giving away...
Posted by: burnswannabe

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 17/11/2005 09:30

I also have the nakamichi 400 and with the empeg running through it the sound is sweeeeet.
Posted by: robricc

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 17/11/2005 12:13

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I've pretty-much settled on the Alpine CDA-9847. The display is segmented, but this fits my budget and other requirements.
Posted by: msaeger

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 17/11/2005 22:11

Is Nakamichi available in the USA ? I did a search but only found dealers outside the USA.
Posted by: altman

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 18/11/2005 18:08

That's the exact one that I have with my empeg in the Golf dual-din. Just had the subwoofer (plus an amp for that) fitted and the internal amp in the Alpine is more than sufficient for my listening volumes

Hugo
Posted by: robricc

Re: Best head unit to compliment empeg - 18/11/2005 19:13

Good to hear! I should be installing it this weekend. I will post some pics when done.