The Head Unit - What made you buy it & for how much?

D1ISTHE1 · 2nd March 2009, 00:20

What was it that made you buy your current Head Unit..?

abhinav.gupta88 · 2nd March 2009, 09:47

Still in the process.
But I'd buy one which has

Good build quality.
Good sound quality.
Plays Clean ( not overdoing any bass etc)
Good Features ( especially USB , Time Alignment)
Good Audio Customization Features ( like equalizers , 24 bit DACs)

frankmehta · 2nd March 2009, 11:14

a good head unit makes a HHHHHUGE difference, and the expensive equipment you choose after that makes no sense if you skimp on a head unit. time alignment HAS to be there and everything else without TA is a compromise for me!

sai_ace · 2nd March 2009, 11:38

to be absolutely honest - as a complete noob to ICE, my first priority was price. I wanted an HU, thats it. Settled for the Pio 3050. It was basic but decent. But then, 1 year in tbhp has taught me a lot and the next time 'price' would take a backseat.

Nandan · 2nd March 2009, 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by sai_ace

to be absolutely honest - as a complete noob to ICE, my first priority was price. I wanted an HU, thats it. Settled for the Pio 3050. It was basic but decent. But then, 1 year in tbhp has taught me a lot and the next time 'price' would take a backseat.

Every body will have the same experience in tbhp

. I started with the same 3050 now looking for a 9887!

chiragh_bir · 2nd March 2009, 12:17

after my new panasonic is in i must say HU does make difference in sound ..

hydrashok · 2nd March 2009, 12:40

I think the choice of HU will depend first on the rest of the equipment installed (or planned to be installed). Once the overall picture is clear, we arrive at the choices of HUs (and of course that automatically determines the price range of the HU also, to a large extent).

This if course, is the ideal situation. As always, the final decisions are always swayed by availability of Vitamin-M. :(

My minimum requirements (in no particular order) would be:
- Great sound (without artificial emphasis on any band of frequencies)
- 3 pre-outs
- Minimum 4V preout voltage. 8V would be really nice, heh, heh.
- Minimum moving parts (just enough moving parts that the HU needs to work)
- Minimum Bells and whistles (no BT, GPS, flashing lights, Happy Birthday greetings etc etc)
- Ability to switch-off the internal amp. A dead-head would be fine.
- Ability to control sub-level from the HU would be nice.

madhukar_n · 2nd March 2009, 13:49

when i first choose.. it was mainly bcos i needed a mp3 player.. then my interests and knowledge about ice grew and found out the old had only 1 pre-out. so i had to upgrade it with a min 2 pre-out and aux-in(for ipod). so now have decent system which met my reqts - panasonic 7405
1) it has 3 pre-outs
2) 1 aux in
3) control the amp to some extent
4) decent sound
5) lightning fast reading the disc(not literally ;-)

and all this i wanted without compromising on the cost. got this for 6 or 6.5K with B&W.

hrag · 2nd March 2009, 17:02

My Safari came with an OEM music system that saved me the headache of getting one myself.

The SONY HU in the Indica gave up after 6 years of service (including 2.5 years in my old Omni) in 2006. My friendly neighbourhood car audio gent offered me a Mahindra Scorpio OE HU (brand new HU left behind for sale by one of those 'upgrade ICE' types) for Rs. 5000. It says "Welcome to Mahindra Scorpio" when it powers on but for Rs. 5000 it can say whatever it likes.

iraghava · 2nd March 2009, 18:24

Well in my case I went out to buy the Alpine 7998 aka Phantom Face but when I discovered the price of that unit was 54k (with B&W) I quietly bought the next best Alpine unit i.e. the 9813 for 27.5k! I simply couldn't afford the Phantom Face!

But it's been a decision I've never regretted given that the HU has given me exemplary service over the past 6 years & is still doing duty in my new car!

Quote:

Originally Posted by hydrashok

- Great sound (without artificial emphasis on any band of frequencies)
- 3 pre-outs
- Minimum 4V preout voltage.
- Minimum moving parts (just enough moving parts that the HU needs to work)
- Minimum Bells and whistles (no BT, GPS, flashing lights, Happy Birthday greetings etc etc)
- Ability to switch-off the internal amp. A dead-head would be fine.
- Ability to control sub-level from the HU would be nice.

Plus, it comes built-in with all the features that Ashok mentions here!!

esteem_lover · 2nd March 2009, 18:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrag

It says "Welcome to Mahindra Scorpio" when it powers on but for Rs. 5000 it can say whatever it likes.

hrag, make sure the HU is not passing on any info to the rival Mahindra camp.

zaks · 3rd March 2009, 07:48

Any good quality ones among Pioneer or Alpine or Blaupunkt will do. I went for Alpine since its a one time investment for me. The order of preference was SQ, specs, brand, features for a reasonable price.

Zahir · 3rd March 2009, 08:51

As very rightfully pointed out on this thread, preouts are very important especially if your looking at great sounding music in the future upgrades you make. If you can get a high end alpine, there's nothing like it. Don't get a base line one, those are crap. I couldn't afford the alpine so I got a Pioneer 5090 which is also an amazing HU with lost of options for customization of sound, 3 preouts, dedicated sub controls, USB & Ipod connectivity.

In my palio I have the Pioneer4950(discontinued) which is still one of the better decks around.

BaCkSeAtDrIVeR · 3rd March 2009, 09:42

- good reviews
- features (compared the co's sites / web
- VFM

bblost · 3rd March 2009, 10:03

MY friend was in the middle east.
I told him to get me whatever he liked as long it was not expensive.

He got me a Pioneer DEH 2850.

Quite happy with it.

View Poll Results: How much will you spend on a Head Unit
5000	7	7.95%
5000-10000	36	40.91%
10000-15000	20	22.73%
15000-25000	15	17.05%
Price no bar	10	11.36%
Voters: 88. You may not vote on this poll

2nd March 2009, 00:20	#1
D1ISTHE1 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: OMNIPRESENT Posts: 120 Thanked: Once View My Garage	The Head Unit - What made you buy it & for how much? What was it that made you buy your current Head Unit..?
	() Thanks

2nd March 2009, 09:47	#2
abhinav.gupta88 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi , India Posts: 4,092 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	Still in the process. But I'd buy one which has Good build quality. Good sound quality. Plays Clean ( not overdoing any bass etc) Good Features ( especially USB , Time Alignment) Good Audio Customization Features ( like equalizers , 24 bit DACs)
	() Thanks

2nd March 2009, 11:14	#3
frankmehta Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,000 Thanked: 3,577 Times View My Garage	a good head unit makes a HHHHHUGE difference, and the expensive equipment you choose after that makes no sense if you skimp on a head unit. time alignment HAS to be there and everything else without TA is a compromise for me!
	() Thanks

2nd March 2009, 11:38	#4
sai_ace BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CBE-BLR-MAS Posts: 431 Thanked: 686 Times	to be absolutely honest - as a complete noob to ICE, my first priority was price. I wanted an HU, thats it. Settled for the Pio 3050. It was basic but decent. But then, 1 year in tbhp has taught me a lot and the next time 'price' would take a backseat.
	() Thanks

2nd March 2009, 12:17	#6
chiragh_bir Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In front of you :P Posts: 1,123 Thanked: 74 Times View My Garage	after my new panasonic is in i must say HU does make difference in sound ..
	() Thanks

2nd March 2009, 12:40	#7
hydrashok Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In my Office Posts: 2,528 Thanked: 17 Times View My Garage	I think the choice of HU will depend first on the rest of the equipment installed (or planned to be installed). Once the overall picture is clear, we arrive at the choices of HUs (and of course that automatically determines the price range of the HU also, to a large extent). This if course, is the ideal situation. As always, the final decisions are always swayed by availability of Vitamin-M. :( My minimum requirements (in no particular order) would be: - Great sound (without artificial emphasis on any band of frequencies) - 3 pre-outs - Minimum 4V preout voltage. 8V would be really nice, heh, heh. - Minimum moving parts (just enough moving parts that the HU needs to work) - Minimum Bells and whistles (no BT, GPS, flashing lights, Happy Birthday greetings etc etc) - Ability to switch-off the internal amp. A dead-head would be fine. - Ability to control sub-level from the HU would be nice.
	() Thanks

2nd March 2009, 13:49	#8
madhukar_n BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 395 Thanked: 179 Times	when i first choose.. it was mainly bcos i needed a mp3 player.. then my interests and knowledge about ice grew and found out the old had only 1 pre-out. so i had to upgrade it with a min 2 pre-out and aux-in(for ipod). so now have decent system which met my reqts - panasonic 7405 1) it has 3 pre-outs 2) 1 aux in 3) control the amp to some extent 4) decent sound 5) lightning fast reading the disc(not literally ;-) and all this i wanted without compromising on the cost. got this for 6 or 6.5K with B&W.
	() Thanks

2nd March 2009, 17:02	#9
hrag BANNED Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore / Madras Posts: 1,982 Thanked: 31 Times	My Safari came with an OEM music system that saved me the headache of getting one myself. The SONY HU in the Indica gave up after 6 years of service (including 2.5 years in my old Omni) in 2006. My friendly neighbourhood car audio gent offered me a Mahindra Scorpio OE HU (brand new HU left behind for sale by one of those 'upgrade ICE' types) for Rs. 5000. It says "Welcome to Mahindra Scorpio" when it powers on but for Rs. 5000 it can say whatever it likes.
	() Thanks

3rd March 2009, 07:48	#12
zaks BANNED Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 952 Thanked: 181 Times View My Garage	Any good quality ones among Pioneer or Alpine or Blaupunkt will do. I went for Alpine since its a one time investment for me. The order of preference was SQ, specs, brand, features for a reasonable price.
	() Thanks

3rd March 2009, 08:51	#13
Zahir BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 426 Thanked: 78 Times View My Garage	As very rightfully pointed out on this thread, preouts are very important especially if your looking at great sounding music in the future upgrades you make. If you can get a high end alpine, there's nothing like it. Don't get a base line one, those are crap. I couldn't afford the alpine so I got a Pioneer 5090 which is also an amazing HU with lost of options for customization of sound, 3 preouts, dedicated sub controls, USB & Ipod connectivity. In my palio I have the Pioneer4950(discontinued) which is still one of the better decks around.
	() Thanks

3rd March 2009, 09:42	#14
BaCkSeAtDrIVeR BANNED Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kochi Posts: 2,522 Thanked: 752 Times	- good reviews - features (compared the co's sites / web - VFM
	() Thanks

3rd March 2009, 10:03	#15
bblost Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 11,008 Thanked: 15,366 Times View My Garage	MY friend was in the middle east. I told him to get me whatever he liked as long it was not expensive. He got me a Pioneer DEH 2850. Quite happy with it.
	() Thanks