Alright guys so let me have it *flame suit on*

Bose does now officially blose. CD skipped real bad when I first got, it appeared to get better, but after the g/f bought 5 new cds and filled the player back up, it dies and we can't get the cd's back out.

So its time for a new head unit.

My requirements:

I'M FRUGAL

I'M PICKY

Navigation is not really that desirable unless price wise it makes no difference between navi and dvd only. I have TomTom and am perfectly happy, plus I like the ability to switch between vehicles (motorcycles) and on foot.

Prefer a Double Din DVD touchscreen, with 5 channel output (Front, Rear, Sub), with good RMS (I'd prefer to avoid doing an AMP if the HU sounds good as I don't blare the sound a lot), with good noise to signal. I would also prefer a front face audio input for my blackberry to play songs with (instead of ipod). I would prefer the capability to upgrade to HD radio, satellite, and GPS in the future if desired.

The best one I've found is at crutchfield IVA-W205 Alpine for 519.00.

Any thoughts? I'll be keeping the stock speakers. The only reason I'll do an amp is if the system still has variable volume issues (I hear that is due to stock amplifier) or if the Alpine HU can't power the current sub and speakers.

I've done system installs before when I was younger so I know what I'm doing. I just don't want people to recommend a 2000 setup because thats not what I want. If the stock Bose worked properly I would have kept it and spent the money on performance.

Unfortunately the g/f is pissed about her CDs so now I have to delay my Bassani exhaust

 

Just dont go with Kenwood. I have a kenwood 6.5in touchscreen and ive had lots of problems.
Kenwood FTL!!!

 

Funny, 0 problems with my DNX7120. Had 0 problems with my DDX5120 as well.

 

I wound up getting the following:

db651 Polk 6.5" component speakers
db6501 Polk 6.5" speaker, tweeter, crossover system
PA1100.5 Polk 5 channel amplifier 80RMSx4 280x1

Alpine IVA-M205 DVD touchscreen

Pulled the trigger quick because I got HOOKED up on the Polk stuff. Spent just over a thousand bucks but got amp, all new speakers, and HU.

Now I just gotta sit back and wait.

BTW I agree with the sentiments about Kenwood. I have good experience with Pioneer in the past for HU, especially when you consider the value, but can't argue with Alpine's reputation for quality...

Oh and I'll also be getting a kicker sub for free to replace the subs behind the driver's seat and will eventually be getting a sound processor to sit between the HU and amp to keep my 5.1 Dolby Digital .

Not a bad setup I think for wanting to keep it simple.

 

i got the ph4000dvd ( think thats the part number ) pioneer...love it! only thing it doesnt have is navi...but i dont really care about that. the one thing that i still get tickled about is i can download music to a usb flash drive and plug it in and it starts playing immediately. and i can even separate stuff into folders and browse while is playing