http://www.crutchfield.com/S-7Ijbl51...fo&i=020DXZ645



or

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-7Ijbl51...0&I=158CDX7705



I'm trying to decide on a new headunit for my car. Both headunits have an AUX in which I plan on using for my ipod. (I rather control the ipod using the ipod so I don't care for an iPod interface akin to Alpine's).

The sony has a flashier face, but I'd like it to blend in as much as possible to the existing interior (gold/amber) colors. The Clarion says that it has 80 different color settings but I'm just wondering how close of a match I can get to the gauges and other interior lighting. Anyone with experience care to share? Or just share which one you'd get? Both are on Crutchfield for the same price.

 

I found this image of the Clarion in some guy's IS300 Lexus. Apparently the IS300's have orange/amber gauges as well:



When I read the specs on the Clarion, it said the preamp outs were only 1.8volts and not the traditional 4volts. I used to have subwoofers in my Mustang but didn't do the install myself. I'd eventually like to upgrade the stock sub and stock speakers with an amp so could someone please explain why this headunit has a 1.8v preamp out and what the difference would be compared to a 4v/5v. Thanks!

 

Now... if I had more money, I'd go for the Alpine immediately... look at how well of a color match you can get (when you have 512 colors to chose from!)

 

Ok... scratch the Clarion. I gave Crutchfield a call and they were like, if you honestly plan on adding amps in the future, go with something that has 4v/5v. So I guess I'll either have to get over the fact that it won't match my gauges, or save some more $$ for an Alpine with the 512 color selection!

 

Hah, you people are gonna begin to think I talk to myself!!

I did some more thinking and yeah, considering the ipod backlight is bluish, and I have GPS, I don't think I'll ever get a perfect complimentary dash color match. And heck, why not mix and match the blue/amber combo. I think I'm gonna stick with the Sony. It has all I need for $250. Not bad. And the brushed aluminum face should compliment the various brushed aluminum elements of the Z (steering wheel, door handles, rear strut bar cover, etc).



Any more input?

 

I just bought the Sony CDX-7705X, it is a great unit, just got done wiring my amp today and installing subs. The eq in it is ok and has lots of options such as high and low pass filters. And sub control for those times you're driving grandma around lol . I love the fact that it has 3 RCA Inputs and the Aux input for IPOD. I have never owned a clarion but i think the sony just looks crisp and clean I have pics of it installed if u wanna take a peek just lemme know.

 

Oh great, if you could post pics that'd be AWESOME!!! :-D

I used to have a higher end Sony model in my Mustang. The one that actually had a CD tray that came out (G skip protection model). I love how the Sony's look! :-D

 

Here's a couple pics of the sony installed. It has a bunch of different on screen "movies" as they call them and other images, i think like 10-12 different images in all that you can have as the background on the screen pretty cool, i usually use the one of the eq bars moving up and down. These are not the greatest pictures i took them the night i got my car back at like 10PM so had to rely on the flash to get the pics.

 

Wow, that actually blends in quite well. If you could get daytime pics whenver that'd be cool too. Just to see how well it's brushed alum finish compiments the rest of the interior accents.

I'm wondering if I can't just drill out a hole in the back of the dash kit for an RCA cable and store my iPod in the bottom cubby instead of using my tunedoc. And just have enough slack so I can pull the iPod out whenver I make song/playlist changes.

 

I don't see why not. I installed the amp myself and the dash came out pretty easy. Would be cake to drill a hole in the kit and mount the IPOD in there. The brushed alum looks great with the rest of the accents in the car (strut bar cover, shift ****, door handles etc.) I will get some daytime pics tomorrow for you.

 

Thanks a lot!!! :-D