My car never came with stock HU and I dont like my current JVC one either.

I am looking for the most subtle, oem looking HU (single din). Can anyone recommend?

So far the only one i found was the Becker Grand Prix 7990 but thats like $460 w/o shipping.

If i would go double din, then I wouldn't mind the 06+ oem HU but i heard they dont fit 03 models.

 

wasn't your jvc come with dvd? if so let me know if you'll sell it cheap lol, i'll take that sucker

 

If you want oem, I think you should get oem. I'm sure you can find matching year model in classified section. I'm not sure if you have bose, but going back to oem will cut down sq in various magnitude.

 

I think the Clarion CX09 looks somewhat factory compared to most of what is out there. Backlight color matches too:

https://my350z.com/forum/audio-build...installed.html

 

single din never has OEM looking

 

Hi o2sys, What is it that you do not like about your JVC headunit?

I only ask because that might simplify answering your question.

A single din H/U requires a custom mounting bracket/bezel. If you do it right, everything is flush and looks finished, but its appearance is obviously a custom installation (And… in the words of Seinfeld: “Not that’s there is anything wrong with that.”). aRYip also mentions the same point in his reply.

I have a Clarion single din H/U in my Z and like the device for it’s great feature, and I can set the background lighting-color(the amber setting on the Clarion) to exactly match the lighting-color on my Z’s instruments.

Here is another option:

1. Buy a stock Z H/U (Bose or Clarion) and install this in your car. There are many of these available for cheap from members who have replaced the stock H/U in their car with an aftermarket product. Now it looks stock (just as you ask for).
   
2. Install a Kenwood KOS system (the 7”LCD screen is mounted in the upper/forward cubby) and the KOS Controller is mounted in one of the cubby spaces behind the driver or passenger seat.

Doing this gives you a scalable CES. You have a great radio (not the radio in your stock H/U) that you can make even better by adding Sirius/XM, HD radio, or whatever you want. You can even use the stock radio (but you would never do this since the Kenwood radio is so much better). About the only thing you will use in the stock H/U is the CD player.

With the KOS system, you can add external amps, front and rear speakers, SubW(s), and just about anything else you want to create a superior CES. You control all of the devices using the 7” touch screen you install in the upper/forward cubby.

Here is a thread that describes this concept:

https://my350z.com/forum/audio-build...pics-here.html

When reading this thread, ignore the discussion about double screens since you want the stock H/U; and instead focus on the points describing the features of the KOS controller and using the KOS 7” LCD installed in the Z’s upper/forward cubby space.

--Spike

 

i have a 7" navi installed in my cubby area.


The ONLY reason i dont like my JVC is because of its flashing lights and colors.

If i can make it all uniform color for the LCD display i wouldn't mind it so much

 

^^ Thanks for posting the pic. I understand now. Yes…the JVC looks a little too busy for my taste as well.

Check out Clarion single din H/U’s. You can set the color display to a single color (amber), and it exactly matches the Z’s instrument backlighting. Also, I think you can keep your mounting bracket/bezel .

--Spike
___________________________
EDIT: I took a second look at your pic, and I’m not liking the polished metal on the JVC’s face either. Clarion uses a full black face for its trim, and that looks better in the Z’s interior. I see your point now. That JVC would look better in something like a Chevy Suburban.

 

http://clarion.com/us/en/products/20...409026843.html

above seems nice, but its blue lighting =/

as well as this one, i would buy this in a heart beat if had color changing options:
http://mobile.jensen.com/jensen/Jens...CT_ID=VM8013HD

 

OEM looking HU

 

I put in a JVC Arsenal KDA805 in part because you can change the backlighting to almost any color (main functional criteria was MP3 and Bluetooth). In my case I wanted it to match the orange oem lighting on the rest of the dashboard so it would blend in better. I've been happy with the deck, but wish the Bluetooth phone connection was louder to overcome the road noise.

Installed photo:
<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VGBZUd8t3lF0S2RsPSBGpw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_N6h-Gwj8TZg/SzxRnZh3jnI/AAAAAAAAB7c/GQpxiDt-Los/s800/Radio_orange.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/js5280/Public?feat=embedwebsite">Public</a></td></tr></table>

Stock HU photo:

 

^ Got some daytime shots?

 

What about this:

JVC kameleon KD-AVX44-
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...mpaign=froogle

It'll be all black when off, and not too busy when on. Lots of expandability. It does have 'bluish-white' control lighting, BUT it has a proximity sensor so the controls are only illuminated when your hand goes near it. The background of the screen can be set to Blue, Light-Blue, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Purple, Dark-Blue, Dark-Green, Brown, Light-Brown or Black. For the price I think it's hard to beat.

Now that I am thinking about it, I might buy one to replace my aging Eclipse Cd5000........

 

http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products...-cd-player.asp

I chose it because it is completely nondescript. I am not interested in flashing lights, or bluetooth, or any other fancy stuff. I had a double din dvd, etc etc before, and I found it distracting, and I never used any of the features it offered. All I wanted was the best sound quality I could get, in a very simple package. The dial controls are way nicer than buttons, and they are analog, so they have a great feel to them. The downside is the cost, but good deals can be found preowned, and so long as it was purchased from a dealer, the 2 year warranty transfers. If the warranty is out, they have an authorized service place in NJ with an OG japanese dude there, that does great work. I've owned more stereo systems in my car in the last 15 years than I care to admit, and have wasted ALOT of money on some stuff. This is the only system where I can honestly say I would not do anything differently (current system has been installed for just under 2 years). I just wish I could afford some of their home stuff!

 

I have have looked into the mcintosh unit, as much as i love the simplicity of the it, its too retro imo.

This is double-din but by far seems like the most OEM looking unit:
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...e+CD1200G.html

 

If that unit has all the features you want/need, go for it. It looks sleek and is made by Eclipse.

 

Here you go, sorry camera lens must be dusty...

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/IAcH8WsZpJ0VqHGm3MB1GA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_N6h-Gwj8TZg/Sz039W72pDI/AAAAAAAAB78/cMX0OUj4QlQ/s800/P1010001.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/js5280/Public?feat=embedwebsite">Public</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/X-uU49Y9RdP7LcZRaQ8--Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_N6h-Gwj8TZg/Sz039oyP4iI/AAAAAAAAB8A/BglpWh0LfKE/s800/P1000999.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/js5280/Public?feat=embedwebsite">Public</a></td></tr></table>

<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eohPUpiWxRjtzHwNL8_waw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_N6h-Gwj8TZg/Sz039_bZ_6I/AAAAAAAAB8I/OXneOmfWZ7U/s800/P1000998.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/js5280/Public?feat=embedwebsite">Public</a></td></tr></table>

 

^^ Nice (and, great job on the pics). That looks like a "wrap." It certainly matches the Z's instrument's amber backlight.

--Spike

 

thanks for the pix, i will be going with the JVC KD-R300