edit: got one..

 

Your feature list is modest if you don’t want/need:

• CD player
• NAV
• Radio
• Bluetooth

Apparently it’s the USB port, layout with physical buttons and control-wheels, and a good color match that you want. Obviously you are willing to do the research, and that is a good thing.

I would search the H/U’s on crutchfield.com to discover a good match for your preferences. In fact, you could send your message to Crutchfield and get a list of H/U’s that match your request.

--Spike

 

Bingo. I'm not an audiophile, but I'm sick of playing CDs that constantly skip.

I guess I'm being a bit **** about the color-match. Alpine offer a few nice HU's but I'm not digging the blue.

Will do, cheers.


Any one else with suggestions?

 

Ok, I know this doesn't fit all the stuff you said you want but this is an awesome HU. It's the Pioneer DVD3100. This is a pic of it installed in my car with my iPhone plugged into the front USB port.

 

^^ Your double-din H/U looks good; however, schift states his preference is a single-din H/U.

I also favor single-din H/U’s for a number of reasons, so I understand schift’s preference for this.

--Spike

 

You may want to look into the Kenwood KIV700. The only thing that does not meet your requirements are the front USB port. It has it in the rear, but comes with a flush kit for the USB port.

 

^^ Thanks for mentioning the Kenwood KIV-700. In fact this is the unit I’m considering for replacement of my aging SD Clarion H/U (6 years old now). I’m weighing this with the Kenwood KIV-BT900 that provides built-in Bluetooth support.

Both H/U’s have a wide range of features including a large and sharp LCD display. The LCD screen is just great… viewable under bright light, razor sharp, and displays a lot of information.

schift’s list includes a front USB connector, but I not a fan of this configuration. A rigid built-in USB connector on the front of an H/U can be trouble if it’s hit forcefully and accidently. If this happens, in an instant you have a damaged H/U.

I prefer a rear USB connector with a flush kit for the port or just a connector at the end of a flexible USB wire (available for the Kenwood KIV-700). This way you don’t wreck the H/U if someone hits a protruding flash-drive or connector from a USB device. This configuration also provides more installation options. You can install a rigid connector if that is what you want, without worrying about damaging the H/U if the connector gets bumped. If the rigid USB connector is damaged, it’s easily fixed by an inexpensive replacement. You can also string a “soft” USB connector where ever you want it.

The Z provides many positions for mounting a remote USB connector.

--Spike

 

Well, I ended up getting the Pioneer MVH-8250BT



I'll get some pics up once I install it later this week.

 

Good points.

Like in the center console out-of-sight! I've got my iPod in there and forget it's tucked in there sometimes. Draws zero attention buried in there.

 

Got the Pioneer MVH-8250BT installed yesterday. Not the best pics, but better than nothing

 

Nice head unit...and i understand the single din/ double preference. For some reason it just looks like somethings missing...

 

Looks pretty good

 

My alpine 505