Good head unit with ipod control?

[como]

I've been reading a bit about head units these days that have Ipod controls natively built-in, where you use some cable to plug the ipod into the car with its dock connector, and then the head-units controls command it (via the serial connection, just like any apple dock)

Since I finally gave in and bought an ipod (I hate apple, but I can't find another mp3 player with an RX/TX pair built into a docking connector) I figure I oughta just take advantage of some of the things that come with going with the heard.

So, I've got two cars (the mr2 and my work car) that both need a new radio. (ok, the mr2 could do without, but I might as well...)

Basically, I'm looking for recommendations. I'd like to keep the unit under $200, since I need two of them. I don't need superior sound output, since I don't intend on using anything special for speakers, and I don't need any super high-end giga-mega-ultra entertainment features; I honestly miss the radio from my 93 olds, with its am/fm radio and a clock, and about 5 whole buttons on the face; none of which lit up.

I like simple, but I'd also like the ipod input (alongside a regular headphone input might be nice) so that I can keep my in-car music updated.


Any input?

[Ben]

Alpine is your answer, pretty much all of their new units have iPod control

[sideshowauzz]

I bought a Pioneer DEH-6000 something earlier this summer for my duce. Sounds pretty good, but im not happy with the interface/big scroller button. Paid like $160. Alpine might have better goods.

[mr29180]

I got kenwood and it's nice!!!

[MRH]

there's mine, retail goes for $449, but if you talk to an electronics store, tell them that it is on amazon for $299 (which it is, but you don't get warranty) and take it for $349, if you want to add GPS all it takes is a camera add on, it's touch screen, hook it up for DVDs, and it has all the jacks you would need for any kinda music player. and the touch screen is just like an ipod, it's pretty awesome!

-H

[como]

Originally Posted by MRH

there's mine, retail goes for $449, but if you talk to an electronics store, tell them that it is on amazon for $299 (which it is, but you don't get warranty) and take it for $349, if you want to add GPS all it takes is a camera add on, it's touch screen, hook it up for DVDs, and it has all the jacks you would need for any kinda music player. and the touch screen is just like an ipod, it's pretty awesome!

-H

I do like it, but even at $300 its a little steep for a pair, how much is the GPS addon? I would like a gps for my work car, perhaps I could get this for the work car and something else for my '2;
It's been a few weeks since my mr2 has been together, does a double din even fit in a mk1? that would be an awkward place for a touchscreen.

Come to think of it, it'd be a crappy place for one in my work car, too.

[MRH]

I thought there were kits for MK1 mr2s for double din, :/ am I wrong?

and I don't know your work car, but you can't reach the radio? that stinks.
if that's the case I would get a HU with an auxiliary port and get a longer cable and use that and play songs on the ipod from there.

-H

[bquick222]

I got my Alpine on Crutchfield.com for $150. Its cheap simple and has ipod hook up.

Alpine CDE-102 CD receiver at Crutchfield.com

free shipping too!

[como]

Good question on the mk1, mine came with a ****ty little 1u cdplayer, and I swapped in the other ****ty little one I had, that sucked less.

in both the work car and the mr2, though, a toucscreen wouldn't bee to convenient. in the mr2 its just infront of the shifter, which isnt too bad, but in the other car the cupholder actually blocks it. worst. it's pretty far down, too, so the screen would be hard to see.

Originally Posted by bquick222

I got my Alpine on Crutchfield.com for $150. Its cheap simple and has ipod hook up.

Alpine CDE-102 CD receiver at Crutchfield.com

free shipping too!

Does that offer ipod control, though? Ideally I'd like to fabricate a "slot" for my ipod to effectively drop into the dash, where you can barely see it, then just control it from the HU.

[MRH]

icic. Amazon.com: Pioneer DEH-P5000UB In-Dash...
put ur ipod in ur glove box, hooks into the back of the hu. controls are soooo slow though. i have it in my saturn.

-H

[JTriz87]

got the alpine ida-x100 in my mk1

[como]

and how is it?

[issymr2]

alpine for the win i leave my ipod ont mine and never have to unplug it except to sync it
and it is realy easy to use and 9 nout 0f 10 sound

[JTriz87]

great the large wheel in the center functions exactly like the clickwheel on the ipod, the only big difference is that the "back" button isn't where the menu is at on the ipod. it's off to the side. sometimes it takes a while to scroll through music (i've got over 11,000 songs on my 80gb) and takes a while for volume to turn up, and it lacks a real eq (have to buy pxa-h100 imprint module, stock only has bass, treble and sw volume adjustment). Besides those small shortcomings its great, the display is awesome and the album art looks good on the 2.2" screen.

Oh yeah, it doesn't play CDs

[como]

...it doesnt play cds?
.......Really?

I mean, I don't think I'd miss that, but since I've scrapped the am/fm antennae...

[como]

Originally Posted by JTriz87

got the alpine ida-x100 in my mk1

Looking this unit up I see in most photos it's blue, but in a few its red. Is color optional? I dislike both blue and red, but would choose red over blue simply because blue lights limit your vision in the dark. (What ever happened to the nice dark green they used to use on stock systems?)

[MRH]

Originally Posted by como

(What ever happened to the nice dark green they used to use on stock systems?)

on mine you can customize it.

-H

[como]

Yours can play CDs, too. Which I'll admit, I actually have listened to the radio more than I have the cd player lately... Shame I ripped out the antennae.

[issymr2]

i have this one highly recemond it

Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. - CDA-9886

[como]

Originally Posted by issymr2

i have this one highly recemond it

Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. - CDA-9886

That's a nice unit, I've actually used one in person and loved it, aside from one huge detail- it produces an immense amount of eye-stabbing sight shattering blue light. I'd be dead in a week with that thing staring me in the face while I was trying to drive