DOUBLE DIN HU, WHICH ONE SHOULD I GET?

Temptation

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SA
First Name
JJ
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VR4
Hello fellow Ozvr4zians =)
I just purchased my vr4 and still has the original cassette player with 10 CD stacker, which unfortunately does not read most of my burnt cds. I have searched around the forum and most of you guys were saying that getting a generic double din cd/dvd etc etc is not the way to go, however the price is very tempting to me.

Now the funny thing is, the time during March, Strathfield is having a sale on a clarion double din unit in the catalogue but i cannot see or locate the unit model.
How is the brand clarion? Is it better then getting a generic no brand Chinese unit?
http://www.strathfield.com/Latest_Catalogues/id-31.aspx

CLICK on VIC SA WA pdf file to see the unit.

Is this unit worth buying for?

Because as a comparsion of the no brand units on ebay they have GPS and BLutooth and tv.

Thanks guys..:D
 

OVR444

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Brett
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IMO through previously being in the industry; I don't have much to say for clarion DVD head units.

I would reccomend spending a little more on a Kenwood or higher brand like eclipse. All depends on your budget and how far you want to go with it. I guess its the same deal as those who buy the cheap china versions. In the end you get what you pay for; but I have had my kenwood in 3 cars and its still going as strong as it was the day I bought it. I have fitted many kenwood/eclipse/alpine units to customers and friends/familys cars and can count the returns on 1 hand - just some food for thought.

Not trying to scare you off if this is exactly what you want; but I have seen too many Clarion units come back for warranty. I ended up avoiding selling their gear at any cost. IMO the only good gear they make is their PRO line... and that is over priced for its performance.


Good buy @ that price and I have had dealings with the seller before, no hasstles.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/KENWOOD-DDX7...ZAU_Car_Parts_Accessories?hash=item2c53b3803e

Another, even cheaper;
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/KENWOOD-DDX5...ZAU_Car_Parts_Accessories?hash=item2a05b818af
 
G

Guest

Unregistered
have you considered plonking a laptop in the boot (under floor storage) connect a USB 7" touchscreen and mount it in the 2 din space?

2. instal Centrafuse on win xp
3. plug cheap USB radio/tv tuner into laptop
4. plug cheap USB GPS into laptop
5. copy all you music to harddisk
6. connect you laptop audio out to current stereo or directly to amp
7. if you laptop doesnt have blutooth get a USB dongle (make calls from your mobile)

options

1. get solid state harddrive
2. add usb dvd drive behind touchscreen (all my music is on mp3 anyway)
3. add usb camera to rear and use as reversing camera
4. add additional usb monitor to rear
5. add aditional sound card (create duel zone audio)
 

Temptation

Leaving Skid Marks
Location
SA
First Name
JJ
Drive
VR4
have you considered plonking a laptop in the boot (under floor storage) connect a USB 7" touchscreen and mount it in the 2 din space?

2. instal Centrafuse on win xp
3. plug cheap USB radio/tv tuner into laptop
4. plug cheap USB GPS into laptop
5. copy all you music to harddisk
6. connect you laptop audio out to current stereo or directly to amp
7. if you laptop doesnt have blutooth get a USB dongle (make calls from your mobile)

options

1. get solid state harddrive
2. add usb dvd drive behind touchscreen (all my music is on mp3 anyway)
3. add usb camera to rear and use as reversing camera
4. add additional usb monitor to rear
5. add aditional sound card (create duel zone audio)



wow that setup makes things very complicated, and sound quiet an expensive setup.

I did today check out the JBHIFI Sony double din HU. I ask them the original pricing, it was 1599 but because its a old model they need to move it. Only 8 left. I know a close personal friend that works there, at the moment its undercost. Every now and then they do sell things undercost.

What do you think guys...

SONY ?


Thanks for your advice OVR444 the clarion unit is totally out of the list now.
 

OVR444

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QLD
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Brett
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2004 Mirage
Sony make good panels so their in car DVD can't be half bad. Do you have any links to their website for that specific model?

Features and what you want it to do are the big turning point.

If you are just after some rolling cinema action... for that price.. I say go for it!
 
G

Guest

Unregistered
yeah it's def going to be a long install process, but all the units i have seen with decent interface (i mean looks good - clean and easy to navigate) are the pioneer units at 2100

this option is the only thing close that i can get for under 750 that does all the same things, actually i think centrafuse has the best interface of all and runing a windows system allows you to add whatever apps you want. even itunes with a 3g dongle.

if you want easy install you can get double din all in one car pc's so its just plug and play but they are all over $1500.

just my 2 cents.
 
G

Guest

Unregistered
I will have to check the new sony interface out, sounds like its a winner, but i bet the gps versions still cost a bundle.
 

OVR444

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QLD
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Brett
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2004 Mirage
Looks great mate! personally I love the design... its so simple and really gives you as much screen as possible.
 

Temptation

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JJ
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VR4
Not buying it anymore now..since i have to fix my car problems sigh....b4 i add more money into luxury items..
 

Riley

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Riley
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96 Legnum vr4
IMO the only good gear they make is their PRO line... and that is over priced for its performance.

]

the HXD2 is widely regarded as one of "the" best head units around, but i agree with you about the average quality of most of their range

--------

i see you are set on the Sony unit but if that falls through take a look at the Alpine W502......i think they retail around $1700 but you may be able to bargain with them.....when i told the guy at JB where i used to work he offered me cost +10

the downside with the alpine is that its a pretty barebones unit - you need to add things like bluetooth, navigation, etc to it however the quality of the unit and picture are streets ahead of any unit ive used or seen in recent times

ive played with kenwood/sony/clarion screens and they arent bad by any stretch of the imagination
 

tommy86

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NSW
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Tom
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Really fast Magna wagon thingy
Dont buy Sony! its poo,
Check out JVC i have one of their touch screen dual din units and i love it, USB port with a 32GB flash drive full of music plugged and no more CDs in the car getting trashed
 
G

Guest

Unregistered
Dont buy Sony! its poo,
Check out JVC i have one of their touch screen dual din units and i love it, USB port with a 32GB flash drive full of music plugged and no more CDs in the car getting trashed

Why not? Sony XAV 70BT looks good, has proper interface (and typography), has best screen on market, Hands-free, iPod/iPad/iPhone, USB, etc.

Only complain is that it's not as fast while connected to iPod as from disc.
 

JiMi

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Victoria
First Name
Jamie Kendrick
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98 leggy, 90 gvr4, holden rodeo
have you considered plonking a laptop in the boot (under floor storage) connect a USB 7" touchscreen and mount it in the 2 din space?

2. instal Centrafuse on win xp
3. plug cheap USB radio/tv tuner into laptop
4. plug cheap USB GPS into laptop
5. copy all you music to harddisk
6. connect you laptop audio out to current stereo or directly to amp
7. if you laptop doesnt have blutooth get a USB dongle (make calls from your mobile)

options

1. get solid state harddrive
2. add usb dvd drive behind touchscreen (all my music is on mp3 anyway)
3. add usb camera to rear and use as reversing camera
4. add additional usb monitor to rear
5. add aditional sound card (create duel zone audio)


could also add usb 3g internets and browse the forum while driving ;)
 

Temptation

Leaving Skid Marks
Location
SA
First Name
JJ
Drive
VR4
Reviving a 4 month old thread. >.<

Well still havn;t bought any HU yet, couple of things on list b4 I do buy a HU. 1.FMIC and 2.APEXI avc-r.
LOL browsing the forum while driving...= oh dear
 
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