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Recommend a stereo for my '99

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Old 08-13-2010, 11:55 PM
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Default Recommend a stereo for my '99

I would like to get rid of my stock head unit and put something way better in there. I always liked pioneer, so I want to stick with Pioneer, and keep things cheap and simple. All I need a a cd player with an MP3 input. I also may want to replace my stock speakers. What are my options and what do you guys recommend that actually doesn't cost a million dollars and sounds really good?
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Old 08-14-2010, 12:15 AM
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Ditch the head unit. Run an amp to the two front speakers and run an av to aux cable plugged into your phone, I-pod, or MP3 player. No HU really makes most thieves just move on.
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Old 08-14-2010, 01:05 AM
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I don't have a theif problem where I live. People who know the car know better than to f with it. The others just think it's a gay miata and think that if they touch it they'll get **** stained ball juice on their hands.
In seriousness though, I want a headunit with a cd player, so what should I get?
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Old 08-14-2010, 01:31 AM
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Originally Posted by chpmnsws6
Ditch the head unit. Run an amp to the two front speakers and run an av to aux cable plugged into your phone, I-pod, or MP3 player. No HU really makes most thieves just move on.
Thats what I'm doing.
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Old 08-14-2010, 01:40 AM
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Then Best Buy sells some nice HU's in the 130 dollar range. They are MP3 compatible with AV outputs and AUX inputs.
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Old 08-14-2010, 02:01 AM
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I was thinking about best buy, but what about door speakers?
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Old 08-14-2010, 06:54 AM
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Originally Posted by chpmnsws6
Then Best Buy sells some nice HU's in the 130 dollar range. They are MP3 compatible with AV outputs and AUX inputs.
That's what I did. Sounds decent enough. It's such an off brand I don't even bother to detach the face. I do like the run an amp w/no head unit idea though.
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Old 08-14-2010, 07:22 AM
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If I'm not mistaken, at least for NA's, the door speakers use 5.5'' stock, but can be upgraded to 6.5'' with a small amount of modifying. I'm running a high end Pioneer HU and love it. Green and white lighting matches the interior lighting, and the sound quality is good. I'm running 5.5'' Pioneer door speakers, but if I were to do it over again, which I might do, I would go with these in the doors:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882290056

Some of the best speakers for the price. Probably blow my 5.5'' Pioneer speakers out of the water. I'm also running larger headrest speakers. I think stock was 3.5'' but I crammed 4'' speakers in there just fine, for the extra "kick". They are also Pioneer. To me best bang for your buck in HU is Pioneer, and for speakers it would be Polk. If I were getting another HU, which I might do that as well, just for a change (and a chance to redo the wiring with an excuse to make it worth the trouble) I would go with:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882117326
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Old 08-14-2010, 08:30 AM
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Best buy on the floor does/did offer sort of a speaker / head unit set.

4 months ago i got one, and I got to choose, Kenwood deck, with 6.5 kenwood speakers, or a pioneer deck with 6.5 speakers. {may have been 5.5}

The kenwood was out the door for 140 , the pioneer i think was a touch cheaper. Also if i remember correctly, Comparing the head units one for one, the Kenwood had one or two better features that won the choice regardless of price. Aux input on face, or something like that.

I had looked online and found the pioneer set, but got to the store, and they had both sitting there ready. Perhaps call ahead to the store see if they have the combo pack in stock.

I installed the head unit in my Mini, for use with the Zune. and installed the speakers in my PU truck...

Been good stuff for the price.
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Old 08-14-2010, 09:47 AM
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Now that's what I was looking for...$230 for a Pioneer HU and Polk speaker combo. Thanks guys!
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Old 08-14-2010, 11:23 AM
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Haven't looked at head units in a long time, but I like the clean looks on that pioneer. Simple and effective.
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Old 08-14-2010, 12:56 PM
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I'm using the Alpine Type-S 6.5's without tweets and its loud enough to hear easily while going down the highway with the top down (my goal for speakers). They just got with Polk, and you really can't go wrong with Polk's quality. You can put a SUPER huge magnet 6.5 in the doors of the Miata. I was surprised how much room we had.
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Old 08-14-2010, 07:02 PM
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Carputer+polks?
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Old 08-14-2010, 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by vw_nut
Haven't looked at head units in a long time, but I like the clean looks on that pioneer. Simple and effective.
I'm a big fan of simple and clean. I see some HU and wonder to myself what they were thinking when designing it. Clearly they were made to appeal to 16 year old boys with Civics. 4 different color lights, chrome accents everywhere, far too flashy and none of which match any cars interior. The matching factor was one of the things that made me get my current Pioneer. Simple black face with a black chrome **** surround, spun aluminum looking volume ****, and white display with subtle green back lit buttons. Almost looks like it was meant to be in a black interior NA.
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Old 08-14-2010, 07:24 PM
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Just reread the cheap part, disregard earlier post lol. The amp and a cable is a good idea but I couldn't go without radio. Gotta have my morning talkshows
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Old 08-14-2010, 07:53 PM
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You could get a small cheap portable radio especially if it is just for talk shows.
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Old 08-14-2010, 10:18 PM
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I really like the features of this one, specifically that it can control the iphone. Not crazy about the looks though.

http://www.crutchfield.com/s_105KDA6...&tp=5684&avf=N

Speakers....

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_107DB52...51.html?tp=106
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Old 08-14-2010, 10:28 PM
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Definitely digging this..........

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KWXR...0.html?tp=5684
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Old 08-14-2010, 10:43 PM
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http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Alpine+-...-102&cp=1&lp=1

Bluetooth compatible, which is ULTRA sweet if you have tunes on your phone.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dual+-+3...amp&cp=1&lp=15

Its cheap and will power these just fine without cooking it-

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Polk+Aud...&skuId=9985099

You'll get a decent sound out of those with out breaking the bank. I have my amp stuffed in front of the passenger feet behind the carpet in the same area the pedals would be if it were RHD.
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Old 08-14-2010, 10:52 PM
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That was awesome...a 300 watt amp for 50 bucks! Then speakers and a HU for like $250? I'm thinking a pioneer HU, polk 6.5" speakers, and that amp, and I'll do it all for under $200.
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