In-dash stereo recommendation please (for my Jeep)

[Michelle Widell]

Not for my ST, but for my 95 Jeep Wrangler.



I want a recommendation on a head unit to replace the JVC cassette player head unit that is currenty installed. It's a standard single DIN size. I want something that plays MP3's and has the capability of hooking an Ipod up to it. I don't need anything fancy - don't need it to be a theft target, and I'd like the capability of perhaps hooking an amp up to it in the future. (Right now it just has the crappy dash speakers and no external amp.) It has a soft top, so I might want to upgrade this summer with a sound bar and amp when I need more sound to drown out the wind.



Also.. a good place to buy it from.



Michelle

 

[Michelle Widell]

For example.. how about this one. Several reviewers recommend an amp for bass, which I'm not opposed to buying in the future.



As I said before, I don't want to spend alot of money on something that some kid will take a knife to my soft top for. (I always leave the doors unlocked in fear this will happen.)



I've never heard of the brand.. DUAL?

 

[Fudged Undies]

this is a best buy brand and has mixed reviews mainly poor (for amps and subs). as for the HU's don't know much about them but they tend to be attractive though I don't know how functional. If you've got a BB around town, head over and take a look. Reviews look promising and the price is damn good. Next question may be the longevity of the item but for the price just don't think you can beat it. There will be very few HU's that will have any type of bass output worth mentioning so don't include that as a factor. Seems to have what you want.

 

[Ryan Y]

I want this one (linked below).. not too expensive, plays mp3s, and has a FRONT aux input for easily hooking up an ipod or mp3 player, etc....



oh yeah, and with crutchfield you get all the installation kits and such free with your order....

 

[TracN Jack]

I have been very happy with my Pioneer Premium MP3 head unit I got off of ebay for less than $200.00



The standard units should be cheaper and you can get last years model refurb for .30. to .40 on the dollar.

 

[Dre L]

I'm partial to Kenwoods. My friend had one for under $200 in his scoupe, sounded real good.



I put an excelon in the Trac and it sounds awesome. It blares, and has good thump and clarity with 4 pioneer 4-ways. Don't really need an amp or sub, but might get one one day for the low volume listening, don't get much thump that way.



My only complaint is that it overheats easily in the Trac's console if I have the heat on. It sort of drops its power output to prevent damage from overheating. The OEM cd player did something similar though, I think it's that the heat doesn't vent out from behind the dash well.



It was last year's top of the line model, and Crutchfield slashed the price over 50% to get them out of stock, picked it up for $300. It has a motorized faceplate which flips itself in so all you see is a black space where the radio should be. You can also remove the backplate if you'd like and enable or disable the red anti-theft beacon.



You might want to shop around for deals now since they'll probably be putting out new models soon.



As for some kid knifing the top, if he does that, he's stupid enough to do it no matter what you do. Any competent crook knows you can unzip a wrangler soft top and attract less attention.

 

[Wes Davis]

I would go with a marine style radio. Several inexpensive water proof/resistant with cd player, satellite ready, mp3 and ipod connections listed on Ebay. Easily get one for less than $150.00. Some include marine speakers as well.