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[Nickffc]

i know this has probably been covered....but..... anyone got any suggestions for a decent head unit...CD/MP3/TUNER....i was looking at a double din unit with a screen....but i'm not sure ....??..but....i still want steering wheel control....dash readout and traffic master........and i'm not loaded!

[Hillper]

Double din unit will really restrict your choice.  Tunnie has done some research on these though.

If your budget is limited, you'll have to consider secondhand.  This will again restrict your choice.

To keep controls, you'll need an adaptor.  Again, not the cheapest route.  

Not sure how TM will fit into all this!

[sounds2k]

I seem to remember tunnie was unable to get a normal sized double-DIN head unit to fit ...

[TheBoy]

I seem to remember tunnie was unable to get a normal sized double-DIN head unit to fit ...

The problem was with the surround...  ...his single din unit with adapter looks much better imho...

[Admin]

I would go with a good second hand unit. The steering adaptors are not cheap either. What is your budget going to be?

Go for something by Pioneer/Alpine/Kenwood/JVC and you will be ok.

[Nickffc]

hmmm.. buget is gonna be around £300 plus the extra looms i might need for the display and steering wheel?

[tunnie]

hmmm.. buget is gonna be around £300 plus the extra looms i might need for the display and steering wheel?

Hello!

I live in Hayes - Middlesex too... think i seen a MV6 estate around is it ex-plod?

If you looking at a double din i assume you have a facelift omega? (leccy window buttons on door, not center console?)

Please avoid double din, i tried a Kenwood unit and it sucked. Problems are there are very few decent mid range units out there, i paid around £220 ish for the Kenwood one, and it felt cheap and looked cheap. As Hilper pointed out the surround is the problem.

There is a double din slot for the HU however the surround where all the buttons are is an odd shape, and there are NO manafactures out there who make a double din facia adaptor for the omega.. which sucks.

I now have an Alpine single DIN headunit, which sounds soooo much better and looks better. feels well made and solid. You need the steering wheel adaptor too, they are around £40 of fleabay... all fitted in mine and sounds great. Although you do loose some of the display, but i can live with that. I can afford the screen adaptor yet.

I also have a Vibe CR10 Active sub in the boot, which sounds fantasic, i'll get some pics up if you like... or show it off since your in hayes too  

[Admin]

hmmm.. buget is gonna be around £300 plus the extra looms i might need for the display and steering wheel?

Well that is a decent wedge to spend.

Personally I would go with the Pioneer DEH-P8600MP. Get a good one second hand for around £200.
It is a stunning piece of kit (have one in the MV6) with 3 sets of pre-outs and so much control over everything through the head unit.

With a Burr Brown digital converter in there too you have awesome sound quality to boot.

Quite simply, for the money, there is no better headunit (although I am sure Hillper will suggest a Becker unit, which is also excellent... and very OEM looking )

Oh and you can easily get the adaptors for the steering controls

[Marks DTM Calib]

hmmm.. buget is gonna be around £300 plus the extra looms i might need for the display and steering wheel?

With a Burr Brown digital converter in there too you have awesome sound quality to boot.

Which is now Texas Instruments following the merger in 2000.

Remember, its still a car so quailty will only ever be acceptable.....not true HiFi

[Admin]

Yes yes....  

Bl**dy audiophiles!  

[Martin_1962]

Reminds me I need to fit the Infinity speakers I've got lying around.

Definately want an amp next, but Ebay ones get too pricey

[Admin]

Not at all Martin. You just have to be patient.

I just bought a Pioneer GM-X952 2 channel (2x100w rms, 1x300w rms @ 4ohm) for the massive sum of £12.50!

Great amp, working beautifully in my car right now.

[Martin_1962]

So Dave what would you say is worth looking at, my problem is I know a lot more about home cinema than ICE.

Don't want to pay over the odds for a noddy amp!!

I need to pull my HU some time anyway to fit some trim and also work out if I can wire the traffic master back in

[Admin]

Mark is the expert (and Hillper knows his stuff!), but these are my views.

Genesis... Totally over the top hand made amps. Best you can buy this side of silly money. Very highly recommended by those who know much better than me! I will get one one, one day...

Alpine, pre 2001 V12 series. Bl**dy fantastic amps! Later models are quite simply not as good.

Soundstream. Very very well made amps, not cheap!

Pioneer also make some very good chunky amps. I am a fan of the older amps. They just seem to be more "substantial"

What do you want the amp for? normal mids and tweeters or to drive a sub?

A superb source of information is the talk audio forum. http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/vbb/index.php
Also, the for sale section has some real bargains in there (note, you have to register to gain access)

[Martin_1962]

Driving components with their own crossover - want to spend not too much!