Hu Question

Discussion in 'Car Audio Head Units' started by Jamesr316, Sep 11, 2004.

  1. Jamesr316

    Jamesr316 Full Member

    Is it possable to get the same or better quality of sound with a stock head unit? I have an aftermarket unit, and it is great, but I hate removing it everytime I get in and out. Also, stock looks much cleaner.

    I plan on having all speakers powered by an external amplifier anyways, so would a stock HU with some converters be just as good or better than an aftermarket unit?
     
  2. sandt38

    sandt38 Full Member

    IMO no. A good aftermarket unit will allow you considerably greater controll of the system as a whole. Interface will be simplified tremendously. Also, continuous hi/lo and lo/hi level conversions raises the noise floor, and offer more room for noise introduction.
     
  3. Jamesr316

    Jamesr316 Full Member

    any other opinions?
     
  4. ASM

    ASM Full Member

    I agree with Seth 100%.

    I think you're gonna have a hard time finding someone that will say using the stock unit is good.
     
  5. The_Ancient

    The_Ancient Full Member


    1> Why are you removing the HU everytime you get out???????

    2> If you use a proper Install Kit, an aftermarket Unit will look every bit as good as stock in almost all cases, it is just a matter for getting the right kit .. Metra has better looking kits most of the time than American international, or Schosce

    3> I agree with everything already posted as well
     
  6. Poseur

    Poseur Full Member

    You can get an eclipse, they have thier ESN which is a security system that doesn't require removing anything.
     
  7. hobbes26

    hobbes26 Full Member

    I agree that you'll get much more control over the system - usually you'll get some kind of limited EQing, crossovers, perhaps time alignment, etc.. with a standard mid-line deck.

    I don't get what you mean by having a simplified interface... usually b/c of so many of the features, you'll have quite a complex interface...
     
  8. sandt38

    sandt38 Full Member

    Compared to attempting to interface with a stock deck. Crossovers, sub output controlls, etc., where interface would all have to be at the amps or processors likely located in the trunk ;)
     
  9. Jamesr316

    Jamesr316 Full Member

    I remove the head unit everytime I get out because I am a college student and am susceptible to breakins. I do not keep my car in a garage nor do I have an alarm. If someone is going to steal the Unit, they are NOT getting my faceplate!

    I have a silver, metali-like finish on my player. (I know I could have found a black one but I got a deal on this one) My entire dash is black and this bright silver thing doesnt make it look good at all, and I really dig the stock look. My player does have red lights on it which somewhat match my orange lights on dash. In my bmw, i think stock looks the best. Ill take a photo of it tomorrow and show you what i mean.

    I have not heard of this, does the ESN stop a theif from ripping the unit out?

    I actually like having all of the controls in the trunk. Once I set it up I shouldnt have to mess with it anyhow.
     
  10. Jamesr316

    Jamesr316 Full Member

    here is a dash pic.. it sut doesnt look correct.

    Interior
     
  11. The_Ancient

    The_Ancient Full Member

    face plates dont really stop theft. you can buy face plates cheap...

    www.facereplace.com

    the ONLY defense against theft is INSURANCE.......

    aslo, Stock Radios, Espically from "high end" cars like BMW are prone to theft as well

    there is no alarm, no radio, no face plate in the world that will stop a theif ;)


    ESN makes the unit unusable for the theif, however it will not stop them from taking it...

    and if you want something that looks stocok BUY A UNIT THAT IS THE SAME COLOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


    come on now, there is 100's of models to choose from, lots of differant colors, and even screen colors..

    I know of a Few Kenwoods that have black Cases, and the abilty to change Screen Colors, including Orange

    I think JVC as one as well
     
  12. Jamesr316

    Jamesr316 Full Member

    i had to choose from what best buy had on the floor. it was $300 on the tag, i paid $150 after tax. Had to do it.

    i had a black alpine in my last 3 series and didnt like its look either :/
     
  13. Jamesr316

    Jamesr316 Full Member

    Also, ESN to me is useless. Well, maybe not, but the whole idea of taking your faceplate off is to not attract thieves. If you can not take it off, the fact that the scum who broke my windows and stole my cd player can not use it does not make me feel the least bit better. I still have a broken window, and no cd player. If they have detachable faces, then it is a somewhat useful feature. My stock radio has a code that works with only that specific radio, although im sure some electronic geeks could hook some gadget up to it and get the code.
     
  14. The_Ancient

    The_Ancient Full Member

    your way way way too paranoid about theives

    they are out there, nothing you do will stop them

    They are the reason I pay an extra $20 a mo to Allstate every mo. for Extra Comp coverage on my Audio Equipment

    I dont have an Alarm, I dont remove my Face Plate, if any of my Vechiles get broken in to (and they have) I call up my Agent, Safelight comes out and fixes the glass, and I get a Check for the replacement of anything stolen

    Cost to me = $0
     
  15. geolemon

    geolemon Full Member

    I heard a SQ car in Rochester a few weeks back.
    A Thunderbird, something like a 96 or 97.
    Old school amps - Hifonics, IIRC...
    Rane dual 1/3 octave rack EQ with a nifty hinge mechanism, Coustic Xover, Veritas horns, JL subs... from a competitor that has been into car audio at least as long as I have (and gear just as old! :D )

    Sounded great - his only penalty for the stock HU was a slightly higher noise floor, just a touch of whine... but we literally had to turn the volume to 0 to hear it.

    IMO, it's all in how you deal with what you have, how well you prepare AROUND it. If retaining the stock HU is your goal - it's possible to make it work just fine - but 'attention to detail' is the key - just sticking the ol' HU back in there and expecting everything will be dandy most likely won't be the trick. ;)
     
  16. Jamesr316

    Jamesr316 Full Member


    I rather not deal with the hassle. At my campus I see cars broke into all the time. In my area (EVEN THE DEALERSHIP WHERE MY CAR CAME FROM) shit gets broken into. its not just the stereo, but whatever else might be in my car.. be it books or whatever. Just don't want the hastle ya know?
     
  17. texcon

    texcon Full Member

    I agree - MY time is worth something, so I would rather just take the face off and put it with my CDs in the trunk. Takes all of 10 seconds. Combine that with the fact that I can lock my trunk release handle, then I am reasonably safe from most thieves messing with my car.
     
  18. The_Ancient

    The_Ancient Full Member

    what you guys seem to not understand, is that buy the time the theif sees the face plate is gone, HE/SHE is already in your car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


    90% of the theft is done by "nonprofessionals" they dont think about things, they see a car that "might have something good" they break in and THEN see what they can take, not the other way around

    my Dads Truck, which does not even have a radio, and he still uses CASSESSETS, has been broken in to. ;) :rolleyes:
     
  19. objext

    objext Full Member

    I can see how you're upset with the silver deck, it definitely looks nooblar. Black aftermarket decks in my black dash accord = <burns>exxxxcellent</burns>. My new alpine 9833 looks sick.
     
  20. Jamesr316

    Jamesr316 Full Member


    it wouldnt look too bad if i had a black ring for it. i can't seem to find one.