Morning All,
So after Christmas, I believe I am going to replace the factory HU. I don't need anything too extravagent, as my driving fairly local. In other words, I don't need Nav., or DVD player. I do however, enjoy XM.

I'm considering an Alpine HU. What is the general concensus on the quality of their product? I have never owned one before, but most of the reviews I've read rate them fairly well. Here is the HU I am considering;

I am also going to replace the rear deck speakers for starters, with a pair of Infinity speakers. Has anyone done a replacement close to this? How is the sound quality using the factory amps and subs? (shaker 500)

Appreciate the input,

Mike




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My dad and I put an Alpine unit in our old minivan (because the stock one was shot) along with four Infinity speakers, an Infinity 8" sub, and two Infinity amps. The head unit was the most basic model available; we just needed to play CDs. I love it, sound is crisp and plenty loud when you need it to be. We haven't had any problems with it.

 

I like them, I have two of them, and think they are quite well laid out. Good looks, good quality, nice features. I think you'll be happy.

 

Alpine stuff is top knotch. I love their headunits. I just wish they made a nice double DIN 6-disk in dash unit with an Ipod interface.Personally though, I am pretty happy with the shaker 500. The skipping is my only problem.

When you put in the new HU, just make sure you use a 5V voltage regulator on the amp power on line. PEI makes commercially packaged ones, or radio shack has them if you want to roll your own so to speak.

I might upgrade the rear deck speakers myself at some point. I have some type of speaker rattle going on in the left rear that I have to hunt down. And I am going to install the PEI ipod interface whichallows the ipod controlsto work from thefactory headunit. Also a good excuse to hunt down the infamousdash rattle behind the HU.

Anyoneknowwhat that damn rattle is?? I have to tackle theA-pillar rattle, door handle pockets, and the console. Also I have to add some foam to the spare tire area tokeep thatpiece on top of the tirefrom rattling.

 

Yeah, I've read posts on that subject, but I need to do another search on it, and come up with a pictorial for "wiring for dummies...." I don't even own a solder gun....Do you by chance have a link to the PEI you mentioned???? Thanks.

 

http://peripheralelectronics.com/home.asp

They have alot of interesting stuff.

Actually though, the unit I was thinking about for the 5V conversion on their site wont help you. Itis a 5V input, 12V output for running an aftermarket amp with a factory head now that I look at it again.

Someone else may make one pre packaged. But it really is about a 50 cent part all said and done.

 

I know some of you may want to keep it stock but I put in the alpine cd 9857 hu and got the ipod cord for that and I love it. Super fast searching, sounds good and the ipod fits in right under the hu.