Just getting started - Audio

[Rookie]

Well I am finally getting started on my Car audio on my 95 firebird. I just got 4 Sony Xplod speakers for 100$ and installed them. They sound a hell of a lot better than the stock stuff. Anyways now I’m looking to get a new head unit to really get some use out of those speakers. I just have the stock tape-deck and I need a head unit that will one, boost my wattage for the speakers, two, is able to be hooked up with an Ipod (don’t really know how but I have an Ipod and I’m not sure what ways there are to hook it up to a CD player, it doesn’t necessarily have to be Ipod “ready” but just be able to take the input), and three, will be able to handle future additions such as subs. So thanks for any advice/suggestions/input that you can give.

[CAMAROWIDBASS]

how much do you want to spend on your new cd player? Will you be powering the Sony Xlod speakers with the radio? Or will you be purchasing an aftermarket amplifier to push them?

[Rookie]

I don't intend to get an amp for the speakers but just power them via the CD player. I am willing to spend probably around 200-300 on the head unit. Probably more so around 200$ if possible. I'm not looking for any special displays or anything just one that works for what I need.

[T-Punk]

Well if you are going to power your speakers with the headunit i would suggest looking around ebay for an old Alpine 7863. I had that HU a few years back and didnt have a problem with it, the newer alpines i wouldnt touch with a 10ft pole. It puts out 60w peak and supposedly around 27wrms. Always look at rms power Peak is useless. you should be able to pick one up for about 100 bucks on ebay and its a great unit. It also leaves you some money and it has 2 pair of preamp outputs so you can add an amp later on for subs or to better power your speakers. Look on E-bay for it but look out for quotes like "untested" or "sold as is" because then you have no recorse if it doesnt work.

[Rookie]

Thanks but would I also be able to hook up an Ipod to it?

[96firebird311]

IMHO, there's nothing wrong with the newer Alpine's. Some people have had bad experiences with them... I've had all great experiences. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But the real reason I mention Alpine is because a lot of their newer lines are "Ipod ready". Meaning you purchase the Alpine KCA-420I, hide it somewhere in the car (under dash or seat), plug your Ipod into it and you're done. The Ipod charges while you drive and you can control ALL of the Ipod functions right from the headunit. Awesome. All other Ipod adapters will require you to change tracks etc from the Ipod. Which kinda sucks IMO when compared to Alpine's setup. So if you want to control everything from the headunit, Alpine is the way to go. If that's not important to you, then there are MANY other options. Just look for a headunit that has an AUX input. More common then you may think.

Just FYI, don't let the power output spec be a deciding factor when selecting your headunit at all. You will NOT notice a difference between 45Wx4 and 55Wx4. It's all a numbers game. Who can put the bigger number on their box to draw the most attention to potential buyers. 55 watts peak is not going to make your Sony's any louder then 45 watts.

And any headunit in that price range will have some number of RCA outputs to allow subwoofer addition. No worries there.