Head unit (stero/mp3 player) recommendations

[rick130]

I know, there's an audio section, but 90/110/130's are different and have their own needs :angel:

Is there any that are more HD/dust/moisture resistant than the 'standard' ones ?

I would require mobile phone and usb plugs on the face.

Is your basic $100-150 Sony/Alpine/Kenwood/Pioneer/JVC more than a Deefer's acoustics and upgraded but still small speakers can cope with so more than adequate ?

And before anyone from the D3/4/RRS forum wanders in and makes a comment, no, I don't think valve radios are still available and I don't have a long enough piece of string to go between two cans :p

[mike_beecham]

Hi Rick
Yep - l went the $150 Kenwood unit. I run my iPhone through it with Bluetooth/MP3 etc. It is fine.

I have not upgraded speakers as yet - but it would be better with a speaker upgrade.

I am in a TD5 - and the Kenwood unit has stood up very well to off road / dirt track abuse!

Hass't missed a beat.

Mike

[rick130]

Thanks Mike, good to hear.

I have all my music on my Galaxy ATM, just the way it's worked out.

I still only have the little 4" speakers in mine too but upgraded them with 'better' quality ones years ago.
Had to take the passenger one out when I removed the a/c unit as it was too deep, so need to get a speaker spacer too.
Hmm, I wonder if 125mm/5" ones will go in ?
Then I can mount some woofers in boxes in the back of the cab too :angel:

[luke68]

I fitted a JVC unit in the S1 Disco. USB in front and rear. Rear one has an 80Gb hard drive with music on it (No Cd skipping). Front USB has the bluetooth dongle. Good thing about the Usb ports are that they are 2Amp outlets.

[rick130]

Seriously thinking of going mechless and great tip re the USB socket.

A Deefer is full of dust and moisture, one less front opening and motors, etc to gum up is an attraction IMO

[manic]

Bluetooth/USB head units are pretty much impervious to dust - no CD drives. They have a heat sync, no fan. Even if you did manage to get dust all over the internal logic boards it probably wouldnt do any harm. There are almost no moving parts.

Any known brand should be good - no need to spend lots so long as it has the connections you need. I got a low range pioneer in 2008 (with CD/FRONT AUX / FRONT USB) and its still good after heaps of dust. Just don't go wading over stereo depth!

Oh + I have NEVER used the CD drive.

[Don 130]

I've got a Sony head unit atm that doesn't do phone/bluetooth/ipod controls or usb/sd in, but it has input for the ipod and the radio includes short wave. Good for the desert areas. It's been on many dusty trips and still works fine. As for speakers, I too upgraded my little 4" jobbies that point to the floor, but in addition I put a 6" pair above in the headlining and a 6"x9" pair also in the headlining ,but at the back ,facing forward and down. Those in the headlining are mounted on shaped timber blocks (western red cedar scraps) glued to the inside of the roof with silicon. The headlining becomes sandwiched between the blocks and the speaker. I also got a small fader unit to alter the balance between upper and lower front speakers. The sound is very good, though not such that it will 'blow the windows out'. I could organise some pix if you're interested.
Don.

[rick130]

Thanks Don, I was thinking of a pair of boxes at the back pointing forward too.

I want to tidy up inside a bit and was thinking Mud Console and of course the standard radio is pretty sad and someone's b/day is coming up so...:angel:

[copba]

I recently replaced the JVC that was in mine when I bought it, as it self destructed with a CD inside it. :(
I Replaced it with a low end Alpine unit with USB front, but without the blueteeth etc, and I replaced the two factory front speakers with some old 2 way 4" Alpines I previously had in my XF ute 7 or 8 years ago. It sounds pretty good I reckon, way better than before. I also put some speakers in the back corners (110 wagon), but I don't know why I bothered, as I can't hear them at all. :eek:

I bought the Alpine over the others in the price range as it has a nice simple screen, and big volume knob controller etc, many of the others were too glitzy, and fiddly.


Hope this helps

Cheers

[carlschmid2002]

I wouldn't bother changing the speakers. Get a self powered sub and bolt it to the back of the cubby box. If you change the head unit at the same time get the the right ISO plug and it is fairly straight forward. I think my Pioneer sub was about $220 and the head unit about $200. It rocks now.

[rick130]

I wouldn't bother changing the speakers. Get a self powered sub and bolt it to the back of the cubby box. If you change the head unit at the same time get the the right ISO plug and it is fairly straight forward. I think my Pioneer sub was about $220 and the head unit about $200. It rocks now.


I'd have to find a different spot as I drive around with the backseats folded forward.
All my power tools + parts boxes are lined up across the seat box.

[superquag]

I know, there's an audio section, but 90/110/130's are different and have their own needs :angel:


And before anyone from the D3/4/RRS forum wanders in and makes a comment, no, I don't think valve radios are still available and I don't have a long enough piece of string to go between two cans :p

No apologies... if you want audio quality then valves are the only way to go...

Obviously FIAT owners can be more weird than LR ones...

"Auto-Darling" SE 1626 Tube Amp for my CAR!!! (http://web.archive.org/web/20080922025821/http://www.geocities.com/bobdanielak/caramp.html)

[TeamFA]

G'day Don!

Any pics would definitely be appreciated... we have an upgraded head unit, and some cheap/easy improved speakers and mounting positions, but fresh ideas are always welcome.

Cheers!
Michael


I've got a Sony head unit atm that doesn't do phone/bluetooth/ipod controls or usb/sd in, but it has input for the ipod and the radio includes short wave. Good for the desert areas. It's been on many dusty trips and still works fine. As for speakers, I too upgraded my little 4" jobbies that point to the floor, but in addition I put a 6" pair above in the headlining and a 6"x9" pair also in the headlining ,but at the back ,facing forward and down. Those in the headlining are mounted on shaped timber blocks (western red cedar scraps) glued to the inside of the roof with silicon. The headlining becomes sandwiched between the blocks and the speaker. I also got a small fader unit to alter the balance between upper and lower front speakers. The sound is very good, though not such that it will 'blow the windows out'. I could organise some pix if you're interested.
Don.

[rick130]

No apologies... if you want audio quality then valves are the only way to go...

Obviously FIAT owners can be more weird than LR ones...

"Auto-Darling" SE 1626 Tube Amp for my CAR!!! (http://web.archive.org/web/20080922025821/http://www.geocities.com/bobdanielak/caramp.html)


I shouldn't have joked, should I :lol2:

I realised home audiophiles and some guitar players are into valve amps, but in a car, well, I shouldn't be surprised, but I am.

[schuy1]

How about something like this? Marine Stereo Boat MP3/AM/FM/USB/Ipod Bluetooth Player + 4 x Speakers Complete | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Marine-Stereo-Boat-MP3-AM-FM-USB-Ipod-Bluetooth-Player-4-x-Speakers-Complete-/181123508852?pt=AU_Boat_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2a2bcd6a74) It is for a boat cockpit which a Defenders water resistance quality's closely emulates!! :D
Thinking of putting 1 on the quadbike :)
Cheers Scott

[rar110]

Anyone fitted one of these. I like the big screen, bigger controls & dual USB input for charging. I rarely use CDs these days.

http://completecarsound.com.au/products?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=380&category_id=27

[schuy1]

I think the Disco has the JVC model down from that 1 fitted. It does not have the charging usb ports but has all the rest. It performs nicely although the stock speakers need upgrading!

Cheers Scott

[rar110]

I think the Disco has the JVC model down from that 1 fitted. It does not have the charging usb ports but has all the rest. It performs nicely although the stock speakers need upgrading!

Cheers Scott

any recommendation for a compact three way speaker?

[granno]

I am just fitting a alpine DAB head unit with all the fruit. I have made up a bracket for my ipad 2 that connects to the 3mm input on the front. This leaves the usb input free to plug in a thumb drive or ipod etc. The ipad is mint for navigation etc and you can actually see it.. Not installed fully yet but running the same setup in my bunky car and works mint.
You can get apps that make changing music easy so you dont have to look at the screen.
This will then go to 2 amps, one powering 2 12" subs and the other 2 sets of 6" splits..

[schuy1]

any recommendation for a compact three way speaker?

OOPS :( Sorry, I had forgot to check back on this thread! No I dont have any thoughts re compact 3way speakers. I do know all the better brands, JVC , Alpine ,Kenwood, etc do have them, I just havent really looked hard yet :) .

Cheers Scott

[LoveB]

Can you guys suggest a single din headunit that has USB/bluetooth and maybe a slide out screen that has gps?

[Dougal]

I've always run pioneers. Not in a defender I know, but only once did one stop working. My little sister washed the rover for me and I didn't notice a window wasn't all the way up. Water dripping through the stereo.

It dried out fine.

I've got a new (last year?) pioneer in the work car which has bluetooth, SD card etc. It has two USB inputs from the back with extension cables (and dust hoods) which IMO make far more sense than USB on the front. Anything sticking out the front for me would get snapped off when the dog spots a rabbit in front of the car.