Looking for a New Head Unit for My Golf MKV

JoStream · 29th Dec 2007 10:59 PM

I'm in the market for a new head unit for my car. I'm currently looking at ////Alpine, Pioneer and Sony.

Any recommendations? I'd prefer it to be single DIN in size and just needs to be able to play MP3 / WMA CDs. It should have an Ipod connection somewhere. Colors need to be red and blue to match the interior of the Golf V

I also want to put in speakers in the rear doors. Out of some reason only six came standard in the front. Not sure whether to go for 2 or 3-Ways speakers

**Harakimi** · 29th Dec 2007 11:16 PM

I've always been a "sony man" and I have to say that I have nice history with sony cd players and also car stereos. In the end realistically you just should pick the set that looks the best in your car because there ain't really differences when it comes to car units. (IMO, hi-fi clowns go eat a di*k

)

But when talking about speakers. If you want to go with x-way speakers, I'd pick 2-way. But installing separate discant and mid bass elements is not that hard, and they sound alot better. Atleast you should get an amplifier, and I'm not talking about those gazillion gigawatt pimp my ride stuffs, even the smaller ones make the whole experience gazillion times better. And they are not that hard to install either.

JoStream · 29th Dec 2007 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by Harakimi

But when talking about speakers. If you want to go with x-way speakers, I'd pick 2-way. But installing separate discant and mid bass elements is not that hard, and they sound alot better. Atleast you should get an amplifier, and I'm not talking about those gazillion gigawatt pimp my ride stuffs, even the smaller ones make the whole experience gazillion times better. And they are not that hard to install either.

Why would you pick a 2-way over a 3-way? And when do I need to get an amplifier? Aren't the pre-amped outputs from the HU enough?

**Harakimi** · 29th Dec 2007 11:30 PM

X-way speakers just don't sound that good. I'm sorry my vocabulary is not that good to explain it in english.

But that is why I would prefer separate elements for bass, midbass and discants.

You don't need amplifier unless you want your whole setup to sound alot better. I had this 4x50w sony cd player in one of my cars some years ago and it was great. But after I installed a 150w amplifier (size of a hard disk) there, WOW. It just makes the difference.

BTW have you already tuned your Golf to that concept look we saw on Top Gear ?

**saltysurprise** · 30th Dec 2007 06:11 AM

I have to agree with Harakimi. The 3 way, unless super expensive, aren't going to separate and define the Low-Mid-Hi. I think that's what he's saying. 2 way is fine, because you're only concerning yourself with the hi-mid and highs. You can control them better without the interference of the same signal to the low end. I run Tweeters (Harakimi's Discants

) up high in the corners of the windscreen. Mid's in the dash, doors, and the lows where I have room.

The amp will change your whole experience. It's a minor install really, but well worth it. And like Kimi San said, a little goes a long way. And there isn't a whole lot of difference to the ear with most either (like Harakimi said

) It's a personal preference to what appeals to you. I've had Denon in the past, and was very pleased, and now I have a Pioneer deck. Nakamichi is good too.

**EIR Loe.307** · 30th Dec 2007 08:04 AM

I've always been a Kenwood man myself. I don't know that they get much exposure outside the US though. If you can connect the ipod via the DATA port that will give you the best results as far as that. For a pair of 6x9's you should be ok off the head unit with no amp. If you're running some subwoofers you'll need amps.

**saltysurprise** · 30th Dec 2007 06:53 PM

I'm thinking of getting a flip-up-screen DVD player for my next deck. I have some great live concert DVD's (C.O.C. Live Volume and QOTSA live in London) and some music vids that I've recently recorded with my DVD recorder that I otherwise couldn't play en route

**EIR Loe.307** · 30th Dec 2007 07:09 PM

I want to upgrade the Scion's head unit as well. It's a double din or 1.5 din. Haven't really checked. It has a fold down cover though. I plan to put an in dash flip up DVD in mine at some point. Probably a Kenwood. I have a nice Kenwood sitting on a shelf in my closet from the Impala SS. I need Ipod data connect as well. I've even considered mounting a mac mini in the dash or under the passenger seat.

WiFi, Bluetooth, Ipod, DVD, anything you want all in the car. Granted, it would benefit the passengers more than me when I'm driving.

JoStream · 30th Dec 2007 07:53 PM

I don't like flip-ups and prefer the built-in screen, usually covering a 2 DIN area. There's a really nice Pioneer, but that's a bit out of my budget. I've attached a picture of how it would look like

Get your own thread if you're going to buy a new unit

Another question: Because the Golf is a hatchback, does it make sense to cut into the rear board and place a set of speakers?

**Harakimi** · 30th Dec 2007 07:59 PM

You can cut the board if you dont want to destroy your door panels, and I think that place is more suitable for speakers(board). But installing anything over 5" there would "need" some reinforcements to the board because you will lose some sounds to it's flexibility (this depends on the board of course, but I think it's somewhat flexible?). Small rings of plywood etc are enough.

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