Head Unit for $300?

locksmack · Postby **locksmack** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:25 pm

Hey Guys,

New MX-5 owner here (NA6)! I picked up the car today and am loving it, except for the lack of CD player.

Can anyone suggest a good head unit for about $300? I plan on buying a nice set of speakers and running them off an amp eventually, so please keep that in mind. Don't think I will bother with a sub.

The only real requirement I have (aside from good sound and compatibility with an amp) is USB connectivity for my iPhone so I can play music from it.

Thanks guys!

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:33 pm

Alpine CDE125BT? 126 maybe.

Dann

Postby **Okibi** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:44 pm

G'day and welcome to the forum! (please update your profile to include your location).

It might be worth picking up a cheap/free 2nd hand head unit with a radio/CD until you can afford the headunit you want, that $300 would be better spent on speakers or put towards a decent head unit.

Perhaps a member near you has an old head unit laying around.

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:48 pm

Whats better than a CDE126BT? 2 preouts which is Plenty for an mx5, plenty of power from the unit to start with, EQ, Bluetooth,
Rear iPod/iPhone, front auxillary and USB, looks good, good quality.

Sorry, I mean whats better without a dvd player (pointless imo).

Dann

Postby **Okibi** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:57 pm

Yup that look like pretty good value for money. :mrgreen:

locksmack · Postby **locksmack** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:59 pm

Okibi wrote:G'day and welcome to the forum! (please update your profile to include your location).

It might be worth picking up a cheap/free 2nd hand head unit with a radio/CD until you can afford the headunit you want, that $300 would be better spent on speakers or put towards a decent head unit.

Perhaps a member near you has an old head unit laying around.

Location updated

Thanks.

I was planning on grabbing the headunit first up to get me by until I have the csh ready for the rest (summer holiday to Japan has delayed my plans to deck it out).

I was planning on spending about $300 on the headunit, $300 on a set of speakers and $3-400 on an amplifier. So about $1k all up. Maybe these proportions need to be altered?

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:09 pm

A kicker 11ZX200.1 amp retail 220
A pair of JL C5.650s Retail 550
Alpine CDE125BT Retail 250
Basic 50 buck wiring kit. 50

Just walk into a JB and say I want it all for 900.

Now that would be an incredible setup in an mx5 for under 1000. Probably needs a small sub really but thats neither here nor there.

Dann

locksmack · Postby **locksmack** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:27 pm

Looks good Dann. I'll have to put it all off aside from the HU until after new years, but will still have a few warms months for top down cruising with the new setup.

Cheers.

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:32 pm

I did a setup in a hiace the other day.

It was a single pair of JL C2 600s and the kicker 10zx200.2, with a single JL sub.
A whole van, 2 speakers and a single 12.
The C5 650s are great, like double what the C2s are in every way.

Was just stupid. stupid. The bloke is extatic. Sounds incredible. And they arent even splits.

Dann

bear2230 · Postby **bear2230** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:51 pm

Have a read of this. Might take a while.
Reviews: CD Tuners with iPod Control (Under $300 RRP)

http://www.mobileelectronics.com.au/rev ... r_300_rrp/

Richard.

Postby **NitroDann** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:55 pm

JVC KDR526 with the 99 dollar bluetooth upgrade is for sal at JB right now for 158
. Its called a kdr bt52 or something similar.
Current catalogue.

Dann

lee · Postby **lee** » Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:58 pm

I got a nice Kenuwood unit for mine. I forget how much I paid for it, but I think it and a set of Alpine Type-Rs was around the $550 mark. It has a USB port on the back which I've wired up through the console to come out into the little storage thing where your elbows go. It talks to the phone via bluetooth, so I can talk hands free as well. You'll need to experiment on mic placement, as it can be hard for the person on the other end to hear in a convertible.

If you'd like, drop by Garage Cafe on a thursday night to see my install

BadBong · Postby **BadBong** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:24 am

I would recommend the Eclipse CD5030 instead if you're into tuning. It has a 7 band EQ.

Side question - do you really need an amp?

Might be better to use the money on dynamatting your doors and/or getting a professional to install your gear instead and save up for an amp+sub combo later.

If you are steering away from a DIY job then I would recommend speaking with Marty at FHRX. Great bloke.

http://www.fhrxstudios.com.au/faq.asp

Postby **NitroDann** » Mon Oct 17, 2011 9:54 am

The amp question...

I say in an mx5 hell yes.

You are only going to have 2 speakers, and they are going to need to be pretty serious. Serious speakers need amps.

Dann