Ok gang I need to replace the head unit on my jeep and the stinking speakers...So I need some input on a good quality head unit for around the $100 or so mark I can purchase at Crutchfield..They off free install kits.. So any input from anyone appreciated..

 

Basically I want one that has the front usb port so I can plug in thumb drives for mp3 playback..

Crutchfield has a Sony for around $130 shipped and a Kenword or Pioneer for around $160 shipped...A panasonic for around $150.. I have only used Sony in the passed so any thoughts or opinions on these brands?

 

You might be able to find one with a usb port at Wal-Mart, and it'd probably cheaper than getting one shipped from Crutchfield. Just get a harness and a facia (if you need it) and you're good to go.

 

Well I'd need the wiring harness and install kit for mounting it...I can get a Kenwood with all my req's and 4 kenwood speakers shipped complete with wiring harnesses, install kit and directions for $180...not bad and well within the budget...I think I am gonna go ahead with the setup...Would cost me more for something comparable at wally world..Nice thing about Crutchfield is anything over $130 is free shipping, and free install kits and wire harnesses...Can't beat that at all plus the $50 savings for buying all Kenwood..I don't need anything fancy so I got the $40 kenwood speakers..will be by far better then the stock setup which doesn't work worth crap atm...

 

i have had a lot of kenwood stuff before. home and car and i have never been disappointed

 

ive ran alot of kenwood in the past and i have never had a problem with them at all. you can also find a couple of pioneers for around that price. best of luck with the choices

 

I've only had two cars with CD players, and they were both Pioneers (came with the car when I bought it), and they've both worked great. I put the CD in and noise comes out.

 

nice true

 

Well I pulled thr trigger and got the kenwood setup..just couldn't beat the price...Has the front usb port for thumb drives so I can listen to mp3's which is what I wanted anyways...

 

The really top of the line head units for the common man is as follows kenwood, pioneer, alpine, and sony in that order. If you got money and want a real nice system JBL.

 

I am so far behind. I have no idea what a thumb drive is and wouldn't know it if it bit my thumb. MP3 I halfway understand but I think of those as a portable thing about the size of a pack of playing cards with a memory chip to store music on but even those I don't know how you get the music on to the chip. I am just too old for all this technocrap.

 

A thumb drive is a Flash Drive. You use it like you were saving to a CD.

 

Oh I have several of those but I call them MSDs or mass storage devices. Thanks again alien. You have bailed my butt out several times lately. So do you download music from your 'puter on the MSD and then plug that into the radio for your own tunes? That how it works?

 

I have a ton of cd's and I just convert em to mp3 and d/l em off the net...(legally of course.. )

 

Do they go on to your "thumb drive" and then the radio has a selection for the USB drive port to access the legally downloaded music (wink wink) that how that works?