Headunit Suggestions
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 7,818
Likes: 3,363
From: Foothills East of Sacramento
I installed a Sony (Crutchfields) with Modfry's harness and DCI. Used Posi-loc connectors. Easy. Worked great the first time. Like how the remote controls work. Would order it again in a heartbeat.
Mine does not completely mute as the Modifry posts indicated but it is enough for me when I need it. I use my Galaxy note 4 most of the time to control. Phone app starts when car starts. Variable color display so I can match the color just right, that was a must for me. It has 45 watts of power so I did not use another amp. I found the stock speakers actually sound pretty good, much better than with the stock HU. I only open the radio now to insert a CD. I got the digital radio but still wanted a CD input along with front and back ports for iPad/phone/chip. Nice feature is the speed wire to adjust the volume as you drive. Adjustable.
Mine does not completely mute as the Modifry posts indicated but it is enough for me when I need it. I use my Galaxy note 4 most of the time to control. Phone app starts when car starts. Variable color display so I can match the color just right, that was a must for me. It has 45 watts of power so I did not use another amp. I found the stock speakers actually sound pretty good, much better than with the stock HU. I only open the radio now to insert a CD. I got the digital radio but still wanted a CD input along with front and back ports for iPad/phone/chip. Nice feature is the speed wire to adjust the volume as you drive. Adjustable.
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,296
Likes: 260
From: Vermont
I recently installed an Alpine UTE-62BT and it checks all your boxes. Display color can be fine tuned to just about any color you want. It does NOT have a CD player however. But it has USB and bluetooth and also works perfectly with factory controls with an added Modifry DCI.
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 5
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Thanks for the plug, but it's modifry, with an R. 
Below are some notes I give to customers when they ask about head units. These are the top 3 brands that my customers buy which means I only know about S2000 owners that buy our DCI, but I think it's probably a good sampling. Note that I am NOT a head unit expert and don't sell head units, I just have some experience with different manufacturer's features and how they interface with our DCI product. You should understand that how the DCI works with a head unit is mostly controlled by the head unit - what commands they support and how those commands are "tied" to each other, such as one command that does Next Track or Next Preset station, depending on your source. Not all HU pair the commands the same way.
From what I've seen, Alpine has always had an excellent user interface, easy to set up and use, and no features that are annoying. Also, it has the best remote control setup for use with the S2000 dash controls. Most Alpine's Ive seen have a dedicated "ATT" wire (pink/black I think) that allows a pause function like the OEM Mute button. Many owners prefer that over a mute function that only lowers the volume. About 50% of my customers buy Alpine.
Kenwood is good but they arranged their remote control commands a little different than "industry standard" so when connected to the DCI it's not quite as perfect as Alpine. Plus, some of their newer head units don't have a "full mute" feature. Instead of stopping audio playback they just lower the volume so your music is still playing.
Pioneer is pretty popular also, but again I don't think any of them have a full mute, they just lower the volume. But they interface with the DCI and S2000 dash controls as well as Alpine so they are pretty easy to use in the car. However, they have one feature that drives me nuts - every time you do a remote control command the speakers beep. For some reason they think you need to be reminded you pressed a remote control button, which means it beeps whether you are using the factory hand-held remote or the dash controls. There is no way to shut off the feature, which is even more annoying if you elect to set up the "auto-volume" feature of the DCI (increases volume as you drive faster to keep up with road noise).
Below are some notes I give to customers when they ask about head units. These are the top 3 brands that my customers buy which means I only know about S2000 owners that buy our DCI, but I think it's probably a good sampling. Note that I am NOT a head unit expert and don't sell head units, I just have some experience with different manufacturer's features and how they interface with our DCI product. You should understand that how the DCI works with a head unit is mostly controlled by the head unit - what commands they support and how those commands are "tied" to each other, such as one command that does Next Track or Next Preset station, depending on your source. Not all HU pair the commands the same way.
From what I've seen, Alpine has always had an excellent user interface, easy to set up and use, and no features that are annoying. Also, it has the best remote control setup for use with the S2000 dash controls. Most Alpine's Ive seen have a dedicated "ATT" wire (pink/black I think) that allows a pause function like the OEM Mute button. Many owners prefer that over a mute function that only lowers the volume. About 50% of my customers buy Alpine.
Kenwood is good but they arranged their remote control commands a little different than "industry standard" so when connected to the DCI it's not quite as perfect as Alpine. Plus, some of their newer head units don't have a "full mute" feature. Instead of stopping audio playback they just lower the volume so your music is still playing.
Pioneer is pretty popular also, but again I don't think any of them have a full mute, they just lower the volume. But they interface with the DCI and S2000 dash controls as well as Alpine so they are pretty easy to use in the car. However, they have one feature that drives me nuts - every time you do a remote control command the speakers beep. For some reason they think you need to be reminded you pressed a remote control button, which means it beeps whether you are using the factory hand-held remote or the dash controls. There is no way to shut off the feature, which is even more annoying if you elect to set up the "auto-volume" feature of the DCI (increases volume as you drive faster to keep up with road noise).
Hi all, new owner here of a blue AP1. Sorry to interject here, Mr. Modifry. I just bought one of your dci and harnesses for my pioneer unit (after I had already purchased a harness and swi-rc kit from crutchfield d'oh!). Anyways, there is an option to turn off that beeping as it was getting really annoying really fast. It's in the settings/system I believe.
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 102
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Hi all, new owner here of a blue AP1. Sorry to interject here, Mr. Modifry. I just bought one of your dci and harnesses for my pioneer unit (after I had already purchased a harness and swi-rc kit from crutchfield d'oh!). Anyways, there is an option to turn off that beeping as it was getting really annoying really fast. It's in the settings/system I believe.
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 62
Likes: 5
I have this same head unit and I am very happy with it. I am considering whether to add that little Alpine amp that you can mount up under the dash - can't remember the model now. Its about 50 watts I think. Might go that route although it really is not necessary for the average music listener.
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 268
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From: League City TX
I have the power pack amp paired to what I THINK is the 149BT. Absolutely love the little amp. I can actually hear my radio now over the sound of my ITBs. Radio I like, but I dislike that when I change the illumination colors, the screen stays blue.