I am looking to get either a MP3 player to use with the stock HU vs. a new HU that plays MP3s. Any recs? Yes, I did a search but I was looking for person opinions and not just what will fit or work. Also, looking to see what unit can be used with the stock dash controlls (isn't there an adaptor?)
Any help would be appreciated.

 

Modifry sells, in the marketplace here, a DCI to let you use most any headunit with the controls next to the steering wheel.

I have the stock headunit, with rear speakers and the PIE Hon-Aux adaptor. I have my Ipod wired in as the CD changer, along with my PPC GPS. Works well for me. I have my whole collection on the unit and still have 20+ MB of space left over on the unit, plus I can use it wherever I go.

 

I gotta be honest. I like my mp3 head unit over an Ipod or something of that sort. I just got back from an 8 hour road trip. I listened to one MP3 CD. To me, being able to take 3 or 4 discs, for 24 hours of driving, not having to worry about batteries, mounting a unit, leaving somehing in the car to tempt thieves (or taking it with me to prevent theft) is too much a hastle.

The other nice thing about getting a modern HU is that he quality of the sound goes up, you open yourself up to be able to add a CD Changer that also plays MP3, etc. Or you'll be stuck trying to play your Ipod through the crappy stock HU. Eventually, you're going to change it anyway, so might as well get an MP3 unit from the beginning.

Just my opinion.

 

I have both, and I have found that both have their uses. With my MP3 player (plugs into the AUX on my head unit), I have easy access to all the songs I own, catalogued by type of music, artist, album and title, in one box; I can easily choose exactly what I want to hear. The downside is that it's an extra box in my car, which I have to lock up when I leave (since the top's often down). With an MP3 CD, you have hours of music without having to make any choices or bother with any dials; if you would rather not hear that song, just move it on to the next one. The downside is that you really cannot (AFAIK) tell it to play selected songs on the CD. I use the MP3 player more than the CD player, but I find that the CD player is much better when out for a few hours on the twisties, while the MP3 player is better for my daily commute.

YMMV

 

brands? models?

 

Alpine or Eclipse. Alpine is more popular, Eclipse MAY be a bit better quality. I had the choice to make, and I chose Alpine. I've never had a minutes trouble with the Alpine.

For the Ipod thingy, you'll have to ask someone else.

 

I have a Kenwood KDCMP6025 head unit; a Kenwood KAC7201 two-channel amp; Diamond 6" 2-way speakers and a Creative Zen Nomad 30gb MP3 player. It's not audiophile quality, but I like it very much, and I can hear whatever I play on the highway with the top down. The installer had no trouble hooking it up to the console controls.

 

I've been using my Archos Jukebox (older technology) with the PIE aux input. I also put in a power plug adapter on the under the console. I've got the MP3 player velcroed to a Panavise mount too (like the picture).

The archos is a little bigger than a checkbook. I like the portablility of it. I'm planning on getting another archos because I running out of space to store the MP3s.

I still use the standard HU and all the controls.