i'd rather not spend a whole lot of money, considering the stock speakers aren't that good to begin with and since i'm usually top down, it doesn't make a lot of sense to invest much in the stereo/amp/speakers/sub/etc. i'd just like to use my iPod in the car. should i go with a cheap kenwood/alpine/sony headunit with an aux-in jack, or just add-on an IceLink to the stock HU? charging the iPod while playing isn't a necessity, since the nano that i'd be using usually lasts over 20 hours on one charge.

i also don't like navigating through the HU when i can just do it twice as fast on the actual iPod itself, so spending the $$$ for a HU that lets me do that isn't a necessity either.

thoughts?

 

Get a cheap Kenwood kdc-138. Under 100 bucks front aux in, more power than factory radio easy to use.

 

This depends on the quality of the music you want.

Having used a Zune with an aux in, I can assure you that the sound is horrific.

MP3 players are not designed to be wired into a quality sound system. The headphone output is designed to play into headphones, where sound staging and high fidelity are not as necessary (because they play right into both sides of your head, a wide sound field isn't required, it's forced by the headphones). Without a doubt, you are better off looking into purchasing a new head unit with an Ipod attachment (let the head unit retrieve the MP3 digitally from the Ipod and then reproduce the sound through it's much higher quality internals).

There are a number of head units out that are just as easy to use to control your ipod as the ipod itself.

 

would aftermarket HU still allow all controls on the dash to be used? I woudln't mind picking one up with Aux in, but definitely want to retain OEM like functinoality.