I just picked up an '08 S2000 Sunday, and ordered the following equipment for my stereo install:

- Sony DSX-S300BTX HU
- Modifry DCI & harness
- Polk MM6501 speakers
- Dynamat door kit

I want the setup to be clean, simple, light, and take up as little space as possible - which is why I'm not getting external amps or a sub (at least yet). Today at lunch, I walked into Best Buy to get some speaker harness adapters, and they had the Alpine IDA-X305S on clearance for $177. I love the looks, ease of operation, and Pandora functionality, but am not as thrilled about limited tonal control, lack of BT, etc., but I couldn't resist making an impulse buy at that price.


Now I just have to decide which HU to install, and which one to return. The way I see it:


Sony pros:
- built-in BT
- Tune Dock is a neat feature
- 7 band eq, DSP sound engine, etc.
- no add-on modules, or iPod cables to run through the cabin
- can run a huge USB drive (64GB) inside the HU, and iPhone via BT or front-mounted USB port
- can stream audio as well as voice via BT


Alpine pros:
- ease of use/ergos are prob. best in the business
- control feels really high quality
- nice display w/ album art (but does it wash out in sunlight?)
- Modifry harness is plug 'n play
- I'm a Pandora addict - can still use it w/ the Sony, but it's integrated into the operation of this model
- availability of Power Pack plug 'n play amp


Alpine cons:
- need to buy separate modules for BT and Imprint if I want to match the Sony's built-in features (I know, Imprint goes beyond them) - that would get expensive, and require a lot of extra wiring/under-dash stuffing


I'd appreciate feedback from anyone who's used one or preferably both of these units.

 

alpine has never let me down, but i really hate the way they nickel and dime you by making you buy separate modules for everything.

 

I liked that you could add the ktp amp for cheap money and it is plug and play.

 

is the alpine you bought an "open box" item???? just wondering because the Best Buy by me had the cda-117 for 177 as well but it was the display unit.
i would personally just sell the Alpine since i hate that huge button, return the Sony, and get another Alpine. They have a few newer units that have built in blue tooth.....although they appear "lower end" than the 305 but who cares if the functions are there.

 

No, brand new in box, the sales guy had to get on a ladder to get it down from a shelf above the speaker display. I could get a lower end unit w/ built-in BT, but then I'd lose the Pandora, which is more imp. to me.

 

all Alpine models with built-in BT don't support dash remote inputs. 305S is a nice unit and imprint is well worth it. For BT, realistically, pretty useless if you drive top down most of the time, unless you just use it for streaming...

 

so you are saying even with modifry DCI, the unit wont work if it has built in bluetooth?????

 

I have my eye on the Sony DSXS300BTX myself.

I already have a Modifry Sony adapter, so Sony it is.

I currently have a Sony Bluetooth...model 2600-something (MEX-BT2600?). I like it, but would like something with more lines on the screen and better integration with media files (such as having the titles show on the screen). Also it's blue-only, which clashes at night, but not with my blue S2K during the day, lol, so the red-blue is a plus.

I plan to just run a big 16GB+ USB stick inside it that I'll sync regularly. I also like that it has an external BT-mic option, which mine doesn't have. Without that, the phone functionality is useless.

I do Pandora on my Droid right now via BT. I have it mounted on my dash (bracket with 3M tape...has held a year and a half). The dash controls do volume and skipping even via BT so I'm happy with that arrangement. Audio quality via A2DP is actually acceptable.

After getting my SC in (comes Monday!), I want to focus on the stereo and add a 4-channel amp to drive a sub and my front Alpine Type Rs. I'm leaning toward my Alpine V-power amp.

The DSXS300BTX is $183 at Amazon.

 

My DSX-S300BTX arrived in the mail today, and I replaced the Alpine this afternoon. My decision has been clearly solved, the Sony blows it away (never thought I'd say that, being an Alpine fan for over 2 decades!). Gotta hand it to Sony, they outdid themselves on this unit. Packed w/ features, and it sounds great as well. I have a 16GB USB stick loaded w/ music, and navigation is fast and easy. I also played Pandora both via BT streaming and the front USB input. I carried on a phone conversation w/ the top down using the built in microphone, and while the other party heard a fair amt. of wind noise, he could hear me OK.

The display is great, and very legible in both direct sunlight and the dark. The knob doesn't interfere w/ the radio door, unlike the IDA-X305S, which is getting returned to BBY tomorrow.

Wiring the harness and DCI was very tedious vs. the PnP of the Alpine, but that's about the only downside vs. going w/ Alpine that I can think of.

 

OK, that settles it...I just ordered one. $222 with the Mic