I've seen a few individual write ups but looking for an overall consensus..

**Preferably a setup that integrates with bluetooth and ipod..

 

...well to start things off, im leaning towards the Eclipse AVN726E but also some nice comparable setups from Kenwood, Alpine and Clarion... and of course the newer Pioneer AVIC w/ hard drive

I haven't been in the aftermarket stereo game in a while so i don't know much about Eclipse...? Anyone?

 

I have an Eclipse in my Tahoe, and still contend that it's the best sounding headunit on the market. That was when they were still 8v preouts though. Things have changed since then. Not sure how their quality stacks up now...

I'm interested to hear some responses, because I'm looking to do the same thing in my 996TT

 

the new pioneer AVIC looks nice.

 

I have an older AvicD3, ipod, usb, bt, xm, xm-nav, video. No problems in 2.5 years. The newer ones are better, but I like it and have had not issues. Just a data point. I think there are a few that are great...try them out and check your interface. ON this one, I can make the background match my natural brown interior and the buttons' lighting can matche the OEM yellow well. It almost looks OEM.

I bought the dvd upgrade and my street is still not on the map....be forewarned, not as current a a 50$ CVS "navigation for dummies" unit.....

Jeff

 

the avic z3 is real nice it has everything including a hard drive for the nav and to store music...

 

I am interested as well, hopefully somebody on here is a audiophile or really tech oriented that provide us with a non biased assesment of whats good out of whats currently available, and if you cant go wrong with any I would also like to hear that.

 

I have the Eclipse 8820 (I believe that's the model number). Although I like the sound, it doesn't have a volume **** like my Pioneer D3. If I was to do it again, I'd get one with a volume know (which will mean a smaller nav screen)

Edwin

 

On this forum you will likely get a large number of "I've got and XYZ and it's the best- my installer said so, and it sounds fantastic"

You are, of course, asking an entirely different question. Try a forum for car audio installers/audiophiles.

 

i've been driving all kinds of Lexus for years before the p-car, so when i have to find the double-din with the same interface, i went to Eclipse; so Eclipse +1.

 

Do any of the units have an upgradable GPS option? I don't want to be stuck with something like the stock PCM.

 

Get a Kenwood DNX models, I think the latest is DNX7140. I purchased the DNX7100 a couple of years ago and I think it's the best car stereo equipment I've ever bought. It uses the Garmin navigation software which is very good. The Software run off of a internal memory instead of DVD, which give you an option to watch movies on DVD during those long road trips. It have alot of other options (bluetooth, backup camera, usb ipod,... etc).

 

I just installed an Alpine unit (w-505) plus changed all my speakers and added an audison 900w amp and 300w alpine amp for the oem sub woofer. With the alpine I have gps, sirius, ipod/usb connection, blue tooth and dvd movies. The unit is ok - not great (the screen is not that crisp, is large though). All in all ok. My installer did not offer any other head unit so I really do not know if any others are better.

 

+1 Except the latest model I believe is now the DNX 8120. I installed it in mine on New Year's Day and it's been ever since. Hard drive Garmin Nav (which is more accurate than my damn stock speedo ), integrated blue tooth which works flawlessly with my iPhone, a great iPod interface, DVD movie viewing, etc., etc., etc. Very good quality and well worth the money

 

Yea... definitely between the Kenwood and the Eclipse...