I am finally going to replace the head unit. Hate to lose the stock radio, but I really want to modernize just a bit with bluetooth. I did install a bluetooth puck on the stock unit in the past but it didn't transition well with use and it ultimately blew my voltage overload relay.

I haven't bought a car stereo in at least 25 years. What's funny is that I began looking for brands that deliver quality sound and it seems my search led me back to the same brands that existed 25 years ago. So the last time I bought a stereo, it was an Alpine. Looking around I see good reviews for Alpine still. Blaupunkt and Clarion were always rated well if I remember, but the elusive Nakamichi, in my memory at least, offered the best sound/clarity.

Across the forums, I've seen some people do a conversion on their W202, that is modifying the climate control unit to squeeze a double din in, but I really want to avoid that and change as little as possible.

I've eyed these Nakamichi models, the NA-135 and NA-130, not really sure of the difference between them. Either way, not even sure they fit but they do have a 3" screen and a nice design. I only briefly looked at them so I'll keep looking, but I was wondering if anyone could offer some advice.

 

if you go aftermarket Alpine and Nakamichi are the best.

do they still make them with flippin' motorized front panel and removable front panel as anti radio theft device?

 

Looks like Nakamichi went bust in the late 90s. Was later picked up by a Chinese company. Looks like it is the same company that produces JVC, TEAC, Phillips, Sansui, and Akai.

Really sad.

I did find that some of the Nakamichi units from pre-1999 are being sold second-hand for more money than the brand new units. Guess that tells the whole story. I'm tempted to even go that route but no bluetooth.

Still looking into the others.

 

teac and sansui has been great for home hifi.
they might be great for car audio aswell

 

One thing is certain so far, all the reviews (hype) about head units for sale is based on features and not quality. You begin to come across "quality" sales pitches when looking at amps, crossovers, speakers etc (guessing because a speaker can't have many more features than conveying sound). It's a shame because the signal originates from the head unit and it'd be nice to get more info about distortion, range, bit rates etc. Being digital isn't enough, low quality digital does exist.

Blaupunkt which was owned by Bosche for a very long time, sold to another German company who now sources all their radios from China. (I do not know what "sources" means - possibly they have contracts with manufacturers who slap the Blaupunkt label on the radios as is done with laptops for many companies.)

Alpine, a Japanese company has it's engineering office in Japan and manufacturing facilities in Brazil, Hungary, Mexico, China, and Thailand. (This language indicates a bit more control over the assembly line, but could be marketing lingo.)

Clarion, Japanese company, owned by Hitachi and Foxconn. (Two other Japanese companies, but big players in China known for cutting costs, however it seems like they, (Hitachi and Foxconn), control their own assembly lines instead of sourcing out, but Clarion as little brother may not have that option.)

I've never been a big fan of Kenwood or Pioneer, but they may be worth a second look if I'm not satisfied with what I find.

I also ran across an upgrade for Porsche 911, seems the Porsche classic website sells an updated deck with all the modern features while retaining the classic look. Wish AMG or Mercedes would step up for us with something like that. Also turns out I can get my head unit repaired for $175 and an aux input installed for another $100 from the US authorized Becker repair facility, which is located in NJ. I could actually drive there I guess, not that they'd want me to LOL.

Going to dive into the Alpine line for a bit when I get back from lunch. Let you know what I find.

 

I think you and I come from another world. What was great once is now gone and when you ask what is great now, they tell you about things you don't even consider important.

Q: "What is so great about this car?" A: "It has 4 wheels!" Q: "Shouldn't all cars have 4 wheels?" A: Silence and a funny look

 

what was HQ 2½ decades ago is not HQ nowadays component quality wise.

Harman/Kardon should have had killer amps for car audio.
They are great for 2 channel home hifi

 

If you want to buy new then Pioneer is king. DEX-P99RS or the lower priced DEH-80PRS would serve you well if you are on a budget. I'm up in the air about which unit I would get.

I was hoping for a retractable screen, pop in a DVD every now and then, but what I'm really seeing is that the limited choices out there do not have high quality processors. Although I've learned you can buy a Digital Signal Processor and a Controller and essentially turn any system/head unit (even stock) into high quality sound. However, nearly all retractable head units have a 7" screen with 800x480 resolution. That is pretty crappy resolution, am I wrong?

Does anyone have the specs on the amps in our cars, power, channels?

 

I ran the DEH-80PRS for a couple years with no issues. Super easy with the Metra adapters. Also installed some new tweets; you get the hand free calling, subwoofer output, Bluetooth connectivity, & adjustable lighting for the head unit to match the factory interior. It fits the interior quite well without looking too tacky. I tried multiple Bluetooth pucks with the factory head unit, but they were all s**t-interference & crappy audio quality could not be resolved. My current personal favorite for hi-fi audio would be the Sony RSX-GS9.

 

If you want stock look with modern functionality with bluetooth, usb, aux :

http://www.continental-automotive.co...etooth_en.html

You don't need any adapters as these units are plug and play using ISO connectors plus you get the stock looking amber lighting.

 

Very cool I've never seen that one before.

 

How much of an improvement over stock was the 80prs? Did you run it active?

 

Saw that one on the Becker site, I also think it is very cool.

 

Mickey, my apologies, I actually ran the Pioneer DEHX9600BHS (they look so similar!). Now I recall being cheap & purchasing that model after looking at the 80PRS
No, I did not run the speakers actively-simply used the adapters & ran them off the original Bose amp. I did install some Cal25 silk dome tweeters from my Rainbow Germanium CS265.25 kit which helped with the highs & 1000rms sub in the trunk to fill the lows, but it was just fine-not thoroughly impressed-just sufficient. I have an MS8 processor too, but if I do end up reinstalling the head unit & Rainbow speakers, I will most likely just use them passively with their crossover system paired with a JL 13TW5V2 for sq.

 

Is there a stock mercedes head unit from another model that will do blue tooth or at least AUX?

Id love to update mine but I hate the idea of modern flashy stuff in an older car.

 

This is me. I love the stock system and it's the only thing on earth that looks correct in our cars.

Custom car builder Chip Foose has a show, and on one show he was spending forever figuring out what head unit to install in a finished $150k custom built muscle car. He said the reason he worries so much about the head unit is because it's the first thing that will make a car look dated and cheesy.

I hate hate HATE aftermarket head units. I'd pay $1,000 if MB made a drop-in replacement head unit with bluetooth and other modern features that looks like it fits the car.

When I was deciding which of my C43's to keep, the fact that my 1998 had all the factory sound system cut out and replaced with Pioneer was a BIG reason I kept my 99 (with way more miles and not the color I wanted) with the complete, factory sound system.

 

100% agreed and I love the stuff that guy creates.

Does he have his own show? I watch him on "overhauled"

 

Try here: http://beckerautosound.com/upgrade-radios/3126974

 

On my first c43 I installed the alpine IDA-X305. I had used 3M vinyl carbon fiber to cover my wood because it was old and faded. So the alpine looked great in the dash. The sound was like day and night compared to the stock radio. It sounded like I also updated the speakers!

Cant go wrong with alpine, that's for sure.

 

you can get the continental straight from germany for less than half the price of the becker usa website even after shipping.

i'm not really sure what this guy is talking about but i wouldnt mind cruising around with him so he could adjust my radio.