VX II S-Pack Audio Upgrade Suggestions (Headunit)

[VX Appeal]

Hey guys, I've gotten to the point where I'm relatively happy with the exterior mods of my VX. Now I want to focus on the interior.

The first thing I want to do is upgrade the entire sound system, either bit by bit or all at once.. However I know very little about sound systems for a car nor how the electrics work or anything like that.

So I'm looking for advice, I guess the best place to start is the head unit? If so what is typically the best for a reasonable price?
The specs I'm looking for are:
- Ipod connection (Aswell as chargeing)
- Bluetooth
- Anything else that is cool :P

So let me know what you guys think about this, btw I have the stock VX S-Pack head unit (pic below).


Links to websites as well as specific model numbers and even locations of good places to purchase/get installed (I live in Vic, Melbourne on the west side of the CBD) would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[VX Appeal]

Also, I have been looking at this headunit from Supercheapauto as it's the cheapest online price i've seen.

KENWOOD KDC-U446
Kenwood iPod/USB/MP3/CD Player - KDC-U446 - Supercheap Auto

Let me know what you think about it?

[VX Appeal]

Noone has any idea?

[Hot-Rod]

If you want to fill in the space from the stock Headunit, go for a double DIN unit, I have a kenwood touch screen, comes with Ipod connection, usb, i think the latest versions come with bluetooth. Its pretty good HU.

[VX Appeal]

If you want to fill in the space from the stock Headunit, go for a double DIN unit, I have a kenwood touch screen, comes with Ipod connection, usb, i think the latest versions come with bluetooth. Its pretty good HU.

Hey, what's the model number or common name for your unit?

[VX Appeal]

Hey, what's the model number or common name for your unit?

Any updates on this?

[VX Appeal]

Any updates on this?

Now looking for a 2 DIN unit, any ideas?

[Copafield]

A lot of the time, so long as the unit is going to have all your requirements brand is really going to come down to personal choice (and budget). I'm a kenwood fan myself and would look there first, but that's not to say I wouldn't go to another brand should it do the right thing at the right price. Head to you local Autobarns and car stereo places and have a look a the demo models there. At least that way you also have somebody to ask to make sure they have the requirements you want. And yes a 2 DIN unit will make installation easier as you don't need to find something to fill the gap a single DIN will leave behind.

One other thing on the blue tooth, if your talking for the sake of being able to make a phone call through the head unit (as in a hands free kit) see if you cant get them to give you a demo. I've never had an iphone so don't know if this is an issue with them as well but all the nokia's we've had over the years can have some issues with noice cancelling mikes not working properly so the caller hears an echo of themselves. Usually the problem gets fixed between firmware updates in both phones and head units/hands free devices so another thing worth considering is whether the firmware can be upgraded or not.

[VX Appeal]

A lot of the time, so long as the unit is going to have all your requirements brand is really going to come down to personal choice (and budget). I'm a kenwood fan myself and would look there first, but that's not to say I wouldn't go to another brand should it do the right thing at the right price. Head to you local Autobarns and car stereo places and have a look a the demo models there. At least that way you also have somebody to ask to make sure they have the requirements you want. And yes a 2 DIN unit will make installation easier as you don't need to find something to fill the gap a single DIN will leave behind.

One other thing on the blue tooth, if your talking for the sake of being able to make a phone call through the head unit (as in a hands free kit) see if you cant get them to give you a demo. I've never had an iphone so don't know if this is an issue with them as well but all the nokia's we've had over the years can have some issues with noice cancelling mikes not working properly so the caller hears an echo of themselves. Usually the problem gets fixed between firmware updates in both phones and head units/hands free devices so another thing worth considering is whether the firmware can be upgraded or not.

Thanks for your insight mate, will definitely keep this in mind.

Cheers

[VX Appeal]

Any further imput?

[Kieran263]

Hey man, I've always been a fan of pioneer gear. And their new line of car audio looks sweet as f***. I've got their DEH-4100UB.
That one doesn't have bluetooth (as far as I know) But they have a new DEH-6250BT which I think is the best looking in their whole line up.
But they've got heaps of other cool stuff as well, and a couple of cool double DIN units. DEH-6250BT - CD player with Bluetooth, front USB, iPod/iPhone and Aux-in connections :: Pioneer Australia
Hope that helps mate.

[VX Appeal]

Hey man, I've always been a fan of pioneer gear. And their new line of car audio looks sweet as f***. I've got their DEH-4100UB.
That one doesn't have bluetooth (as far as I know) But they have a new DEH-6250BT which I think is the best looking in their whole line up.
But they've got heaps of other cool stuff as well, and a couple of cool double DIN units. DEH-6250BT - CD player with Bluetooth, front USB, iPod/iPhone and Aux-in connections :: Pioneer Australia
Hope that helps mate.

Hey mate, I'm loving the AVH-P5150DVD haha.. Thanks for your imput if anyone else has any favorites that would be a huge help! Reasons why it's your favorite and pros/cons would make it sweet.

Cheers

[nathan549]

i have a sony xav w1 in my vt. awesome double din unit. definitely recommend it

[VX Appeal]

i have a sony xav w1 in my vt. awesome double din unit. definitely recommend it

Hey mate, what can you tell me about this one? It looks awesome but looks can be deceiving haha. What are the best features of it? How do you use it? Can you/do you plug your ipod up to it - how does that go? Bluetooth? What do you use it for, etc. The more the better haha..

Thanks mate

[nathan549]

well its all touch screen which i like. it does take ipod but it dosent have an aux in at the front of the unit its at the back so u have to run the cord through ur glovebox which i find is better and neater. its a dvd player aswell, plays burnt dvds/divx aswell. don't know about bluetooth though. touch screen isnt over sensitve where if u accidently touch it changing gears or something u wnt change songs or what ever. overall its a great unit . ive read in the manual u can hook up reverse cameras to it aswell if u want that haha

[VX Appeal]

well its all touch screen which i like. it does take ipod but it dosent have an aux in at the front of the unit its at the back so u have to run the cord through ur glovebox which i find is better and neater. its a dvd player aswell, plays burnt dvds/divx aswell. don't know about bluetooth though. touch screen isnt over sensitve where if u accidently touch it changing gears or something u wnt change songs or what ever. overall its a great unit . ive read in the manual u can hook up reverse cameras to it aswell if u want that haha

Sounds really good mate, what is the computer side of it like? Good EQ's and stuff? Any cool gadgets or anything?

[nathan549]

EQ's are pretty decent im pretty sure u can set your own aswell not just pre selected but il have to check on that tomorrow. not really anything except u can like change the eq sound waves to diff things and can change the background of it to pre set ones or pictures of whatever you want

[VX Appeal]

EQ's are pretty decent im pretty sure u can set your own aswell not just pre selected but il have to check on that tomorrow. not really anything except u can like change the eq sound waves to diff things and can change the background of it to pre set ones or pictures of whatever you want

Oh a background sounds pretty cool, how's the main interface and stuff? Like changing volumes, all that stuff, any issues or cool stuff?

[nathan549]

nah no issues the volume buttons are actual buttons which i like. my mate had a kenwood where that was touch aswell and it got annoying as. you get a remote control for it and everything. plus it just looks great fit is PERFECT everyone compliments it

[VX Appeal]

nah no issues the volume buttons are actual buttons which i like. my mate had a kenwood where that was touch aswell and it got annoying as. you get a remote control for it and everything. plus it just looks great fit is PERFECT everyone compliments it

Yours is in a VX? Really starting to consider this unit - best i've seen so far!

[nathan549]

nah vt series 2. but there exactly the same dash so the fit and finish would be the same

[VX Appeal]

nah vt series 2. but there exactly the same dash so the fit and finish would be the same

ah okay, and I noticed a pic on the "Source List" it has both AUX and Ipod, what's the difference and how else can the ipod be connected other than AUX?

[pancakes]

ipod is connected via the usb out on the back, that usb is pluged into a ipod cable then plugged into your ipod hence the IPOD connection. AUX could mean one of two things, either a usb pen drive (usb stick) plugged directly into the usb from the back or it's a head phone jack plug that you can plug into a generic portable music player.

[VX Appeal]

ipod is connected via the usb out on the back, that usb is pluged into a ipod cable then plugged into your ipod hence the IPOD connection. AUX could mean one of two things, either a usb pen drive (usb stick) plugged directly into the usb from the back or it's a head phone jack plug that you can plug into a generic portable music player.

ah okay, thanks.. Is it hard to wire the aux/usb ports through the glovebox or what are the alternatives if you know?

[pancakes]

i went through to the centre cubby hole arm rest thingo, i had to drill 2 holes to fit the extended usb cable that i connected through, works ok, isn't really that hard if your technically minded and know the in's and out's of your dash.