Stereo choices

V

vanilla

Active member
hi guys,

I'm trying to choose a stereo headunit for the car (with bluetooth so I can use my iPhone) and looking at these three..

1. Pioneer DEH-4500BT
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_918067_langId_-1_categoryId_165474#tab1

2. Sony MEXBT3900U
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_808755_langId_-1_categoryId_165474#tab1

3. Kenwood KDC-BT43U
http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-kenwood-kdc-bt43u_p-28156.htm

Ideally want to be spending <£100 as will need to get an adaptor and facia plate too. However the Kenwood one apparently has voice control which can be used for activating siri..does anyone have any experience with this one or a similar one? ALso the pioneer has a separate mic which might be better?

Looking for some experienced thoughts please.
Thanks. :)
 
Step 1 - forget halfords. Go to your local car audio place.

Step 2 - Get yourself a better deal. (for comparison's sake, the 4500bt http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/17827.html)

Out of those 3 specifically, I'd go for the Pioneer. IMO Pioneer headunits (along with alpine) sound the better than sony, kenwood, jvc etc.

edit: if you have a MFSW you can get the adaptor to retain them too I believe
 
I bought the pioneer unit for my Z3 at Christmas - I found it to be a very good head unit for the price ( think I paid about £90 on line)

Good clear volume and crisp playback with good bass. I fitted the separate mic and the hands free worked well with my iPhone

Only downside was the facia/functions were a bit fiddly and not easy to get used to - I've sold the Z3 now so didn't have the HU for long
 
Similar predicament to you and I ended up spending a bit more as I wanted rear usb and lighting that could be changed to be inline with the standard BMW orange...also in my opinion looks better then most

https://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-kd-sd80bt-cd-car-stereo-with-built-in-bluetooth-2-x-usb-port-android-iphone_p-27508.htm
 
Just had a Pioneer DEH-X8500DAB fitted and it is awesome. Mind you, I had a seperate slimline Sub fitted too behind the passenger seat. Really pleased with the DAB reception. Different league to the old DAB Highway and no extra wires!! :)
 
RedSox said:
Just had a Pioneer DEH-X8500DAB fitted and it is awesome. Mind you, I had a seperate slimline Sub fitted too behind the passenger seat. Really pleased with the DAB reception. Different league to the old DAB Highway and no extra wires!! :)
Click to expand...

Which sub did you fit ? and how do you rate it ?
 
chris g said:
RedSox said:
Just had a Pioneer DEH-X8500DAB fitted and it is awesome. Mind you, I had a seperate slimline Sub fitted too behind the passenger seat. Really pleased with the DAB reception. Different league to the old DAB Highway and no extra wires!! :)
Click to expand...

Which sub did you fit ? and how do you rate it ?
Click to expand...

Can't remember off the top of my head, and the zed is in the Bodyshop having a Spring tidy up at the moment, so I will post an update when it comes back on Friday. Cheers.
 
Thanks for the input. =)
I think I will go with the pioneer one, even though i'm not keen on the dot matrix display but it has good bluetooth and goes with the dash. Does anyone know what app mode music actually does? I thought the point of bluetooth was to be handsfree and not use apps? :tumbleweed:

Btw the reason i was looking at halfords was because they fit it and give you a years guarantee, however i will try a local audio centre too and maybe try my hand at fitting it..do I need some kind of adaptor or cable? I have "Radio BMW Business CD
Preparation, BMW 6-CD changer I-bus".
 
Guys, where did you fit the pioneer external mic? to the visor? also do you know which adaptor is required as there are two types and the fitter said he wouldn't know which one until he took out the bmw stereo..
 
vanilla said:
Guys, where did you fit the pioneer external mic? to the visor? also do you know which adaptor is required as there are two types and the fitter said he wouldn't know which one until he took out the bmw stereo..
Click to expand...
Stuck mine on the steering wheel cowling so it points at me. As for the adaptor, sorry but no idea. I'd have to ask the fitter. :)
 
vanilla said:
Thanks RedSox, do you have a pic showing how the mic looks please? X
Click to expand...
Here you go...

IMG_4045_zps20666b29.jpg
 
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