Well i just bought a 98 camaro and it doesnt have a CD player so im gonna get an aftermarket CD player/head unit. So i just want to know whats the best head unit for a 98 also the car didnt come w/ the monsoon option. So please let me know thanks.

 

There is no best, just stick with the big names and you will be good to go
Kenwood (best choice in an MP3 player, moderate options, inexpensive, some are not that visually appealing)
Alpine (great features but some models fall short in preout voltage, and expensive compared to the competition)
Pioneer (lots of features and a nice display but suffer from on again and off again QC and poor customer support)
Sony (the upper lines are absolutly amazing while the lower lines are kinda crappy)
Clarion (nice display, PITA to use some features, and QC is questionable)
Eclipse (great features, expensive, skip a bit more than the competition but the major skipping problem is fixed, don't really strike me as great looking)

 

As rthompson stated, it's all relative. What's best for you, may not be best for the next guy. How much are you looking to spend? What features are important to you? Do you use MP3's?

 

Alpine comes stock in the vette's...if that says anything....

 

I would say stick with the major brands. Don't ever get a Jenson (walmart) radio.

I have a Kenwood satelite radio reciever with a motorized flip down face that also plays MP3's and I love it. I get so many compliments on it. It was also $500 though, plus $340 for the satelite radio tuner and antenna.

 

The Dual XD60 is the best radio in the world

 

For the price and quality, Alpine for high end, Kenwood for low end are very reasonable and reliable.

Not many complain about them.

I just did a Kenwood KDC 222, three way 6X9s and two way 4"s in my Skylark for under $250.00 and it sounds fine.

I have an Alpine CDM 7874 with MB Quart DSD 216 3 way components and DKD 116 two ways for under $450.00 in Z. Could use an amp for cranking it up but sounds fine for regular listening.

 

I make a point to buy a different brand of head unit every time I get a new one, just to see the differences of each manufacturer.

I was very pleased with the Alpine HU I owned. Good power, easy-to-use display, and it sounded nice. I would recommend Alpine to anyone.

I owned an Aiwa for about a week before it got stolen (it replaced the stock unit in my beater). It was more powerful than I expected it to be, and sounded OK, but it was really cheesy looking. I bought it mainly because Crutchfield was having a clearance sale and wanted to get rid of them. I don't like HUs that have the futuristic silvery look (Aiwa and Panasonic are the main culprits). Not recommended unless you're strapped for cash.

I currently have a Sony Xplod HU in my car. Good sound, but it's got a ton of gimmicky, useless features (My Best Sound Position? Stupid.) and the display is mostly lit up in red, which makes it impossible to read when I'm wearing sunglasses.

Like people are saying, though, stick with the major names (rthompson listed them) and you probably won't be disappointed. I would strongly recommend that you visit your local car audio shop and test out the demo models, so you can see what you personally like best.


Oh, and don't get it installed at Circuit City or Best Buy!!!!!

 

Go with a McIntosh system.

 

Why not get one that's windows based. It will probably work forever

 

I seriously doubt he's gonna drop money like that.....

 

Well, he asked about the best, didn't he?

 

 

Sorry you feel that way, but they suck. Circuit City managed to break both door panels on my car when they were installing front speakers, and I've heard similar horror stories about Best Buy. Would I buy a DVD player from Circuit City or Best Buy? Yes. Would I ever have car audio equipment installed by them ever again? No.

Do you work at either of these establishments?

 

Yes I do, and it seems like you just went to the wrong one. Ive heard similar stories about so called "custom" shops, it just depends who works on your car. Just because they work at a chain store doesnt mean that they are hacks. The same goes for stores like Pep Boys, I know plenty of good techs who work at Pep Boys, but they arnt doing oil changes and tire roations though. They deal with more driveability/electrical problems. Anyways, I think your just being a tad bit narrow minded.