[MobilePioneer]

It’s been a while since I’ve gone to a car stereo shop. My factory stereo had one speaker left and my daughter who is three told me it sounded really bad. So I figured it was time to do the whole stereo system. I went to a shop and left with nothing.

Every single din was in a red and white box, I could barely tell them apart, all had a single knob on the left side and a bar type LCD display. They all look the same the most expensive one had similar specs to the radios of the mid to late 90s and looked the part too. 2 pairs of RCA’s, 2v RCA’s, ugly small LCD display, no timing adjustments, no individual wide band EQ.

No SQ.

The best looking single din I could find was a JVC with a 3” LED screen for crying out loud. It sounded weak. So so weak. What happened? Are we now limited to buying NOS or used stereos from 10-15 years ago if we want SQ in a single din with any kind of quality aesthetic?

The ONLY radio I could find in stock that I liked the look of (and I don’t like it all that much):

The radio I want:

the radio I used to have:

1992 or 2022? Pathetic

 

[MobilePioneer]

The dash is the ugliest ever made (pic from google).

I have a couple aftermarket bezels. I also have a collection of gear but it’s been so long I’m still really trying to learn what’s new and better in 2022 vs ~2002-2008.

A DEH-P01 or DEX-99PRS is looking 🔥. I don’t have one of those. The highest end US Pioneer head unit of my time was probably the DEH-P9600MP or the DEH-P880 or 88PRS . I do have a 9600, 8600, and a 7600. Also a sweet Hitron single din EQ from the mid 90’s. We never got the p01 here thst was Japan only. But I can order it on eBay NIB with all the wires and the 6 channel amp

Thank you all for the help you are giving me.

 

[MobilePioneer]

Have you looked into Kenwood or Apline decks? They haven't changed much in styling over the years.

Single-DIN Car Stereos at Crutchfield

Shopping for Single-DIN Car Stereos? Get FREE 2-day shipping, free lifetime tech support, discounted installation gear, and free vehicle-specific instructions.

www.crutchfield.com

That is my problem. I really am not excited one bit about any bar type lcd display. I have a 6800BT in my truck. I hate it. I truly hate it. They look like all the radios from the 90’s, we just didn’t have the technology/price point to make look better back then but we do now.

The OEL and LED displays from 2000-2010 allow for a much better ability to fine tune sound and an overall more enjoyable experience in my opinion.

An exception for me would be a 5+v older Denso Ten (eclipse)


The DEX-P01 has a 24 bit DAC on each output IIRC.

**oh, I’m also a pioneer junkie for life but that needs to be a whole other thread

 

[MobilePioneer]

Thanks for the link I haven’t seen that website.

It looks like I’m leaning towards a Pioneer DEH-P01 from Japan. My ONLY issue I see (besides a few words in Japanese) is the tuner is the wrong frequency. Other then a phone app for FM, how can I get local stations?

thank you all very much

 

[MobilePioneer]

My factory 8 watt cassette player is dead and not worth the time adding the worst sound quality line in (by fm modulator), DSPs, and Bluetooth. It’s ugly as can be too.

The comment about single dins being dead is disappointing. What about classic cars? What about the next generation of gear heads collecting old cars that have single dins? We need high end single din SQ options.

I just want the best quality sound, a simple install, and something aesthetically appealing. It’s not asking a lot. It’s really not.

Guess I’m learning Japanese 🤣

 

[MobilePioneer]

Because that market is so small, how much money would you spend on a single DIN unit? 2500,-- $ upwards due to the low count of produced and sellable units?

2500 is not at all out of the question for the absolute best quality sound you can get.

more or less all newer head units are garbage...the last half decent was Pioneer P99RS, before that Alpine F1 Status, Clarion HX D2/D3, Pioneer ODR and P9, McIntosh Mx 4000 and 5000...and that is pretty much all worth to mention.

You and I are on the same page.

Most gear heads are more concerned about horsepower, not quality car audio.

I’m in a classic car club and I work on all my own vehicles. I believe a quality build goes hand in hand with a quality sound system. That sound has me in my cars more, taking better care of them, and enjoying driving more.

a crackling door speaker has me punching my door cards 😡🤣

 

[MobilePioneer]

I never liked the classic looking units with the bar LCD displays. And now they are back, and standard. It’s disappointing. What happened to OEL? They are so nice. Maybe it’s personal preference but I can’t be alone here. They were the height of non TV type display technology.

Ive thought of dying or painting the plastic to match and mounting this somehow under a DEH-P7600mp in a double din in my truck because it would look really good. It offers nothing but matching aesthetics to the HU though. Still worth it if it looks nice

In the end my decision is way too much work to make it look nice just to have dancing lights. There are plenty of head units with that. SQ is more important to me. But I won’t deny aesthetics are important too.

 

[MobilePioneer]

So it was designed after the “revolutionary” 🤣 96 taurus, it’s biggest brother. I laugh because it will be remembered by me as the ugliest car of all time.

Ford knew they messed up. So they installed a factory single din (metra type bezel) in all the 2003 ZX2’s and fleet Escort Sedans before discontinuing the Mazda B/G platform all together. I have a few of the bezels with wiring.

I definitely don’t have time to customize nor do I even care about keeping that disgusting looking radio face.

I think a real clean and symmetrical single din actually improves the look.

 

[MobilePioneer]

The 3 most expensive single din’s on crutchfield’s website. Pathetic.

 

[MobilePioneer]

Has this been considered? It is quite good looking. Interestingly the Sony RSX GS9, never aesthetically so great in my view, shows as NLA.

edit: It seems the black box itself is single din, but the good looking faceplate "commander unit" mounts separately.

Alpine HDS-990

Status Series high-resolution digital media audio source (does not play discs)

www.crutchfield.com

I did look at this briefly. The “marine” dash mounted units aren’t for me. It doesn’t play CDs. It’s Bluetooth had no hands free calling (all I really want BT for) what kind of a joke is that in 2022 for $1400+ tax