head unit causing my head to spin!!

[kars]

I am having problems deciding which aftermarket HU to go with. My requirements are:
1) under 300 USD.
2) should play MP3s
3) should match the interior of the car. Amber lights and my black anthracite interior. Although I am willing to bend a little on this.

The sony MP40 seems to be a good choice but has blue LED lighting!!

help anyone?!?!

[mikeythemini]

Clarion DXZ738RMP- UK model but the may have similar your side.
Anth alloy finish variable colour display, mp3, 4*51W, 4 pre outs, plus aux in, adjustable subwoofer crossover
Or push the boat out and go for the 838

[scooterboy]

Some of the Alpines are switchable between green and amber buttons and the amber matches the orange light in the dash perfectly. I have the CDA-7998 and it looks like it was made for the dash. Here is a nighttime picture of that model taken by bonz:


The black faceplate also matches the dash well, and looks great with anthracite (IMHO):


This model is more than $300, but there are lower priced Alpines that will have a similar look and are switchable to amber buttons, but they probably won't flip out like this one does. Not all of them are switchable to amber though, so look carefully at the specs.

[minhi]

bad news on the alpine amber buttons the 7998 is the only one left in the lineup that will switch to amber. the 9813 and 9815 will not do it.

i have the older 7894 and the amber illumination is very close to the MINI one, does not stick out at all.

[kars]

thanks gentlemen!! looks like i might be leaning towards the clarion 735....

thanks again!!

[donald]

Sony CDXMP70 7 color you can chose/

[kars]

yeah, i did look into the sony MP70 but i is all silver and i have a all black anthracite interior, so i wasnt too thrilled about that....from the looks of things, the clarion CDX735MP seems to be the only one to satisfy all my needs. Crutchfield also included the adapters and harnesses in their price. I think i will go with them.

thanks!!

[mini94519]

kars, do you mean the Clarion DXZ735MP? I couldn't find any CDX735MP listed on the Crutchfield site. Does anyone know if this or any of the others discussed handle mp3 id3 tags? If so, how many characters are displayed?

kars, if you could post pictures when you're done, that would be great! I've got a Pepper White/black-kaleido black/anthracite coming next month.

[kars]

oh yeah it is DXZ735MP!!
I will post pics of them when i am done installing....it does display CD tags and i think it has a 10 character dotmatrix display...

[Trophy160]

Hi,

The alpine 9813 does have switchable illumination to amber/orange.

I bought one for this reason as it matches the light in my MGF.
Should also go great with a mini interior.

Sounds great too, i'm sure it will be even better when I figure out
all of the stuff that ipersonalize can do . . .

Cheers

Paul;

[kars]

I just installed the clarion DXZ 735MP and i love it!! The color can be changed to match the lights the unit itself is black which matches my anthracite interior. The sound quality is good and I havent stopped listening to my MP3s!!
Will post pics soon.