Head Units

[Merlin]

Have you looked at the Kenwood KDC-X996 (click on picture below)

[busaandy]

I have a jenson for now

[mikelemoine]

I have an Eclipse AVN-5495, I think it's the same as Merlin's. Gonna have to look into changing my background too! I love this HU, I've listened to Sirius radio while copying a CD to the internal HD while using built in Navigation. It has 5V pre-outs and a great frequency response. Of course, I also hate this HU because Eclipse charges $350 for the map updates and mine has a SW bug from 2006 that requires you to send the unit into them instead of just downloading and updating via DVD/CD . I just use my Android phone for navigation now, it's more up to date than Eclipse's latest maps plus I don't have to pay extra for it.

The Pioneers seem to be pretty cutting edge, although I haven't looked at stereos in the past few years.

[GRANTBP]

I have a jenson for now

me to

[DoubleBass07]

Hey Guys, I just bought the new alpine model INE-W927HD 7" screen same features as the 8" cruchfiled $1199, currently I have an eclipse AVN-6610 great sound, Three 5-Volt Pre-amp Outputs, and dual zone lets movies play at the rear and music up front,I don't like the fact that the navigation system is dvd, old tech, but sounds great, The alpine has Three 4-Volt Pre-amp Outputs, I hope this doesn't hurt the sound quality, If it does I will send it back. I will soon finish this project,sound system has taken me a few years now,after alpine install I give some feedback.

[1mean02HD]

Still rocking my Kenwood KVT-717DVD flip out... Old school but works great. Just need to get something in the F250 now where I can use all the steering wheel buttons.

[03HDSVT]

what kits are you guys using for install, everyone I talk with says it won't fit, which obviously
isn't right, but my guess is that is because it's not bolt in and they don't want to support the
work you'd have to do.

Anythreads on the install process what it takes to put one in?

[Blind]

there's tons of threads on here do a search, I used the metra kit.

Amazon.com: Metra 95-5818 Double Din Dash Kit for Select 1997-2003 Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda Vehicles: Car Electronics

It requires cutting to fit a double din headunit.

[03HDSVT]

I've done several searched and been through the Audio threads

Was it just plug n play with that or did you have to do some trimming
to the face cover plate with the AC vents, what extra work did you
have to deal with in order to get it to fit. FWIU all the double dins are
bigger than the opening..

[cayman150]

It's not very much trimming at all. If you have a dremel tool it is a piece of cake to do the plastic bits. You just need to take off about an 1/8 inch on each side and maybe the same for one side of the top or bottom depending on your after market unit. IIRC the metal bracket in the rear that holds the OEM unit in can either come all the way out or be trimmed too. Once you pull your OEM unit and take a look and test fit your after market one you'll see it's very easy.

The face plate surround is all plastic too so it may need trimming to fit your unit. Just getting the motivation to tear into it is the key. It's really not hard at all.

[03HDSVT]

THanks guess it's time to look into a HU, not really interested in a mega banging system
I just want BT access so my Iphone will hook up, app control maybe, don't care about Nav

[Blind]

Not sure what you were searching for, but here's a thread on my install with a bunch of pictures -
http://www.nhtoc.com/vbforum/audio-s...rius-ipod.html

I had to only cut inside the dash, I cut nothing of the ac bezel on the outside of the dash and I'm very happy with the fitment. The metra trim kit includes instructions of exactly what needs to be trimmed.

[03HDSVT]

well you'd be amazed what comes up when you put head unit in
lot of stuff unrealated I've probably read 50 threads thanks for the link.

I just have to decide if I'm going to do this or not, really just want to
be able to access the iPhone while in the truck, and don't care for the single din
and compartment look, but I might do it if it's less expensive.

As much as I like music the trucks 10 years old and I am getting the
itch to move to a newer F150..

[Blind]

well you'd be amazed what comes up when you put head unit in
lot of stuff unrealated I've probably read 50 threads thanks for the link.

I just have to decide if I'm going to do this or not, really just want to
be able to access the iPhone while in the truck, and don't care for the single din
and compartment look, but I might do it if it's less expensive.

As much as I like music the trucks 10 years old and I am getting the
itch to move to a newer F150..

just search google for "2003 f150 double din install" and you'll find TONS of threads on this and other forums.

With my avic f700 headunit I have great functionality from my iphone, bluetooth with a mic installed next to the overhead console so everyone in the truck can be heard on a call if wanted, a backup camera that works anytime the shifter is in reverse or whenever I want if I hit the 'rear view' button on the headunit (rear camera tapped into trailer wiring plug behind the bumper for power), and either streaming bluetooth music if I'm on a quick drive and too lazy to pull the phone out of my pocket, or a front aux input for better SQ when I have the phone out and on the dock charging for longer drives...

[cayman150]

The advantage of the double din is the touch screen and being able to view DVD's, gamingand NAV. If you don't need all of that then a single din with cubby compartment, USB/iPod, bluetooth will probably be half or a third the cost.