Help me pick my Head Unit
 

Hi all,

Trying to decide between the following head units....

Thoughts?

Alpine 305s
Alpine CDA-117
or

Kenwood KIV-700

I will be adding on the blue-tooth, and Sirius modules... but I was hoping to spare the added imprint expense with the alpine.

I think the 305 and the kiv look stunning... I also have no need for a Cd player.... but...

From what I have read there is no eq adjustments at all with the x305s?? and both the x305 and the kiv700 are really slow going through large song lists?

I tried them...and didnt see a ton of difference..

Currently, I will not be adding subs or any additional amps.

Thoughts?

you should take a look at the kenwood kiv-BT900 , has built in headunit for much less than it would be to add an add-on bluetooth module.

I have the KIV-700 ... I re-installed most of the things in my car, its in a bunch of pieces. So I cant give a review quite yet. My front speakers dont fit in the factory door hole so I either need to cut the door or make an adapter. Either way its setting me back, which will take more time for me to give you a review :thumbsdow

I have the IDA-X305 with the Imprint. I just installed the KIV-900BT in my wifes car. I have no experience with the CDA-117 (just read a bit on the internet).

KIV-900BT will be the cheapest once you factor in the BT adder for the Alpine Units but medium in the audio features, best screen display but not as fast as the IDA-305 when searching. (analog audio conection to ipod, it doesn't use the 24bit DAC of the head unit like the Alpines do)

IDA-x305 is the best ipod solution but by itself the weakest of the 3 for audio features but paired with the PXA-H100 (imprint) it would be the strongest.

If you're not going to buy the imprint module the CDA-117 will have the best audio features but is lacking in the ipod solution department.

There's no secrets, all 3 are good units. They each compromise and are priced accordingly. If this is the beginning of your system build and are going to upgrade all speakers, add subs and amps for all then I would suggest you spend the bucks, go with the IDA-X305/PXA-H100/KCE-400BT. If not then go with the Kenwood.

I'll be adding the KCE-400BT to my Alpine over the holidays. As nice as the Kenwood Unit is (and it looks great with excellent control on the remote control) I would not give up my IDA-X305/Imprint for it.

If you go with the ida-305 you'll have to buy a remote seperate ($20 on ebay or prob. $40 local) I also saw an IDA-X305s/KCE-400BT combo unit on Crutchfield so I don't know if there is or isn't much savings there.

If you're getting the KIV-700 and you're gonna be using an ipod/iphone beware that there is no DAC bypass. Thus, it'll be using the ip*, DAC instead of the HU's. Check out the x794/x994 by kenwood as well.