Advice on a new CD/MP3 head unit

Go with the Pioneer. Alpine makes a better unit imo but for the money that you want to spend the Pioneer will give you much more.

I got the Kenwood MP825 devk in my firebird, its a good deck, I have the pioneer 8500mp in my other car which is really good too.

What about the JVC AR3000... It has some great features: 3 x 5V preouts, 7band EQ, PICT, etc... Plus you can add their 12 disk Mp3 changer for $150 and have hours upon hours of music. Bought mine online for $200 (Shipped)

sorry ahead of time if this is no help to you but i have a pioneer deh 7500mp that i bought from crutchfield for $350 two months ago.  It has been in my car for approximately four weeks but i am selling the car and putting the factory head unit back in...don't know if you've seen this model and would be interested in buying it.  like i said it is barely used and i still have the box and directions. let me know if you are interested

by the way-i know there is a forum for buying and selling equipment i just thought i would mention it here since the topic seemed similar

Lonewolf, it sounds to me like you got a bad one. Maybe just mis-aligned or dropped in shipping. I have been selling/installing Kenwoods for years now and the problem you discribe is extremely rare. Normally a replacement or service will correct the problem. Here in Md we see some strong weather changes and condensation is not uncommon. Thankfully it is rarely a problem.

budget and performance wise, get a kenwood.  but i recommend the alpine 9811 or the alpine 9807.  i've had these models for some time and i was not dissappointed.  if you can, get the alpine 7998.  watch wut u do...

crxess wrote: Lonewolf, it sounds to me like you got a bad one. Maybe just mis-aligned or dropped in shipping. I have been selling/installing Kenwoods for years now and the problem you discribe is extremely rare. Normally a replacement or service will correct the problem. Here in Md we see some strong weather changes and condensation is not uncommon. Thankfully it is rarely a problem.

I'm starting to wonder that myself, and so did the second tech I talked to.  I'm going to try doing one exchange; if I have the same problem, I have some other options I'll be considering, thanks to the advice of everyone here. :)

--1994 Acura Integra GS-R, 152k miles, still goin' strong.