I will soon be getting a 2001 toyota highlander with a broken head unit and thoroughly mediocre stock speakers, so I am looking around for viable replacements.
I am a broke college student, so I would like to keep it as low cost as possible, but I drive a lot and good sounding audio is very important to me. I have a 4 channel amplifier (Kenwood KAC-X40) and a 500W mono amp with subwoofer (Kenwood but no model numbers at the moment, though they are about 3 years old at this point) in my current vehicle, which I will be moving over.
Unfortunately, all my current speakers are different dimensions and my current head unit has enough flaws that I would like a replacement. Therefore, I turn to wisdom of the masses to see what the most viable option might be.
Here is a list of my general requirements for a head unit:
1) 6RCA outputs (Front, rear, and subwoofer), but I am not particular about output levels. My amp will take anything from 2-4V pretty well for sure, and I would expect it could handle a wider range with ease.
2) Bluetooth capability for both phone calls and streaming music, preferably capable of multiple devices easily, includes a microphone with good call quality. Must support Android phones, as my research has led me to believe that most are designed for iPhones and have less compatibility with Android phones.
3) Ideally I would like 2xUSB and 1x3.5mm inputs, with one USB in back for my iPod Touch and the other two in front, however I am not completely set on that. I do require at least 1xUSB and 1x3.5mm though.
4) The ability to control a connected iPod either through the head unit itself, or from the iPod while still connected. I got my current head unit just before this feature became commonplace and it is the biggest reason I will not be keeping it.
5) The opening is a double DIN, but unless a particular double DIN unit has all the features at a better price point, I would prefer a single DIN unit.
As for the speakers, I believe that the Highlander has 1-1/2" tweeters and 6" 3-hole door speakers in front, and 5-1/4" 3-hole door speakers in back.
My amp can drive 70W RMS into each channel at 4 ohms, or 100W RMS into each at 2 ohms. I have no particular preference for brand, impedance, or specific frequency responses in the front crossover. I need something that will fit the size, sound great, and not get destroyed in the event someone overdrives my amp. BTW, my general choice in music is mostly rock, ska, punk, and a little metal.
Ideally I would like to spend less than $500 on a head unit and speakers, but I do not know if that is entirely realistic. From what I have seen, most head units with my desired specs will be $200+, and speakers seem to be $90+ a piece.
Any suggestions you have for both what to buy and where to buy them would be greatly appreciated. I apologize for the length of the post, but for those of you who read the whole thing, I applaud you. I like to put forth as much information I can to make it easier for you to help me.