need some audio shopping assistance!!

[Chris.]

ok my girls Bday is next saturday the 20th... and shes pimpin a stock 04 ford focus. she has a stock factory single disc CDplayer in her car... it died on her. she wants me to get her a new one for her bday.. so im gonna do it but.. i need a little advice on what to get. if i go to ciruit city they will install it for me for free since i know damn well itll be over 99 buxs for the radio. so what should i look into? what do you guys like and dislike? im more partial to sony myself.. but i was lookin at these nice eclipse ones the other day.

she wants:
a cdplayer...duh
it has to have one of those graphic displays..where it shows little pictures and what not..
maybe a remote.
and be good quality.

im thinkin about gettin the new HD radio one.. but someone factor that in to the equation and is there anything out there that has all this?
post pics, links, prices, dos, donts, all that!
also anyone know a way around havin to buy all the conversion harnesses for it that would be nice too...itll save me 70 bux extra!

 

[96greencivic]

Well, I'm a Kenwood person. I have an X789 (which they replaced with the X790). I like it a lot. Since you want some kind of display, this is a good one. It can display some images, but I always keep mine set with the Artist/ Song Title/ Time. You can run Sirius to it and it scrolls all that info. So I think she would like it. If you want to get her HD radio, it is compatible and you can get the iPod interface as well. Very expandable for future growth. I think you can take this project on your own. Crutchfield will send you all the instructions, harness and they will give you free ship (over $250) and no tax. I buy a lot from them.
X790

X790 Description

 

[1999stockaccord]

Well, I'm a Kenwood person. I have an X789 (which they replaced with the X790). I like it a lot. Since you want some kind of display, this is a good one. It can display some images, but I always keep mine set with the Artist/ Song Title/ Time. You can run Sirius to it and it scrolls all that info. So I think she would like it. If you want to get her HD radio, it is compatible and you can get the iPod interface as well. Very expandable for future growth. I think you can take this project on your own. Crutchfield will send you all the instructions, harness and they will give you free ship (over $250) and no tax. I buy a lot from them.
X790

X790 Description

crutchfield is awesome

just to throw in the other side of things, Im a Pioneer and Alpine fan

Pioneer DEH-P5800MP

Spec Link

Havent seen too many Alpines with the picture display...

Just as an extra option:
Panasonic CQ-C7303U

Spec Link

Your looking at a 200-300 buck price range to get all the features you want. Crutchfield sends you all the stuff you need, along with diagrams and FREE SHIPPING most of the time. your in VA right? it should arrive within a day because there based in Charlottesville...

 

[Chris.]

but circuit city seems to think i need an attenea adapter and aharness adapter to install sumthin like a new radio. crutchfield doesnt say i need it tho...anyone know whats up?

 

[Chris.]

total at circui city is 285. and i go with the
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?oid=141962&c=1

what you guys think? id like to go with crutchfield..but i dont want to install it. i just dont have the paitience no more for it. its free for them to do it.

 

[Astheros]

are u sure its free....i was at best buying looking at some radios and they say its free installation for 100 bucks or more...but then they were like....labor is free but there is a charge of 45 bucks...so i left the radio and decided to spend my money on something else.

 

[96greencivic]

DIY, it won't take that long and you'll learn something. If CC is already telling you that you need adapters, I can almost guarentee they'll charge you for it. Well, I've bought so much from Crutchfield that I trust their word then a CC employee. I got a $700 camcorder from them. It arrived quick, but the flip out LCD had a stuck pixel. I called them and told them the issue. They said that one pixel is normal for many companys. I said well for $700, I want it perfect. They said no problem. They sent me a another brand new one and I just swapped out the old camera for the new one and mailed it back. They have awesome customer service. What other online retailer will send you a brand new replacement w/o getting the old one back first

 

[1999stockaccord]

If installing it is a problem, I'll drive over there and do it for you man, or hell, bring it to the York meet and well do it there

The pioneer deh-p6800mp would be 240.00 from crutchfield... shipped, with harnesses, trim kits, and even the possublity of installation

 

[SiGSR]

Cheapest way to do is, prepare to install it yourself. Find what stereo you want, Ebay it (just find a good rating seller). Find some instruction online for installing. Buy a harness from your local auto parts store and wire it yourself. I bet you that will save over $100+, which allows for getting a better stereo.

Hell, since 1999stockaccord is offering his assistance, you got installtion taken care of, now go to Ebay and make that girlfriend happy. Oh and I personally like Alpine decks, they're plainer than most the other brands, but I've always like the quiet, subtle look.

Alpine CDA 9856

 

[Chris.]

If installing it is a problem, I'll drive over there and do it for you man, or hell, bring it to the York meet and well do it there

The pioneer deh-p6800mp would be 240.00 from crutchfield... shipped, with harnesses, trim kits, and even the possublity of installation

werd replied to your PM...and thats a hell of a deal! but...i really like the 7800 that they got....but i have bad credit and not enough cash to get it..so thats out! i read that they include all the adapters so i guess thats what i need then. i must have overlooked that part when i looked yesterday.

 

[Beelzebubba]

If installing it is a problem, I'll drive over there and do it for you man, or hell, bring it to the York meet and well do it there

The pioneer deh-p6800mp would be 240.00 from crutchfield... shipped, with harnesses, trim kits, and even the possublity of installation

Crutchfield is $259.99, Circuit City is $229.99, Comp-u-plus is $177.00 plus 14.95 shipping.


Is the harness and trim kit really worth $70.00?

If you're going to order it online at least Froogle the model number...if nothing else than just for shits and giggles. You don't have to trust all the vendors but I got my Kenwood for about $100. less than Crutchfield listed it for.

Oh yeah, HD radio? Wow. Commercials in high definition. Too little too late Clear Channel. No thanks. I'll keep my Sirius.

 

[Chris.]

yea clear channel is a joke! if you ever noticed? but if you listen to DC101 and they runnin one of those..live weekend or whatever weekends that they do sumthin special...then go down to richmond on the same weekend...and listen to 102.1 the X and they doin the same thing. i was in philly and they were doin the same thing as well. f**kin clear channel! they suck ass. they say its a request..but its really just a playlist. they say the most requested song during the day is this......but i f**kin hate that song and its ghey as hell!