Anybody has something like this in a B7?

[shiro1745]

I'm thinking to change the oem head unit and I saw this Clarion VZ400 and I kind of like it. If the buttons would be red I would get it in a heart beat. But what do you guys think about the blue color? I like the single din idea just cause since I got the car a big problem was that I never had room for my wallet/phone/sunglasses. So I think that extra space would be perfect for me. I also really like how the unit looks when the screen is inside - really simple with very few buttons to show.

So please feel free to criticize or like my choice. This would help me decide easier if to get it or not.
The most important thing is that I don't want to spend more than $400. And I think for the price this thing has some nice features.
I would really appreciate if somebody would post some pictures with a head unit(blue color buttons/display) in our dash. This way I could have an idea of how a blue and our red would look, I am sure not as good as red/red but I'm trying to see if at least would look decent.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_020VZ400/Clarion-VZ400.html?search=vz400&tp=20217&tab=features_and_specs

http://www.carmonitorstorepro.co.cc/images/I/41cOigOW3BL.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/4/4/3/7/9/5/webimg/370120264_o.jpg
http://www.autosoundswarehouse.com/media/0f/a20791f12efee397e71264_m.jpg

[Schmaud]

Ick dont get a flip out, they look cheap IMO. Go double din.

[MCT9891]

Ick dont get a flip out, they look cheap IMO. Go double din.

x2

[pw211]

no reason to convert an already double din setup to a single din so you can have a flip out. Just get a double din screen ?

[Dubdemand]

Aftermarket head units like that look crap and out of place in an a4. You could put one in a shit box civic though and that'd make it look amazing lol

[Macdoon]

Stick with an OEM headunit keep with the red colour, get an armrest fella - sorted, perfect place for wallet etc

Mac

[b7a4GT30]

or you can get the dynavin!

[shiro1745]

Aftermarket head units like that look crap and out of place in an a4. You could put one in a shit box civic though and that'd make it look amazing lol
I could not agree more, I actually don't like any aftermarket headunit in b7. I decided though to replace my oem for the sound quality and now I have to decide.


Stick with an OEM headunit keep with the red colour, get an armrest fella - sorted, perfect place for wallet etc

Mac

My armrest if full with different things, I second one would help but there's no room for it LOL

or you can get the dynavin!
I'm not sure what sound quality this things provide. I would really be more comfortable with a good known brand of car stereo.

[shiro1745]

no reason to convert an already double din setup to a single din so you can have a flip out. Just get a double din screen ?

I wasn't even looking for a double din for the extra space reason and price. But now you guys are twisting my mind [confused]

[Stewy]

x2

x3

[CleverA4Name]

There is a drawer underneath the driver's seat (There is actually one underneath both front seats) that is perfect for storing your sunglasses.

[pw211]

Sound quality will come more through replacing speakers than anything..

[audinewguy]

oem headunit sucks. imho. i've seen some clean double din aftermarkets on here.

[shiro1745]

There is a drawer underneath the driver's seat (There is actually one underneath both front seats) that is perfect for storing your sunglasses.

Those are full too, I should probably organize myself a bit and free some space.


Sound quality will come more through replacing speakers than anything..

I do not agree. I've had experience when replacing the headunit with a good aftermarket one made huge difference, just like you would replace speakers.
Of course I'm not saying that the speakers are not important but if you have a poor quality signal there's no point replacing them.
Speakers will come next.

[Guitarmageddon]

Go double din, kind of pointless not to use the space. Unless you feel the need that you have to store things underneath the single din in that little compartment. Love this stereo, sound quality is superb through 2 100w polks up front. I believe its been discontinued and replaced by the almost identical pioneer avh p4300dvd. I think that oem feel isnt really interrupted too much.

There are a lot of people here you shun everyone that replaces their head unit and say theyre for civics, so I guess you could listen to them and keep the oem crap spewing unit and get an external eq like the clean sweep, but then whats the point of getting a new h/u if not for improved quality of sound and functionality. Then you don't have to go on a quest all over gods green earth to get your dension ipod connectors or what not to actually work. If having the song names stream across the little driver's display underneath the temperature is important, then go that route![:D]

There was also a company, the name escapes me right now, that makes h/u that are aftermarket but look like they could be easily oem. I think they were korean or something. Anyone know the ones Im thinking of?

Also, the biggest sq increase is definately through the h/u than the speakers. Its been said a million times and argued over, but just like the old saying goes, you cant polish a turd, well you can only make a crap signal sound so good by improving the speakers, til you hit the wall. If you're doing one before the other, definitely h/u first. btw, blue and red looks pretty good, especially if you were up for changing out the leds behind your instrument cluster, i saw the diy on here somewhere, looks really legit. Ill change my colors to blue on this h/u, and post some pics later, if youre even interested in it.

http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz53/guitarmageddon88/DSCN0300.jpg

http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz53/guitarmageddon88/DSCN0301.jpg

[MCT9891]

I gotta admit at first I was all for the oem look, and still am, but my car came with a pioneer headunit from the previous owner and it grew on me...
It's no RNS-E but i like it...
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/190454_10150114247861491_727176490_7149654_3619207 _n.jpg

[shiro1745]

First thanks for the pictures. After looking around and getting all your suggestions I've decided to go with a double din unit.
I'm inclined to get the Pioneer AVH-P3300BT(more likely this one), Pioneer AVH-P3200DVD or Pioneer AVH P4300DVD (this one doesn't have the optional navigation upgrade available)

http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutchfield.com/products/2010/46/130/s130P3300BT-F.jpeg http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutchfield.com/products/2010/46/130/s130AVHP23-F.jpeg http://a248.e.akamai.net/pix.crutchfield.com/products/2010/46/130/s130AVHP43-F.jpeg

They're all compared here
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/CompareTo.aspx?g=300&cc=01&compareItems=01|130AVHP43&compareItems=01|130P3300BT&compareItems=01|130AVHP23

I'm still open for suggestions if you think there's a better choice out there under $500.

I've seen people talking here that the Connects2 is the best option for our cars. How is the one that comes in the kit when you buy the stereo from crutchfield.com? They say it's PAC's C2R-AUDI. Is this any good? If so I would save there some $$$ crutchfield giving the installation gear for free.

[Guitarmageddon]

The 4300 does have optional navigation and bluetooth option as well. when I got my stuff from crutchfield, I believe there were two connectors, totaling around 70 bucks, to retain steering wheel function, but it didn't matter to me that much, considering it was only for volume, so I just left it out. the controls are still lit up though so its not noticeable. I came from a truck that didn't have all these fancy bells and whistles, so not having the steering wheel controls isn't a huge fault for me. You definately cant go wrong with a pioneer, always good stuff

Oh, now i remember why I went with the 4200 (now 4300) from looking at those comparison photos. It was the fact that I could wire in the usb/ipod from the BACK of the unit and leave it inside the armrest or glovebox, out of sight because that was the one that had a rear usb. The cheaper two models have the usb in the front of the unit. So if you dont mind that, then go for it. I liked a more concealed clean look, so I went for that. Same with the aux in on the 42/4300, also in the back.

Also, in any of the choices, you will have to buy (if you use it) a new satellite radio reciever, because our stock ones cant be transferred over. I swear by my sirius, so I got that as well. When I did the research, I couldnt find a way to re-use the antenna module in the sharkfin, so I had to hide the magnet antenna under the dash inside the vent, but it works fine there. Maybe there is a way to reuse the sharkfin antenna for a different brand of h/u or satellite reciever? anyone chime in here?

[Guitarmageddon]

Got a couple shots to convince you

Here is where the ipod usually sits, but you could put it in the armrest or glovebox, which Ill probably do in the future.
http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz53/guitarmageddon88/DSCN0020.jpg

here is the face open, for cd's and the sd card
http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz53/guitarmageddon88/DSCN0017.jpg

http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz53/guitarmageddon88/DSCN0016.jpg

http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz53/guitarmageddon88/DSCN0009.jpg

http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz53/guitarmageddon88/DSCN0013.jpg

http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz53/guitarmageddon88/DSCN0015.jpg

And a couple shots with some backgrounds
http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz53/guitarmageddon88/DSCN0022.jpg

http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz53/guitarmageddon88/DSCN0021.jpg

http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz53/guitarmageddon88/DSCN0023.jpg

[Homer]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_K9pC2RVNSlQ/TIljDWNmogI/AAAAAAAADQM/UsfYjQBOVvk/s800/DSC_0132.jpg
Just sayin...

[shiro1745]

@guitarmageddon great, I really appreciate the effort. There are a lot of good photos and some good info. Still have a couple days to decide...

[shiro1745]

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_K9pC2RVNSlQ/TIljDWNmogI/AAAAAAAADQM/UsfYjQBOVvk/s800/DSC_0132.jpg
Just sayin...

I know I know ...
Too expensive for me at this point. By the way how is the sound quality coming from this unit compared with these pioneer units mentioned here for example??? I was always wondering ... I bet is not as good, but maybe I'm wrong. Usually the oem units are not great when it comes to quality.

[JPT]

I know after market head units will sound better, but I love the sound out of my RNS-E... I am very happy with my bose speakers too. Yes it will not compare to a high end system, but it is the best factory setup I've ever heard.

[Guitarmageddon]

For the price of the RNS, that pretty much covered the entire cost to revamp my whole system, although I did have a sub/amp already. But still, its a bit steep to keep that look, although it is a very nice piece. I will admit the integration is top notch

[WasGTIguy]

http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz53/guitarmageddon88/DSCN0009.jpg

LMAO, it tells you what station you have on in three places

[Quattro]

i suppose I am one of the few people who actually like a single dim tv. I love my alpine unit, I needed the extra space for my EQ that I had prior so it worked perfectly with what I needed it for. I personally am an audio whore, I couldn't justify going the oem+ route.

[Guitarmageddon]

http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/zz53/guitarmageddon88/DSCN0009.jpg

LMAO, it tells you what station you have on in three places

Hey, thats just in case you forget [cool]

http://www.allroadfaq.com/downloads/reference/navplus/rnse_manual_.pdf

btw theres an rns-e manual, i think it might be kind of old, if you wanted to browse some of the features, but I couldnt find any of the electrical specs or anything to compare it with other units, havent been able to get that info anywhere as a matter of fact. I think all it has is trebble, mid, and bass, plus some other DSP type effect. Not much to it. Upside to RNS-E is installation seems pretty easy, kind of plug and play, less messing with wiring harnesses. Downside is all the codes and crap that can go wrong with them. Im sure thats not representative of all cases , enough to scare me though.

[bartles]

Like the first guy said, DONT GET A FLIP OUT! I had one it sucked. Nav was cheap, ipod was a pita to go thru, and it was LOUD! from the fan it had to keep it cool. I will never buy a flip out again.