Recommend me a car radio

Apart from having a jack to plug in my phone for music (which virtually all new head units have), I literally could not care less about what my car radio does as long as it does one thing: I want to be able to quickly and safely black out the lights. I drive at night constantly and I am sick of blinding LEDs designed to stand out on a display rack at Best Buy and impress your friends at the show n' shine in your local wal mart parking lot. If I found one that you could adjust the brightness down to virtually nothing, without going through multiple screens and buttons, that would work too.

Surely I can't be the only one that hates bright lights on the dash at night...?

These always make a nice sound,

Sorry dude, all I have seen is the new bright ones. You might try an older Pioneer.

I have this one, while the BT reception is not great but overall I am very happy with it and it is CHEAP!

http://www.amazon.com/Dual-XDMA6415-200-Watt-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B00012O6QQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1348610053&sr=8-2&keywords=dual+bluetooth+car+stereo

This is my complaint about aftermarket head units. I generally prefer my dash lights on the dim side, and instead, there's a disco in my dash.

I had a pair of Alpine units in two of my cars. While they did have dash dimming support, there were only two settings - "driver blinding" and "aid to marine navigation." Well, that's not entirely fair; there was a third setting: dark. Completely dark. Generally, I'd deal with the light rather than set the dark mode, but it was there.

I also had a cheap Wal-Mart head unit/CD changer combo in my Samurai, and it actually had moderately reasonable lighting. It's out there, but hard to find.

Which model alpines? Dark is what I want. Like, completely blacked out dark is good.

To flight service: unfortunately

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Is there a way to modify your stock one? That's what I keep looking into. If you have a newer car with an oddball stereo, there's a chance that you can find an OEM direct fit headunit. There are as many of those available for my Astra as are major brand double DIN head units.

In reply to Jamesc2123:

I believe it was a CDA 7892 and a CDA 7894. Looking at images of the faceplate, there is a button marked DISP B. OUT. If memory serves, that's what you want to hit.

Check out the JVC digital receiver without a cd drive. It's like $80 on Crutchfield. Not too blingy by modern standards.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KDX40/JVC-KD-X40.html

I had a JVC that I thought needed to be 20% darker... so I put some 20% tint film on the face. I couldn't see it very well in the day but it worked great at night.

Can you put it in the glovebox and block off the stock location? Recess the radio into the dash a bit and make a sliding cover?

I have one of the cheaper Pioneers, around the $175 mark, and it has an 1/8" audio in, doesn't blink like crazy when on, and you can choose from about 40 different backlight colors, some of which are quite dark and easy on the eyes...there's a dark gray color, an off-white, and dark blues that are impossible to read in anything other than total darkness.

i've got 3 different pioneers with audio ins. All of them are great, no blinky blinky and all have great sound.

I have an old panasonic CQ-C9801u.

Perhaps my favorite feature is the one display option that turns off the faceplate completely after 5 seconds. The only button that stays lit is the tiny source button. Change the volume or track or radio preset and it wakes up for 5 seconds then shuts off. Its friggin awesome for night driving.

Jamesc2123 wrote:

Forgot to poke holes.

I buy old head units off CG and they always work great. I buy old Kenwood amplifiers because they are a better construction and kick much harder than anything new on the market (of matching price and or power). Had a 2000 Watt peak amp pushing 2 12" woofers rattling the trunk at 1/16 power. Had to keep her way down.

The Pioneer in my work truck is great, not too bright, not too dim, and no flashing lights.

I drove my daughters car the other evening and had to turn her Alpine off. It flashes constantly and is a particularly irritating, piercing blue.

i have a crappy dual that came in my neon. stupid bright blue lights.

i used a sharpie (black) and colored over all the lighted sections with a single, quick swipe. unnoticible in the daylight, and tinted it just enough to be OK at night. did not do the LCD display, as that was ot the problem.

Used to sell mobile audio stuff, gotta agree with all the Pioneer recommendations. They come in a million flavors and last forever. Some of my Pioneers have been in 4 or more vehicles without fail.

Also, I agree with Sperlo on the Kenwood amplifiers, find a used one in good shape and it's a great bargain. If you can, look at amps that are still in the car, so you can tell how smart or stupid the owner was when it comes to installation and wiring. If it's a mess, walk away.

Car audio is 10% product and 90% installation.

Can you put some tint over the face of the radio?

Hm, I've got an old Pioneer as well which fits into the "Not bright at night" game here. Audio in, as well but it's quieter than the radio.

Clarion CX501. It's a steal through Crutchfield, has line in and USB in for your phone/MP3, and gives handsfree calling through bluetooth. You can customize the color and the brightness of the display to match your dash lights. Not a button per-se, but you can choose some pretty muted shades.

coll9947 wrote: Car audio is 10% product and 90% installation.

This, +11tybillion

coll9947 wrote: Used to sell mobile audio stuff, gotta agree with all the Pioneer recommendations. They come in a million flavors and last forever. Some of my Pioneers have been in 4 or more vehicles without fail. Also, I agree with Sperlo on the Kenwood amplifiers, find a used one in good shape and it's a great bargain. If you can, look at amps that are still in the car, so you can tell how smart or stupid the owner was when it comes to installation and wiring. If it's a mess, walk away.

I became partial to the old ARHC series Memphis amps before I went high tech SQ with Cadence......which made me lose some hearing.......WHAT???

you want the Jensen heavy duty series head unit.

i just put one in my miata. it is awesome and perfect and wonderful.

(never thought i'd say that about a jensen)

http://www.jensenheavyduty.com/jensen-heavy-duty-am-fm-cd-wb-ipod-and-sirius-satellite-radio-ready-stereo.html

it's super easy to use. in addition to not being blinding at night, you can still read it even in direct sunlight too. very heavy construction. i've only had it a year, but if feels like it'll last forever.