Looking for new audio suggestions

[spares]

I have a 1991 Dodge Ramcharger. I have had this truck since it was built. I special ordered it and picked it up with 7 miles on it. I have taken great care of it. I had an Alpine deck installed in place of the OEM AM/FM deck that was in it. I still have the OEM model, but when they installed the Alpine, they put a new connector on the harness.

My dilema is, the Alpine deck, after 16 years, has finally gone Tango-Uniform. I now have to decide whether to put the OEM unit back in or buy a new deck to install. I want to have Satellite radio as well now, so I am leaning towards a new in-dash unit, but am still going back and forth because I realize I can just get the add-on Satellite radio units for much less that a new in-dash unit, and the satellite tuner ($149 for in dahsh deck, $100 for satellite tuner, and $100 labor and parts).

I have been looking and as I understand it, Pioneer offer the best options when it comes to price and compatipble tuner.

If I go with a new in-dash unit, what is the best (for minimal price, see the truck is 16 years old) that I can get that included AM/FM/CD and Satellite radio?

If I decide to put the OEM unit back in, which is the best Satellite radio add-on option I should get?

Any advise or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[bjboertje]

definately go new deck, not oem. alpine is always good, you know b/c yours lasted 15 years. pioneer is also good, not as good as alpine though.
check these out:
http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAu...roductID=15756
http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAu...roductID=16468

[my99cavy]

out of all the ones you listed, buy anything except sony!!! I would go with alpine.

[highteknology]

i picked alpine. i have a deck in my car that has lasted 3 years. granted it is not the 16 that yours did but i'm guessing it will do that. pretty much now a days all brands will offere compatability with both services, XM or sirius. i gave my mom sirius for her birthday because i liked the programming better on it.

if you were to put the OEM one back in and get a satellite tuner it would not look as clean as an aftermarket HU simply because you would have to mount the tuner somewhere also. they usually come with these little shitty suction cup mounts. the only good thing about these are that you can usually take it from the car to your house, i.e. plug and play recievers. the downside to this though it that you have to buy a home kit then, another 40 bucks.

[PlayStation3]

i would go with pioneer if you want to just go from the hu to the speakers but if u want a sub and amplifers then ether go with alpine or premire.

[highteknology]

Originally Posted by PlayStation3

i would go with pioneer if you want to just go from the hu to the speakers but if u want a sub and amplifers then ether go with alpine or premire.

isn't premier part of Pioneer? just like a step above the reg. pioneer products?

[bjboertje]

yes

[PaulD]

Premiere is usually a fairly good step up in quality

[pimprolla112]

I like panasonic personally, ive had a couple alpines and there still working today. One came in my moms kia its an 01 and it still works perfect and the one in my truck has been in there for 6 years. I had a pioneer a long time ago and it got fairly hot but it worked great sold it and the guy that bought it destroyed it in a month. I liked it. Most of the newer HU (head units) have either built in xm or sirius tuners, and mp3/wma, and some now have the usb plug in and some other cool features. If you spend 200 on the HU all you need is the satellite antenna/tuner to get it rolling usually 50. I have a panasonic thats about 4 years old now and it still works on the radio/sirius side but a little $.99 piece that broke when i wrecked my car cracked and they could never figure out what it was when i finally found out i had a new HU so i gave up on it.

Compare HU, look at what need compared to what it has. Some have things you might not need with your setup like preamps, or the mp3/wma feature. Look around its the best thing you can do.

[v10_viper]

I had an old Panasonic, sticker on it said manufactured in 1995 or 1997 I believe and it still works perfect, although I bought a new one so it's not in my truck. I stuck with Panasonic though and bought there CQ9801U. I have been in love with it since it first came out and they just quit making it a couple months ago. It's an awesome cd player. I say go with Alpine or Panasonic. I hate Sony, have never liked Kenwood's or Pioneer much, Clarions aren't too bad but yeah. Alpine or Panasonic.