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B4 Macintosh HU

PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:20 pm
by RXWAG
Quick one here, any advantages of getting the macintosh headunit from a B4 to replace the standard one in a Gen 3 if it can be picked up cheap enough???

PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:32 pm
by tangcla
I don't think so, it would be no better than the Mcintosh.

If you want a noticeable improvement for quality and/or features, buy an aftermarket one and sell the Mcintosh.

PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:34 pm
by RXWAG
^^nah i meant replacing the standard HU from a Gen 3 with a Macintosh one from a B4

PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:37 pm
by tangcla
Oh, right.

Umm, still don't see a great deal of point. I mean, unless you really want the tape deck :P again, save for an aftermarket headunit, will give you way more features and less aged look.

I would recommend the Eclipse AVN6000, double DIN unit with DVD, GPS etc. Not cheap though :) the new Pioneer AVICs are fairly cheap and might be worth looking at saving towards.

PostPosted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 5:45 pm
by loweart
tangcla wrote:
Umm, still don't see a great deal of point. I mean, unless you really want the tape deck :P again, save for an aftermarket headunit, will give you way more features and less aged look.

I would recommend the Eclipse AVN6000, double DIN unit with DVD, GPS etc. Not cheap though :) the new Pioneer AVICs are fairly cheap and might be worth looking at saving towards.


+1

Although the Pioneer AVIC has come down a little in price, it's responsiveness and bootup time still can't match the Eclipse AVN6000 or even the Kenwood DNX 7320.

If you're not after something as elaborate as these headunits, there are many aftermarket options that will outperform the McIntosh.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:04 pm
by nytrojen
loweart wrote:
tangcla wrote:
Umm, still don't see a great deal of point. I mean, unless you really want the tape deck :P again, save for an aftermarket headunit, will give you way more features and less aged look.

I would recommend the Eclipse AVN6000, double DIN unit with DVD, GPS etc. Not cheap though :) the new Pioneer AVICs are fairly cheap and might be worth looking at saving towards.


+1

Although the Pioneer AVIC has come down a little in price, it's responsiveness and bootup time still can't match the Eclipse AVN6000 or even the Kenwood DNX 7320.

If you're not after something as elaborate as these headunits, there are many aftermarket options that will outperform the McIntosh.


I heard that Eclipse build quality had dropped as of late due to outsourcing of all manufacture to "asian" suppliers?

PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 4:13 pm
by nytrojen
Also... correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that aftermarket audio didn't fit into a Gen3? The gen3 space looks a lot narrower than a din spacing?

Re: B4 Macintosh HU

PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 4:15 pm
by nytrojen
RXWAG wrote:Quick one here, any advantages of getting the macintosh headunit from a B4 to replace the standard one in a Gen 3 if it can be picked up cheap enough???


I think essentially the answer is that there aren't any worthwhile improvements... apart from maybe lightening your wallet. On the other hand, if it's dirrrrrt cheap... like $20 or something, why not give it a shot?

It won't be worse than what you currently have.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 4:32 pm
by swingn
I didn't think any Gen 3 came with a Mac head unit... Do you mean getting the Mac head unit out of a Gen 4 & installing into a Gen 3?

If that's the case, I wouldn't waste your time... You Gen 3 drivers are lucky to have a set up where you can easily get an aftermarket head unit... Be it a single din or double din.

If you after a single din unit, I believe Noozl47 has one for sale (In the for sale section of all places).

PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 4:44 pm
by NoOzL47
yeah mate,

trust me, been there done that with a mates gen 3, and it didnt make much of a difference. You are better off with an aftermarket headunit.

If you are interested i got one for sale aswel :D

http://forum.liberty.asn.au/viewtopic.php?t=5271

And i am down your way quite alot aswel lol

PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:33 pm
by adhar
nytrojen wrote:Also... correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that aftermarket audio didn't fit into a Gen3? The gen3 space looks a lot narrower than a din spacing?


My old car was a Gen 3 and an aftermarket single Din fitted in perfectly with a single Din cubby-hole thing underneath. A double Din would fit no probs, just no storage underneath.

From memory the only thing weird about the install was that the AM/FM arial was wired into the standard HU, i had to buy a plug and and wire up the standard arial plug, but only one of the wires was needed, the other was for some overseas frequency we don't use here.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:22 pm
by nytrojen
adhar wrote:
nytrojen wrote:Also... correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that aftermarket audio didn't fit into a Gen3? The gen3 space looks a lot narrower than a din spacing?


My old car was a Gen 3 and an aftermarket single Din fitted in perfectly with a single Din cubby-hole thing underneath. A double Din would fit no probs, just no storage underneath.

From memory the only thing weird about the install was that the AM/FM arial was wired into the standard HU, i had to buy a plug and and wire up the standard arial plug, but only one of the wires was needed, the other was for some overseas frequency we don't use here.


Well in that case, pretty much any aftermarket HU would be better than trying to get the Mac into the Gen3. I've still got an old Sony HU lying around somewhere, lol.

PostPosted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:30 am
by RXWAG
Thanks for the info guys,

If i get a new one it will be a double din for sure....got other stuff to do first, just saw a heap mac going on ebay and thought i would ask...

PostPosted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:26 pm
by nytrojen
RXWAG wrote:Thanks for the info guys,

If i get a new one it will be a double din for sure....got other stuff to do first, just saw a heap mac going on ebay and thought i would ask...


Shoulda gone to the freeway car audio sale on a few weeks ago - had brand new JVC double din dvd/ipod touchscreen HU going for $500