93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
6/16/22 9:36 a.m.

I am planning on doing an audio upgrade on my Element with new door speakers (and maybe tweeters) as well as head unit. But I am struggling to find a head unit that will work that I like the look of because most aftermarket head units look like absolute trash. My Element has the 7 speaker so I need a head unit with front, rear and sub pre-amp outputs 

I like the VDO Continental tr7412ub-or but it doesn't have the needed outputs.

There is the Blaupunkt Bremen SQR 46 DAB and it does have the required pre-amp outputs but it is pricey ($480).

Does anyone have suggestions on that have the needed pre-amp outputs with a reserved/retro look and a bit less pricey? Or even retro units that have the needed pre-outs and an aux in? Not to bothered by Bluetooth or not.

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
6/17/22 10:01 a.m.

Ok so after doing a lot of hunting I ended up ordering this head unit from England.

Blaupunkt had quite a few good looking options. So I could find a site to buy though (Stockholom 400, Skagen 400) or they didn't have the needed outputs (Barcelona 200, Palma 190 (double din), Essen 200).

I also considered the Clarion M508.

Which is a marine head unit but apparently the screen is pretty bright.

Also the Retrosound Grand Prix.

Also came very close to ordering a Denon R1 (used from Japan) but I couldn't figure out if it had aux in or not

 

 

So some suggestions if people are going through the same hunt.

iansane
iansane GRM+ Memberand Dork
6/17/22 10:10 a.m.

It doesn't have any amp outputs but I finally ended up ordering a stock radio from a 2022 e350 van for $35 off ebay. I have cars with both green and orange gauge coloring so this only solved one car's issues. It's BT and a subdued face/screen. The pigtail was hard to come by though. That was another $40 from a JY.

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I really like that clarion but I just have to have orange or green screen.

Tom Suddard
Tom Suddard GRM+ Memberand Director of Marketing & Digital Assets
6/17/22 10:14 a.m.

Aren't all elements double DIN though?

Here's what I ended up with in mine:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sony-6-2-apple-carplay-built-in-bluetooth-in-dash-digital-media-receiver-black/6283607.p?skuId=6283607&ref=212&loc=1&extStoreId=515&ref=212&loc=1&ds_rl=1268649&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-7ne39W0-AIVBB-tBh2TDg38EAQYASABEgL5YPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

It's about the only thing I've found that's standard double DIN size, has a volume knob, and has CarPlay.

Tom Suddard
Tom Suddard GRM+ Memberand Director of Marketing & Digital Assets
6/17/22 10:14 a.m.

93EXCivic
93EXCivic MegaDork
6/17/22 10:18 a.m.

In reply to Tom Suddard :

Yeah I am going to get a single DIN adaptor like I did in my Ranger. I wanted no touch screen or big screen in general.

The Blaupunkt Palma 190 looked like a great double din unit but it didn't have the outputs needed for an EX model. Seems like it would work great in a non EX model though

pointofdeparture
pointofdeparture GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
6/17/22 10:20 a.m.

In reply to Tom Suddard :

I have that head unit in my NC and love it. Sony makes the best CarPlay units, IMO.

Tom Suddard
Tom Suddard GRM+ Memberand Director of Marketing & Digital Assets
6/17/22 10:25 a.m.

In reply to pointofdeparture :

Yeah, I put the same one on my truck and my sister has one in her CRV, too. 

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