After using cassette and FM adapters for my iPod and iPhone for long enough to get really annoyed by them, I want to upgrade the head unit in car to an after-market one with built-in iPhone connectivity, so I'm looking for recommendations.

What I want:
full iPod integration for music playback (i.e. use the stereo controls to control the iPhone/iPod, charge it, navigate it's contents, and play back MP3 and AAC files)
iPhone integration to use the stereo unit as a speakerphone, either via a cable or Bluetooth
Appropriate connections to auto-dim when the headlights are on, and auto adjust the volume based on speed (both things the original OEM head unit does)
either a single slot CD player or the ability to control the 6 disc Becker CD changer that came in the car
Single-DIN form factor
Easy to use, good user interface
(nice to have) either an orange-ish light scheme, or adjustable light scheme, so it can match the dash and instrument panel light color

What I don't want
Nav system
Video playback

Any suggestions from folks out there who've done something similar?

Thanks,
Bob

What kind of car is it? Sounds like could be a Boxster or other Porsche from your description, but Becker also makes CD changers for Mercedes. What you get also depends on what the car already has, wiring etc. I know from experience that getting an aftermarket headunit to integrate with the Mercedes MOST optical databus is not as straightforward as cars that use simple wires.

You are probably better off researching on car specific forums.

It's a 2000 Porsche 911, so there's no optical data bus (I think that came in with the '02 models). If I can keep using the CD changer, that would be nice, but good iPhone integration and the other features are much more important. As long as the new head unit can drive the speakers, I'll be pretty happy.

I've also posted this on a couple of Porsche web sites, but thought I'd solicit opinions here as well, since I'm looking for head unit reviews more than Porsche-specific recommendations.

Thanks,
Bob

I've always been a big Blaupunkt fan when it comes to German cars. Usually a nice and simple install, and most of the features you asked for.

The Bremen is the one I'd recommend at the moment - it has (optional) Bluetooth, an optional iPod interface, and it'll do Bluetooth stereo when the iPhone starts supporting it later this year.

http://www.blaupunkt.com/us/7646829310_main.asp

$600 from Amazon.

Better yet, the Hamburg MP68:

MP68 for $349, iPod cable is only $20 if you want the basics (audio/power) or $150 if you want full control.

I've replaced one stereo system myself in the last 10 years or so, and helped a friend once. Not exactly tons of experience, but 2x more stereo changing than most people ever do. I have always gone with Crutchfield. Not the cheapest, but I have always found them some of the most helpful. http://www.crutchfield.com/

A large selection, a very good search functions to narrow by specific features. Putting in your info (having to guess on Body and current stereo setup) I got over 100 results for stereos you could use, with 45 having audio-only ipod connectivity.

While they're good at sending you adapters and instructions if you want, you're probably having someone else do this, right? I ask because for full ipod integration, you'll have wiring coming out the back that will need to be run to the glove box or some center console area. That usually involves things like taking parts of the dashboard or other molding out. Could get complicated.

You can always use them to shop around thanks to their good search engine, then find it cheaper elsewhere.

I replaced the head end on my 2007 Ford Escape with an Alpine unit to get ipod integration. But if I had a Porche, with the cd changer, (or any other high end car) I'd probably be looking into an add-on, unless you want to change the head end. If one of the add-ons works with your head end, you can keep the existing head end, if that's what you want to do. The add-ons can be more expensive than a new head end, depending on what you want.

You'll probably get better info in one of the Porsche enthusiast forums. Let us know what you find out.

In my case, I replaced all the speakers, added two amps and a subwoofer, and the ipod cable is wired into the glove compartment (I didn't need iphone integration). It would have been a lot cheaper if I just replaced the head end.

-David

How do you like the Alpine user interface and iPod controls? That's the area where feedback is really helpful, as it's hard to tell from just looking at the specs if the daily usability of the controls is good or bad.

thanks,
Bob

I'm most likely going to pay someone to do the install, what I'm most interested in is first-hand feedback from folks with iPod integration to see what they like/dislike about the user interface of their systems.

Bob

About two years ago, I replaced the entire system in our Audi TT Roadster with a Kenwood flip out display w/gps, bluetooth, reverse camera, ipod connector, Sirius, and 6 disc changer. I will never do that again.

Here's a picture.

We kept the car only 11 months then traded it in for an MB SLK with factory nav, ipod, bluetooth, sirius and changer. I was never happy with the aftermarket look even though it worked ok. In some ways the Kenwood / Garmin Nav is better than what we replaced it with. The Kenwood iPod interface is really horrible though.

I much prefer the phone interface on the SLK since it integrates with the steering wheel and has an actual number keypad.

So you hated the Kenwood iPod interface? That's exactly the sort of feedback I'm looking for. Was it just hard to use, were there specific features that were good/bad, etc?

Thanks,
Bob

PS: Unfortunately, trading in my 911 for a new one would be one way to get a better iPod/iPhone integration, but that's a pretty expensive solution.

With Alpine, the more you spend, the better the buttons and the display and the UI. I didn't get a very high end unit. It's usable, but I really have a hard time remembering how to get into the search modes. I'm sure the UI would be much better if I had spent another $100 on the head end. The head end I got only has some basic buttons and a one-line display that you can cycle through several lines to display the artist, album, song, time remaining, etc.

For basic use, though, it's very simple and easy to use. Basic means shuffle mode on/off, skipping forward or backward through the song list, seeing what's playing, etc.

Also, I think you were looking for iphone integration. I don't have or plan on getting an iphone. My needs were to be able to put an ipod hidden away in the glove compartment and just use it with the head end, which might be a little different for anybody that also wants iphone integration.

IIRC, when I did this, the alpine web site had some decent examples of how to operate their head ends with ipods, etc.

The unit works great with all my ipods. I keep an old non-photo disk based ipod in the car. But it works great with any of the newer models also.

-David

The Kenwood Ipod screen looked like this picture.

I found it to be slow to respond to button pushes and hard to do while driving since there were no physical buttons. To change playlist, you had to press the green triangle, then some other three letter button. Overall I thought it was confusing.

In this picture you can see the phone dialer screen.

I felt that it was hard to answer / hang up while driving since the buttons are on the touchscreen and somewhat small. It also was slow to repond at times so you're not sure if you actually activated the button.

Maybe the newer Kenwood systems are better, but mine was a Kenwood KVT-719DVD, which I believe is still a current model.

I saw a post about the Pioneer Nav units and their UI looks promising, but I haven't tried one before.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PU...C-F700BT.Popup

You might want to look at these if you are going to replace the head end.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...model=iDA-X100

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...model=iDA-X305

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/prod...model=iDA-X303

Looks like the x100 supports other external devices with an optional add-on. Though I really don't know why you would need your cd changer anymore with an ipod interface.

There's others there too. If you look at them, you'll see what I mean about the more you pay, the better the display, etc. The buttons all look the same on these units.

ah well, there was one youtube reviewer that showed that x100 didn't work at all with his iphone.

-David

"Best Car Stereos for iPod"

http://reviews.cnet.com/best-car-ste...ent;contentNav

Thank you! I'd actually looked on Cnet, but I obviously wasn't using the right search terms, as I somehow missed this article.

Bob