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CA_Boxster · 11-21-2008, 12:54 PM

I busted my old HU (Alpine CDA-9847) so I've recently been looking at what to replace it with. It's an easier process now that I've already made 1 pass at upgrading the stereo in my Boxster. I'm going to leave the MB Quart 6.5' woffers that I added to the doors a couple years ago, as well as the Harvey rear kit. I'll pull the Kenwood components out of the dash and replace them with Polk 401 coax. I looked at HUs and was targeting being under $200 for a good one, which is do-able. I'm probably going to get the Sony CDX-GT821IP (~$160) but another good option is the one right below it: CDX-GT620IP. Both have a real iPod connector that allows you to plug it in and leave it while it's recharged by the car and you control it via the HU. You can also just plug it into the standard Aux input on the front of the HU. Both come with the iPod cable. The main thing that makes me like the 820 better is that the display is bigger (3-line) which will make scrolling through the iPod easier. I should mention that I also looked for HUs where I could change the illumination colors. I hate bright lights in my dash so some of the standard HU colors aren't to my liking.

11-21-2008, 12:54 PM	#3
CA_Boxster Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: N. California Posts: 118	I busted my old HU (Alpine CDA-9847) so I've recently been looking at what to replace it with. It's an easier process now that I've already made 1 pass at upgrading the stereo in my Boxster. I'm going to leave the MB Quart 6.5' woffers that I added to the doors a couple years ago, as well as the Harvey rear kit. I'll pull the Kenwood components out of the dash and replace them with Polk 401 coax. I looked at HUs and was targeting being under $200 for a good one, which is do-able. I'm probably going to get the Sony CDX-GT821IP (~$160) but another good option is the one right below it: CDX-GT620IP. Both have a real iPod connector that allows you to plug it in and leave it while it's recharged by the car and you control it via the HU. You can also just plug it into the standard Aux input on the front of the HU. Both come with the iPod cable. The main thing that makes me like the 820 better is that the display is bigger (3-line) which will make scrolling through the iPod easier. I should mention that I also looked for HUs where I could change the illumination colors. I hate bright lights in my dash so some of the standard HU colors aren't to my liking.