I just got a new Pioneer DEH-7500MP which is pretty nice...it even sounds pretty good with my stock bose system with only the Pass door speaker and the rear speaker/sub working. I'd either go Alpine or Pioneer. I went Pioneer cuz alpines dont have great looking displays and the one i got has the Organic EL business. So either Alpine or Pioneer

 

Alpine's subs and amps are not that impressive, but their electronics (receivers, dvd, processors) are top notch.

 

yup! and JL and MB quart are really good for speakers. and JL is good for subs too. i assume MB quarts are good subs too as is most of their products,but i haven't heard any MB subs before

 

OEL is great until a 2-3 years later (usually sooner) when it starts to go crazy and overheat.

I've owned 2 OEL's. I LOVE the new Alpine design, not the ones where the face pops out and is large, but the one right under it. It's very old school Alpine (96-97) and classy looking.

Look up Nakimichi, they used to be the TOP of the line, but most would consider the "classy" look boring.

 

Alpine HU's are ugly.

 

Nakimichi is in my opinion the top of the line, but I wouldn't put it in my car, but the acoustics of a car make it hard(and expensive) to get the full potential out of that receiver. I have an alpine cda-7897 and I love it, you should decide what you want to do with your sound system before you go and buy stuff. For Clarification, the head unit can switch from standard Alpine green to amber.

 

What do you guys think about JVC receivers. A friend of mine recently bought on and I installed it for her. I told her i didn't know much about JVC and would have gone with pioneer, but she liked the colors. It seemed like a really niced deck. What have you guys heard.

 

I hate JVC, noone liked them until the super fad of the "Chameleon."

But honestly, if you're getting a $200 cd player, and aren't an audiophile, just pick whatevers "coolest" looking to you. Because most $100-200 cdplayers have no differences. Nearly all of them have the same weaknesses, which their companies flagship units take care of. (usually)