Custom Jobs (3)
Our guide for upgrading your car with high-end audio, video, GPS and more
February 1, 2005
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Pioneer XM Radio Adapter by Terk
Turn your Pioneer head unit into an XM-ready device |
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WHAT'S THE SIMPLEST SOUP-UP?
While the right amount of dollars will turn your car into a mobile theater, let's first talk about what can be done to improve the entertainment experience of anyone who doesn't spend much time in the carpool lane. As I mentioned before, the simplest way to beef up your car's sound system is to yank your factory speakers (at least the pair up front) and pop in a store-bought set, at $20 to $200 per pair. The reason is that this is where car makers tend to skimp, installing $3 parts made with treated paper rather than speakers made with long-lasting Kevlar or other space-age materials. If you're not a do-it-yourselfer, fret not—this is probably the most affordable installation there is. (Best Buy charges around $30 for a basic speaker install.) If you have a newer car, you might just stop there. What will you hear? "Better dynamics," says Pioneer's Jaed Arzadon. "People think it's louder but it's really just a clearer, fuller sound."
The next step is a head-unit upgrade. Once you've checked the fit guide and figured out what you can shop for, look for features that are important to you. Does it play MP3s or Windows Media files burned to CD? Does it have an auxiliary input so that you can easily plug in your portable MP3 player? Some heads have off-the-wall features, like Clarion's new Music Catcher DB455MC ($300), which has the ability to rip three CDs into memory. Though it only has one CD slot, think of it as a virtual in-dash four-disc changer.
Most head unit descriptions now boast that they're "satellite-radio ready." Usually they're only compatible with one of the two services, XM or Sirius, though some heads slated for 2005 launch can do either one. Keep in mind, however, that "ready" means you still need to buy and install a satellite-radio tuner (roughly $50) and an antenna (generally another $50), not to mention pay for basic monthly subscriptions ($10 for XM, $13 for Sirius).
Adding navigation is easier now, too. Pioneer has several multimedia sources that that include pop-out LCD screens for GPS navigation. The AVIC-D1 ($1,800 TO $2,000), set to ship this spring, comes with a system that can be upgraded, with a $350 satellite tuner, for realtime traffic navigation from XM NavTraffic. When you connect Pioneer's $140 adapter to the D1, you get visual control over an iPod. (The adapter can actually be used in conjunction with most Pioneer head units dating back a number of years, although the amount of control you will get over the iPod will vary. Alpine and Clarion also have products with iPod interfaces.)
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