Well, I got a quote today

might be a little more pricey but i'd highly recommend the alpine iva-w505 also. It has a much nicer (and mainly easier) interface than the pioneer and also has imprint capabilities. The imprint makes a night and day difference on these headunits. I have a imprint on mine and it is amazing, i cannot even decribe how clear and precise it is. Controls an ipod as well, scroll through your ipod on your headunit just as you would the ipod itself. it's deffinately the easiest and best ipod controls i've used and i've installed just about every brand double din thats come out the ast few years.

The one downside was the navigation. The choices were shortest distance, highway or local and none of them were ever really the best route although the navigation interface was easy to use and follow. Alpine just updated their nav though so problem is now solved on that end with the new nve-p1.

I've had my w505 for 3 years now since they were first released, i've installed about 3 dozen of them as well. Alpine's are, imho the best out there for sound quality and user interface/display/ease of use. Also if the display doesn't bother you alpine makes a slightly older display version called the w205 for much cheaper. Has all the features of the w505 except an included ipod cord, imprint, and has a 6.5" screen instead of the 7".

 

I will agree that alpines are the best sound quality wise. Unless the imprint is built into the unit (i doubt it) then its probably not worth the extra money. I always used alpines in Sound Quality vehicles but unless you have a really good, picky ear most people will never notice the difference between aftermarket units (especially with stock speakers). You will absolutely notice a difference from stock to aftermarket even with stock speaker. And when you get that picky with your sound you would never use a basic (do it for you) sound processor like an imprint system. You would use at least a 32 band EQ after the head unit.

The Pioneers also have really good ipod controls built right into the deck now and will even play netflix and pandora and some other apps thru the head unit with an iphone. If that iphone is jailbroken then then they will play anything you want them to.

 

I really like the pioneer units

 

1000 for labor seems pretty much ridiculous? I'm a Pioneer and JL audio guy myself, but nothing wrong with Alpine at all, had plenty of their stuff before.

If I were you though, I'd say screw XM and get a bluetooth radio, make sure it supports A2DP profiles, and play Pandora, thats what I do nowadays, plus when I get a phone call it automatically cuts off the music, and starts playing again when the call is over.

 

umb, imprint costs roughly 100 bucks and is well worht the money. Everyone comments on how great my sound quality is in the truck. But, i am not on stock speakers either, i run jl c5's all around, amped