Might Need a New Head Unit...Options?

It looks like the laser in the cd player in my car is shot and I most likely will need a new head unit. I would like one with a cd player and want to do this on the affordable/cheap. Would a generic or used one off of Ebay work? This is for a 2010 Mazda 5.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kenwood-Car-CD-Player-KDC-422-JL1-/181791143803?hash=item2a5398b77b:g:g-cAAOSw3ydVlV4s

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-cd-player-MOSFET-50X4-DEH-2750MP-VMA-MP3-super-tunnerIIID-/151845783891?hash=item235ab6c953:g:~A4AAOSwyvBV9f17

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pioneer-Car-Stereo-DEH-P3700MP-CD-Player-In-Dash-Receiver-/331685428751?hash=item4d39fdfe0f:g:wf8AAOSwsB9V~Nx5

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pioneer-DEH-16-Car-CD-Player-Radio-In-Dash-Receiver-TESTED-/191685931383?hash=item2ca15f3177:g:GUsAAOSwQPlV73Hk

I'd highly recommend springing for a bluetooth model if you use your phone or music player at all. Makes playing music and podcasts simple. The one I bought came with a Mic too so you can do hands-free calling through the head unit.

I bought this one for $100 and have been very happy.

In reply to bastomatic:

I bought that same model. Pretty solid overall and you can't beat the price of those cheap BT headunits.

IMO, given how cheaply you can get actual name-brand head units, there's no reason to take a chance on the no-name stuff. Find something around $100 from Crutchfield that has good reviews and roll with it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2008-2009-2010-Mazda-5-Am-Fm-Radio-6-Disc-Cd-Player-CE5066ARX-/381463591504?fits=Make%3AMazda%7CModel%3A5&hash=item58d1007a50:g:dcMAAOSwD0lUiE6R&vxp=mtr

I found a factory one. Get another factory one or go aftermarket?

Jvc. Cheap and dependable.

the local junkyard sells every aftermarket head unit they get in for $40... i looked at the units they had on the shelf last time i was there, and they had some pretty nice stuff mixed in with the cheap stuff and they guarantee it to work... maybe see if your local yards have similar deals..

I generally hate aftermarket stereos. I'd got for a factor unit.

I like JVC and Pioneer for their numbers. Clarion has some nice units, but I listen to a lot of radio and their tuners have terrible FM sensitivity.

I most recently got a Kenwood with many bells and/or whistles. If you get BT, I recommend getting the external mic. The ones with built in mics on the face are too far away from your mouth, and they are mounted to a dashboard which is getting all kinds of NVH. Mount the external mic up on the A-pillar or the headliner. I never have issues with people understanding me when I use it.

Another good resource is woofersetc.com. Many of their items are refurb, but most are new and very inexpensive. Reputable, good customer service, cheaper than crutchfield on everything. I also use crutchfield a lot. Fantastic company.

If you let me know how you use your radio, I can help narrow down your choices. The dizzying array of options is nauseating. I forget the model of my Kenwood, but it does almost everything; cd, built-in siriusxm, BT, Iheartradio app, pandora app, front and rear usb, ipod control, hd radio ready, mp3 controls, it even synchs my contacts and has caller id. I think it was $149 on woofersetc as a new closeout.

I listen to both am, fm and also use cd player. Nothing more, nothing less.

JVC KD-R330. No frills. They try to advertise it with all kinds of options like bluetooth, but they would all be add-on extra boxes which you don't need. It does CD-r and MP3 in case you want to burn your own CDs. $70. http://www.woofersetc.com/c-160-car-stereos/c-8-cdmp3-players/p-12044-kd-r330-jvc-in-dash-cdmp3wma-stereo-receiver.html

Kenwood KDC-122U. Same basic stuff. $80. Good tuner to pull in stations clearly, but the JVC is possibly a tiny bit better on the radio reception gain. http://www.woofersetc.com/c-160-car-stereos/c-8-cdmp3-players/kdc-122u-kenwood-in-dash-cd-mp3-car-stereo-receiver-with-usb-interface.html

The other possibility is to hit up a local chain store and buy a Dual brand receiver. They are junk, but they'll get you tunes for a few years. The reason I lean toward the above units is because of the discounting on that website. A Dual CD radio will probably run you $69-89 retail. Those above radios would normally be $140 retail but the pricing they offer brings you down to the same money. Better radio, same price, win-win.

Also... manufacturers are placing very little importance on AM radio performance these days. Receiving AM signals is the easy part. Not letting noise and other junk penetrate the signal is exceedingly difficult these days with all the LED, computerized, high-output ignition, 3 miles of copper wiring, cars these days. That combined with the decreasing popularity of AM radio means you might be disappointed with AM audio on any stereo you buy.

I had a JVC headunit in many of my previous vehicles and that was pretty bombproof. I found numerous factory radios for cheap so I might go that route.

I really can't recommend any of those ones on ebay. The one Pioneer DEH-16 hasn't been produced since (I think) 1999, so at best it is 15 years old on a stereo that was designed to last 10 years tops.

The only used audio I would consider buying is home audio or an OEM car stereo.

Factory is good. Factory radios are not audiophile sound reproduction, but when it comes to bulletproof and utility, that is your ticket.

Make sure you get the VIN and/or unlock code from the seller or you're buying a paperweight

I'd go pioneer or JVC if you want a good, inexpensive unit. My expertise lies more with speakers, sound insulation, and amplification.

This might sound a little left field but would an aux. cord and a discman do the trick? The radio itself works fine and I kinda don't feel like tearing the car apart.

Does your head unit already have aux-in? If not, fuggedaboutit. Aftermarket HU is easier in that case, as is a replacement factory one.

I looked last night and there is no aux in on the stereo itself. There is an aux down near the plug in for my car charger.

If the aux in works I would just use that. Then again I only had a cassette with adapter until 2 years ago and currently run pandora on my phone via the aux cable.