Head Unit Suggestions (iPhone 3GS compatible)

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Deviate

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Posts
710
Reaction score
42
Location
St. Augustine, FL
Ram Year
2005 4x2
Engine
4.7
My wife has an Alpine CDE-9852 with a KCE-422i iPod cable. It worked perfectly for her first gen iPhone...played and charged. Of course with the 3g and later models they have changed how the charging works. Now with her 3gs it was playing, but not charging. And that drains the battery in a hurry.

I bought a Scosche Passport hoping it would correct the problem...nope. It throws an error when you plug it in. So now I am looking for a new head unit for her.

Does anyone have a head unit that plays and charges an iPhone 3gs? I was looking at the Alpine CDE-103BT or CDA-105. But I want to make sure if I spend the money it works. I want a unit that can control the music and charge the phone. I'd prefer not to spend too much on it if I can help it.

BTW...I'll be taking her current headunit and putting it in my truck. Mine is starting to act flakey and I can't afford the double din I really want.
 

AParrette

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2010
Posts
946
Reaction score
6
Location
St Augustine, FL
Ram Year
1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
Engine
3.8L SUPERCHARGED
alpine anything, especially 2008+
bluetooth compatible w/ itouch and iphone
 

0212353

Vendor
Preferred Vendor
Joined
Jun 29, 2010
Posts
26,467
Reaction score
2,023
Location
Florissant, MO
Ram Year
2019 1500 Laramie Sport Crew, 2019 1500 Big Horn Sport Crew & 2016 Charger SRT Hellcat
Engine
2x 5.7L & 6.2L
Do you use CDs still?

If not, the media players by Alpine kick ****! I had one in my 08, now a DD in my 2010. I LOVE THEM. Works GREAT with the 3G, 3GS and 4.
 

johnnysart

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2010
Posts
2,998
Reaction score
257
Location
Albuquerque
Ram Year
2002
Engine
5.9 Magnum
That should charge and play at the same time.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Deviate

Deviate

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Posts
710
Reaction score
42
Location
St. Augustine, FL
Ram Year
2005 4x2
Engine
4.7
It's funny...I still use CDs but she doesn't. And I'm supposedly the techno-geek. :roflsquared:

I really only use cds still because my current stereo has no way to hook up to an ipod.
 

0212353

Vendor
Preferred Vendor
Joined
Jun 29, 2010
Posts
26,467
Reaction score
2,023
Location
Florissant, MO
Ram Year
2019 1500 Laramie Sport Crew, 2019 1500 Big Horn Sport Crew & 2016 Charger SRT Hellcat
Engine
2x 5.7L & 6.2L
then move on to an Alpine man. I love 'em!

Mine charges and plays at the same time too.
 
OP
OP
Deviate

Deviate

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Posts
710
Reaction score
42
Location
St. Augustine, FL
Ram Year
2005 4x2
Engine
4.7
I hate to sound selfish...but my budget is about $200 and I just want a quality stereo for her that will control and charge her iPhone. It doesn't need to be satellite ready or anything...she doesn't care that much even. The cheaper the better, but I would prefer something along the lines of an Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer...

Now, it's not that I don't want to spend more money on her. I would in a heartbeat. But this is going into her PT Cruiser that we will likely trade in within a year or so. I would probably pull the stereo out and put the stock one back in when I trade/sell it. But a higher end system isn't as important to her as it is to me.
 

ramhunter9

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2010
Posts
24,464
Reaction score
975
Ram Year
2012
Engine
P-Star Jeep Wrangler
I have bluetooth , I pod , and a SD card reader on mine ... never use them .
 

The Assassin

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 8, 2010
Posts
7,725
Reaction score
58
Location
B-more careful, Murderland
Ram Year
2006
Engine
4.7
Hmmm...for that price, you might want to look at Ebay. Really, it's going to be hard to get the head unit, and everything else you need for 200 bucks. Personally, My suggestion would be Pioneer.
 

0212353

Vendor
Preferred Vendor
Joined
Jun 29, 2010
Posts
26,467
Reaction score
2,023
Location
Florissant, MO
Ram Year
2019 1500 Laramie Sport Crew, 2019 1500 Big Horn Sport Crew & 2016 Charger SRT Hellcat
Engine
2x 5.7L & 6.2L
I sold my old Alpine for 160 shipped...........took forever to sell it too.
 
OP
OP
Deviate

Deviate

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Posts
710
Reaction score
42
Location
St. Augustine, FL
Ram Year
2005 4x2
Engine
4.7
I bought her an Alpine CDE-103BT. I ended up getting it from Crutchfield even though I would have normally ordered it from Online Car Stereo. Came with a free set of 6.5 Alpine Type G speakers (that I put in my truck lol), a microphone for hands free, wire harness, adapter, antenna adapter and instructions which I never even opened. Got all of that for $20 more than Online Car Stereo had it for so it was a good deal. I also ordered her one of the new iPod cables.

This morning I installed that in her car. And put her old stereo in my truck. I had already installed the new speakers. All total took about 2 hours including setting everything and listening to some tunes. Not a bad morning's work. Now I've got to save up for a sub, new components for the front and amp(s).
 

0212353

Vendor
Preferred Vendor
Joined
Jun 29, 2010
Posts
26,467
Reaction score
2,023
Location
Florissant, MO
Ram Year
2019 1500 Laramie Sport Crew, 2019 1500 Big Horn Sport Crew & 2016 Charger SRT Hellcat
Engine
2x 5.7L & 6.2L
sweet!
 

Shiloh 24

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2010
Posts
1,224
Reaction score
4
Location
Kansas
Ram Year
2002
Engine
5.9L gas
The day I got my phone I plugged it into my headunit and it played no problem whatsoever, next day I updated to the new software...... FML now I just use my Aux 1 with a double ended headphone cable now.
 
Top