Panasonic CQ-DFX400U

Price Paid:  $249.00 from Tweeter Etc.

Year / Model Reviewed:
 97 Explorer

Summary:
I've had this head unit in 3 different cars, on five different amps and countless different speakers...even stock speakers. No matter what I hooked up to it sounded great. Love the bright blue display and its really is virtually unskippable. only skipped it a few times hitting speed bumps at 20mph.

Strengths:
Great display...unskippable

Weaknesses:
i think the only weakness is that now i want a mp3 player head unit but ill live with this for now...no complaints on this unit

Similar Products Used:
dont remember the model but it was an alpine about 3 years ago...not even in the same catergory as my panasonic unit

Price Paid:  $230.00

Summary:
What can I say, other than I love this deck!! I have it in a 1999 Saturn SL with stock speakers and 2 10" Kicker Impulse subs running off of a Phoenix Gold XS2200 2-channel amp. I bought the deck through my cousin who owns a car audio shop in southern Ontario, so he got me a really good deal. I payed about $340 Canadian, so about $230 USD. I have had it since the start of July, and I have not had a single problem or had it skip on me once! The bright display is very nice, and I don't find it that distracting at night, but the brightness is adjustable. I love the wireless remote too!!! The separate sub control is a very handy feature, as well as the built-in sub crossover. It works good for tuning the bass level for different types of music and who else is in the car (the girlfriend doesn't like the bass booming all the time!). I am looking forward to upgrading to new door and deck speakers, and I know this deck has enough power to run the new ones until I buy a 4-channel amp.
I can't think of one bad thing to say about this deck :-) Anyone looking for a good mid-range deck that has lots of features, looks cool, and is very reliable, I highly recommend this deck :-)

Strengths:
It is a wonderful deck! The display is amazing, the 3 4V pre-outs and sub control are awesome! The deck power is great for running the stock speakers and sounds really good! It has never skipped on me, even travelling the roughest back roads you can find played scratched up CDs! It is easy to use and looks really cool in the dark!

Weaknesses:
Can't think of a thing I don't like :-)

Similar Products Used:
Looked at Sony, Pioneer, Alpine, Kenwood. Owned a Jensen for a while (YUCK) The CQ-DFX400U came out on top of all them!

Year / Model Reviewed:
 dfx400u year2000

Summary:
Paid $230 brand new. This is a deck for anyone that wants skipfree sound. It will read scratched cds that anyother cdplayer i own wont! VERY POWERFUL sound.... your ears will ring after listening to it loud. The subwoofer control allows you to adjust the volume of the subs seperatley from the speakers! This means you wont need bass blockers for your little speakers! Some people say the faceplate is hard to reatatch, DONT BELIVE THEM! it uses ball bearings to secure, so you can just smash it on! if it doenst go on, just push a little harder! haha... i dunno, i just love this deck... ANd if the display is distracting, you can dimm it down three levels.. all by the push of a button.

Strengths:
UNSKIPPABLE!!!!!!! I have to hit my dashboard as hard as i can just to make it glitch! Awesome display. VERY DURABLE (ive done some research). Love the subwoofer control. unbelieveable sound! Very easy to use.

Weaknesses:
nothing, it is defiantly the best deck for the price range

Similar Products Used:
Kenwood, JVC, Sony (sucks), Clarion, Pioneer (also very good), Rockford Fosgate (clarion)

Year / Model Reviewed:
 1995 metro (yuck)

Summary:
i payed 280 at bryn mawr for it. believe it or not bryn mawr has good prices on some stuff. excellent head unit, i'd recommend it. You'll fall in love with the ultrabright display. And its just cool to have 3 4v preouts, lots of expansion possibilities

Strengths:
The display is just cool. Awesome sound, 3 preouts (front, back, subwoofer), changer control, sweet bass processing with dynamic crossovers. 4V preouts!

Weaknesses:
distracting at night. face plate is difficult to put back on (may just be mounting angle)

Similar Products Used:
never had a high quality head unit before (used to have an 88 jetta with a koss, koss == crap.)