Car Stereos: head unit, sony head units, mp 3 player

Question
I plan on installing a new head unit in my 95 Toyota Tacoma extended cab truck. I do not know what exactly to shop for in a head unit but I am pretty sure i would like a unit with bluetooth. I am currently looking at 3 units: JVC Arsenal KD-A805, Kenwood KDC-BT742U, and Sony MEX-BT3700. Can you give me some pro and cons or information about power i need/would want or general information to help me decide one. Maybe even the one you would choose of the three or a comparable one in the 150-250 price range. thanks.

Answer
Hi Wes,

I haven't personally used the JVC head unit, but it looks like a winner to me.  I like the dual-USB design with the Bluetooth dongle; it gives you more flexibility for using external devices.  All these head units have front USB connections, but the addition of a rear USB input gives you the option of keeping your iPod or MP-3 player hidden away in the glove box or a storage compartment; or even adding a portable hard drive with all your music stored on it.  I'm also pleased to see that the JVC head unit includes a separate microphone for Bluetooth.  

The Sony MEX-BT3700 is a strong contender; it's probably the best of the three when it comes to ease of use.  Personally, I like having a set of radio preset buttons, though many manufacturers are getting rid of them.  If you don't plan to listen to the radio often, then the preset buttons aren't as important.  I like the performance of the newer Sony head units, but it's unfortunate that it includes only a simple 3-band equalizer; I'd like to be able to do a little more fine-tuning of the sound.  If you don't plan to do a lot of tweaking, and just want a simple, easy-to-use head unit, then the Sony might be the right choice for you; but I wouldn't buy it without getting the optional external microphone for Bluetooth.  The Sony deck includes a built-in microphone, but I've found this to be unreliable for hands-free phone use.  If you intend to use the Bluetooth feature for audio streaming rather than hands-free use, then the microphone isn't as important.

Kenwood head units are good quality, but this year's models all seem to be very hard to use.  I've found the control interface to be pretty clunky and anti-intuitive; you need to keep the owner's manual handy if you want to do much tweaking.  Most of the user reviews I've seen have mentioned the difficulty of use; and the fact that this deck doesn't include a separate mic for Bluetooth makes it the last of the three in my opinion.

Hope this helps!

Brian