Any suggestions? getting my wife 4 new speakers for her car and would like to get her a new cd player as well. The more features the better- usb, ipod, ect. Doesn't necessarily need to have sattelite radio built in as Im not convinced that is worth the subscription.

Anyone know of a car cd player that will play FLAC files via an external usb hard drive or is that asking for too much?

Probably might add a small amp and a 10" sub later for her birthday or something, but for now just replacing the buitl in speakers and cd player.

Thanks again!

I opted for a pioneer DEHP5100UB. seems to have good reviews and interfaces with the ipod/iphone nicely, plus has dual usb ports.

Got it off amazon for $161 compared to the $209+tax that best buy wanted.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NFE6QU/ref=oss_T15_product

That looks like a nice unit. I just picked up an Alpine CDE-100 for my pick up. It's a pretty basic unit but with the usb port I can get rid of all my cds that take up far to much room.

Yeah, that is the main reaso. J wanted to replace her stock cd player: for USB capabilty.

To expand on things,

I think I am pretty close to adding a Zapco I-force 450 4 Channel amp and an Image Dynamics ID 12 D2 subwoofer To the Christmas list for the wife.

Does anyone have any experience with either of these brands?

The shop I am thinking about buying from will also make a custom box that fits nicely in the trunk of my wife's car, taking up as little room as possible (and it will be carpeted to match).

He assures me that this sub/amp are capable of playing clean tight bass with great SQ even at lower volumes... but you can turn it up stupid loud if you want (probably not too often since I like my hearing!). the reviews I have read seem to support his comment. Also, a good friend of mine has known the owner of this shop since 1993 and I am pretty sure they wouldn't sell me something that wasn't top notch.

The sad thing is, by the time you add up the sub, amp, custom box, installation, cd deck, door speakers, rear speakers, ect. I could almost have an ep800

I am not big on spending that kind of money for a vehicle sound system, I go for the K.I.S.S approach, get a nice receiver and upgrade the speakers, the rest is just a waste, IMO. Too much extra noise going on in a car to really appreciate the extra money spent. Then when you want to get rid of the car for a new one you have to decide if you want to pull all the equipment out or sell it with the car, more lost money. The EP800 will stay with you forever, get her the EP800

Get her two EP800s if you really love her.

Lol. I went ahead and bought the sub and amp. Got a pretty good deal on things and all in all cost much less than I was originally thinking. My jeep has no cd player and the left front speaker doesn't work... Maybe I can piece together a working system with the leftover stuff pulled out of my wife's car....

Now that sounds like fun.