Ok, I have to upgrade the stock sound system in my 97 XJ. Might as well start with the head unit selection first. I will also replace the two front door speakers and the rear soundbar speakers and add a bazooka sub under rear seat. Taking this into account any recommendations from this listing of potential head units from the Crutchfield selection tool? I do want to be able to hook a thumbdrive up to the unit and I want simple controls and presets. Comments on other potential units is welcome.
Thanks

What is your price range? You can spend anywhere from $20 to several hundred.
Do you really need a CD unit (that's so '90's) or you can save some coin with a mechless unit.

Just about any brand will do you fine. My alpine headunit ran me about $150. I love it and I've put the same unit, and alpine type r speakers, in 3 different vehicles. My unit has USB, aux, cd, and a bunch of other settings. I might add that I like alpine headunits because they make a "power pack" which is an amp that plugs in behind the headunit and bumps the power for the speakers up to about 45w RMS.

Which Alpine do you have? And, does it have front/rear fade capabilities. I am thinking this, although it adds cost, would be beneficial with the soundbar so far back in the XJ

I want to keep this economical. I don't want to spend $1000 but I do want as good a sound as possible.

I put this in my jeep. has bluetooth (Phone and Audio), plus USB. Only drawback is no detachable face. Paid 89.00, there may be a newer model out there.

This one. And yes it does, although I've never used it (other than to test to make sure each speaker works)

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-EuySrnC...e-CDE-102.html