What head unit are you using and Why?

KHPower · Post by **KHPower** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:21 pm

I am most likely in the market for a new head unit and its been years since I shopped for one. I am kinda stuck on if I should stay with Pioneer or try others like the Alpine lineup or eclipse.

What head units is everyone using? And why do you like the unit? What made you purchase it ? or why do you keep it?

I just wanna get some good ideas

I guess I would like one with a good crossover and bass and treble settings controls and at least a 4 v pre out or more would be better.

I was lookign at the Alpine 9887 but I didnt realize that in order to use the Imprint you have to buy the mic and software that is almost the price of the deck and I also heard you cant change the Bass or treble settings on the 9887 without the Imprint add on.

Thanks ?

soth · Post by **soth** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:34 pm

Alpine or Eclipse for me.

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/ ... _and_specs

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/ ... _and_specs

When i'm in the market for a HU here are my main concerns.

24bit dac
95 or above signal to noise ratio
4 volts out at least
security for the device
Simple looking, not lots of clunky buttons all over the place

I find that a lot of the eclipses have really great warm sound quality to them. Alpines are really good also, but you tend to have to pay more for the same features as you would with other name brands.

Kenwood is good also, but some of those just look cheap.
Pioneers have been known to have grounding problems with theirs.

Hope that helps.

Post by **mhyde71** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 9:32 pm

PIONEER AVIC-Z1/Z2
2.2v Preouts (

)
SLA control
sub woofer outs and built in separate low and high pass xover's (50 80 125); with sub outs as well... 6 channels all together
EQ
DVD
30 GB Hard drive
GPS
Voice Recognition
AUX Inputs for Video Ipods, game players or any other video sources.

OR if you do not have double din, go for like the D3 or Whatever the single din equivilant is...

I am partial to the pioneer as I have one and love it... fantastico!

WHY? i wanted to be like a pimp! HEHE

Post by **smgreen20** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:29 am

Eclipse CD8455
8v output (ZPA amps)
E-iServ
10 band perametric eq
3-way/4 sp set up
very odd nav system
Quality/name
AUX inputs

PassatBloke · Post by **PassatBloke** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:57 am

Alpine 9887 - as you've looked at - best unit i've ever used

It is true you cant like on other alpine units change the treble directly or bass directly, oh no - it is MUCH MUCH better in the respect that you have a choice between a Parametric / Graphic EQ and can adjust the frrequencies that way, much better, better fine tuning and I got my setup, imaging and stage 100% better by switching to the 9887 from the 9812rb.

The onboard x-overs are sublime with 2way + sub or 3 way front end switch.

Really easy to configure once you get used to it, great speed with IPOD, great searching facilty, 24bit DAC.

Basically its the best unit that alpine do.

Also, most dealers have the alpine imprint in stock, as you only do the imprint once you dont really need to buy it, in fact I believe over in the USA Crutchfield were doing a thing where you could "rent" the imprint kit and send it them back box open really cheap.

flogger11 · Post by **flogger11** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:57 am

PassatBloke wrote:Alpine 9887 - as you've looked at - best unit i've ever used

It is true you cant like on other alpine units change the treble directly or bass directly, oh no - it is MUCH MUCH better in the respect that you have a choice between a Parametric / Graphic EQ and can adjust the frrequencies that way, much better, better fine tuning and I got my setup, imaging and stage 100% better by switching to the 9887 from the 9812rb.

The onboard x-overs are sublime with 2way + sub or 3 way front end switch.

Really easy to configure once you get used to it, great speed with IPOD, great searching facilty, 24bit DAC.

Basically its the best unit that alpine do.

Also, most dealers have the alpine imprint in stock, as you only do the imprint once you dont really need to buy it, in fact I believe over in the USA Crutchfield were doing a thing where you could "rent" the imprint kit and send it them back box open really cheap.

I have to agree, the Imprint feature alone makes the Alpine the unit of choice...

joyride · Post by **joyride** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:17 am

Nakamichi 45z - I love this unit. (cd-500/400 would work also)

Nothing fancy about the Nak, but it is one of the best sounding units I have ever used. Also, the stock look of it makes it extremely easy to use. Plus no one would ever think about stealing it. The 4 volt outs arent the greatest, but a line driver can fix that. With the equipment you already have, you dont need anything with internal crossovers or other stuff they jam into head units so they look better in a brochure.

The only thing that i dont like about it is that I cannot turn off the internal amp. Not a big problem, but it would be nice to turn off.

flogger11 · Post by **flogger11** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:19 am

I hate to say this, but I have had nothing but problems in the past with Nakamichi head units...

Post by **kg1961** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:26 am

Im using in my wife and sister caar a older clarion DXZ955mc
here is the info on it:
Full-Color 4.2" Full-Dot TFT
Optimeda Display (Touch-Panel Control)
Music Catcher One-Touch CD Recording
Plays MP3- and WMA-Encoded CDs
Plays CD-Rs and C-RWs
AC-Processor IV With Anti-Distortion Filter
Dolby Pro Logic II
Built-In DSP for Time Alignment (2.2 cm-Step Increments) and Virtual Space Enhancer
3-Band Parametric EQ
Built-In Adjustable High-Pass Crossovers for Front/Rear/Center Channels: Through/50Hz/80Hz/120Hz
24-Bit D/A Converter
212-Watt MOS-FET Amplifier (53 Watts × 4 Channels)
Shock-Proof Memory ( 45 sec.)
4-Volt/6-Channel Gold-Plated RCA Line Level Output
Built-In Amplifier Bypass Circuit
Stainless Steel Faceplate
CeNET Control of Optional DVD and CD Changer, TV Tuner, and Sirius Satellite Radio Receiver
iPod Control (Requires EA1251B / CeNET iPod Interface)
Blinking LED for Anti-Theft
Auto Dimmer
Rotary Volume Control
3 Screen Savers, and Wallpapers With User-Programmable Messege Information
Spectrum Analyzer
Adjustable Display Contrast
Motorized Detachable Control Panel
CD Text, CD and Station Titling
IR Remote Control
18FM/6AM Presets
One 2-Channel AUX Input

sounds great and I got the last 2 in calgary for a great price
sound more like when I own my old sony cdxc-90 and the music catcher is great

Son_of_Thor · Post by **Son_of_Thor** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 5:45 am

I`m using Clarion DXZ778R USB

Using Clarion for so many years... a 928R for a long Time... a 148R for dB-Drag use, and never had any Problems.

The 778 is a really cheap HU but i can do almost everything.... Time Allignment, Active Crossover for Full Active Systems, EQ, MP3, USB Ce Net and many more.... in Germany it costs round about 300 Euro!!! NEW

The Display ist the only thing i`m not love its a bit dark.... but for that price... and it sound absolutely great very close to the 928, for me the best Clarion HU after the HX-D2

Mfg Dirk

bruther · Post by **bruther** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:17 am

I recently bought the New Eclipse cd-3200 which is new for 08. So far I like it. It replaced my Nakamichi 45z which was the best cd player I have ever owned for SQ. The Nak was nothing fancy but great SQ. The reason I bought the Eclipse was cuz of the SQ qualities and I wanted a headunit the USB capabilities. SO far I like it with only a couple negatives.

Post by **stipud** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:22 am

Great idea for a thread.

My headunit is stock, because... it has balanced outputs, it plays CDs, and it integrates perfectly in the dash.

I use my Audiocontrol EQ Four.1 to convert the balanced signal to an unbalanced 5 volt RMS one, which is then sent back to my Ti500.4. The Four.1 also has an AUX input that I have my iPod hooked up through. It's perfect!

KHPower · Post by **KHPower** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:37 am

WOW Thanks for asll the suggestions everyone!

I have some questions however regarding some of the Head Units mentioned:

The Alpine 9887

1. Someone mentioned in a crutchfield review that it would not be ideal for competition. why is that? The 4 volt pre out? If I were to enter a competition , it would be for SPL and not SQ.

IMPRINT
Regardless if I can rent the mic and stuff to set it up does it have memory if I disconnect all power I will still have those settings? Does it contain a button batt inside the unit to keep these settings? Kinda liek a BIOs battery for a computer? In my mind if ya buy the 9887 i will also need to buy the imprint processor/software and mic and possibly a line driver.

Eclipse 3200

Bruther , list the negatives

I see that has a 5 v which is plenty by all means

A basic question:

Why dont any Alpine HU fit my Van? There used to be a plastic tab that was mounted behing my head unit in the HU slot that I removed so I dont see depth a problem? Also I have space for a dual din but I like my cheesy Scosche artificial wood grain HU kit

KHPower · Post by **KHPower** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:46 am

PassatBloke wrote:Alpine 9887 - as you've looked at - best unit i've ever used

It is true you cant like on other alpine units change the treble directly or bass directly, oh no - it is MUCH MUCH better in the respect that you have a choice between a Parametric / Graphic EQ and can adjust the frrequencies that way, much better, better fine tuning and I got my setup, imaging and stage 100% better by switching to the 9887 from the 9812rb.

The onboard x-overs are sublime with 2way + sub or 3 way front end switch.

Really easy to configure once you get used to it, great speed with IPOD, great searching facilty, 24bit DAC.

Basically its the best unit that alpine do.

Also, most dealers have the alpine imprint in stock, as you only do the imprint once you dont really need to buy it, in fact I believe over in the USA Crutchfield were doing a thing where you could "rent" the imprint kit and send it them back box open really cheap.

So basicly what you wriote in bold. You CAN change the Bass and treble setting's on the 9887 but it is just the frequensies you would change? Is there a hpf on the 9887?

Act like a dealer and SELL this thing to me! (not literally)

I run 2 6x9 in the front of my van , they are Alpine. I think they are the ones that Crutchfield gives free with certain Alpine decks. I run them full range with the treble very high (for the tweets) and run a HPF from my deck. I have 6.5 in the rear doors and like 3'' speakers in my vans pillars but it doesnt matter with the rear speakers anyways because the 15" Immortal blasts towards that direction and drowns out any audio from them anyways.

Just thought Id share

Post by **Bfowler** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:52 am

i'm running a kenwood x791

I bought it because:

24bit DAC's
24db hp and lp crossovers.
USB input

and it was ~$150

Post by **Rold Gold** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:15 am

I use an older Kenwoody KDC-X969.

When I got it 4 years ago for 1/3 the price and basically new, it blew every deck I had ever used out of the water. Not to mention that the colors matched my dash lights which was points and it's motorized with that double-din look. The display is pretty cool and you can download kustom shit to play instead of the pre-loaded even though I never have and just use the "digital EQ" option for the graphic.

Thumper88 · Post by **Thumper88** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:17 am

Pioneer DEHP880PRS

Several tuning options, 6db, 12db, 18db selectable crossovers, subwoofer level control. Auto EQ and time alignment made quite a difference. Very easy to use IMO...simple to get to all the settings, even while driving. Plus it looks freakin' awesome.

Also, I found out the tuning options get saved in I assume a flash chip. I had the stereo in storage for about a year (was waiting to get some new amps), and the settings I had previously set were still there.

KHPower · Post by **KHPower** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:31 am

Thumper88 wrote:Pioneer DEHP880PRS

Several tuning options, 6db, 12db, 18db selectable crossovers, subwoofer level control. Auto EQ and time alignment made quite a difference. Very easy to use IMO...simple to get to all the settings, even while driving. Plus it looks freakin' awesome.

Also, I found out the tuning options get saved in I assume a flash chip. I had the stereo in storage for about a year (was waiting to get some new amps), and the settings I had previously set were still there.

Sweet! I dont know ho wmany times I have had to spend re tuning my deck

Thanks for the info !

Still need 500+ members to chime in

Post by **AVICJR** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:34 am

Alpine CDA7998- Has a ton of features. EQ, Xover, TA, only downside is that all the bells and whistles make it a little difficult to adjust.

PassatBloke · Post by **PassatBloke** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:03 am

KHPower wrote:
So basicly what you wriote in bold. You CAN change the Bass and treble setting's on the 9887 but it is just the frequensies you would change? Is there a hpf on the 9887?

Correct mate and yes there is a HPF, LPF Bandpass and bloody everything

KHPower wrote:Act like a dealer and SELL this thing to me! (not literally)

I shouldnt need to, read the manual and you'll buy one, i'm serious

KHPower · Post by **KHPower** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:09 am

PassatBloke wrote:
KHPower wrote:
So basicly what you wriote in bold. You CAN change the Bass and treble setting's on the 9887 but it is just the frequensies you would change? Is there a hpf on the 9887?
Correct mate and yes there is a HPF, LPF Bandpass and bloody everything

KHPower wrote:Act like a dealer and SELL this thing to me! (not literally)
I shouldnt need to, read the manual and you'll buy one, i'm serious

Well , I could look at a Pyle HU manual and it would look good but lets not kid ourselves , ya cant polish a turd

Regarding the 9887 are the presets"imprint" good?

PassatBloke · Post by **PassatBloke** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:16 am

I dont get ya matey, You can only turn the imprint on once the equipment has been used on it, you can however turn it off and adjust manually when the imprint has been done, all at the press of one button!

KHPower · Post by **KHPower** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:22 am

I heard there was some pre-set "imprint" sound stages already programmed in the unit , maybe I was reading wrong

BEAVER · Post by **BEAVER** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:54 am

I also using what seems to be the popular choice CDA-9887. It was the only unit that my dealer could get that would allow me to run an active set up.

I've been happy with it, so far.

gkitching · Post by **gkitching** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:06 pm

Any of the New Kenwood Excelon head units are worth a look. All sport HiVolt 24bit burr brown D/A's. As well as hp/lp x-overs and 3 band eq's minimum.

At $199.95 retail, the KDC-X592 is the best 'bang for the buck' head unit right now in my opinion.