Alpine 9855 vs Kenwood 25th anniversary HU

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

There are pros and cons when considering which units to buy.
Here's my experiences,

I have had both brand b4, the alpine 9855 and kenwood KDC-MP828 (lower model th[a]n the anni[v]ersary but still have simlar features)

The closest non-Anniversary unit would be the eXcelon KDC-X889 - not the MP828. 

Alpine 9855Pros:

-- MP3s files are easy and faster to search using the glidestrip,

-- Also loading Mp3 files are a snap,

-- SQ is pefect with a cleaner bass (MX Expender),

-- Sound good with either stock or aftermarket speaker

-- has two different band of EQ (5 band Parametic or 7 band graphic) for best sound shape

-- can be set as a 2-way or 3 way crossover.

-- Control up to 12 alpine amps through the HU instead of wiring

Using S-video cables the eXcelon head units can control multiple (I cannot remember exactly how many at the moment but I wanna say up to 8...) Kenwood eXcelon amps as well. 

 

Cons: -- GUI is too hard to operate while drive, have to go to several steps to get to what you want..for example if you want to turn on/off you sub..you have to go through menu..setup..audio..sub..then off/on.

-- Take too long for MP3 name to show up on the screen (about 5 sec),

-- Broke easy if u aren't lucky so buy a warrentty. (I bought my at BestBuy and a couple month later, it wont edject my cd and the glide strip doesn't work, lucky i bought a 4yrs services plan and went to exchange for a new one),

-- Screen are Boilite "BLACK/WHITE"..visiable at night but at direct sunlight it ****.

-- Preamp and watts outputs are lower "18RMS & 4V",

-- Not as low as i thought it would be, the loudest the volume goes to is 23 once you pass 23 it stays the same all the way to 35 max.

 

 

Kenwood Anniversary..

Pros:

-- Color and great graphic..duh

-- you can custom make your own graphic

-- HD ready for better FM reception

-- Has buit in Graphic Motion that meassure the proformance of your car.

-- Louder, SQ is also OK, You can use the 4 band Parametric EQ to adjust either front or rear speakers, while on the 9855 it aplies all speakers.

-- Higher RMS and preamp output "22RMS/channel and 5V preamp".

-- Sub control is easier to adjust and turn off/on

 

 

Cons:

-- Has only one EQ type (4 band Parametric), While the 9855 has two.."parametric and Graphic,

-- the Voice Manager the came with the HU **** and it wont read you text correctly which is very annoying. In order to search for MP3 songs..you have to use the software to burn your cds..once its burn..its only complatiable with the Kenwoord deck and it can't be play in any other different HU or cd player

I haven't used the included PhatNoise Media Manager to burn any .mp3 discs yet - the ones I burned using Nero play just fine and I can search through them pretty easily (might have something to do with my personal file architecture, though...)If you use the included software to burn your discs (and again, you don't have to) then the files become .aac files rather than .mp3 files. As no other manufacturer includes .aac decoding in their head units of course no one else's unit will play them! Nothing but a Sony unit will decode ATRAC3 files that I am aware of but the CD/.mp3 WalkMan I bought to listen to on the plane on my way to and from Australia sure came with software to create discs full of it!

-- Tend[ed] to skip* when you go over bumpy roads.."need 5 sec to resume playback, MP3 load slow.

What kind of vehicle do you drive? Neither the KDC-X569 or the KDC-X679 I ran before this one nor this XXV-01D I am running currently have shown any predisposition to skipping during disc playback ~ and my car has 40-series 17" tires on it (which are not known for an extremely plush ride by themselves) travelling over Louisiana's public roadways (which are not particularly popular with OTR truck drivers as we have a national reputation for continually crappy road construction) Matter of fact I have yet to experience them skip at all! Do you have a 4x4 and you're listening to CDs while on a Baja trail or something?! 

For a quick summary..if you are into cool graphic, listen to radio, more power, then go with the kenwood. OR on the other hand..if you are an expert audio person, perfer SQ and not fantasy graphic then go with Alpine. The only problem with alpine is that if you want a very loud system you have to use a separate amp to power your interior speakers since the deck isnt that powerfull.

Anyone wanting a "very loud system" will go with outboard amplification rather than relying on head unit power - period. This has nothing to do with internal amplifier output of any specific manufacturer as it leaves something to be desired in comparison with outboard amps regardless of what brand of HU you use.

 

[yacob.naif 10+ year member]

The skipping problem sounds unusual. I've owned 3 kenwoods in the past, including 2 excellons, and a cheap $250 one from best buy before them, and none of them have EVER skipped on me.

My house-mate's excellon skips in his civic, but it's old, and he doesn't take care of it.

Sounds like it could be a defective unit, or bad mp3 encoding, causing the cd not to track.

I can't comment on the rest, i like alpines and kenwoods equally, but i've always looked at them as being pretty equal, and 99% of the sq differences are going to lie in your external hardware, and tuning more than the head unit itself. Especially when you consider that most people looking for a head unit in this price range aren't looking for internal amplication anyways.

I usually find a head unit that does what i need ( a feature you don't use may as well not be there) with a interface that's easy, and looks never hurt either.