Alpine CDA-9847 vs. Kenwood KDC-X589

[Jacobman 10+ year member]

In your opinion which do you think would be the better buy. I have heard the alpine and it sounds really good but i have not heard the kenwood. I was originally gonna get a more expensive unit but now i realized i need to save some money and the 9847 has all the same internals as the 9851.

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[Ignatowski 5,000+ posts]

if it were me,I would get the Excelon

more bang for the buck and better SQ in 2005

 

[shellshocked 10+ year member]

I currently have the 9847 and did have an older kenwood - don't remember the model but it was one of the higher end units I bought two years ago. I would pick the alpine. My only complaint about the alpine is they have a funky bass and treble control - it works but it takes some time and you are not really sure what it actually does - I even called alpine and their description was no help. On the otherhand it is very easy to use and the controls are logically thought through and intuitive(with the above exception). I had to keep the kenwood user manual in the glovebox just to figure out how to set the clock for daylight saving time - it does not need to be that complex.

 

[Ignatowski 5,000+ posts]

I currently have the 9847 and did have an older kenwood - don't remember the model but it was one of the higher end units I bought two years ago. I would pick the alpine. My only complaint about the alpine is they have a funky bass and treble control - it works but it takes some time and you are not really sure what it actually does - I even called alpine and their description was no help. On the otherhand it is very easy to use and the controls are logically thought through and intuitive(with the above exception). I had to keep the kenwood user manual in the glovebox just to figure out how to set the clock for daylight saving time - it does not need to be that complex.

Older Kenwoods were pretty mediocra,but 2005 is a whole new ballgame

Alpine is now the new Xplode for 2005 and Excelon is the new Alpine:eyebrow:

 

[headknocker 10+ year member]

I kinda agree with excelerator to a certain extent. I have no experience with the Alpine but I installed the eXcelon X589 six months ago and I've been VERY happy with it. It replaced an eXcelon X717 and Kenwood upped the ante on the '05's. The SQ has been significantly improved and the motorized face is a very welcome change from the silly and troublesome D-Mask feature.

I got mine for around $150(total) on ebay. You can't do much better for the money. It doesn't have a fancy display(which doesn't interest me anyway) but the three-band parametric EQ, built-in crossovers,etc do a very nice job of dialing in the sonics.

IMO, it's a steal at $150.

 

[Jacobman 10+ year member]

Well i jumped the gun and ordered the alpine last night. Sure the kenwood might have better EQ and such b;t i really dont think i will be able to hear stuff like that. Plus any of those 2 beat having nothing in my car. I think the alpine will do me fine though. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif