Alpine IDA-X001 or Clarion DXZ775USB

[Cayden]

This really seems to be a question of beauty over substance. The alpine is gorgeous, simple to use, but lacks a lot of bells and whistles. The clarion on the other hand gives you so much control over your audio, and how you want it to hear it’s almost confusing. It’s easy on the eyes, not as much as the alpine, and the screen isn’t even in the same league. I have been to tweeter to check on the alpine, it’s nice, but I have no idea how it sounds. They had it hooked up to a bunch of different amps. I am not going to be running a separate amp, I am going to be running the speakers of the HU, and I would like to know how it sounds. My friend has the Clarion, and it sounds great. All I ever owned is clarion HU's, and they have never disappointed be, but I am big ipod user, and love the fact the alpine was co-designed with apple, and is as easy to use as an ipod. I really don’t want to regret my decision, so I wanted to ask some enthusiasts what they thought of the 2 units, and that’s where you come in. I am also looking at getting 2 Pairs of Polk Audio db6500 to go with the HU. I used to only get CerwinVega speakers because of the warmth they would output, but it’s hard to find a place that sells them anymore.

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[Monologuist 10+ year member]

Do you know what the specs on the crossovers and time alignment on the Clarion unit?

I am wanting a receiver that has built in crossovers(preferably 3-way or better) and time alignment with some real adjustability, and also has USB functionality for Ipod and HD use. I have the Pioneer P6900ub right now, and the USB/ipod functionality is great, but the processing features are limited. Hard to find info on that Clarion unit though.

 

[onefastsi 10+ year member]

Read my review on the X001 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Babs 10+ year member]

Cayden,

Reading your original post for your needs, I vote IDA, though I know you're a Clarion fan also, and that 775 on paper looks good. onfastsi appears to have made a good choice with it as well.

Your two choices have trade-offs..

The IDA is superb with no competition in its iPod capability.. but MINIMAL processing for crossovers or time alignment, etc.. However Excellent DAC's so the SQ would be great.. especially if your music is stored in good bitrates or lossless. Plus, NO actual CD player to die on you.. No moving parts.. yay!

The 775 appears to have all the processing of your typical "SQ" unit.. such as the Pioneer 880 or Clarion flagship, though I know there's a HUGE gap between the 775 and the 9255 (no comparison really). However, you've got probably fair to decent dac's, good tuning capability with the time alignment and crossovers (though you're running off the head unit).

For your setup, a simple head unit and speakers with heavy iPod use.. I vote IDA Alpine.

 

[Cayden]

I actually read your review on the IDA, and it was very helpful. my beef is the same as yours with the placement of the search&enter buttons. I read that before i posted this. I can find review after review on the IDA, even c-net has a video review for it. but not a lot of intel on the DXZ. Thanks to everyone for their advice. I am going with the alpine, because of your advice, and the fact that my friend has that clarion. I tried to help him with the settings yesterday, and got a headache. I didn't think it was possible but i think i have a limit on how many settings i can handle. I am going to go with the alpine, but beef it up a little. My friend is giving me his old Rockford Fosgate punch x200.4 amp that i will connect to the IDA and run the speakers off of for a little more power. and that will also give me FP crossover functionality. any suggestions on speakers? I am currently looking at Polk Audio db6500. My friend has them, and they sound ok, but i am looking for something with a warmer sound. something that makes the mids really pop. once again thanks for all your advice

 

[onefastsi 10+ year member]

well, wait to do speakers til the unit is in. I got a HUGE bump in midbass with the X001!

The center dial/search is only a tiny little issue. just one of a FEW things I found to harp on //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

And I like the "less" adjustments. I fry my brain with the 13 bands of EQ on my EQL, so the less the better //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Cayden]

onefastsi, i have no choice on the speakers. the ones that came with my car stock are crap. i read on my cars forums (Suzuki SX4) that the magnets on the mids are as small as the tweeters, and weigh nothing. and the tweeters look like 1$ pieces of plastic. I love my car, and this is the only thing negative i have to say about it. the speakers are just worthless. so no matter what i need to replace the speakers. they distort horribly with the stock radio. i couldnt imagine putting a better one in.

 

[Fast1one 10+ year member]

For future upgrades I choose the Clarion, but thats just me, if sound quality was never your thing, the Alpine should do everything you need.

I should be getting the the 775 today or tomorrow, so if you want to wait a couple days Ill have a review with an active setup //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Cayden]

For future upgrades I choose the Clarion, but thats just me, if sound quality was never your thing, the Alpine should do everything you need.
I should be getting the the 775 today or tomorrow, so if you want to wait a couple days Ill have a review with an active setup //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I cant wait till you do that, even if i don't get one i can still help my friend set his up. Its just a mess

 

[Babs 10+ year member]

For future upgrades I choose the Clarion, but thats just me, if sound quality was never your thing, the Alpine should do everything you need.
I should be getting the the 775 today or tomorrow, so if you want to wait a couple days Ill have a review with an active setup //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I'd be interested as well on the 775... With all that processing, something just strikes me strange about that unit.. The 775 is not expensive in comparison for all that processing but I wonder about how good it is.

I guess, in the 'budget sq' units, there's the 775, the 880 and the 7100 or 7000 eclipse units out there to do front active setups from the head unit. I'd love to hear about a shootout between these... if you guys see any comparisons let me know. Only thing I saw was one guy say he liked the 880 over the 7100 for "SQ" slightly.

Still seeing the DXZ955MC clarion out there as well.. That's an odd bird.

 

[Cayden]

Hey onefastsi do you know if its posible to have an ipod, usb device, and aux input all at the same time. I need the aux because i am hooking up a computer in the car, and the ipod for the ipod obviously. i know the ipod hooks up to the alpines usb port, and the aux input takes up the AI-Net port. I would like to have all 3 options so i am thinking about splitting a usb cable and just making sure 2 things are never plugged into it at the same time, or if there is some alpine option like an AI-Net splitter. I am pretty sure the unit does not support a usb hub, but it would be sweet if it did

 

[Fast1one 10+ year member]

Yeah Im sorry to say I wont be using an iPod with it just yet, probably in a month or so, but Ill try the USB function on it. Mostly interested in the menu system and its sound quality, i will be comparing it to my previous deck, an Alpine 9831 which I ran active with it very briefly with an external crossover. Ill try the best I can to outline most of the features and its functionality....

I will be using Aura tweeters from the MR series comp set, and PPI phaze mids. No substage, only minimal sound deadening unfortunately with MDF rings sealed on the door. Well get that fixed soon as well, stay tuned //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Babs 10+ year member]

Might have to use Alpines "hub" unit for all that maybe.

 

[Fast1one 10+ year member]

Hey onefastsi do you know if its posible to have an ipod, usb device, and aux input all at the same time. I need the aux because i am hooking up a computer in the car, and the ipod for the ipod obviously. i know the ipod hooks up to the alpines usb port, and the aux input takes up the AI-Net port. I would like to have all 3 options so i am thinking about splitting a usb cable and just making sure 2 things are never plugged into it at the same time, or if there is some alpine option like an AI-Net splitter. I am pretty sure the unit does not support a usb hub, but it would be sweet if it did

One thing about the Clarion is it has a separate Aux in already, on top of that the USB cord, and the C-net or whatever they call it for the iPod controller, nice having all three separate //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fro.gif.c695f1f814b01c4ad99fe7f8cccadd29.gif

 

[onefastsi 10+ year member]

Hey onefastsi do you know if its posible to have an ipod, usb device, and aux input all at the same time. I need the aux because i am hooking up a computer in the car, and the ipod for the ipod obviously. i know the ipod hooks up to the alpines usb port, and the aux input takes up the AI-Net port. I would like to have all 3 options so i am thinking about splitting a usb cable and just making sure 2 things are never plugged into it at the same time, or if there is some alpine option like an AI-Net splitter. I am pretty sure the unit does not support a usb hub, but it would be sweet if it did

Not sure...it has one fitting into the radio, then a USB connect that either a USB device can go into, or the iPod attachment. Not sure if you can add? I would doubt it. It does have iPod and USB as options, sources however.