Alpine or Eclipse?

[CELLERBR 10+ year member]

Subs: Eclipse are better IMO.

Everything else is a toss up....Although I like Alpine HU's Eclipse are nice as well....

 

[green_slip 10+ year member]

eclipse would be easily as big as alpine if they sold their products retail, and i really don't think you can argue with that. for the quality/price ratio eclipse edges alpine in almost every aspect.

 

[Deuce 10+ year member]

Alpine is "king" in what regard?....sales? If so, is that how we should judge what is better? I don't think so. I would never say any brand is better than another because they are "king" in regard to sales or name recognition, etc.

They are king because i like them a lot better than i like eclipse, which makes them king in my book. The poll asked which one is better and since nobody can say which is better definitely then you can only give your opinion. My opinion is that alpine is better than eclipse. I dont have to give a reason and i dont need someone to ask why i think that alpine is better. I trust alpine more than eclipse and the complex look and the complexity of the settings intrigue me. Maybe i like a challenge, but thats the way i am. The eclpse hUs just dont look good to me, plus the dont change angles, which is something i really like.

 

[Ptown 10+ year member]

I own both right now - Alpine and Eclipse head units. Running in two seperate vehicles but both to Diamond Audio M6 components, and both powered by the same US Amps TU-600 150W X 2 tube amp. The Alpine has more detail and clarity, but the Eclpise just sounds better - more like real music.

 

[Bavarian3 10+ year member]

The Alpine has more detail and clarity, but the Eclpise just sounds better - more like real music.

interesting, but doesnt make much sense....i guess

a good break down is....

1. decks, either one will be top notch.

2. speakers, eclipse has more expensive better components

3. subs, eclipse is the obvious winner, but type R's are good subs for the money.

4. amps, i heard eclipse amps **** so going from that alpine is better...

5. Alpine has more things like Equalizers, screens, DVD players, alarm systems, Xovers and processors. i THINK eclipse has some of these things as well.

 

[buchel 10+ year member]

My vote is for alpine, simply too many things to list, capone did a good job, and made a good point, they do edge eachother in almost every field, and are about even, I choose alpine from past expierences with both companies, and just like the alpine deck I had a bit better...

~ Kyle ~

 

[JLCivic 10+ year member]

They are king because i like them a lot better than i like eclipse, which makes them king in my book. The poll asked which one is better and since nobody can say which is better definitely then you can only give your opinion. My opinion is that alpine is better than eclipse. I dont have to give a reason and i dont need someone to ask why i think that alpine is better. I trust alpine more than eclipse and the complex look and the complexity of the settings intrigue me. Maybe i like a challenge, but thats the way i am. The eclpse hUs just dont look good to me, plus the dont change angles, which is something i really like.

Ok, I was just curious as to how you came to say alpine was king. As for changing angles, my last eclipse and my current eclipse do that.

Ofcourse all of this "which is better" is subjective.

 

[JLCivic 10+ year member]

interesting, but doesnt make much sense....i guessa good break down is....

1. decks, either one will be top notch.

2. speakers, eclipse has more expensive better components

3. subs, eclipse is the obvious winner, but type R's are good subs for the money.

4. amps, i heard eclipse amps **** so going from that alpine is better...

5. Alpine has more things like Equalizers, screens, DVD players, alarm systems, Xovers and processors. i THINK eclipse has some of these things as well.

You should check out eclipse amps sometime. I ran 2 eclipse amps. They were very nice.

 

[#1AlpineFan 10+ year member]

HU - I looked at both before buying my 9815. To play mp3s i would have to pay another 200 bucks plus the deck was alot more with the same features as alpine.

But with some eclipse you can do an unbalanced output. very nice. and ease of use - eclipse

Speakers- both have nice sets.

amps - features wise alpine for being able to set if up with that remote thing

subs - eclipse

both are very good and makes for a hard decision.

you know what my pick is.

 

[JLCivic 10+ year member]

HU - I looked at both before buying my 9815. To play mp3s i would have to pay another 200 bucks plus the deck was alot more with the same features as alpine. But with some eclipse you can do an unbalanced output. very nice. and ease of use - eclipse

Speakers- both have nice sets.

amps - features wise alpine for being able to set if up with that remote thing

subs - eclipse

both are very good and makes for a hard decision.

you know what my pick is.

The alpine 9815, authorized, is $499, correct?(crutchfield's price).

The eclipse 8443 is $419. The eclipse doesn't play mp3s, true, but it has everything else, plus 8 volt pre outs.

I don't see this huge price difference. I am not arguing why you chose alpine over eclipse in this instance, just wondering about this price difference. IMO, if anything, eclipse is a very good value.

 

[paikiah 5,000+ posts]

therefore...

ou can't say overall. You gotta mention what specific model to what, in the same price range.

 

[#1AlpineFan 10+ year member]

good point but i paid 350 w/warranty for the 9815. so to me it was cheaper. sorry thats not good for a comparison.

 

[JLCivic 10+ year member]

good point but i paid 350 w/warranty for the 9815. so to me it was cheaper. sorry thats not good for a comparison.

$350 with a factory warranty(which would be a very good price, authorized) or did you buy online, unauthorized with some kind of warranty from the seller?

When comparing prices, we gotta compare apples to apples.

If you did get the 9815 for $350 from an authorized dealer, then it would be $60 less than the eclipse(which also has a 3 year warranty if dealer installed...best warranty in the business afaik).

The 9815 is a very nice looking deck, that's for sure.

 

[paikiah 5,000+ posts]

i think eclipse made it VErY clear that there are NO authorised internet dealers.

 

[green_slip 10+ year member]

yea you can find the 9815 for 340-370 all day on ebay w/ warranty.