Alpine or Pioneer

[DsrtJeeper 10+ year member]

I currently have an Alpine head unit with no built in DSP or EQ. I've noticed that Alpines have a thinner sound and Pioneers a more natural sound. Is it just me? I like the DSP, time alignment and EQ of the $400.00 and up Pioneer HU's. Will I gain anything by switching to a Pioneer unit such as the 780 over my CDA-9856

Alpine? Help me decide with your actual experiences. Thanks!

P.S. Sound quality is my main goal. I like a robust, warm midrange.

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[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Other than the P9 combo, I've never been a fan of the Pioneer user interface...

I'd recommend finding a used 9835 if you want to stick with Alpine.

 

[DsrtJeeper 10+ year member]

Other than the P9 combo, I've never been a fan of the Pioneer user interface...
I'd recommend finding a used 9835 if you want to stick with Alpine.

Please explain...

 

[photocrazy8 10+ year member]

i love my 9835 so many cool features

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

The CDA-9835 is the last "new" production Alpine I'd go with...has T/A, 5 band PEQ.

Have you heard Eclipse units?

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

I like features of my eclipse //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[photocrazy8 10+ year member]

The CDA-9835 is the last "new" production Alpine I'd go with...has T/A, 5 band PEQ.
Have you heard Eclipse units?

also the 9835 is very easy to use once you get it down...

 

[DsrtJeeper 10+ year member]

The CDA-9835 is the last "new" production Alpine I'd go with...has T/A, 5 band PEQ.
Have you heard Eclipse units?

I had Eclipse in the early 90's. Haven't heard anything new. Great sound quality? What benefits does Eclipse offer fuction wise? I think it's neat how the Pioneers use DSP and time aligment.

 

[Towncar 10+ year member]

I currently have an Alpine head unit with no built in DSP or EQ. I've noticed that Alpines have a thinner sound and Pioneers a more natural sound. Is it just me? I like the DSP, time alignment and EQ of the $400.00 and up Pioneer HU's. Will I gain anything by switching to a Pioneer unit such as the 780 over my CDA-9856Alpine? Help me decide with your actual experiences. Thanks!

P.S. Sound quality is my main goal. I like a robust, warm midrange.

Im pretty sure you will like that pioneer over the alpine. The new alpine line up is just average imo. The 780 has much more capabilitys for better sound.

 

[DsrtJeeper 10+ year member]

Im pretty sure you will like that pioneer over the alpine. The new alpine line up is just average imo. The 780 has much more capabilitys for better sound.

After reading of the 880 grounding problems; I'm a bit leary. What head units are dominant in SQ comps? Are the DSP, EQ's and Time Alignment features quality in these head units or is a guy better off running external boxes such as Audio Control products?

 

[loserpunk 10+ year member]

i've never liked alpines user interface in the past 5 yrs. just doesn't make sense to me, and pioneers seems to work perfectly with how my brain works, imo alpines current line up is a pathetic huge downgrade from their units of years past, they took out so much of the eq and ta ability that they used to include on their midgrade units now aren't even on their high end models excluding the f1 status, which i don't think is even being considered here

as far as the ground problem on the 880 goes, theres a thread on here somewhere that talks about it, but you have to ground the chasis of the unit to the car, not with the ground provided, as long as you do that during installation you shouldn't have a prob.

 

[oxsign 5,000+ posts]

I went from my alpine 9855 to a premier 860 and I never looked back. I've always been a big fan of pioneer, but I figured i'd give alpine a try. I wasnt impressed/happy with it. I'll stick to pioneer from now on. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/cool.gif.3bcaf8f141236c00f8044d07150e34f7.gif

 

[DsrtJeeper 10+ year member]

Thanks for the replies guys and keep them coming. I'd also like to hear more input from the SQ crowd along with installers and competitors. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[PremierAudio 10+ year member]

The premier line is the way to go with the higher preout voltage. If you open the Premier versus regular Pioneer, the build is just a tad bit better. I as well as many people like the more lifelike sound of the Pioneers versus the Alpines. Dont get me wrong Alpines use to make really good units, but they have gone down hill. Pioneer though has been really taking the market, especially with their 880prs. As far as the ground issue goes, we have found, like some else stated, that if you ground to the chasis you will not have any problems.

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

I love my 880 and have had many decks from Alpine, Eclispe, Kenwood and other higher end Pioneer Premiers like the 9500 and the 880 is my favorite so far.