Alpine - Pioneer

[naiku 10+ year member]

Tomorrow I am fully expecting to find out that my stock HU has died and that I will need to start looking for a replacement. I am half leaning towards getting another stock HU as I would prefer to keep my CD changer (also can't afford a double din and not too keen on the plasticy kits that get a single din to fit).

However, I might buy an aftermarket HU as TBH even with the CD changer the stock Ford unit is sh*t. Sooooooo I am kind of trying to narrow down the myriad of choices here. Any opinions on these 3:

Alpine CDA-9856

Pioneer DEH P770MP

Pioneer DEH P680MP

I used to have an Alpine CDA-7893 and loved it, but have heard that newer Alpine's are not so great (Do they still have the time alignment feature??). I have never owned a Pioneer but reading on here a lot of people are very positive about them. So which to get?

Thanks.

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[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I have the 680, it is decent as far as functions and user-friendly go. I hate the uni-knob and will never buy an other HU that has one.

 

[MattAttack 10+ year member]

Yeah I had to remove my disc. changer in order to install my pioneer HU, the price we pay for more power.......go with pioneer

 

[remedy]

I'll be getting the 680 soon so my vote is for that. Either way stick with Pioneer!

 

[taosd 10+ year member]

i'd get the DEH-7800, the 7700 is an older model. It rocks the single-knob, and i find it VERY easy to use, except pausing is gay (just a note, i don't have the 7800, i have the 9800... they're more or less the same, but the 9800 has bluetooth)

 

[Pickler 10+ year member]

I think pioneers decks looks better than alpines, and sound better.

 

[naiku 10+ year member]

**** not a single vote for an Alpine, they must have really gone downhill recently. Thanks.

 

[wesl56 10+ year member]

no time alignment... no eq... they want you to buy an external processor... thas some BS

 

[naiku 10+ year member]

no time alignment... no eq... they want you to buy an external processor... thas some BS

No time alignment really sucks, I had that on my previous Alpine and it turned out to be one of my fave features. Not sure which HU to buy now, am hoping to get something from Crutchfield (I know they are not the cheapest, but by the time I throw in the cost of shipping/wiring harness/dash kit) then they come out pretty close to some of the eBay prices).

I just checked and neither the Alpine CDA-9856 or Pioneer DEH P6800MP have time alignment. I think the only ones that do are now out of my ($200) budget.

Anyone have any comments on the P6800MP? I read a few places that say the display is overbearingly bright at night, is this true? and can anyone recommend any other dealers that offer wiring/dash kits etc as part of the price on a HU?

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

No time alignment really sucks, I had that on my previous Alpine and it turned out to be one of my fave features. Not sure which HU to buy now, am hoping to get something from Crutchfield (I know they are not the cheapest, but by the time I throw in the cost of shipping/wiring harness/dash kit) then they come out pretty close to some of the eBay prices).
I just checked and neither the Alpine CDA-9856 or Pioneer DEH P6800MP have time alignment. I think the only ones that do are now out of my ($200) budget.

Anyone have any comments on the P6800MP? I read a few places that say the display is overbearingly bright at night, is this true? and can anyone recommend any other dealers that offer wiring/dash kits etc as part of the price on a HU?

Th display on the 680/6800 is not bright because you can adjust it, the blue around the uni-knob and other buttons (e, bass, etc) are what's bright. Luckily, my arm blocks it when I am driving.

 

[Hockyeyd214 10+ year member]

I still have my 9815 alpine from 3 years ago. Works like a CHAMP and sounds amazing. /////ALPINE baby

 

[kingrukus 10+ year member]

I love my 4 year old 7894. Time alignment FTW. I hate their 06 decks.