Alpine vs Clarion, pls help

[trussard]

Hi there, I am a newbie to car audio and would like to obtain some advise from the experts. Here is my wish list and hope you guys could give some advises as I notice so many different model out there and not sure what's their difference.

1) Alpine CDA-9886

2) Alpine 9885

3) Alpine 9884

4) Apline iDA-X100

http://www.alpine-asia.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=46&Itemid=277

5) Clarion FB276BT

http://www.clarion.com/my/en/products/2008/audio/source_units/1din/FB276BT/my-en-product-pf_1172389248322.html

Can anyone advise the best choice in terms of sound quality? I'll be using original tweeters, alpine speakers and a 6" or 8" under-seat Sub.

I have CD, Ipod and SD card myself, so it doesn't really matter if the unit doesn't have CD player. Deep bass with solid, clarity sound quality is my main concern. Pls advise their difference and best choice for me.

Thanks very much to all //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/veryhappy.gif.fec4fed33b4a1279cf10bdd45a039dae.gif

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[HNaga 10+ year member]

why not Alpine CDA-9887

 

[tv559 10+ year member]

I saw the alpine 9886 today its a sick ass HU...

 

[cbrei1023 10+ year member]

I believe that the Clarion FB276BT, is just for a bluetooth reciever, and I know Alpines iDZ-X100 is only for an I-POD. So if you ever want to play a CD you need to take those two units out of the choices. I personally dont like a deck that cant play CDs.

As for your other choices. I have the 9884 and I love it, its a great deck for the prices they can be had for. From what I could tell the 9886 was just a 9884 with a nicer faceplate. maybe some other upgrades, but I didnt really look to hard. The 9887 (which you didnt list) is a fantastic deck. it has the imprint tech already built in, so you will get much more control over the tuning, and you will have a 5 or 7 band EQ vs the standard 2 band which is on the 9884 and 9886.

On the Clarion side. I wouldent get anything except the DXZ785USB or DXZ585USB. The only difference again being the 785 has a nicer faceplate. I had a 785USB in the past and it was a very nice deck. The 3-way crossover was a nice feature. The only thing I wasnt happy with was the EQ, only a 3 band. The center frequencies were selectable though which was nice.

My final word would be to go with a 9887 if you can afford it. You would get great SQ. If not that, go with the 9886.

 

[trussard]

Thanks very much cbrei1023 for your info.

The reason 9887 isn't in my wish list because there's quite a difference in price between 9887 and the rest of my choices.

I won't be having the expensive speakers (will be using Alpine mid-price speaker and a 6" under-seat sub, no amp). Is there still a hugh difference in sound quality comparing 9887 to 9886/9884?

Thanks again

 

[cbrei1023 10+ year member]

having not used the 9887 myself i cant really comment. I only played with one at my local tweeter (now closed). The 9884, 9886, and 9887 were all in there together with all the tuning options turned off and EQs flat and as i switched around I couldent tell any difference in sound. Never played with one in a car environment though.

hope that helps out

 

[trussard]

That's really helpful. Thanks cbrei1023 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif