BEST SQ Headunit??

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

I have had alot of good head units....my favorite by faris the old Harmon/Kardon CH160 and 161 head units...

I used to record all my tapes off of a LP12 turntable ....miss that Analog sound

digital sound is so shallow

While I agree that analog sounds trememdous as vinyl is MY favorite format,//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif digital also can sound really good. It all depends on the recording and playback system. On the flipside, not all vinyls are done right either. So we can't really make blanket statements that say "digital sucks" or "analog is best". It just isn't that simple.

But yeah........................vinyl is awesome.

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

I appreciate all the replys so far, but what I gues I am looking for is more than someone listing a product number....I know what they are. I am looking for a description of sound characteristics or personal experiences with the units.

I think a better place to start with this is to ask you what are you trying to achieve that your 9887 did NOT.??

You placed 6th in "consumer Q" thats pretty good. Can I ask how many others were in your power class?? Were you really close and you just want something to boost your system over the edge? Or were you way off and you think you need a system facelift?

I know that the Nak 700 will sound warmer than your current deck. I also know the MAC will too. Ive only heard those 2 decks once each so I don't really consider myself "experienced" with them. But I do know they have a warm signature for the most part.

I think of all the decks that people have listed in this thread that will be the biggest improvement would be an ODR system. Although this would NOT be a cheap upgrade.

 

[niebur3 10+ year member]

I think a better place to start with this is to ask you what are you trying to achieve that your 9887 did NOT.??
You placed 6th in "consumer Q" thats pretty good. Can I ask how many others were in your power class?? Were you really close and you just want something to boost your system over the edge? Or were you way off and you think you need a system facelift?

I know that the Nak 700 will sound warmer than your current deck. I also know the MAC will too. Ive only heard those 2 decks once each so I don't really consider myself "experienced" with them. But I do know they have a warm signature for the most part.

I think of all the decks that people have listed in this thread that will be the biggest improvement would be an ODR system. Although this would NOT be a cheap upgrade.

There were no power classes because it was "Q" we were all grouped into one....so I went up against the best of the best. I was pretty close in score, withy no eq at all in my car - don't like them very much, and at that time I was running a DRZ9255. As I found it to be very nice sounding, it still sounded a little cold or emotionless, kinda like the CDA9887 does, just with a littler better definition and overall sound quality. I previously had an older alpine in my car and it sounded really warm, but lacked the 24 bit detail and clarity. I am the type of person that hears a large difference between, amps, speakers and HU as well as burned CD's. My only other issue is that I wouldn't mind getting a HU that I can play MP3's on.....J/K of course....but the HD radio would be a nice option for when I want to hear something new and don't want to have to run out and buy the CD. I've thought about McIntosh (since I'm running their amp) and I know most of these I've mentioned are like splitting hairs and everyone has a preference. It's just hard to read a review of a really high end HU and seeing the person running very low end speakers for mids/highs.

 

[6spdcoupe 5,000+ posts]

I dont remember this car at finals. Which one was it?

 

[niebur3 10+ year member]

I dont remember this car at finals. Which one was it?

I was the white Pontiac Firebird stiiting facing the semi trailer. I was by a couple of guys from Mexico and the guy on the east end of our row was a black mustang with lambo doors. This was the USAC finals in Omaha (qwest center). Chris Pate's Civic was there and Jan Bennett's VW.

 

[6spdcoupe 5,000+ posts]

I was the white Pontiac Firebird stiiting facing the semi trailer. I was by a couple of guys from Mexico and the guy on the east end of our row was a black mustang with lambo doors. This was the USAC finals in Omaha (qwest center). Chris Pate's Civic was there and Jan Bennett's VW.

Ahhh OK I vaguely remember now.

 

[niebur3 10+ year member]

I know it wasn't flashy....the stereo that is....but it gets the job done....which one was your car??

 

[6spdcoupe 5,000+ posts]

I did not have a car there. I went out to support a good friend as well as a client. He had the '07 Tahoe with all Hertz in it next to his ( now older) Scion xB with Dynaudio and TRU.

 

[niebur3 10+ year member]

So he was the row across from me toward the end by the white Lexus??