Better deck for SQ than an Alpine CDA 7998?

[Latina33 10+ year member]

I own this deck, and I really like all of the EQ and adjustment features, and it's touted to be a SQ competition deck. I'm also a big fan of it's built in 3-way active capability.

I wanted to get some opinions on this deck, and also if there's any other decks that can be had in the $200-$300 price range that would provide better SQ and still allow me to run a 3-way active setup?

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[frzninvt 10+ year member]

Certainly not in that price range, that price range will barely buy you a used 7998.

There are only a handful of decks that are even equal to or would surpass the SQ of the 7998 unless you modified the output stage with better capacitors.

Running an outboard DAC may improve things some but it is going to cost alot more than $200 - $300.

If you want more SQ run higher quality amplifiers and speakers that will take full advantage of the 7998's SQ capabilities.

 

[Latina33 10+ year member]

Certainly not in that price range, that price range will barely buy you a used 7998.
There are only a handful of decks that are even equal to or would surpass the SQ of the 7998 unless you modified the output stage with better capacitors.

Running an outboard DAC may improve things some but it is going to cost alot more than $200 - $300.

If you wan more SQ run higher quality amplifiers and speakers that will take full advantage of the 7998's SQ capabilities.

Thanks for the input. I understand your points, I'm just not sure what kind of amp I could move to to achieve better SQ results....or even if I did move to another amp, if it would even be that much of a notable difference in SQ.

I'm currently running a set of Rainbow Profi Vanadium phase plug 2-ways with this amp active:

http://ampguts.realmofexcursion.com/Alpine_MRD-F752/

The Profi phase plugs are supposed to be some of the best comps for SQ around. I just want to explore options that might maximize their capabilities better.

 

[frzninvt 10+ year member]

You have a single amplifier that shares a single power supply and runs Class 'T" which is a form of digital amplification and certainly not the epitome' of sound quality. Digital amplification while very efficient is great for subwoofers where S/N Ratio and Channel Separation are not that big a factor, but will be lacking in finite detail and accuracy when your front sound stage is concerned. When you drive your subwoofer hard the power supply is probably struggling to keep the front and rear outputs at rated power.

"Class T" is a trademark of TriPath company, which manufactures audio amplifier IC's. This new class "T" is a revision of the common class D amplifier, but with changes to ensure fidelity over the full audio spectrum, unlike traditional class D designs. It operates at a frequency of 650 kHz, with a proprietary modulator."

However, in most instances Class A, A/B amplication will always sound better than digital when running your front/rear components or speakers to my ears anyway.

I was running old school Orion XTR 100/200 Dual Mono blocks with balanced inputs up until my recent changeover to the Series VIII HiFonics Platinum High Current amplifiers. I could certainly tell the difference between the amps with the edge going to the Orion's but the HiFonics seem to have better highs above the 10Khz range but lack the punch and extreme dynamics of the Orion's and their unregulated power supplies.

 

[Latina33 10+ year member]

So an A or an A/B class amplifier dedicated to the mids and tweets only would most likely help to maximize SQ in my current setup.

I had a Soundstream Reference 644s 4 channel that I sold a few months ago. Maybe I should've considered possibly running my front speakers active with that amp, and then picking up a decent monoblock amp to run my 12" sub?

 

[SRim23 5,000+ posts]

you can buy my 9855!!! ha ha it does have the 3 way capabilities and i think cosmetically looks better. im not really a fan of the oversized fantom face. you can also change the buttons on mine like 500 different colors! i love rockin hot pink sometimes ha ha

 

[Latina33 10+ year member]

you can buy my 9855!!! ha ha it does have the 3 way capabilities and i think cosmetically looks better. im not really a fan of the oversized fantom face. you can also change the buttons on mine like 500 different colors! i love rockin hot pink sometimes ha ha

LOL Thanks man, but I think I'll pass on the newer 'glitz 'n glam' 9855. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I don't really care about the cosmetics part. I'd rather have better quality internal components.

 

[Latina33 10+ year member]

Would something like this AudioControl 4.1 be a worthwile investment?

 

[T3mpest 10+ year member]

If you like your hu, perhaps you can use your amps for your active processing. Kickers SX series has a fairly beefy dsp, more than enough options for most active setups.

 

[innsanes 10+ year member]

own the same HU and love it. Looks and Sq are top notch. If you want something better look into mcintosh or the alpine 7998R, copper chasis and optical output.

 

[CrossFired 10+ year member]

It's that amp thats killing you! I've heard the Alpine classT and they are Fugly sounding at best.

That SS you sold would have been much better! I like Crossfire but there's plenty of good sounding amp out there.

I've got a CF VR404 50x4 that I use in my car and it sounds real nice.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

http://ampguts.realmofexcursion.com/Crossfire_VR404/inside1.jpg

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

If you want more SQ run higher quality amplifiers......that will take full advantage of the 7998's SQ capabilities.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

Digital amplification while very efficient is great for subwoofers where S/N Ratio and Channel Separation are not that big a factor, but will be lacking in finite detail and accuracy when your front sound stage is concerned.

False.

And "D" doesn't stand for "digital".

However, in most instances Class A, A/B amplication will always sound better than digital when running your front/rear components or speakers

False.

I could certainly tell the difference between the amps with the edge going to the Orion's but the HiFonics seem to have better highs above the 10Khz range but lack the punch and extreme dynamics of the Orion's and their unregulated power supplies.

Won't even go there.

So an A or an A/B class amplifier dedicated to the mids and tweets only would most likely help to maximize SQ in my current setup.

No.

Don't look to an amplifier solely to give a change in sound quality......it ain't going to happen. The one exception to this is as noted below.....amps with built in DSP.

If you like your hu, perhaps you can use your amps for your active processing. Kickers SX series has a fairly beefy dsp, more than enough options for most active setups.

Agreed. And reasonably priced aswell.

I think the "main" thing they are missing is time alignment, however.

What is it exactly you were trying to improve upon ? There are many relatively simple and less expensive (potentially) alterations you can make to your install that would have very large impacts on sound quality aswell.

 

[Latina33 10+ year member]

I that amp thats killing you! I've heard the Alpine classT and they are Fugly sounding at best.
That SS you sold would have been much better! I like Crossfire but there's plenty of good sounding amp out there.

I've got a CF VR404 50x4 that I use in my car and it sounds real nice.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

http://ampguts.realmofexcursion.com/Crossfire_VR404/inside1.jpg

Really? What made you not like the sound of the Alpine Class T? I mean, I'm sure there's better amps for SQ, but mine is running my comps now, and it sounds ok.

I'm just curious to know what your experience with that amp is based on, so I can be a little better informed in my decision.

 

[Worlddre 5,000+ posts]

pay more attention to what squeak said then what anyoe else in this thread has said

depeding on what exactly you are trying to improve on there are many things that can be done to the install itself to acheive your goals

how they installed and what is lacking to you?

 

[Latina33 10+ year member]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif


False.

And "D" doesn't stand for "digital".

False.

Won't even go there.

No.

Don't look to an amplifier solely to give a change in sound quality......it ain't going to happen. The one exception to this is as noted below.....amps with built in DSP.

Agreed. And reasonably priced aswell.

I think the "main" thing they are missing is time alignment, however.

What is it exactly you were trying to improve upon ? There are many relatively simple and less expensive (potentially) alterations you can make to your install that would have very large impacts on sound quality aswell.

Thanks for breaking those quotes down for me, squeak.

I'm honestly just trying to keep my options open to provide my Rainbows with the best possible sound reproduction that I can give them (within a reasonable price range for me, of course).

If there is a better amp that will provide that resource for my comps than what I'm running with them now, then I'd like some examples, so that I can look into them as possible options.

The 7998 has a very nice time alignment feature.....but honestly, with the way the Vanadium phase plugs are installed, I don't even need to adjust it at all. They totally fill up the car with full sound, and I have no rear fill, just a 12" sub in my hatchback area.