Better to go active with Eclipse CD8455 or with Clarion DRZ9255?

[orangeblast 10+ year member]

what would you go active with and why?

Plan to run Lotus Reference components and an Arc Audio XXK line 4 channel amp.

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[puppie_chow 10+ year member]

I would go with the Clarion, longer warranty.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

I had the 8454 before I had my 9255.

9255>8454, especially if running a 3-way component set up front...

[/story]

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

to be specific on the question, not what is the better HU, it doesn't matter. I'm not quite sure what slopes the clarion offers but if its a max of 24db/oct then it doesn't matter which HU will be better to go active. Since i believe that you are going with a 2 way frontstage, both HUs offer the same crossover slopes and pts i believe. if it comes down to it should be which HU has the better SQ but like i told you earlier the eclipse has a 10 band EQ.

 

[orangeblast 10+ year member]

is it a really big difference though? between a 5 and 10 band eq? and doesn't the DRZ do only 16 DB slopes?

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

is it a really big difference though? between a 5 and 10 band eq? and doesn't the DRZ do only 16 DB slopes?

big difference when you have a 5 band dedicated PEQ just for tweet, and another dedicated 5 band for your midrange. Once you step into active sound and your drivers are seeing more power...everything changes- more , stronger reflections, coloration via resonances....

5band total is very limiting , specially for a 4way active deck.

Only 1st(6db),2nd (12db), and 3rd(18db) order xovers on the DRZ, while thE eclipse adds up to a 4th(24db) order slopes.

On both slopes and EQ prowress, the Eclipse has the DRZ beat for 3way(2way fronstage + sub) active flexibility.

Active requires more tuning..

More bands = Mo betta [/story]

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

^^ good clarification there maxspd. Didn't know that the clarion only went up to 18db/oct. So there, IMO the Eclipse would be better tuning wise because it has a 10 band eq and the crossover slopes can do up to 24db/oct against the clarion which can only go up to 18db/oct. jntar who just put up a review on the seas lotus reference mids says that he has his mids bandpassed at 63hz at 24db/oct and 3.15khz at 24db/oct. The review can be found here, http://forums.caraudio.com/vb/showthread.php?t=128519. Having the ability to have a 24db/oct option gives more flexbility.

 

[orangeblast 10+ year member]

Blast! the DRZ9255 is so close but it just lacks a tiny bit where you would really need it the most! Man I dig the look of it and everything else...even features...but given the way I'm going with active and the lotus references and all....arrrrgghhhh....the clarion would be perfect if it wasn't for the 10 band eq and the 24 db.

All I can really hope for is for Eclipse to release some amazing stuff this upcoming year. Not a big deal given that I will not be picking up my new car till 4 months from now...roughly.

 

[orangeblast 10+ year member]

Is there anyway possible to get around the limitations with the DRZ9255? perhaps some external EQ or something?

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

^ yes. external eq's can be purchased.

 

[orangeblast 10+ year member]

Is it even worth it at that point? Will it degrade sound sq?

 

[JLCivic 10+ year member]

I would go with the Clarion, longer warranty.
//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

I had the 8454 before I had my 9255.

9255>8454, especially if running a 3-way component set up front...

[/story]

The clarion offers longer than a 3 year factory warranty?

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

Is it even worth it at that point? Will it degrade sound sq?

if will only downgrade the SQ if you have the wrong eq settings //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif.

 

[orangeblast 10+ year member]

heh...wrong eq settings as in..wrong according to my ears thus good SQ is usualy an opinion and can only be justified through ones own ears? if that makes sense.

So there still is hope with the DRZ but it would have to be in junction with an EQ?

hrm...that would be more CRAP I'd have to deal with...well just for shits can you recommend me a good external EQ that would get the job done with the whole 24 db slope thing?

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

heh...wrong eq settings as in..wrong according to my ears thus good SQ is usualy an opinion and can only be justified through ones own ears? if that makes sense.

haha, yea thats what i meant.

So there still is hope with the DRZ but it would have to be in junction with an EQ?

hrm...that would be more CRAP I'd have to deal with...well just for shits can you recommend me a good external EQ that would get the job done with the whole 24 db slope thing?

yes its more stuff to deal with but hey if thats what you want then you could work around it. As for suggestions i've never worked with an external eq before but i heard good things about arc audio and audio control. I mean i believe you can work yourself around the 18db/oct with a clarion, its just more flexibility in terms of tuning. maybe you could buy a eq/xover combo.

if you like alpine a very popular combo is basically any alpine HU along with the h701 and the c701. Thats basically all you need right there in terms of tuning. also the pioneer p9 combo as well.

 

[orangeblast 10+ year member]

Wow, I'm really digging those Arc Audio EQs!! sweet!

So how would this work then? set my DRZ9255 Settings then have it EQ again over the already EQ'd setup....or bypass my DRZ settings and have my EQ do the work?

a bit confused on how the EQ will play.

Wonder what would be the best model for me out of Arc Audio.