Budget SQ HU for iPhone

[JoshC 10+ year member]

I doubt you, or anyone else on earth for that matter, can hear a difference between a 16 bit and a 24 bit DAC. My last post got deleted for being a new user that posts links, so please type: "head-fi 24bit vs 16bit, the myth exploded!" into google and read up on that nice little thread. Also, you cannot hear the difference between a Burr Brown DAC and some non-name-advertised DAC. Sorry. What you're maybe hearing that you're liking better is that headunits are not completely transparent. Pioneer, even with a flat EQ, supposedly likes to introduce a bass-heavy sound coming out of the unit. You like this bassy sound (who doesn't, that's why Bose and Dr Dre headphones sell so well among the laymen!) so you conclude that the unit sounds "better." Alpine, even with a flat EQ, likes a more highs-filled EQ, so that people hear it and think that it sounds "crisp and airy." You can equalize this out yourself as well, if you feel like. your Pioneer 9400BH overall though sounds exactly the same as my 8400BH, which both sound exactly the same as the lowest-end 2400, which all three sound just like my 4-year old Pioneer DEH-P500UB. Plus, hearing is so subjective that you spent money on your headunit, so you expect to hear a difference. It happens all the time in car and home audio; if you sell someone an expensive piece of equipment, then it will sound better to them. Third, since you have something that's new, and since it's new, you're probably jamming more with it. This matters because to human perception, music that is played louder sounds better. Google "louder music sounds better" and the "Fletcher–Munson curves." As you turn up the music, your brain perceives a more "W" shaped EQ curve, which most people perceive as a better, more fun sound.
Overall, you may get a sound that you like better, but the sound quality itself is no different between the cheapest and the most expensive headunits today. Plus, most headunits have enough equalization options today that you can make any headunit sound however you want.

Seriously i give 0 fucks what you think, tracks have cleaner bass and warmer mids. Its my opinion so take your "schooling" and blow it out ure anus hole

Different processors handle digital music different, get over it man. There is a change in sound

 

[shnitz 10+ year member]

Seriously i give 0 fucks what you think, tracks have cleaner bass and warmer mids. Its my opinion so take your "schooling" and blow it out ure anus hole
Different processors handle digital music different, get over it man. There is a change in sound

Equalization and volume dude, equalization and volume. Next thing you'll be trying to tell me that your Monster cables increase the resonance of your music //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

 

[UnderFire 10+ year member]

The cheapest deck I'd buy for use exclusively with an ipod is the Alpine CDA-117

 

[JoshC 10+ year member]

Equalization and volume dude, equalization and volume. Next thing you'll be trying to tell me that your Monster cables increase the resonance of your music //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

no dude, better processor means better sound. Im a biomed tech, i know how electronics work. Your wrong and i really dont care if you dont think so.

Go ahead and tell me how much you can equalize a 3band unit, hm? O wait barley any???? STFU and volume? Aw just dont turn it up???? what are you talking about

Anyways OP, you can take that advice, or adive from people who have actaully used these units lol I have an alpine cda-105(ipod unit) and the pioneer takes it for sure. More bands, more functions, and better sound. ALthough i do like alpines menu setups better. The 117 is a good unit for sure but i read several people that had both, thought the pioneer was better

 

[wenn_du_weinst 10+ year member]

dammit, I need to go throw all my equipment out and run pyle, I'll just make sure I have an EQ then I can have perfect sq.

 

[JoshC 10+ year member]

dammit, I need to go throw all my equipment out and run pyle, I'll just make sure I have an EQ then I can have perfect sq.

bahahaha thank you, o and watch the volume

 

[wenn_du_weinst 10+ year member]

There is of course a point of diminishing returns, but that doesn't mean everything is the same. Shnitz, you said yourself that all electronics introduce coloring, which is true, however I do not get how you can tie that in with all headunits have the same sq? If anything that statement contradicts your point. A stereo is called a "system" for a reason, you are only as good as your lowest point, that means if your install or products are sub par that is the sound you will receive, Just because you couldn't hear the difference in one car does not mean their wasn't one. The headunit is basically the starting point, if that piece isn't up to the task then everything you install down stream will be bottle necked.