Eclipse 5444, yay or nay?

[ls1pimp 10+ year member]

Right now i have an Alpine CDA 7893, and i hate it, it has a 2 band eqaulizer, no Midrange control at all, just don't like it one bit, i can barely tune it correctly. I can get an Eclipse 5444 (brand new) for 220, should i go for this? Also, will this HU be better than my Alpine in terms of being able to customize the sound? My Alpine also sounds very very harsh. Rap sounds ok, but it is almost impossible to set it so the correct amount of bass comes out the speakers, it just sounds very messed up. With rock, the vocals blend in to the instrumentals and you can't hear any lyrics. Will I be happy with the Eclipse 5444?

Click to read more...

 

[ls1pimp 10+ year member]

Im gonna throw the 5425 and the 5435 into the mix too. BTW i don't listen to MP3 CD's, just my ipod.

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

save up your money for an 8443/8053/8454. i thin you'll be much happier with one of those.

 

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

save up your money for an 8443/8053/8454. i thin you'll be much happier with one of those.

X2. I picked up a 8454 BNIB for $329 shipped about a month ago on ebay. Last weekend i saw a 8053 at a local auth retailer for $399, not sure if it was the display or BNIB tho.

 

[99StangGt 10+ year member]

Depends on what you need it for. If what you need is a EQ and a simple time delay then go for it. If you need or will want actice crossovers and more advanced time delay and PEQ then get the 8454

 

[ls1pimp 10+ year member]

Depends on what you need it for. If what you need is a EQ and a simple time delay then go for it. If you need or will want actice crossovers and more advanced time delay and PEQ then get the 8454

I don't need anything crazy, just wanan be able to change the midrange levels, which i am unable to do right now, and have a "loud" setting, among other EQ stuff.

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

I don't need anything crazy, just wanan be able to change the midrange levels, which i am unable to do right now, and have a "loud" setting, among other EQ stuff.

so you pretty much want a larger EQ? a pioneer 8600 comes to mind. could be had cheaper then the eclipse. imo after using both an eclipse 8443 and pioneer 8600, the pioneer is right up there with the eclipse imo.

 

[ls1pimp 10+ year member]

so you pretty much want a larger EQ? a pioneer 8600 comes to mind. could be had cheaper then the eclipse. imo after using both an eclipse 8443 and pioneer 8600, the pioneer is right up there with the eclipse imo.

I also want it to have a particular "sound" to it. My ALpine has a very tinny and high sond to it, not rich or robust at at all. All the Pioneer HU's ive heard, even with chitty speakers sounded very robust sounding, full and rich. I heard an Eclipse yesterday and it sounded similar to my Alpine. You think i would be happier with Pioneer? I HATE whispy sounding HU's like my Alpine is, the Pioneer's ive heard have been very solid and rich sounding, not weak and whispy like my alpine.

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

I also want it to have a particular "sound" to it. My ALpine has a very tinny and high sond to it, not rich or robust at at all. All the Pioneer HU's ive heard, even with chitty speakers sounded very robust sounding, full and rich. I heard an Eclipse yesterday and it sounded similar to my Alpine. You think i would be happier with Pioneer? I HATE whispy sounding HU's like my Alpine is, the Pioneer's ive heard have been very solid and rich sounding, not weak and whispy like my alpine.

it sounds like you are. i had a pioneer 8600, got an eclipse 8443, used for a few months, but missed my pioneer so i sold it and got an 860. i'm just a pioneer fan. probably will never run another brand of deck again.

 

[ls1pimp 10+ year member]

it sounds like you are. i had a pioneer 8600, got an eclipse 8443, used for a few months, but missed my pioneer so i sold it and got an 860. i'm just a pioneer fan. probably will never run another brand of deck again.

Every Pioneer ive heard ive loved, they just have a very different sound to them. The Eclipse I heard remindeds me of my Alpine, and I don't think thats a great sign. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/uhoh.gif.c07307dd22ee7e63e22fc8e9c614d1fd.gif

 

[ls1pimp 10+ year member]

Any Pioneer and Eclipse people please chime in!

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

Any Pioneer and Eclipse people please chime in!

if you liked the sound of the pioneer, and wasn't to hip on the sound of the eclipse, i think the choice is simple. if you do go pioneer i recommend you get the premier 860 just because it has a 3-way crossover and is only like $10 more.

 

[ls1pimp 10+ year member]

I get very very heavy discounts off of Pioneer at my work, i could pick up a P8600MP or

DEH-P80MP for around the same price as the 5444. Should i go for those instead? I like tons of midbass and very full and robust sound, not tinny and whispy.

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

I get very very heavy discounts off of Pioneer at my work, i could pick up a P8600MP or DEH-P80MP for around the same price as the 5444. Should i go for those instead? I like tons of midbass and very full and robust sound, not tinny and whispy.

i would. getting robust sound has to do with more then just a headunit.

 

[ls1pimp 10+ year member]

i would. getting robust sound has to do with more then just a headunit.

Yeah i know that. I have CDT EF 61 tw/24's amped from a ed Nine.2, and my friend has a low end Pioneer HU w/ cheap Pioneer coaxils and no speaker amp, and I like how his sounds much better than mine. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif