Eclipse 5444, yay or nay?

[ls1pimp 10+ year member]

bump

 

[Justintoxicated 10+ year member]

I like my CD5444 I heard some of the CD5443's pop when they turn on.

I'm just trying to figure out the memory stick. Eclipse HU's sound the best to my ears, so I finaly purchased one and I am very happy, I liked the older alpines too, but I like eclipse more. Pioneer would be my second choice for new HU's and older HU's it would be alpine. I don't have any scientific proof of which is better but the eclipses always sounded the best and felt the most solid to me, I'm not a fan of their new ones but I would still get one over other new HU's probably for SQ.

Yes Rap has SQ.

The CD5444's auto time alignment works great for me, but this may vary from vehicle to vehicle.

In Advanced mode you ahve an EQ where you can take pre-set EQ's, use them or modify them and assign them to memory buttons buttons, You can also use the active crossover to cut lower frequencies from the speakers, and it also has a woofer controll. You have to understand how to use the features they are all well explained in the manual.

This thign delivers SWEET sound, my only gripe is there is no pause button, only a mute button. I tend to switch it to radio, then hit mute instead. Kinda annoying but I still love the HU

 

[ls1pimp 10+ year member]

I like my CD5444 I heard some of the CD5443's pop when they turn on.
I'm just trying to figure out the memory stick. Eclipse HU's sound the best to my ears, so I finaly purchased one and I am very happy, I liked the older alpines too, but I like eclipse more. Pioneer would be my second choice for new HU's and older HU's it would be alpine. I don't have any scientific proof of which is better but the eclipses always sounded the best and felt the most solid to me, I'm not a fan of their new ones but I would still get one over other new HU's probably for SQ.

Yes Rap has SQ.

The CD5444's auto time alignment works great for me, but this may vary from vehicle to vehicle.

In Advanced mode you ahve an EQ where you can take pre-set EQ's, use them or modify them and assign them to memory buttons buttons, You can also use the active crossover to cut lower frequencies from the speakers, and it also has a woofer controll. You have to understand how to use the features they are all well explained in the manual.

This thign delivers SWEET sound, my only gripe is there is no pause button, only a mute button. I tend to switch it to radio, then hit mute instead. Kinda annoying but I still love the HU

Well the pause button doesn't affect me, i listen to my Ipod all the time anyway. Does it have a mini jack input in the back?

 

[Justintoxicated 10+ year member]

It does have an aux in it is attached with a cable, but I don't think it is a digital AUX input...

I'm the opposite, I oculd care less about having an IPOD when I can put 100's of MP3's on a CD for alot less money.

The eclipse is more of an audiophile HU, MP3's just don't saound as good as the real CD's IMO, however I often listen to them cause it's easier than changing CD's

 

[unrealii 10+ year member]

The eclipse is more of an audiophile HU, MP3's just don't saound as good as the real CD's IMO, however I often listen to them cause it's easier than changing CD's

Use EAC (Exact Audio Copy) with LAME at 192k and you will barely be able to tell the difference.

 

[unrealii 10+ year member]

I like eclipse's sound. When I was shopping for my 8454, I had to compare an 8443 to a pioneer 860. I liked the eclipse so I went with it. I dont know if it is possible for you to try out the eclipse without buying it. However, if it is't much of an upgrade over your alpine (I'm not familiar with your model), I'd say to save your money and buy something better later on rather than make a small upgrade now.

 

[Justintoxicated 10+ year member]

I can tell a difference at 192, it's harder at 320, but I swear in some songs I can still hear a difference, although not much and not manyh songs.

 

[justsayk 10+ year member]

I love my cd5444. Hasn't skipped once in six months, perfect sound, and nice plain display. My only gripe is that the volume button is kind of hard to turn and it takes a lot of turning to get from volume 30 (my min) to volume 60 (my max). I plan on keeping this unit for a very long time.