Eclipse 8445 or Kenwood KDCX889

[thadman 10+ year member]

I would like a nice SQ deck for my car (preferrably under $300)

I dont need a TON of EQ options nor does it need to be amplified

Ive been looking at the X889 from Kenwood (245 shipped new), but recently prices on the 8445 have dropped and I can pick one up for $300~ maybe a little more new.

Is the 8445 worth $50-80 more? Should I just stick with the Kenwood model?

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[JLCivic 10+ year member]

I would buy the Eclipse, but the kenwoods get pretty good reviews as well.

 

[thadman 10+ year member]

anybody else? How similar are they in terms of quality?

 

[P52ENVY 10+ year member]

The Eclipse is a great sounding deck (I have it!)

if it is in your price range go for it!

 

[MBrock4u 10+ year member]

I have a Kenwood excelon KDC-X589 This unit is awesome you will have some more features , bells and whistles with the 789 or the 889 series, but if u want to spend more money I have no doubt you would be happy with the Eclipse's as well.....

 

[Ignatowski 5,000+ posts]

I have never owned an eclipse deck

but was very impressed with the 789s and 889s

and how they sounded alot better than other decks I have owned

even on the same systems ....

 

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

eclipse for teh win!

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

Ken Wood, but SHOULDEN'T Do yourself a favor and buy a real deck...can you spell Dual? I mean Eclipse

 

[stratusrt01 10+ year member]

I have the 8445, it's absolutely amazing. Go with the Eclipse.

 

[6spdcoupe 5,000+ posts]

Eclipse FTW, although Im curious to know where its $300?? Im guessing online?

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

Ken Wood, but SHOULDEN'T Do yourself a favor and buy a real deck...can you spell Dual? I mean Eclipse

Do you have any experience with Kenwood's current two top-end non-DVD decks? (the KDC-X889 and the XXV-01D)?
It's easy to bag on Kenwood since they apparently 'lost their way' there for awhile and were putting out decks that could easily cause customers to lose faith in Kenwood's level of quality control.

If you've not had any hands-on with the big K over the past couple of years while they are (obviously) trying rather hard to overcome the widespread negative opinions their stream of less-than-stellar products brought to them.

I have no experience with the Eclipse unit but I continually see great reviews and high opinions bandied about. Going on that I'd have to say that likely it is a top-notch product and you'd probably be pleased with it.

Regardless of the haters' opinions to the contrary Kenwood is building some truly outstanding HUs again after a hiatus of unknown origin.

My personal preference is Kenwood so just by that personal brand loyalty I'd have to say go the eXcelon.

Either way you go I can't see you being unhappy with either unit so get whichever one has the feature set you're after or whichever one is less expensive to acquire if there is no preference either way.

Edit: I don't know about the Fujitsu Ten offering but if internal amplification isn't necessary at all then the internal amp in the eXcelon is defeatable.

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

Do you have any experience with Kenwood's current two top-end non-DVD decks? (the KDC-X889 and the XXV-01D)?
It's easy to bag on Kenwood since they apparently 'lost their way' there for awhile and were putting out decks that could easily cause customers to lose faith in Kenwood's level of quality control.

If you've not had any hands-on with the big K over the past couple of years while they are (obviously) trying rather hard to overcome the widespread negative opinions their stream of less-than-stellar products brought to them.

I have no experience with the Eclipse unit but I continually see great reviews and high opinions bandied about. Going on that I'd have to say that likely it is a top-notch product and you'd probably be pleased with it.

Regardless of the haters' opinions to the contrary Kenwood is building some truly outstanding HUs again after a hiatus of unknown origin.

My personal preference is Kenwood so just by that personal brand loyalty I'd have to say go the eXcelon.

Either way you go I can't see you being unhappy with either unit so get whichever one has the feature set you're after or whichever one is less expensive to acquire if there is no preference either way.

Edit: I don't know about the Fujitsu Ten offering but if internal amplification isn't necessary at all then the internal amp in the eXcelon is defeatable.

Put it this way, Eclipse decks don't last too long in the for sale section before they are gobbled right up.....how long have you been trying to get rid of your EXcelon Prowler?//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/zzzzz.gif.06fa1eabe00c8b872d7e814474c9b95c.gif

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

The eXcelon I am trying to sell isn't on the same level as the 8445 either, is it FoxPro?

It's an inescapable fact that Kenwood seriously damaged the overall opinion of their potential customer base by putting out some gear that simply wasn't up to snuff for too long of a time period.

I understand why some people are just down on Kenwood for the above-stated reason and aren't willing to give them another chance now that they are trying to gain back that lost popularity by building great equipment again.

My point is that if you do not know for certain about a given product then an opinion about a company in general based on past products (however valid that opinion may be) won't necessarily apply to what they are making now. Give it a chance and it may change your mind.

EDIT: To answer your question more directly, though, I have been trying to sell my eXcelon for 2 weeks now.

Here after having a quick look is one that wasn't "gobbled right up" and has been for sale as long as my eXcelon.

Thanks for playing.

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

The eXcelon I am trying to sell isn't on the same level as the 8445 either, is it FoxPro?
It's an inescapable fact that Kenwood seriously damaged the overall opinion of their potential customer base by putting out some gear that simply wasn't up to snuff for too long of a time period.

I understand why some people are just down on Kenwood for the above-stated reason and aren't willing to give them another chance now that they are trying to gain back that lost popularity by building great equipment again.

My point is that if you do not know for certain about a given product then an opinion about a company in general based on past products (however valid that opinion may be) won't necessarily apply to what they are making now. Give it a chance and it may change your mind.

EDIT: To answer your question more directly, though, I have been trying to sell my eXcelon for 2 weeks now.

Here after having a quick look is one that wasn't "gobbled right up" and has been for sale as long as my eXcelon.

Thanks for playing.

Game over...and the winner is Prowler...yey! I have used an EXcelon and and 8445...so I will repeat: If you want a real deck thadman, buy the Eclipse! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

Game over...and the winner is Prowler...yey! I have used an eXcelon and and 8445...so I will repeat: If you want a real deck thadman, buy the Eclipse! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif

Have you use an X889?