Eclipse 8554-best model from 2004, opinions?

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

no its not the best model. 8053 was by far the best, 5 years from now, people will by dying to get there hands on this deck

Agreed. Best deck Eclipse ever made.

 

[bikejunkie223 10+ year member]

Yeah, this one was a closeout that I am buying brand new in box from a friend that is a dealer, so I'll get the 3-year waranty too. I'm considering going active, but I'd need another amp to do it, and if I'm getting another amp I want one to give my sub some more horsepower too, as I'm giving it 250w and it could take 1000 and not blink.

 

[Hoot 10+ year member]

Agreed. Best deck Eclipse ever made.

Hey, not that it really matters but, honestly, based on what facts? Yes, it does have the *combination* of DSP features and BLN converter option, but its DSP is far inferior to the 8455 in flexibility and inferior to the earlier Balance Line Converter, dead-head 8-volts of yesteryear in terms of both appearance and ease of use. Cheers....

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

Hey, not that it really matters but, honestly, based on what facts? Yes, it does have the *combination* of DSP features and BLN converter option, but its DSP is far inferior to the 8455 in flexibility and inferior to the earlier Balance Line Converter, dead-head 8-volts of yesteryear in terms of both appearance and ease of use. Cheers....

Since when does a deck have to have a thousand processing features to be of high quality?? The fact that there isn't too much going on inside the unit is what makes it superior to the newer Eclipse decks. Pioneer Premier's DEX-P9 is superior in the same way. In other words.....................Quality over Quantity. cheers

 

[Hoot 10+ year member]

Quality... by all means, but what do you suggest makes the 8053 ANY different, let alone better, quality-wise? Again, yes, it offers the BLT, and it is a dead-head, but what are you suggesting about it's internals makes it any different from the 2004 or 2005 8-volt models?

 

[bikejunkie223 10+ year member]

What is everyones opinion of the 5444? It has some of the same features, but loses the time alignment and only has 5v pre-outs. I may have been mislead about what model, and I am kinda thinking my 860 is better than a 5444, though the 5444 should have a cleaner cd transport.

 

[bdawson72 5,000+ posts]

yall really think that the 8053 is better than the 8455

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

Quality... by all means, but what do you suggest makes the 8053 ANY different, let alone better, quality-wise? Again, yes, it offers the BLT, and it is a dead-head, but what are you suggesting about it's internals makes it any different from the 2004 or 2005 8-volt models?

For starters is the fact that ALL manufacturers have gone down hill over the past few years. Its an older deck and therefore it was made better than the newer Eclipse decks. Secondly, the lack of an internal amplifier means less heat being radiated and more room inside the chassis for a less compacted circuit board design. I thought everyone knew that a deck without int. amps were better. I mean why do you think the P9 and the Clarion 9255 are so much better than other decks out there.?? Because the decks don't have to do as much and the tasks they do they do REALLY well.

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

yall really think that the 8053 is better than the 8455

YES, definitely.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[bikejunkie223 10+ year member]

What about the 5444?? Well? Anyone?

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

What is everyones opinion of the 5444? It has some of the same features, but loses the time alignment and only has 5v pre-outs. I may have been mislead about what model, and I am kinda thinking my 860 is better than a 5444, though the 5444 should have a cleaner cd transport.

Yes, your 860 is a better deck than the 5444 simply because it is Eclipse's lower line and the 860 is one Pioneer's higher end decks. I have to say though I don't really know what you mean by a "cleaner cd transport". Care to elaborate??

 

[JLCivic 10+ year member]

Yes, your 860 is a better deck than the 5444 simply because it is Eclipse's lower line and the 860 is one Pioneer's higher end decks. I have to say though I don't really know what you mean by a "cleaner cd transport". Care to elaborate??

I wouldn't say deck A must be better than deck B because deck A has more features. Some(maybe many) equate # of features with "better," but I don't.

 

[Hoot 10+ year member]

For starters is the fact that ALL manufacturers have gone down hill over the past few years. Its an older deck and therefore it was made better than the newer Eclipse decks. Secondly, the lack of an internal amplifier means less heat being radiated and more room inside the chassis for a less compacted circuit board design. I thought everyone knew that a deck without int. amps were better. I mean why do you think the P9 and the Clarion 9255 are so much better than other decks out there.?? Because the decks don't have to do as much and the tasks they do they do REALLY well.

It is an "older deck?" By two years and the whole line has now gone to crap? The amp in the deck is one lousy chip - it doesn't take up any room, and in many recent 8-volts with internal amplification (if not all), the chip can be turned off with the flick of a switch (no heat). Honestly, if older means better then the 8061 and 8062 beat the 8053 - they are older dead heads and look nicer to boot. Your blanket statement is funny, and deserved to be challenged. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

 

[bikejunkie223 10+ year member]

If you look at the output from a high end cd player with an RTA you can see how robust the signal is, and my dealer/friend says the eclipse is likely better. (We compared my 860 to a $3000 Denon)

 

[DiamondFanatic 10+ year member]

Yeah, this one was a closeout that I am buying brand new in box from a friend that is a dealer, so I'll get the 3-year waranty too. I'm considering going active, but I'd need another amp to do it, and if I'm getting another amp I want one to give my sub some more horsepower too, as I'm giving it 250w and it could take 1000 and not blink.

Sounds like you and I are in the exact same position. I'm looking to change out my sub and give my substage more power by adding a second amp (and then using my current amp to go active). In my opinion there is a very good chance that that Eclipse would sound better then the 860. The 860 is by no means outstanding, and as I stated before in my review I think that even the Sony CDX-F7715x has better SQ then the 860. Hell its more or less a toss up between the 860 and my CDA-9855 (which has defeat turned on). If all you want is a transport I would give the Eclipse a try, especially at 200$. Personally, I hate the Pioneer iPod interface and if I had actually installed it in my personal vehicle when I had my 860 I would have thrown it out the window long ago... Losing it is no loss in my mind. Just go aux in for the iPod and XM.