Entry Clarion vs High End JVC

[gomab2k4 10+ year member]

In my Mercury Marauder (similar to Crown Vic/Grand Marquis) I am running my factory deck to run my highs and mids, and a 10 sub with a small amp. I was told by Circuit City that my factory deck is so weak that I am not getting what I can from my sub.

Does this sound correct?

If so, would there be a big difference in sound (sub and mid/highs) by going to a Clarion DB365USB pushing 19x4RMS?

Another deck I am looking at is a JVC AR8500/SHX850 pushing 39x4 RMS. Is it safe to say that the specs on the JVC are accurate?

Is it worth paying $300 more to get the JVC over the Clarion?

One more thing...what other decks can compare with the JVC in terms ouf wattage output (RMS)?

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[WhoSayWho? 5,000+ posts]

Don't spend any more money on car audio just yet. Read relevant threads on this forum for a while before you buy anything else. Seriously, not being an ***, just trying to help. No matter what head unit you buy you are not going to have enough power to push your sub. You are going to need an amp. Did they not tell you that at Circuit City?

 

[gomab2k4 10+ year member]

I do have an amp on my sub. The guy was saying that my deck is so weak that it is not letting me get what I can out of my amp pushing the sub....

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

The specs u listed for the headunit has nothing to do with the signal ur subwoofer amp is getting, those are for if ur gonna hook up speakers or subwoofers(dont know why u would) and power them off the head unit. It would help if u told us what ur sub/amp combo is, because chances are maybe ur sub and amp are just too small/underpowered for effective bass in ur vehical.

I assume the guy at CC was talking about the preout's from ur HU's voltage, u should look up the guide on setting ur gains, maybe ur gains are all the way down on the amp and its not really pushing the sub with any power at all.

 

[gomab2k4 10+ year member]

It is a 10 Bazooka sub in a ported box. The amp is a 190 Watt (RMS) amp.

Also, I think that he was talking about the preout's from my HU's voltage...he said that if I went with another deck, the highs and mids would sound better, but the sub would get more power...

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

well, I am guessing that u area probably using a LOC and tapping ur speaker signals to RCA to ur sub amp. The chances that everything will sound better with a new HU is random, sometimes it can sometimes it wont. U got alot of research to do before u buy anything, first would be to find out what ur voltage comming out from ur head unit is, so u can set ur gains

Tutorial

http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63933

The only reason he probably told u that is so he can make a sale, if u search around this forum u can easily find stories of idiotic sales people at Best Buy, or Circuit City. Than there is the possiblity that ur sub just isnt strong enough for ur car, sure there's a little bass, but im guessing its in ur trunk, and chances are its loosing alot of sound trying to get into the cabin. Ur sub/amp can be already at whatever its maximum potential is, and only thing u can do to get more bass is get another/better sub, and another/better amp.

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

But out of those 2 HU's the JVC is worth the money, the clarion has 1.8preout V, the JVC has 5V. Plus JVC has the Advanced Multi-bit DAC, better signal from CD's. Funny how he gave u the clarion as a choice as it doenst have a subwoofer pre out RCA

 

[gomab2k4 10+ year member]

Actually he didnt advise me of which to buy. When I went home, I searched the net, and I stumbled across the Clarion for $115, which I thought was a great price for a Clarion and a USB slot.

What drew me to the JVC was the wattage.

I wish JVC made their dvd/lcd units with the same power...I would jump on it in a minute...

 

[gomab2k4 10+ year member]

Are there any other decks that compare to the JVC's power?

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

Actually he didnt advise me of which to buy. When I went home, I searched the net, and I stumbled across the Clarion for $115, which I thought was a great price for a Clarion and a USB slot.
What drew me to the JVC was the wattage.

I wish JVC made their dvd/lcd units with the same power...I would jump on it in a minute...

It's better if u dont look for a HU for its power output. Get a seperate amp for ur speakers, u'll be alot happier. But yeah, everything else I already talked about, so GL with w/e ur gonna do, also if ur looking for a decnt HU within that price range. look up the Kenwood x890, my bro got one for its USB features. but it's a great HU in general, and goes for under $200 on egay.

 

[gomab2k4 10+ year member]

I was thinking about putting a 4-channel in, but that would not solve my lack of power to the sub...

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

I was thinking about putting a 4-channel in, but that would not solve my lack of power to the sub...

dont think u have a lack of power to the sub, I think ur sub just isnt going to put out as much as u were hoping for. But its possible, so like i said, Gain tutorial

 

[gomab2k4 10+ year member]

Thanks. I will check on that tomorrow. If I could stay with the factory headunit...that would be great!