help me replace my McIntosh MX406

[garrettpf 10+ year member]

I have had my MX406 in my car for 2 months and miss XM radio too much. The SQ of the 406 is amazing and I will probably hate myself for getting rid of it but here is what I have and what I am looking for in a HU.

a/d/s/ 642ix x-over

a/d/s/ PQ20 front (200X2)

a/d/s/ PQ10 rear (80X2)

Alphasonik PMA800DA for subs

Alphasonik PMA150HCA for rear midbass

a/d/s/ 336ix fronts

a/d/s/ 320is rears (back deck)

a/d/s/ S-10 (x2)

a/d/s/ S-8 rear midbass (rear doors)

The MX406 replaced a Sony CDX-C90 copper chassis with XDP-U50D Sony crossover. I liked the C90 since it had digital signal from HU to X-over and it also had time alignment.

I want my time alignment back which is probably most important. I do not think that Sony has that any more. I would also like Burr Brown DAC but again, I do not htink Sony has that either. Below are my choices but I am stronly leaning towards the DEH-P880PRS. Please help push me over the edge. Also, if you know of a Premier dealer please post as I live in the middle of know-where?

I should also point out I don't really need the fancy OEL display. Also, my car is a Silver 2000 VW Jetta TDI (with 298,000 miles //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif )

Click to read more...

 

[genxx 10+ year member]

This is my short list.

Eclipse 8053 if you can find one, 8445, 8455, CD7000.

Pioneer 880, 980, 9800

Clarion DRZ9255, DXZ955MC

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

I voted for KILL YOURSELF. Apparently sound quality doesn't have any bearing here so it doesn't really matter what you replace it with.

 

[garrettpf 10+ year member]

I voted for KILL YOURSELF. Apparently sound quality doesn't have any bearing here so it doesn't really matter what you replace it with.

well, it is a good thing i put that on there then. Might you explain perhaps? Or are you jealous of my system maybe a tad bit sinces yours is probably lacking in the sound quality department? please entertain me. Thank you.

 

[garrettpf 10+ year member]

Well, I did a search on your threads and see you have a P9 system although it also seems you do not know how to use it. Which would explain as well why your car died. Audio to me is the same as how I take care of my vehicles, my 2000 Jetta with 298,000 miles still gets 50mpg while my 1993 jeep inline 6 gets 24mpg. Its a matter of quality and care. I would guess with the system you put together you did not care to much about matching the quality of the P9's.

Secondly, my guess is you have probably never heard nor heard of any old school a/d/s/ (the new ads technologies does not count as it is now crap). I would also guess you have never listened to a McIntosh MX406 and as would follow probably have no idea what Burr Brown DAC's even are.

So, enjoy your crappy sounding system with your $900 P9 setup. I will enjoy my a/d/s/ SQ system which does not thump but is sonically flat with broad low end (using 2 paper coned 10" subs) and realistic high's.

thump away son and to quote you, STFU //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

Well, I did a search on your threads and see you have a P9 system although it also seems you do not know how to use it. Which would explain as well why your car died.

First of all I haven't even ran the P9 combo yet since it hasn't been installed in my newest car. A '02 Grand Prix GT. I never installed it in my last vehicle as I knew it was on its way out. I put a shit ton of miles on that Grand Am and I don't regret anything about buying it back in the day. So I don't really know how this relates to my current system or any system for that matter.

Audio to me is the same as how I take care of my vehicles, my 2000 Jetta with 298,000 miles still gets 50mpg while my 1993 jeep inline 6 gets 24mpg. Its a matter of quality and care. I would guess with the system you put together you did not care to much about matching the quality of the P9's.

Here is where you start to sound like an ***. I could care less how many miles your deutch mobile has on it or how many miles to the gallon you get. 50 mpg sounds like BS to me anyway but its your story, tell it how you want. You have NO idea what other components I'm going to run with this combo therefore you have NO clue of the quality so keep those undeducated comments to yourself. They're just making a you look like and E dick.

Secondly, my guess is you have probably never heard nor heard of any old school a/d/s/ (the new ads technologies does not count as it is now crap). I would also guess you have never listened to a McIntosh MX406 and as would follow probably have no idea what Burr Brown DAC's even are.

I know exactly what the old school stuff was all about. A/D/S was an extremely reputable company that made high quality stuff. Not sure why you're wondering if I know what a Burr-Brown converter is but my P9 combo uses them and my current Premier 860 has one as well. Not to mention so does my home audio setup. I wasn't knocking your 406 anyway.

So, enjoy your crappy sounding system with your $900 P9 setup. I will enjoy my a/d/s/ SQ system which does not thump but is sonically flat with broad low end (using 2 paper coned 10" subs) and realistic high's.
thump away son and to quote you, STFU //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

I actually paid 1325 for it at a retail store in my area. (I won't buy electonics online). Only accessories and such like deadening and other building supplies for my upcoming system. My last system was flat as well. Of course I had to add some bottom end to make it sound GOOD. Sonically flat doesn't really sound that good anyway. Its more of a starting point for a good sounding system, not a destination.

Oh and STFU yourself.

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

well, it is a good thing i put that on there then. Might you explain perhaps? Or are you jealous of my system maybe a tad bit sinces yours is probably lacking in the sound quality department? please entertain me. Thank you.

Now that I've already responded to your hostile response I'll now respond to your original response. You know, before you did a search on me.? Glad to know I mean that much to some people.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

First of all I wasn't knocking your system one bit. The reason I picked that response on the poll was because I didn't think you should get rid of that 406. Your other choices just didn't stack up. I like Pioneer equipment but those other decks don't stack up in quality. They DO stack up as far as value or bang for the buck, especially the 880 but better overall quality would have to go to the 406.

Is my system lacking in SQ?? Well, until I have the P9 running with the rest of my system I couldn't say for sure. But I would have to say it won't be lacking at all. Here is my system diagram for the system in my last car.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r220/amorg355/SystemDiagram.jpg

My next system will change a little bit from this since I have new components.

head unit - Dex-P9

processing - Deq-P9

subs - Premier TS-W12PRS (2) the yellow ones

midbass - MTX Black Gold 6.5" drivers

midrange - MTX Black Gold 4" drivers

highs - MTX Black Gold 1" tweeters

amps:

I'm not really sure which configuration I'm going to run my amps in but I have to make a decision soon but here are the amps I have in my possession.

Premier PRS-X720 (X2) 2ch

PRS-X340 (X2) 4ch

PRS-X320 (X2) 2ch

 

[genxx 10+ year member]

Well this thread got out of hand rather quickly. But its fun reading your comments. I will be sure to check back as you guys fire away. Thanks for the entertainment.LOL

 

[chucku 10+ year member]

Wow garett, I had almost the exact same system about 15 yrs ago. Nice stuff. I would say keep the mcintosh. I have the 880 and while its a nice hu it wouldnt do your system justice. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/escape.gif.52b661afb17bde1db0e0c7da97e75b38.gif

 

[garrettpf 10+ year member]

Wow garett, I had almost the exact same system about 15 yrs ago. Nice stuff. I would say keep the mcintosh. I have the 880 and while its a nice hu it wouldnt do your system justice. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/escape.gif.52b661afb17bde1db0e0c7da97e75b38.gif

I am starting to think the same thing. I have not heard any of the new equipment out there but after having the MX406 installed and hearing it in a real world, I may just keep it and scrapificate XM save for my Jeep.

Speaking of 15 years ago, I have had most of my a/d/s/ for almost 20 years now //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[garrettpf 10+ year member]

Well this thread got out of hand rather quickly. But its fun reading your comments. I will be sure to check back as you guys fire away. Thanks for the entertainment.LOL

Nah, I am done. There are thread crappers and there are people that like to help others. No sense trying to pic a fight with a thread crapper, I have said me piece (so to speak //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif.

 

[JimJ 5,000+ posts]

Almost a full ADS setup with a Mac...and you're running Alphasonik subs? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

Honestly, keep the Mac and get external processors if you want more flexibility. Check out the RF 3Sixty...

 

[CaliforniabOY5 10+ year member]

I voted for KILL YOURSELF. Apparently sound quality doesn't have any bearing here so it doesn't really matter what you replace it with.

lol x 2

 

[CaliforniabOY5 10+ year member]

i can trade you my Alpine CDA-9855 for your Mac //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif PM me

 

[garrettpf 10+ year member]

Alpine?

I do not have Alpha subs, I have 2 a/d/s/ S-10 subs which have paper cone and butyl surrounds. I power them and the S-8's in my rear doors with Alpha amps.

I do have a single/dual vc a/d/s RS12 but it has this wacky ohm rating (5.3 IIRC). It does sound nice but my a/d/s/ would not power it fully. I tried several different amp manu's (since I worked at a hi-end audio/video store http://www.hifiheaven.net )and alpha gave them the purest sound I could get with what we had in store. I will always run my components off of a/d/s/ I have to this day only heard one amp that sounds better and that of course is McIntosh. My GF put a quick stop to my hi-end car audio when she decided to go back to school.

I am leaving my remaining a/d/s/ equipment for my convertable pick-up which I am starting to work on again. There is nothing like the sound of antire system running a/d/s/ //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif at which time the S-10's will go into the truck (4 total) and the RS12 will go back into the car (hense forth the Alpha amps).

So, I may just pick up the DEH-P880PRS and spend a day switching it over in my car just to hear it in my system. But when the time comes the MX406 will stay in my car and 880 in my truck, I think.