High End Head Unit Selection Help

[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

i would start with the 880prs to make sure you really want to go this route. not to mention you're not going to have an appreciation for these things for a while so any extra money spent will probably be waisted. baby steps.

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

9861/h701 will absolutely destroy the drz9255 if tuned correctly. the drz has very limited tuning capabilities compared to the 9861/h701 combo. any difference in "sq" can easily be made up via tuning. the 9861 has other options as well as direct ipod connection (no need for adapter) and is HD ready. lemme made a quick comparison:

xover features:

h701 - it goes up to 1/12 oct steps and each sets of inputs can be bandpassed. goes up to 30db/oct.

drz - 1/3 oct steps and only up to 18db/oct.

eq features:

h701 - 31 band graphic eq per input except for sub which has a 10 band graphic eq.

drz - 5 band peq.

 

[thermal 10+ year member]

i would start with the 880prs to make sure you really want to go this route. not to mention you're not going to have an appreciation for these things for a while so any extra money spent will probably be waisted. baby steps.

Why do you recommend this over the Clarion?

Thanks.

 

[6spdcoupe 5,000+ posts]

Why do you recommend this over the Clarion?Thanks.

My guess would be because it is your first setup, your running passive,its a brand new unit. It will give you plenty of control and a feel for how you like your setup, but without breaking the bank-being that its about a third of the Clarion price wise.

 

[ravendarat 10+ year member]

Not trying to bring up the MP3 fight again, but if someone is truly looking at a SQ set up than being able to have an IPOD hooked up to the system should not be a concern what so ever.

 

[MDXBLUE 10+ year member]

9861/h701 will absolutely destroy the drz9255 if tuned correctly. the drz has very limited tuning capabilities compared to the 9861/h701 combo. any difference in "sq" can easily be made up via tuning. the 9861 has other options as well as direct ipod connection (no need for adapter) and is HD ready. lemme made a quick comparison:
xover features:

h701 - it goes up to 1/12 oct steps and each sets of inputs can be bandpassed. goes up to 30db/oct.

drz - 1/3 oct steps and only up to 18db/oct.

eq features:

h701 - 31 band graphic eq per input except for sub which has a 10 band graphic eq.

drz - 5 band peq.

This will be the answer I am looking for in my post If you are speaking from experiences. Are you?

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

never used the clarion drz9255 and but with the right tuning any "sq" differences between the two head units can easily be made up with tuning. I don't put huge emphasis on sq of hu's. i try to focus more on the things that matter such as speaker placement, level matching, and tuning. those 3 will far outweigh sq differences between hu's IMO.

 

[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

My guess would be because it is your first setup, your running passive,its a brand new unit. It will give you plenty of control and a feel for how you like your setup, but without breaking the bank-being that its about a third of the Clarion price wise.

hit it right on the head. As well it would really benefit you to start off with a lower headunit because you'll learn the fundimentals. As well you'll learn how to really get the sound you want starting with basic equipment. And you'll know what that sound is. Start with mid range everything, then observe it for a while, find what you think is the weak link, upgrade or swap, fix it, whatever. That way you get to know the equipment, and how things really work together. And spend most your time in install, mounting things differently, etc. etc.

 

[MDXBLUE 10+ year member]

never used the clarion drz9255 and but with the right tuning any "sq" differences between the two head units can easily be made up with tuning. I don't put huge emphasis on sq of hu's. i try to focus more on the things that matter such as speaker placement, level matching, and tuning. those 3 will far outweigh sq differences between hu's IMO.

Thanks. Sound like Alpine is the way to go as I am stuck with stock speaker location in my MDX.

Can you use the graphic eq and paramatrix eq at the same time? Do you have to install the H701 close to the HU? Or is it as long as the Ai-net cable and optic cable allowed without distortion heard.

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

no you can't use the parametric and graphic at the same time. but w/ 31 bands on the graphic, thats should be plenty.

but i do however agree with eugenics and 6spd. sounds like its your first setup and maybe you can an HU such as the eclipse 8053, 880prs, alpine 9835, etc.. so you can learn the basics of tuning without spending tons of money. but its really up to you.

 

[MDXBLUE 10+ year member]

I think I kind of highjack this thread and I apologize to the original poster.

Actually, I am pretty proficient with tuning as the audio basic is similar to home audio. This setup would be my second.

I have a freq sweep cd and a radio shack db meter for setting the eq. Is that how you do it? As far as sub, I use WinISD to design the box.

Can you please help me with the H701 questions? Can it be installed in the trunk? I am not sure how long is the Ai-net cable. Toslink cable is available in various length so that would be a problem.

I will also look at the Pioneer to see if it has all i need for tuning, as you all suggested tuning is more important than deck sq in car environment.

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

yes my h701 is installed in the trunk. ai-net cable is definately long enough but of course if running the h701 i suggest using optical.

 

[thermal 10+ year member]

My guess would be because it is your first setup, your running passive,its a brand new unit. It will give you plenty of control and a feel for how you like your setup, but without breaking the bank-being that its about a third of the Clarion price wise.

I spoke with my installer and he will be doing an active install.

This will be a system that I will stick with for awhile, and I would like the best Head Unit / processor within my budget $1000.

The installer will be doing all the tuning........just volume control for me.

Thanks for your input!

 

[thermal 10+ year member]

never used the clarion drz9255 and but with the right tuning any "sq" differences between the two head units can easily be made up with tuning. I don't put huge emphasis on sq of hu's. i try to focus more on the things that matter such as speaker placement, level matching, and tuning. those 3 will far outweigh sq differences between hu's IMO.

Have you read the specs on the Clairon?

It has dual burr brown dac at 96 sampling rate

Alpine has dual dac but I think at 41 rate

Please correct me if I'm wrong......

So no matter how much tuning you do.............the 1st source...the CD player......has to play an important part...........how can the Apine be tuned to sound better than the Clarion if the Clarion has better CD specs to start with.

 

[blue 10+ year member]

9861/h701 will absolutely destroy the drz9255 if tuned correctly. the drz has very limited tuning capabilities compared to the 9861/h701 combo. any difference in "sq" can easily be made up via tuning. the 9861 has other options as well as direct ipod connection (no need for adapter) and is HD ready. lemme made a quick comparison:
xover features:

h701 - it goes up to 1/12 oct steps and each sets of inputs can be bandpassed. goes up to 30db/oct.

drz - 1/3 oct steps and only up to 18db/oct.

eq features:

h701 - 31 band graphic eq per input except for sub which has a 10 band graphic eq.

drz - 5 band peq.

True , the Alpine has MUCH , MUCH more flexibility in the way of set-up , but NOTHING overcomes the difference Dual Burr Brown Dacs make in a piece. Using lots of EQ to try and overcome the rather dry sound of the Alpine DACs is like placing a band-aid over a ******* chest wound.

I've played with both set-ups you mentioned , and while Alpine is nice , the DRZ simply sounds like music .... Natural.

There is a LOT wrong with the " Processing can overcome EVERY issue " way of thinking today. Start out right , and you won't need processing to " fix " things ....

JMO