How much has head unit quality changed over the years?

[SpeedingPenguin 10+ year member]

Aside from visual improvements and CDR/MP3/IPOD compatibility, how much have head units improved over the past few years? Will a head unit that was "new" 3 or so years ago be able to sound as good as a new head unit? Have there been THAT many changes in the sound quality and stuff over the years? This is for a very basic "system", not for competition obviously, so small differences probably wont be noticed. Thanks

(I ask because I might be buying an older Pioneer head unit from a friend for 40 bucks, unsure of the model number)

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[Justintoxicated 10+ year member]

well my Newer Eclipse was 1/2 as much as my older HU (Clarion) and it sounds and works better IMO. But I'm sure it will vary from HU to HU. and depends on what your runnioff it? You talking about using the HU's Amp or Pre-outs?

Same Brands, Flagship HU's etc.??

 

[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

The P9 from pioneer isnt exactly a new H/U yet its considered a top of the line unit.

What model pionneer ?

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Well, if you really want to get down to it.....a lot of people would probably tell you that most HU's now-a-days are worse than 5-10yrs ago. Eclipse ECD 415/416/510, Alpine 7909/7949/7969, Rockford (Denon) RFX-8240/8250, Sony C-90, Pioneer ODR, etc etc are still regarded as some of the best "sound quality" decks of all time.

However, chances are that you are not referring to a deck such as those //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif Most of the changes I've noticed in "reasonably priced" decks are in the features. I think for the same price now you can get a deck with more built in features than you could 5 years ago or so. Heck, I remember back when having built in crossovers (simple highpass/lowpass) and 3-band parametric was the best you could do in any deck without spending $750+ on it.

But....actual sound wise; I doubt you'd hear any much difference. Biggest difference that would affect sound between now and then is as I said.....features.

 

[SpeedingPenguin 10+ year member]

Well, I dunno what I'd be running off of, probably a cheap amp in the future, but if I were to ever put any real money into the audio system in my car, i'd get a new head unit as well ;-)

If I can just plug it in and have decent sound quality, I'll be happy. Anything beats whats in there now (Nothing at all, but the origional tape deck barely worked at all, lol)

 

[Slaugh 10+ year member]

bah dude i started 3 exact threads like yours in this forum but i only got extra retarded replies

i want to know how much Alpine hu's have been declining over the years, im sure their component qualitys have been decreasing... i have a 2003 Alpine HU, i was thinking into finding a 2001 or 2002 hu, but no one here seems to have had 2 alpine hus from different years to compare the SQ of both...

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[scrappy 10+ year member]

I had an ALpine hu in 99 and now I have one from 2003. I say aside from features they are about the same sq wise but I have had 3 kenwoods between the Alpine so I cant recall very well

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

bah dude i started 3 exact threads like yours in this forum but i only got extra retarded replies
i want to know how much Alpine hu's have been declining over the years, im sure their component qualitys have been decreasing... i have a 2003 Alpine HU, i was thinking into finding a 2001 or 2002 hu, but no one here seems to have had 2 alpine hus from different years to compare the SQ of both...

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

retaded answers? Someone would have to utilize the same exact setup/car/speakers/amps to give you a 100% honest answer. IMO, generally speaking ,they are all the same. My old 7949 is no better than my brothers 9855, same old ish...more bells, more to-date....

IMO you should move onto improving your system as a whole in changing the things that will make a difference in SQ (power/speakers/location/tuning)

 

[Slaugh 10+ year member]

retaded answers? Someone would have to utilize the same exact setup/car/speakers/amps to give you a 100% honest answer. IMO, generally speaking ,they are all the same. My old 7949 is no better than my brothers 9855, same old ish...more bells, more to-date....
IMO you should move onto improving your system as a whole in changing the things that will make a difference in SQ (power/speakers/location/tuning)

well think about this

someone had this alpine hu bought in 2001 and used it untill 2003 when he bought a 2003 alpine hu... this is very possible and happens all the time, doesn't it?

 

[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

I heard someone say that the newer ones were made in a different country and the quality had declined.

I wouldnt know from a personal experience since i have never owned an alpine H/U.

 

[Slaugh 10+ year member]

TRUE

it used to be Korea lol

i think its now China //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif