Kenwood vs. Clarion vs. Eclipse

[ChedNompton 10+ year member]

Which unit would be the best SQ/feature combo, mainly SQ ; Kenwood KDC-X990 ; Clarion DXZ865MP ; or the Eclipse CD5000. If you have any other suggestions (trying to only buy with warranty) my budget is $350. I'm going to be ordering the unit very soon (a day or two), thanks in advance.

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[hondarider 10+ year member]

I just ordered my pioneer 7800 a few days ago after doing a lot of comparing. I looked at all the models you listed and i knocked out the clarion because it seemed to lack very many sound adjustments compared to the three other models. I liked the eclipse 5000 but i couldn't find it anywhere with a warranty in my price range. So it came down to the kenwood x990 and the pioneer 7800 for me. They have a $20 price difference on crutchfield and i went back and forth for about 3 days until i finally ordered the pioneer. The deciding factor for me was just the looks because they both seemed to have more than enough sound options and i saved $20.

 

[slikrider20 10+ year member]

i thinkk the 990 owns that pioneer in looks..

 

[hondarider 10+ year member]

Really? IMO i like the more rounded edges of the pioneer vs the more square kenwood. Plus the pioneer screen is awesome.

 

[ChedNompton 10+ year member]

Well the CD5000 is 350 from http://www.cardomain.com, and is warranted from Eclipse. My first real look into hu was that 780mp, but went to my local audio shop, and they said Pioneer has really bad SQ, clarion has great, and Eclipse almost top. But **** that DEH-p780mp looks very good. The only reason the clarion was in there, was well, the touchscreen. Much appreciated opinion on this matter, thanks.

 

[Red Rocket 10+ year member]

Well the CD5000 is 350 from http://www.cardomain.com, and is warranted from Eclipse. My first real look into hu was that 780mp, but went to my local audio shop, and they said Pioneer has really bad SQ, clarion has great, and Eclipse almost top. But **** that DEH-p780mp looks very good. The only reason the clarion was in there, was well, the touchscreen. Much appreciated opinion on this matter, thanks.

That shop is retarded.

 

[zSnb 10+ year member]

but went to my local audio shop, and they said Pioneer has really bad SQ

Did you punch him?? If anything, I think Pioneer has the best SQ.

 

[ChedNompton 10+ year member]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crying.gif.ec0ebefe590df0251476573bc49e46d8.gif He was bigger than me //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crying.gif.ec0ebefe590df0251476573bc49e46d8.gif But I'll soon find out if it has good SQ or not, I'm gonna order the 780mp as soon as, well I feel its safe to. I am walkin away from Eclipse because I've heard ALOT of people say they aren't good for MP3s, and thats all I listen to (I know, I know its not as good of sound as it should be), and the Pioneer had excellent MP3 functions.

 

[Lakota 5,000+ posts]

I love my Kenwood.

 

[Savstyle 10+ year member]

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crying.gif.ec0ebefe590df0251476573bc49e46d8.gif He was bigger than me //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crying.gif.ec0ebefe590df0251476573bc49e46d8.gif But I'll soon find out if it has good SQ or not, I'm gonna order the 780mp as soon as, well I feel its safe to. I am walkin away from Eclipse because I've heard ALOT of people say they aren't good for MP3s, and thats all I listen to (I know, I know its not as good of sound as it should be), and the Pioneer had excellent MP3 functions.

you can find an 880prs for 350, you can find a alpine 9835 for 350 as well. Alpines are hard to find but worth the search

 

[Robbe 10+ year member]

Here you can download a review of the clarion dxz868.

http://www.autohifi-magazin.de/radios_multimedia/testberichte/touch_it.147472.htm

For me is the touchscreen a big +.... And clarion produce a very nice sound!

 

[Torgus 10+ year member]

uhh you can buy a cd7k used for under 350 someone on here was selling one last week. i'v never know of an eclipse failing. it's all me and my friends use. i'v never had a warrenty on one and used them for over 7 years...could be lucky i guess but they make quality stuff.

also don't buy the touchscreen untill you used it. i personally don't like it at all.

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

i'v never know of an eclipse failing. it's all me and my friends use. i'v never had a warrenty on one and used them for over 7 years...could be lucky i guess but they make quality stuff.

I would say you have been lucky. I've owned 1 Eclipse deck and had nothing but problems with it. It came with a 3 year warranty but I had to send it in 4 times in the 1st 2 years and finally gave up on it.

 

[Robbe 10+ year member]

I would say you have been lucky. I've owned 1 Eclipse deck and had nothing but problems with it. It came with a 3 year warranty but I had to send it in 4 times in the 1st 2 years and finally gave up on it.

I know a lot of users who had problems with there alpine.

If you buy a pioneer and you have bad luck with it you say against everyone that pioneer head-units are bad.

Just go to shops to test the head-units and buy the one you like the most.

 

[StealthKill 10+ year member]

Love my eclipse, AWESOME SQ with mp3's and looks peeeerdy.