Looking for the best of the best head unit!

[dangerzone9k 10+ year member]

Hi all,

My alpine 9813 HU isn't working properly and it's time to upgrade. I know the 3 main brands are alpine, kenwood and pioneer. I have only owned apline but I am open to options.

I want the HU to be SiriusXM ready and easy to change setting, etc.

I need a single din deck and here's what I'm thinking...

* alpine cde-hd149bt

*kenwood kdc-x998

*pioneer 80prs

I believe the pioneer doesn't play xm radio. What's the best? Should I wait and get the next model out?

Thanks

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[adulbrich 5,000+ posts]

Alpine is good, but expensive. I always get used Kenwoods. Never owned a pioneer HU

 

[dangerzone9k 10+ year member]

I was looking at this website: Car Audio Review 2014 | Best Car Audio Systems

I'm willing to spend for the best single din and will keep it below $400.

 

[Umbra]

I've got the Kenwood KDC BT555U and love it, but it's not the top of their line and it's also been replaced with the 558. I have no experience with either, but there are a lot of Eclipse and Clarion fans on here.

I think $250 is Kenwood's top of the line and that SQ oriented Pioneer goes for around that. No idea what $400 would get you in terms of single DIN.

 

[bbeljefe]

I haven't sold the Alpine you mentioned but I have sold some of the lower models and they've been good units. The Pioneer is also a good one but if you're used to an Alpine you may want to stick with it. The menus, etc, aren't exactly the same as the older ones but they are similar so learning the new HU would be a lot easier if you move from Alpine to Alpine.

That's what I'll likely do when my CDA-9886 craps out. Had it almost 10 years and it's been stolen and recovered but it's still a daam good head unit, lol.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

I was looking at this website: Car Audio Review 2014 | Best Car Audio Systems
I'm willing to spend for the best single din and will keep it below $400.

$400 is not going to get you the best of the best. Under $400 the best is the 80prs

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

$400 is not going to get you the best of the best. Under $400 the best is the 80prs

Disagree. There are plenty of comparable HU''s to the 80PRS under $400.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Disagree. There are plenty of comparable HU''s to the 80PRS under $400.

Like what? What has L/R EQ, three DACs, 2 way active plus sub, 16 band EQ, Auto TA/EQ?

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

Like what? What has L/R EQ, three DACs, 2 way active plus sub, 16 band EQ, Auto TA/EQ?

First the Auto TA/EQ is a waste of a feature. Rarely if ever is the auto EQ correct and TA is very very easy to calculate. Oh and since your tossing out features make sure you include the ever so popular pico fuse as a feature on this Pioneer that can just randomly decide to die even if you disconnect power during install.

With that being said the Alpine 9887 can do 2 way active plus sub, has ability for 3 way plus sub, has TA and L/R EQ.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

First the Auto TA/EQ is a waste of a feature. Rarely if ever is the auto EQ correct and TA is very very easy to calculate. Oh and since your tossing out features make sure you include the ever so popular pico fuse as a feature on this Pioneer that can just randomly decide to die even if you disconnect power during install.
With that being said the Alpine 9887 can do 2 way active plus sub, has ability for 3 way plus sub, has TA and L/R EQ.

Does it have full pandora control? Two USBs and SD card?

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

Does it have full pandora control? Two USBs and SD card?

Pandora and SD card are completely useless features yet again. Your the guy who buys a Pioneer for the Dolphin animations.

 

[vibe]

lol

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

Pandora and SD card are completely useless features yet again. Your the guy who buys a Pioneer for the Dolphin animations.

They may be useless to you but they are a feature the old alpine does not have. I'm only saying this because I swapped from a two year tuned 117 and the straight out of the box 80prs was better. If I didn't have a clue I would keep my mouth shut. Oh and pandora control is awesome.

 

[whitedragon551 5,000+ posts]

They may be useless to you but they are a feature the old alpine does not have. I'm only saying this because I swapped from a two year tuned 117 and the straight out of the box 80prs was better. If I didn't have a clue I would keep my mouth shut. Oh and pandora control is awesome.

By this logic some shitty Soundstream should be awesome as it has useless features that Pioneer doesnt have. Great logic.

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

By this logic some shitty Soundstream should be awesome as it has useless features that Pioneer doesnt have. Great logic.

So after you added that imprint and BT mod how much would your 9887 cost? You know, the same things the 80 comes with.. What do you have against the pioneer? Besides the fact you obviously never used one.