My DEH-P880PRS/CDIB100II review

[SuperBlack350z 10+ year member]

Just installed this today, and so far I am very impressed. This review won't encompass much as far as tuning and sound quality, because, long story short, this is in a temporary car that didn't have an ipod ready deck, which is almost necessary now, because my main car was in an accident, out of commission due to suing the insurance company, yadda yadda. So, it's in an 86 Porsche 944 with older Alpine Type S 4x6's all the way around and a kicker CVR 12. So, like I said, not a real great sq car that will take advantage of the sq aspects of the 880. But I digress.

I'm coming from a CDA-9835/KCA-420i in my wrecked car. I like the 9835, but there have always been a few things that have bothered me about it. Number one, you can't change the volume or any setting at the same time as anything else. I hate having to back out of the EQ because it's a little too loud. Number two, the ipod interface is slow, which makes a large ipod library kind of hard to work with, and every time you skip from song to song it takes a few seconds to display the info. Minor grievances, but after owning it for a year, it's annoying.

The DEH-P880 with the CDIB100 is excellent. Where the Alpine is maybe a one mississippi count from artist to artist or album to album on the ipod and turning the knob as fast as you can actually seems counterproductive, the Pioneer goes as fast as you can turn the knob. The display lags a little, maybe a second and a half at most, but where you can turn the knob as fast as you want on the Alpine and maybe scroll two artists, you can skip 10-15 artists in 2-3 seconds. When you skip tracks, the info is there almost instantly. When scrolling through the ipod, or adjusting the EQ, or anything, you can adjust volume at the same time. Where the Alpine forces you to start over when searching your ipod if you maybe hit the wrong song, the Pioneer lets you back out of the menu, just as you would on the ipod itself.

From the few hours I've had it, I absolutely love this deck and ipod adapter combo. The things I loved about the 9835 are still there, but improved. The biolite on the 9835 is a little bigger, but that's the only place the display falters. The overall look of the deck is spectacular, much better looking than in any of the pictures. Also, for those choosing between this deck and the 9835, I think the Pioneer is a little more user friendly, as almost every command is some combination of the multicontrol knob, which once you get used to is pretty nice.

Hopefully this helped some people. I had trouble finding reviews of this deck that really compared it to anything else, and I was kind of worried about the ipod functionality vs. the Alpine. This really blows the Alpine out of the water. My friend has the P860 with the CDIB100 and he checked mine out tonight and said it's a million times better, just to compare Pioneer to Pioneer. Again, hope this helps. If anybody has any questions, feel free to let me know.

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[cam2Xrunner 10+ year member]

I've been using mine in an active setup with Seas Lotus Ref's and Audison amps.

It's my favorite headunit so far, I even like it better than the DRZ9255 I had. The DRZ has the edge in number of crossovers, but I don't have a 3way active front so it doesn't matter.

The Pioneer is very easy to use after a few days of owning it. The crossover flexabilty is incredible.

At night time the 880PRS is in my opinion classier than the DRZ9255, however in the daytime, the DRZ is a little more aesthetically pleasing.

Sound quality wise, the Pioneer has made my system sound the best I've ever had it. It's definitely up there in the SQ dept.

 

[takeabao 10+ year member]

It's my favorite headunit so far, I even like it better than the DRZ9255 I had. The DRZ has the edge in number of crossovers, but I don't have a 3way active front so it doesn't matter.

Shh Rob....you might awaken the DRZ-boner-beast... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

Pics please. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/naughty.gif.94359f346c0f1259df8038d60b41863e.gif

 

[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

dont let blue hear that. he'll have to let you know how wrong you are

 

[spudracer326 10+ year member]

I've been using mine in an active setup with Seas Lotus Ref's and Audison amps.
It's my favorite headunit so far, I even like it better than the DRZ9255 I had. The DRZ has the edge in number of crossovers, but I don't have a 3way active front so it doesn't matter.

The Pioneer is very easy to use after a few days of owning it. The crossover flexabilty is incredible.

At night time the 880PRS is in my opinion classier than the DRZ9255, however in the daytime, the DRZ is a little more aesthetically pleasing.

Sound quality wise, the Pioneer has made my system sound the best I've ever had it. It's definitely up there in the SQ dept.

are you being serious ? I have only ever heard great things about the clarion and to say a 300 dollar deck trounces it in sq is a very bold statement and makes me wonder....if this is true more power to ya but for some reason im having a hard time buying it...ps this isnt meant to be offensive...just curious

pss i have never heard either so i am talking outa my *** and just going by what i have heard

 

[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

you haven't owned 4 hi end audioshops that failed have you now? so you're not really qualfied to say shit about audio.

 

[spudracer326 10+ year member]

you talking to me eugenics??? I didnt mean offence i have been contemplating getting a drz-9255 and after hearing this i dunno...

 

[takeabao 10+ year member]

you talking to me eugenics??? I didnt mean offence i have been contemplating getting a drz-9255 and after hearing this i dunno...

Haha don't mind Eugenius. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

He's referring to some 38-year-old idiot...

 

[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

no man, unless you've owned as many audio shops as blue and have been in the scene since 82 you're not qualified. other qualifications also include a mid life crisis mobile (old viper) and a queer kart (gey neon). you got those? didn't think so

oh, and a narrow urethra helps aswell

 

[spudracer326 10+ year member]

k cool nevermind....

and yes blue is a moron.....i dont think anyone is debaing that...//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

according to him brax is the devil's tool...

what a tard

 

[spudracer326 10+ year member]

seriously???wasnt he trying to sell 5000$ speaker wire???what a tard indeed!!

 

[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

i know.

when was he trying to sell 5000 dollar speaker wire? i haveeee to see this

 

[spudracer326 10+ year member]

last night i beleave...he said it was worth five grand then was selling it for 50 bux...wtf????

 

[Kickerkitty 10+ year member]

Back to the subject on hand, my 880 is the best car audio processor I have ever personally heard, and its better than my two high end home recievers. Booya!