New head unit suggestions

[Old_Slapper]

Hello all,

I've been researching getting a new head unit since I am having some difficulties with the one I have currently. Looking through the forum it seems like a lot of people would suggest Kenwood which is what I currently have. I am just hoping it will actually work this time.

Specs I want

• Single din
• Clean preamp output signal. 5v or higher preferably
• Enough outputs to give a signal to my amp for front, rear, and sub.
• CD player
• USB and Aux
• Budget is about $200CAD ($150USD)
• I am not particular to any brands, I just want something affordable and reliable.

Considering

JVC KD-T925BTS

Kenwood Excelon KDC-X305 (basically what I already have)

With my experience, I would go with Pioneer. I currently have a Sony in one truck, a Pioneer in another, and a JVC in a truck I just sold. I also recently sold my SUV that had a Kenwood in it. The Pioneer was the easiest to use and program. Especially when getting into changing the tone, balance, and fade.

 

[Corsair714]

It appears a lot has happened on this thread since I last checked. I am a little confused now as to if the head units I asked about will work well or not? They are both capable of running six channels and I will be hooking it up to a five channel amp(Recoil RED1800.5) so I do not understand why that would not work?

 

[Corsair714]

With my experience, I would go with Pioneer. I currently have a Sony in one truck, a Pioneer in another, and a JVC in a truck I just sold. I also recently sold my SUV that had a Kenwood in it. The Pioneer was the easiest to use and program. Especially when getting into changing the tone, balance, and fade.

Ok thanks. I will look into Pioneer a little more. I like the looks and specs of Kenwood however the user interface is a little difficult to operate. I haven't found any pioneers with anything higher then a 4 volt output on the RCAs. Does that matter much? I have heard higher is better so you can set the gains a little lower. I have had some trouble with static in this system and want a good signal. Any specific Pioneer units that you would suggest?

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

I haven't found any pioneers with anything higher then a 4 volt output on the RCAs. Does that matter much?

No. Mathematically, with a 14.2 volt power source 5.0 volts is the most that any preout can deliver. But that'd be a rail-to-rail signal and the distortion level would be terrible.

As an aside, notice that THD numbers are never given any more in HU specs for the preouts.

 

[Corsair714]

No. Mathematically, with a 14.2 volt power source 5.0 volts is the most that any preout can deliver. But that'd be a rail-to-rail signal and the distortion level would be terrible.

As an aside, notice that THD numbers are never given any more in HU specs for the preouts.

Ok thank you. Kenwood claims to have 5v preouts so I just wanted to check. I hear it’s closer to 4.8 though. Just want to make sure I have adequate signal.

 

[Corsair714]

No. Mathematically, with a 14.2 volt power source 5.0 volts is the most that any preout can deliver. But that'd be a rail-to-rail signal and the distortion level would be terrible.

As an aside, notice that THD numbers are never given any more in HU specs for the preouts.

I don’t know much about THD numbers aside from a quick search I just did. Any more you can tell me about that? Is there some way to check that for head units even when it’s no longer specified?

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

I don’t know much about THD numbers aside from a quick search I just did. Any more you can tell me about that? Is there some way to check that for head units even when it’s no longer specified?

Not really. Manufacturers just stopped listing specs of parameters that they didn't want to be judged on about 10 years ago. Someone would say, "This deck says 0.05% THD and that one says 0.07% so I'll buy the lower one". Not understanding that the difference is insignificant. Same thing with preout driver source impedance. So the major manufacturers just dropped those specs from the spec sheets.

Unfortunately, that mentality lends itself to marketeering "specsmanship". For instance one HU might be 5 volts at 5% THD and 4 volts at 0.5% but they never tell us that.

 

[Old_Slapper]

Ok thanks. I will look into Pioneer a little more. I like the looks and specs of Kenwood however the user interface is a little difficult to operate. I haven't found any pioneers with anything higher then a 4 volt output on the RCAs. Does that matter much? I have heard higher is better so you can set the gains a little lower. I have had some trouble with static in this system and want a good signal. Any specific Pioneer units that you would suggest?

A higher RCA output will help keep noise out of the system, and 4v is good enough. If you want more, there are boosters.

Here's a Pioneer deck that will work. They also have a version with a CD player.

MVH-S720BHS

The MVH-S720BHS is designed to accommodate the smartphone lifestyle. When using Pioneer Smart Sync with Amazon Alexa, it opens up new possibilities for this digital media receiver. This application allows you to broaden your access, whether wired or wireless. The receiver has a built-in...

usa.pioneer

 

[2RZ-FE 10+ year member]

Just don’t disconnect the RCA‘s with the Pioneer powered on you could blow that stupid pico fuse and get whining in your speakers

 

[Corsair714]

A higher RCA output will help keep noise out of the system, and 4v is good enough. If you want more, there are boosters.

Here's a Pioneer deck that will work. They also have a version with a CD player.

MVH-S720BHS

The MVH-S720BHS is designed to accommodate the smartphone lifestyle. When using Pioneer Smart Sync with Amazon Alexa, it opens up new possibilities for this digital media receiver. This application allows you to broaden your access, whether wired or wireless. The receiver has a built-in...

usa.pioneer

Alright thanks. I think I might go with this one here. It has everything I need as far as I know.

DEH-S6220BS

The DEH-S6220BS is designed to accommodate the Smartphone lifestyle. It has a built-in hands-free Bluetooth® receiver. When using Pioneer Smart Sync with Amazon Alexa it opens a new world for this CD receiver. Using this application, you can broaden your access may it be wired or wireless. The...

usa.pioneer

 

[Corsair714]

Just don’t disconnect the RCA‘s with the Pioneer powered on you could blow that stupid pico fuse and get whining in your speakers

I appreciate the heads up. I'd be very disappointed if I ruined a new one. Is there any possibility that is why my Kenwood has a whining noise? I have definitely disconnected the RCAs with everything on.

 

[2RZ-FE 10+ year member]

i do it with my Kenwood and have not had a problem so far could be souething else.

 

[huberoy123 10+ year member]

Hello all,

I've been researching getting a new head unit since I am having some difficulties with the one I have currently. Looking through the forum it seems like a lot of people would suggest Kenwood which is what I currently have. I am just hoping it will actually work this time.

Specs I want

• Single din
• Clean preamp output signal. 5v or higher preferably
• Enough outputs to give a signal to my amp for front, rear, and sub.
• CD player
• USB and Aux
• Budget is about $200CAD ($150USD)
• I am not particular to any brands, I just want something affordable and reliable.

Considering

JVC KD-T925BTS

Kenwood Excelon KDC-X305 (basically what I already have)

My last two units have been JVC. Good sound and available adjustments. My latest doesn't have a cd player, but I compensate by putting my music on a USB hard drive. The music quality is very good, and it offers me much more flexibility and convivence in selecting the music I want.