New head units 2007

[wavdj 10+ year member]

Hi,

I have to change my head unit... I was wondering if some of you tried the new 2007 models ? Here in quebec, nothing has come out yet !!!

I had an Alpine 9853, but I have some problem with.... I would like to have a nice new cd/mp3/wma...

I heard alpine wasn't as good as they were before ?

Some people told me that Kenwood Excelon are much better ?//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/rolleyes.gif.c1fef805e9d1464d377451cd5bc18bfb.gif

And i like the eclipse products....

What do you recomand me ? I'd like to pay around 500-700$.... I just want a head unit that plays CD/mp3 , nothing else particular.... but i want the BEST SOUND QUALITY with clean sound....

I also have XM Radio, i'd like if i could have one that i can connect directly or with a TIRK module like I did with the alpine... I think it's possible with both kenwood and eclipse ?

What about the Burr Brown technology in kenwood? is that so good ?

I have 2amps, one mono for a JL Audio sub, and the other 4 X 75 for MB Quart comp. speaker..

So i hesitated for a new Alpine (must have 4v preout, like the new cda-9885 that I haven't tried or see at all...

Or a Kenwood excelon..

Or a eclipse ? 5100 or 7100 ?

Or anything else ?

Which is the best sound quality !! ( and of course, good reliability)

thank you //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

Click to read more...

 

[zSnb 10+ year member]

If you want the best sound quality, go with the Pioneer p880prs or the Eclipse CD7000. I like the Pioneer because its $300 cheaper and it still has a little more tweaks. Kenwood Excelon X991 is also supposed to sound really nice. I believe it is a slightly updated version on the X990 that is its 2006 model. Right now my vote will always go for the 880prs. Very simple to use, it has ALOT of features, 5v preouts, and it just looks so darn sexy.

 

[wavdj 10+ year member]

Ok..

well im not too sure about Pioneer ?

But anyway, u too think alpine is over now ?

Is there a way a Eclipse can have XM Radio right on the HU ?

 

[zSnb 10+ year member]

Why are you not too sure about pioneer? Its the only head unit i ever recommend. I used to own a nice Eclipse and Im very happy I switched to Pioneer. For less $$ you get quality thats on par with Eclipse, Alpine and Kenwood with even more features. Nothing better than an 880prs under $700. Spend the other $300 towards your substage or your install.

 

[MBrock4u 10+ year member]

No argument here. The Pioneer 880prs is a beautiful deck. You can also go with the Kenwood Excelon X-990. Their are specials running online for that deck. I don't think the new Excelons are due out until the summer.

 

[Fixxer 10+ year member]

Do yourself a favor and take a serious look at Pioneer. The 880prs is a slick HU.. I would of bought that if I didn't want to try a screen. I still have plenty of tweaks with my AudioControl DQXS though. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[wavdj 10+ year member]

allright I'll have a look...

It's just because I have never tried pioneer, and never really had good comments on it...

thanks !

 

[wavdj 10+ year member]

Thanks for all.. i went to see the Premier models... they are amazing...

But now I hesitated between the 880PRS, 980BT and 760MP ?

I prefer the look of the 980 and 760 (it has the same display, right?), but is the 880 better?

What make the 980 so expensive ? Beside the Bluetooth connection, is there something else different with the 780 ?

Thanks ! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[zSnb 10+ year member]

the 980/780 are the same exaxt thing but the 980 has bluetooth and the 780 does not. go with the 780 if bluetooth doesnt matter. on the other hand, the 880prs has a few more functions for sound adjustability. if you are planning on running an active setup (each speaker having its own amplified channel) then the 880 with have alot more adjustability. if you are going to use coaxils or the passive crossover on your components, then get the 780/980.

 

[wavdj 10+ year member]

Well Pioneer seems confused...

On their website, they say thay 780 and 980 is the same (without the bluetooth),

But in their 2007 catalog, they say that 780 has not Time aligment, only 7EQ, and a lot of other feature

Which one is the right ? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

And for your question, I will use a 4ch amplifier for my speakers, with the crossover on my component(is that what you call the passive crossover?).

Does the 780/980 has a voltmeter gauge too ? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

thanks !

 

[frzninvt 10+ year member]

Any head unit with an internal amplifier is NOT a top notch sound quality deck. How many quality home CD players come with an amplifier built in?

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

Any head unit with an internal amplifier is NOT a top notch sound quality deck. How many quality home CD players come with an amplifier built in?

There aren't many true "deadhead" headunits around anymore //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif but there are more than a few available that have the option to defeat the deck's internal amp that wouldbe more than suitable for an SQ-oriented setup.

Your remark about home CD players is more than a bit silly, however.

How many stand-alone (component) home CD players have built-in amps? None that I've seen as they are designed to be incorporated into a larger system rather than be the system.

That being said there are plenty of (non-amped) home CD players that are pure crap. The presence of an internal amp (or lack thereof) is a pretty nonsensical method of deciding a unit's quality in this regard.

 

[frzninvt 10+ year member]

My point on the home CD units was meant to be absurd to prove a point. Yes there are crappy home units for sure, you get what you pay for!

However, in the car audio realm if one was truly seeking top notch sound quality or if it was the manufacturer's intent to provide it, internal amplification would not be necessary or provided. Being able to turn it off is OK, however if the unit was built with SQ in mind it would not have amplification in the first place. People looking to assemble a top notch SQ system are not interested in a deck and four speakers sans amplification.

Not many if any units in production today would qualify. Certainly not Pioneer or Eclipse or even Alpine anymore for that matter.

 

[wavdj 10+ year member]

well anywya, isn't the question about the Pioneer Premier 780,880 and 980 ?

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[Towncar 10+ year member]

well anywya, isn't the question about the Pioneer Premier 780,880 and 980 ?//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

The 880 is the best out of that bunch, but the 780 is a great unit. Are you insterested in blue tooth or not? because if you arent, then you might aswell get the 780. Both the 780, and 980 are very similar. Both have 16 bands of eq. Im not sure what it says on pioneers website, but they screw up from time to time on the specs.