New HU Suggestions

[sneak]

Hi folks!

Long time lurker, I'm replacing the factory HU in my 90 RX-7. I've been looking mostly at double din as I've heard the install is pretty straightforward and doesn't need a plastic kit. The 7 has 6 speakers and I'm fairly sure the front 4 are on the same Front L/R wires.

My budget is under 300. I will likely never have a sub and may want to install components in the front, making an amp necessary. The sound is currently acceptable, but not awesome. The two units I've narrowed down to are:

JVC KW-R910BT

Kenwood Excelon DPX791BH

I've heard rave reviews on here of the Pioneer DEH-80PRS, but I'm not sure I need quite that much HU. If it really is worth the extra hassle, I would be willing to consider it, but it will add to my cost with extra installation materials.

Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

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[Ridinhi 5,000+ posts]

I currently have the Kenwood Excelon DPX791BH. Nice sounding unit but I consider it under the previous unit I ran (and just sold),which was the Jvc kw-r900bt. IMO the Jvc is a better head unit . The xover as well as the time alignment is far better than the Kenwood(kenwood has no time alignment). I installed the Kenwood and had planned on keeping the better sounding unit but I was too lazy to switch it back out and just sold the Jvc.

The Jvc you stated only has 2.5volt preouts,3 band eq and 16 bit dac...that alone loss my interest. Not to mention the appearacne. Not a fan of how that unit looks. Between the 2 your looking at,i would go with the Kenwood due to personal experience. But,if you could find a jvc kw-r900bt.....I would really recommend that one.

 

[Boominburban 10+ year member]

Pioneer DEH-80PRS

 

[fly_marlin]

The Pioneer double din units are pretty nice for the money. If you're using an external amp, I recommend getting a model that has 4V pre-outs. If you're not using an amp, I don't recommend changing the HU as you won't hear any improvement.

 

[sneak]

Thanks for the suggestions so far!

I'm replacing the factory HU because I don't think it's pushing enough to the front speakers. The 4" speakers in the dash sound fine, but the 6.25" in the doors are just putting out low, murky bass. I double checked that the speakers are good by hooking up another pair of 6.25" I had laying around.

I currently have the Kenwood Excelon DPX791BH. Nice sounding unit but I consider it under the previous unit I ran (and just sold),which was the Jvc kw-r900bt. IMO the Jvc is a better head unit . The xover as well as the time alignment is far better than the Kenwood(kenwood has no time alignment). I installed the Kenwood and had planned on keeping the better sounding unit but I was too lazy to switch it back out and just sold the Jvc. The Jvc you stated only has 2.5volt preouts,3 band eq and 16 bit dac...that alone loss my interest. Not to mention the appearacne. Not a fan of how that unit looks. Between the 2 your looking at,i would go with the Kenwood due to personal experience. But,if you could find a jvc kw-r900bt.....I would really recommend that one.

I wish I had been looking last week. I saw you were selling your r900t for 130 and would have snapped it up in a heartbeat.

What is the appeal of the 80PRS aside from the incredibly detailed EQ settings?

 

[fly_marlin]

I don't want you wasting money for nothing, but replacing one HU with another isn't going to give you any noticeable improvement in sound. The most power an after market HU will give you is about 15W per channel. I think you should consider adding an amp.

 

[sneak]

I will likely be adding an amp. Most of the unit's I'm looking at claim to push 20W per channel. Is this a gimmick?

 

[fly_marlin]

I will likely be adding an amp. Most of the unit's I'm looking at claim to push 20W per channel. Is this a gimmick?

Pretty much. You're like to get about 10-15w tops. Are you using all stock speakers as well?

 

[sneak]

Speakers are aftermarket Polk. Nothing fancy (yet), but better than the paper cones that came stock.

 

[Ridinhi 5,000+ posts]

i disagree. I think replacing the factory h/u will be an improvement, especially if you plan on adding comps/amp to the front stage. Anyone of the mentioned units will be better than stock simply due to the fact that they will give you better xover capabilities. You can at least high pass them enough to take out unwanted bass or tune to your liking.

 

[fly_marlin]

If they're not stock speakers, then yeah, though nothing crazy in the power department.

 

[Slobalt]

From experience I would go with the kenwood over the jvc unless u never plan on never running an amp, in that case it doesn't matter.

 

[sneak]

Thanks for all the great advice! I'm going with the R900BT and will post some pictures after it is done.

 

[Ridinhi 5,000+ posts]

Thanks for all the great advice! I'm going with the R900BT and will post some pictures after it is done.

good choice!

 

[The Camry]

Thanks for the suggestions so far!
I'm replacing the factory HU because I don't think it's pushing enough to the front speakers. The 4" speakers in the dash sound fine, but the 6.25" in the doors are just putting out low, murky bass. I double checked that the speakers are good by hooking up another pair of 6.25" I had laying around.

I wish I had been looking last week. I saw you were selling your r900t for 130 and would have snapped it up in a heartbeat.

What is the appeal of the 80PRS aside from the incredibly detailed EQ settings?

All the DACs and complete control over everything. Its night and day when you plug in a simple excelon unit vs a 80prs. The 80prs has such a stupidly clean signal its mind boggling. You instantly hear everything the other units were adding(in a bad way). You hear the music in its purity.