SQ Headunit Decision

[96GTIVR6 10+ year member]

Time to decide on a new head unit for my setup, I'm going to be running 2-way active fronts for sure, possibly 3-way. I don't need MP3 playback, and I'm not going to be using a screen for DVD video. This is purely for SQ, I'd like to set myself up so when I get bored next year I have gear good enough to compete.

The choies in order of price:

Clarion DRZ9255

Alpine DVA-9861 and PXA-H701 (50$ less then the Clarion)

Another DEH-P880PRS (350$ less then the Clarion)

I don't really care much about the price difference, I just want the one that will sound the best. Any personal experience with the setups would be nice, share what you know! Thanks!

Click to read more...

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

It's common consensus that the H701 is pretty much the best processor out there currently......I reckon that's likely going to be your best best of those choices.

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

yea i'd go w/ the h701. more control over everything especially since its possible you might go 3 way active front stage. i'm actually thinking of doing the same myself.

 

[OldOneEye 10+ year member]

Based on what the consensus is, the H701 if you have the room for it. The DRZ9255 is a pretty **** good all in one (and if you want one, PM me I work for 1 of 2 authorized Clarion online dealers). If I worked for a place that sold Alpine and Pioneer and I had a double DIN slot, I would probably go with the Alpine (but I don't work for an Alpine dealer so that is off the table). Depending on what kind of room you have, another option could be the RF 3sixty.2 (again, some guys don't want to have to have two head units or display in the car, others have the room for it).

Juan

 

[bigbangtheory 5,000+ posts]

I heard nothing but good things on the 880 Pioneer deck, but for overall what you are looking for then I would hit up the Alpine. Good luck!

 

[96GTIVR6 10+ year member]

^I had the 880 as soon as it shipped, I was one of the first in my state to get one...

I work at an authorized Clarion, Alpine and Pioneer Premier dealer (among other brands) and have for over a year and a half... I'm getting em on accom. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

I don't know if I like the 9861 idea purely because of the fact that it seems like processor control on it would be quite a PITA since it has the very basic display that it does. At least it still has the 24bit D/A

To the guy who said he works for an online dealer, do you sell the RF 3.sixty? I think that would be another option, do the 9255 and then add the 3.sixty later on if I needed more processing, it's not a very expensive piece

 

[msimon 10+ year member]

^I had the 880 as soon as it shipped, I was one of the first in my state to get one...I work at an authorized Clarion, Alpine and Pioneer Premier dealer (among other brands) and have for over a year and a half... I'm getting em on accom. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

I don't know if I like the 9861 idea purely because of the fact that it seems like processor control on it would be quite a PITA since it has the very basic display that it does. At least it still has the 24bit D/A

To the guy who said he works for an online dealer, do you sell the RF 3.sixty? I think that would be another option, do the 9255 and then add the 3.sixty later on if I needed more processing, it's not a very expensive piece

If you use the PXA-H701 with the DVA-9861, it doesn't matter what DAC the 9861 has. The toslink output would bypass the 9861's DAC and the PXA-H701 would be responsible for the D/A conversion.

 

[96GTIVR6 10+ year member]

^Thanks for the info, on that note if I decided to use say the 701 with a 9255 and the RUX controller it would bypass the D/A's in the 9255 as well correct?

 

[ravendarat 10+ year member]

Retail on the 3sixty.2 is 699.99 so I wouldnt say its penuts

 

[96GTIVR6 10+ year member]

I know I can get it through distribution for a lot less then 699... but anyway regardless back to the poll I guess

 

[OldOneEye 10+ year member]

We sell the 3Sixty.1/2 as well. I would not buy a 9255 as a transport (a ton of money just to bypass most of the features you are paying for).

Heck, you could run it with a carputer, you could run it with just about anything for that kind of cash.

Juan

^I had the 880 as soon as it shipped, I was one of the first in my state to get one...I work at an authorized Clarion, Alpine and Pioneer Premier dealer (among other brands) and have for over a year and a half... I'm getting em on accom. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

I don't know if I like the 9861 idea purely because of the fact that it seems like processor control on it would be quite a PITA since it has the very basic display that it does. At least it still has the 24bit D/A

To the guy who said he works for an online dealer, do you sell the RF 3.sixty? I think that would be another option, do the 9255 and then add the 3.sixty later on if I needed more processing, it's not a very expensive piece

 

[msimon 10+ year member]

^Thanks for the info, on that note if I decided to use say the 701 with a 9255 and the RUX controller it would bypass the D/A's in the 9255 as well correct?

I am not familiar with the 9255, but if it has a digital output, then yes. If it doesn't and you use the analog outputs (RCAs) then you would have a D/A conversion at the head unit and at the PXA-H701. You might also want to consider getting a cheaper older alpine like the CDA-7939, CDA-7949, and the CDA-7969 with the RUX-C701. They all have toslink outputs and can control the volume of the PXA-H701. You probably could get the HU and the RUX-C701 cheaper than the DVA-9861.