Time for my every 4-5 year re-installation

[grampi 10+ year member]

The time is approaching for me to change cars, and that means doing a new install. My daughter will be getting my current vehicle and I'll be replacing it with another. Most of my equipment is still usable, but I am looking to replace a few items.

My HU, an Alpine CDA-7892 is trashed. I loved the unit when it was working, but it's been repaired twice now, and it still won't play CD's. It's time for a new one. I've been trying to get some ideas in some of the other topics (some are ones I started), but I'm not getting much input. Not staying current with car audio over the last 4 years or so, I don't have a clue who's making good HU's anymore and which ones to stay away from. Sound quality is my number 1 priority and this priority is much higher than any of my other requirements. As far as other functions I'm looking for are fully adjustable time correction, some sort of an EQ and sub x-over, at least 4v and low impedence pre-amps, the ability to play burned CD's, and HD and satellite radio ready would be nice. I don't give a rat's *** about being MP3 or ipod compatable. I used to absolutely love Alpines, but they've done away with a lot of the features they used to include in their units. I'm also leary about Alpine now because of all the trouble I had with this unit. I'm kind of leaning towards an Eclipse HU, but that's a bias based on discussions that took place here several years ago from many who claimed Eclipse HU's were the absolute best for sound quality. I don't know if that still holds true, or if it ever held true. Any and all ideas in this area would be highly appreciated.

The other items I'd like to replace are my component mid range drivers. I have JL XR-650CSi comps and to this day, I swear these tweeters are still the best sounding I've ever heard, but the 6.5" mids leave room for improvement. The best way to describe how the mids sound to me is imagine how a good set of mids would sound if you were holding towel in front of them while you're listening to them. They sound muffled and they have very little (if any) mid-bass punch. I'd like to find a set of mids I can use with these tweets and the x-over network. Ideas here are sorely needed.

My amp is a Kicker KX-600.4 which I plan to continue using, and my sub is an Elemental Design e12k. This sub has been absolutely indestructable. I've tried to pound the crap out of it, but it just keeps going and sounding every bit as good now as it did when it was new. I just need to build a new enclosure for it as the one it's currently in is falling apart because of moisture in the trunk. It'll be going into another 1 C.F. sealed enclosure.

All your inputs on HU's and mid range drivers are desparately needed!

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[inapontiac 10+ year member]

Get an Alpine HU

 

[grampi 10+ year member]

Get an Alpine HU

I'll have to look through their HU lineup to see if they have any that meet my needs. Would you say their units have better SQ than the Eclipse HU's?

 

[jnralp00 10+ year member]

I love my Eclipse cd5000

 

[Rich B 5,000+ posts]

If you want to try an Eclipse you picked the best time since most of their new units (finally) have removable faceplates.

 

[blimblam 10+ year member]

If you want to try an Eclipse you picked the best time since most of their new units (finally) have removable faceplates.

sigh...only if they said they were detachable when i was buying an HU a few weeks ago..

 

[konechiwa 10+ year member]

i'm biased towards kenwood but i think they sure sound sweet to me. Plus the top of the line ones have time alignment and nice features.

Whats your budget?

oh yes, and these mids.. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/yumyum.gif.0556df42231b304b9c995aefd13928a8.gif

http://premier-audio.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=19&zenid=2c6357b631b01b4ddaa3b3cbc6b05572

 

[95BlackGA 5,000+ posts]

If you want SQ look into Nakamichi, they're not the prettiest headunits to date, but they'll get the SQ you're lookin' for. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif If you wouldn't mind using a larger midbass driver, you could get a couple of these or some of these if you want to go with a smaller approach.

 

[grampi 10+ year member]

I checked out the Alpine HU's and they're completely out of the running. NONE of their HU's have time correction anymore. I guess Alpine is more concerned with being ipod and all that other garbage compatable now than they are about sound quality. I will look into the Kenwoods and Nakamichis and also the Premier and C&S mids. I've also noticed that the Pioneer HU's seem to have a lot of the features I'm looking for as well.

Someone else in this forum also suggested Rainbow Kickbass mids. I did some reading on them and it turns out these drivers are made specifically for optimum performance in door mount applications. They sound very interesting.

 

[Qbenjamin 10+ year member]

If you want SQ look into Nakamichi, they're not the prettiest headunits to date, but they'll get the SQ you're lookin' for. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif If you wouldn't mind using a larger midbass driver, you could get a couple of these or some of these if you want to go with a smaller approach.

I can't remember what Nakamichi H/U I had about two years ago, but I wish I had never sold it. The crystal clear stations and CD's were unbelieveable. It could be the only reason I sold it, was because it was ugly, but even now that I have my D3 I wish I still had the Nakamichi. The internal crossovers and features were impressive also.