Want to buy Eclipse

[patjai]

I see a lot of people suggesting Eclipse for SQ because of the 5V/55 ohm impedence thing. My question is... if I don't have an amp, would an eclipse hu still sound better than 'other' brands? Or do I really need an amp to take advantage of it?

And I want at least a CD5435 if I do get Eclipse (simply for the 5 way illumination), I really hate the red on the lower models. If I get that, I would have to wait to save up for an amp. So will this still sound better than another unit in the same price range (both without amps)? I don't want to settle for something less simply because I don't have money right now. I would rather buy what I can afford now and wait for the other things. At least I'll be able to play CD/mp3 in the meantime. Oh yea, and any recommendations on amps or speakers to go with the Eclipse would be great too. Thanks guys.

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[jsloan10 10+ year member]

Eclipse is a great HU, nobody in there right mind would argue that, but they are expensive, If I may be so bold as to suggest a Kenwood Excelon unit, they have 5volt 80ohm outputs and can be had for less.

As for the HU internal amp, they all pretty much put out a "dirty" 20 watts rms x4 and will not sound that much different from one brand to the next unless your comparing a Jensen or Pryamid or somthing like that

Some links for info and prices-

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductList.aspx?CategoryID=5&ManufacturerID=635

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=5988029/search=kenwood%2520excelon%2520cd%252Fmp3

 

[JLCivic 10+ year member]

Eclipse is a great HU, nobody in there right mind would argue that, but they are expensive, If I may be so bold as to suggest a Kenwood Excelon unit, they have 5volt 80ohm outputs and can be had for less.As for the HU internal amp, they all pretty much put out a "dirty" 20 watts rms x4 and will not sound that much different from one brand to the next unless your comparing a Jensen or Pryamid or somthing like that

Some links for info and prices-

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/ProductList.aspx?CategoryID=5&ManufacturerID=635

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=5988029/search=kenwood%2520excelon%2520cd%252Fmp3

What is it that makes you say that Eclipse decks are expensive? 5V/55 ohm pre out decks starting at $179, authorized. I think the "eclipse decks are expensive" may be one of the biggest myths in car audio.

 

[2wheeler 10+ year member]

I agree that Eclipse decks cost more if you are comparing feature for feature. I had an alpine 9830 that had a lot of features (4 band eq, time alignment etc.) but wasnt reliable. I sent it back after it shut down and required resetting 6 times in the first 30 days of ownership. I then listened to eclipse 5425 and alpine (9830) side by side, both set flat, and IMO the eclipse sounded better. Price of the 9830 was 260 delivered, 5425 is 249+tax at my local dealer. So if you buy for sound quality, eclipse is the best deal out there, if you shop for features, there is a lot better deals to be found. The question is: whats important to you, sound quality or bells and whistles?

 

[JLCivic 10+ year member]

I agree that Eclipse decks cost more if you are comparing feature for feature. I had an alpine 9830 that had a lot of features (4 band eq, time alignment etc.) but wasnt reliable. I sent it back after it shut down and required resetting 6 times in the first 30 days of ownership. I then listened to eclipse 5425 and alpine (9830) side by side, both set flat, and IMO the eclipse sounded better. Price of the 9830 was 260 delivered, 5425 is 249+tax at my local dealer. So if you buy for sound quality, eclipse is the best deal out there, if you shop for features, there is a lot better deals to be found. The question is: whats important to you, sound quality or bells and whistles?

Was the 9830 purchased from an authorized dealer? Alpine decks are wh0red out all over the internet so of course they can be had cheaper than retail. Eclipse regulates that much more so you don't see every online(unauthorized) dealer in the world carrying eclipse decks. It also can come down to WHAT features you view as important. Does Alpine have a 5V/55 ohm deck(we know the answer to that), yet Eclipse has them starting at $180. It comes down to what features you want, but if you check out authorized pricing on both brands, I think you will see Eclipse comes out looking pretty good. Eclipse pricing has dropped quite a bit in the last 2-3 years. I agree though, sq or bells and whistles. To me, bells and whistles are no good if the deck doesn't sound as good as it should in the first place. The local shop has loved selling eclipse decks because as they say, "you drop it in the dash and listen to it." They don't have to spend any time tweaking it.

 

[2wheeler 10+ year member]

My 9830 came from crutchfield, so yes, authorized all the way. I personally won't buy non-auth. I am waiting on my local dealer to get my 5435, I think the fact that I returned an alpine and am waiting for an eclipse shows what's important to me. I just know that a lot of people out there want bling first, and if you are shopping for the bling, eclipse is not the place to find it. No eclipse comes with dolphins, or a G-analizer, right?

 

[JLCivic 10+ year member]

My 9830 came from crutchfield, so yes, authorized all the way. I personally won't buy non-auth. I am waiting on my local dealer to get my 5435, I think the fact that I returned an alpine and am waiting for an eclipse shows what's important to me. I just know that a lot of people out there want bling first, and if you are shopping for the bling, eclipse is not the place to find it. No eclipse comes with dolphins, or a G-analizer, right?

The 9830 was on clearance though, right...that isn't the usual case(I know of a person who got a BNIB 8053 for $100 because the store was clearing out that model)? Well, IMO, Eclipse has much more bling than they should. They never used to have any at all, but in the past 2 years, they have added some. I prefer the all balls, non flashy look for decks, but I am in the minority.

 

[Johnny Drama 5,000+ posts]

Cartoys has all reamaining 8053s and 8454s on sale for $299

 

[jsloan10 10+ year member]

What is it that makes you say that Eclipse decks are expensive? 5V/55 ohm pre out decks starting at $179, authorized. I think the "eclipse decks are expensive" may be one of the biggest myths in car audio.

Up here in Canada the only way to get one that cheap is to buy it out of the back of a van.

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

Up here in Canada the only way to get one that cheap is to buy it out of the back of a van.

So I hear...you guys get shafted in prices...

 

[jsloan10 10+ year member]

As far as I know the only place in Saskatchewan that is authorized to sell them is A&B sound //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif .