What is going on with DD head units?

[medik13 10+ year member]

How is it that I can not find a DD HU geared towards SQ? Most have 2V preouts, no Time alignment, no Burr Brown 24 bit D/A, etc... When is there going to be a decent DD HU coming out to compete with the p880prs's and the CDA-7998's in terms of SQ? What are we suppose to do if we have spent the money for great components in our systems? Should we sacrifice SQ to get features like NAV, DVD, Full Screen ipod integration, etc?

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[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

no ones making you buy anything

 

[envengineer 10+ year member]

Alpine IVA-w200 + pxa-h701. There, you're done.

 

[medik13 10+ year member]

no ones making you buy anything

WTF??? I want to buy something, but the quality of DD receivers out there doesn't match up to the single din in terms of SQ...

 

[medik13 10+ year member]

Alpine IVA-w200 + pxa-h701. There, you're done.

Closest to SQ as I guess i'll get but cant stand the display of the IVA-w200. Looks a bit outdated and bland.

 

[envengineer 10+ year member]

Closest to SQ as I guess i'll get but cant stand the display of the IVA-w200. Looks a bit outdated and bland.

What do you think is better in terms of "SQ"?

You've got a good DVD transport, an optical digital connection to the h701, and all the processing power you could ever need. Plus, you don't have to get the RUX to control the processor because the w200 will do it onscreen.

As for the display, who gives a ****? If you are after a "SQ" system then concentrate on the sonic performance of the piece of equipment and not the extra bullshit like the fonts on the display.

 

[medik13 10+ year member]

What do you think is better in terms of "SQ"?
You've got a good DVD transport, an optical digital connection to the h701, and all the processing power you could ever need. Plus, you don't have to get the RUX to control the processor because the w200 will do it onscreen.

As for the display, who gives a ****? If you are after a "SQ" system then concentrate on the sonic performance of the piece of equipment and not the extra bullshit like the fonts on the display.

I meant to say closest to a full package as I will get, but I cannot just ignore the screen display. It is important too. Why couldn't the IVA 205 come out with an interface like the newer displays being produced by Kenwood and Pioneer?

All of these DD seem to have one or the other, not both.

 

[envengineer 10+ year member]

I meant to say closest to a full package as I will get, but I cannot just ignore the screen display. It is important too. Why couldn't the IVA 205 come out with an interface like the newer displays being produced by Kenwood and Pioneer?
All of these DD seem to have one or the other, not both.

FWIW, I ****ing hate double din displays, every single one of them. Too much light inside the car at night, and tough to see in bright sunlight. I'll take buttons and knobs with a smaller display any day. The DVD player function is dangerous in a dash display. My 9860 can be hooked up to an external monitor if I want to play a DVD for passengers (not likely to ever happen). In dash DVD video is more of a "look what my head unit can do" bragging rights gimmick than it is a useful function.

I've got a double din space and I did a dva-9860 with a rux-c701 right below it. My GPS sits right next to both and is removable so I can switch from car to car. I had a double din 7 inch screen head unit for about 4 awful days before I sold it.

 

[btlking 10+ year member]

so why dont you quit whining and just buy a 880

 

[Babs 10+ year member]

Or a CDA-9887 out soon.. Put a tray in the other din.

I have to also agree with envengineer... Screw all the touchscreen bizness.. Gimme plain-jane knobs and buttons large enough for a human to actually read and use.. Stuff that won't break and actually LOOKS like it aught to be in the dash.

 

[medik13 10+ year member]

What is a sq HU that has the best display/interface for XM and ipod? I think I am going to go Single Din and use a mobile Nav (Garmin) unit when needed. Also is there anything besides a pocket that can be used to fill a DD opening?

 

[envengineer 10+ year member]

Just an FYI - XM + SQ = oxymoron

I'd say the 9887 will be the best single din for a high end unit with full speed ipod control. It uses the USB connection like the IDA-x001 if I am not mistaken.

You could fill the space with anything, some people use it to mount voltage displays. Just buy a blank for the space and then hack it up to mount what you want.

 

[thefunkybunch 10+ year member]

clarion 9255 FTW. nice EQ, time alignment is just plain WICKED, and enough tuneability to get you in to trouble. will do ipod, though the interfacing with the ipod is kinda weird, you can get used to it after a while. it has 2 aux inputs, so add in either a starbase or xm commander flushmounted into a din plate below the radio and you're set.

you can't beat non-clipping pre-outs //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[thefunkybunch 10+ year member]

Just an FYI - XM + SQ = oxymoron
.

while i can see your point, i don't totally agree with you. i have sirius and couldn't go without it. i don't always want to listen to music, i love the comedy stations and if i'm on a long trip it's nice to have the selection of the jazz stations and stuff that play a lot of stuff you've never heard before. you can only listen to your own cd's for so long before you get tired of them and want something new, and FM just plain sucks. in that aspect satellite radio rocks, and while yes it sounds like you're listening to highly compressed music through a tin can, the variety is very nice. and if i want to demo the car or listen to something good, i'll pop in a disc. if you ask me, ipod + SQ = oxymoron as well, but to each their own //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[envengineer 10+ year member]

while i can see your point, i don't totally agree with you. i have sirius and couldn't go without it. i don't always want to listen to music, i love the comedy stations and if i'm on a long trip it's nice to have the selection of the jazz stations and stuff that play a lot of stuff you've never heard before. you can only listen to your own cd's for so long before you get tired of them and want something new, and FM just plain sucks. in that aspect satellite radio rocks, and while yes it sounds like you're listening to highly compressed music through a tin can, the variety is very nice. and if i want to demo the car or listen to something good, i'll pop in a disc. if you ask me, ipod + SQ = oxymoron as well, but to each their own //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

I was referring to the quality of the signal only, variety is a seperate issue. If someone is looking to spend tons of money and time putting together a high quality system, they are doing that system a disservice by using XM or Sirius as a source. Variety is fine, but you can't argue that the sound quality blows.

I disagree on the iPod issue. You can get much closer to cd quality with an iPod than just about anything else, especially if you are using apple lossless files, or if you have a Rockboxed iPod playing FLAC. Wilson Audio actually used one as a source at CES (that says something). Now, with the digital connection to the iPod on a couple of the newest alpine head units, the gap will narrow even further.