Why do Eclipse HU's cost less than Alpines?........

[NE14MX 10+ year member]

Just looking through ebay and I see you can get a new in box Eclipse 8445 for $300 shipped. But look at some older used Alpines like the 9835 and other top units like the 04 phantom faces and they are going for at least $350. At first i thought it was just the name so I started looking around other sites which are not car audio specific, like the acura rsx, mazda3, scion, etc. sites and generally the Eclipses reliability and QC keeps coming into question.

The general feeling I get here is that Eclipse has some of the best reliability and QC in the business, which means more to me than coming from a non-audio specific site. however, on these other sites I continually see Eclipse's QC coming into question, from dealers to individuals time and time again.

opiniions?

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[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

I've owned 4 Eclipse decks and have never had an issue with any of them. I owned one Alpine deck and it was suspect (made some god awlful noice when I put a CD in) from day one. You wanted an opinion, there's mine. Guess which one I'd recommend? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[NE14MX 10+ year member]

Gotcha, and for the record, I've seen that view on here a lot. SO, why do teh Alpines sell for more in the secondary market?

 

[3.5Max6spd 10+ year member]

Alpine lovers somehow feel the 9835/7998 are better than whats currently out and being they are discontinued models their demand inclines a decent amount as they become harder to find.

Weird-To me anything post 7949 era, all sound the same and I've owned the 7949/7998 and last 2 generation Eclipses 8 series. I personally feel the 8445 is a better cd player sonically.

 

[iceteebone 5,000+ posts]

my 8443 is 3 years old and still going good. never heard anything mentioned about there reliability. also what the hell is QC?

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

uhh can't really tell you why. 9835 has been claimed that its the last quality HU alpine made (although its a 2004). lots of alpine fans aren't fans of the glide touch. because of that the 9835 market value has gone up significantly.

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

SO, why do teh Alpines sell for more in the secondary market?

Which company spends more $$$ on marketing? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[zachzchw 5,000+ posts]

QC= Quality Control

X2 on the marketing thing.

Think back to before you became seriously interested in audio....you had probably heard of Alpine, what about Eclipse?

 

[95Eclipse 10+ year member]

alpine = over rated, and over priced

eclipse = quality product @ quality price...

end of story //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[NE14MX 10+ year member]

Ok, I was just posing this question for $h!ts and giggles. I had already made up my mind to get an eclipse. I thought the answer came down to alpine's name and as some of you pointed out, marketing. I do think Alpines look better. You have to give them credit for going with the same basic look throughout the years. There have been variations off of their distinctive look but it has always been built around the same theme year after year. You can't say that for eclipse after their line for last year, or many other brands for that matter. IMO, Alpines have a sexy look. However, I'm buying an Eclipse 8445. $300 shipped for a brand new unit is pretty awesome and represents one of the best buys around in car audio at this time IYAM.

 

[Black_Jesus 10+ year member]

my 9835 never leaves my side =)

 

[spudracer326 10+ year member]

I love my 9855

 

[Fosgate Forever 10+ year member]

my 7998 kicks ***

 

[Greenscreen 10+ year member]

9835/56 love em both

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

my 9835 never leaves my side =)

This must make it awful uncomfortable to drive as well as be a major PITA having to uninstall / reinstall it all the time!