Nitrousbird Posted July 3, 2006 Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 I need a head unit, and pretty soon. I want something with a nice display, good sound quality, decent set of features, etc. 3 sets of preouts w/ decent voltage is required. Here are some units I'm considering (prices listed are what I can get them w/ shipping doing a Buy It Now on E-bay from established retailers): Alpine CDA-9857 - $273 Alpine CDA-9856 - $177 Clarion DXZ865MP - $320 Pioneer Premier DEH-P780MP - $288 Pioneer Premier DEH-P680MP - $182 Kenwood KDC-X990 - $333 I like the display on the Kenwood, but I've never been all that impressed with their products, and their interfaces. So most likely I'll pass on that one regardless. I liked the Clarion unit I had years ago (was stolen), and served me well. I've had great luck with the Pioneer decks I've had, so they are heavily on the consideration list. I've never had an Alpine deck, but would consider it for sure. JVC has nothing in my price range I like, and I won't buy a Sony head unit. I'd like an Eclipse, but all of their units w/ displays I find acceptable are too expensive. The Alpines are top contenders, except for the displays, which are pretty boring. The $100 price difference for little more than a slightly improved display is something I'm not sure I'd want to pay. For the Premiers, I'd like to have Blue Tooth, but that units is much more expensive. Their displays are far nicer, though. Any other head unit suggestions, or good reasons why to pick one of the above? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oo0martelle0oO Posted July 3, 2006 Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 I have been running an alpine for about 2 years. Best Head unit i've ever had, and was about the only thing I sold at CCA (Columbus Car Audio) If I Had to Choose I would go with the Alpine 9857 or maybe look into Eclipse. I've been out of the Audio loop since 2003, but when I was at CCA Eclipse was their top of the line unit and they sound great. Eclipse Audio Thats just my two cents. Martelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
302Powered Posted July 3, 2006 Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 I've been running Kenwood in my cars for about 4 years and have had no problems. I've never been a fan of the Pioneers. I had a few Clarions through the years too but nothing recent. -Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloodRed Posted July 3, 2006 Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 I would stick with a Pioneer. It seems you already know there quality and durablity. I never liked Aplines. They seem to have to many unless features and buttons as there selling points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar1647545494 Posted July 3, 2006 Report Share Posted July 3, 2006 I've always like my Pioneer's. They're good headunits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mensan Posted July 4, 2006 Report Share Posted July 4, 2006 I always bought Pioneers until I listened to it and a competitors unit side by side. Now I pay more for higher quality. There is a HUGE difference IMHO. If you want decent quality at low cost, go with Pioneer. If you want noticeably better sound quality, spring for something a little more high end. http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=167557 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitrousbird Posted July 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2006 I always bought Pioneers until I listened to it and a competitors unit side by side. Now I pay more for higher quality. There is a HUGE difference IMHO. If you want decent quality at low cost, go with Pioneer. If you want noticeably better sound quality, spring for something a little more high end. http://www.caraudio.com/forum/showthread.php?t=167557 I agree; the Eclipse deck I had in the Formula (stolen years ago) sounded better than the Premier deck that replaced it. Of course it MSRP for twice what the Pioneer did, and was about 3x the real world cost, since it's a lot harder to source Eclipse stuff cheap. If my budget for this was higher, there would be a Eclipse CD7000 being purchased, without a doubt. In this case, it's a daily driver setup I'm doing, nothing too fancy. To add to the frustration now; I discovered the Bluetooth for the Alpine is a seperate add-on unit, and I can't find it cheap. I'm not sure if I'll make good use of this feature when I upgrade phones soon, but sure seems like a fun toy. But by the time you add on the Bluetooth unit, the Alpines are more expensive than the Bluetooth Premier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJINOHIO03 Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 What does the bluetooth do for car strereos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost1647545489 Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 I have a brand new clarion that has a motorized face and was only in my car for a week before i sold the car if you are interested its a DXZ745 MP http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Chyp3ZWJLDg/cgi-bin/prodview.asp?I=020DXZ745&search=dxz745mp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost1647545489 Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 when i bought it new 250 ish will sell for 100.00 just to get rid of it. Its in perfect conditon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramsey Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 I have been running alpine for maybe 6 years and I get the perfomance plan and just upgrade every year and have yet to be dissapointed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG SHAFE Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 I can definitly tell the difference between a Pioneer and an Eclipse/Alpine/Kenwood. When I went shopping for a head unit for the SS I went with a Kenwood Excelon KDC-X789 (Here is the new model X790). The Excelon IMO is right up there with Eclipse and Alpine. You can get great deals on Ebay, where I got mine. It was especially nice for me, the head unit I got was a year old model that had the same features as the new model. I think the new model had a nicer display but I cut $150+ off the price by getting the older model. They look the same and function almost exactly the same. Plus it was Sirius ready (since I know you have it) and I happened to have a tuner laying around for a Kenwood. Which is nice having all the controls for Radio, CD, and Sirius all in the head unit. You can also control an HD radio tuner and Sirius tuner through the head unit (which I imagine is commonplace in most head units). Not to mention the right/left audio inputs for MP3 players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG SHAFE Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 I have been running alpine for maybe 6 years and I get the perfomance plan and just upgrade every year and have yet to be dissapointed. More info on the performance plan? Sounds interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramsey Posted July 5, 2006 Report Share Posted July 5, 2006 I have had the protection plan from cicuit city, which meant my head unit had to break (or get hooked up to 120v and fry) then circuit city looks at for 2 weeks, they call you to tell you they cant fix it pick out a new unit. other options include getting your car stolen, and if you have the right coverage they replace everything. Thanks state farm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miller Posted July 6, 2006 Report Share Posted July 6, 2006 Eclipse FTW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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