Headunits of the Moment

[Bax]

I'm looking at getting a new headunit, the old one just didn't cut it.

I think it was an alpine 9831 or something like that? Just didn't cut it compared to the old model I had.

I'm looking for something with reasonable display, superb quality, cd/ ipod, remote of course, as far as pre-outs go I don't really mind, But I'll eventually have splits in the front running through their own amp, and 2 subs running via a single amp aswell. 6" coax in the rear.

Recommendations? I'm still leaning along the lines of alpine but ......

[StoneX]

Price range?

[Bax]

Under a g.. 500-750 is what I usually pay.

[garfa]

a good alpine would do the job

[Jeff T]

Just to clarify, you had an Alpine 9831 but didn't like it? What was the older model that you liked better?

What specifically didn't you like about it? Just wondering because I'm running that unit at the moment and I'm really happy with it. 4ch time alignment, 4-band parametric EQ, 3 pre-outs, motorised face, remote. The only annoying things for me are the clock (can't display clock and track title at the same time) and the EQ seems to be a little noisy. Still, they're good value for the money imo.

Are you looking for something in particular? Do you need more features? The next step up in the Alpine line has a lot of complex features that require a lot of knowledge to make full use of. Certainly they're not of too much use if you're not using an amp.

As for alternatives, Eclipse and Pioneer have decent reputations for head units in that price range, maybe also Blaupunkt. The Eclipses are known for great sound quality, though they don't have detachable faces. Personally I could never buy a pioneer because I use the "random" feature a lot, and hate the way it works on Pioneers.

Just a thought, but maybe you would be better off upgrading the rest of the system before looking at the HU, that way you know where the problem lies. That's if you're running a 9831 without amps, as I gather from your posts.

[Bax]

Been running 2x 12" subs off a Fusion amp with 6" coax's front and rear off the deck since god knows. My problem doesn't lie with the sound output, it is with the headunit.

It seems really tacky to run and I can't get the sound out of it that I could with my old unit. It's colour changing buttons and stuff got irritating. MXpander is the biggest waste of time on any alpine unit if wanting a clear sound, extra bass to every channel pisses me off to the max.

Really can't remember what my old unit was, I picked it up for around 900 compared to the 200 or so I picked up the 9831 for. I've had troubles with it eating cds but that wasn't it.

I'm faced with a tough decision of either sticking with alpine simples or leaving an expanding to something other then what I know is usually decent. Excuse my french but there was a nice Sony Blacked face one a while ago that would have been perfect.

[Jeff T]

MXpander is pretty useless, agreed. It's pretty much a glorified "loud" button. Do you know how to use EQ properly? I still think you should be able to get some decent sound out of the 9831 if you spend a bit of time with it. $200 is insanely cheap for that unit, I think they retailed for $799 or so, or maybe it was $699? Either way $200 seems very fishy, where'd you get it?

Anyway if it's not floating your boat, Alpine's probably not for you. Sony don't exactly have a wonderful reputation in the world of car audio these days, but if that's what you're into so be it.

Best best is to go to all the local car audio places and spend some real time with a few different HUs to see which ones you like.

Certainly though, the limiting factor with your system (sound wise) isn't the head unit, it's the front stage. For an extra $750, you'll get far better results buying a decent pair of splits for the front and a 2 ch amp, compared to upgrading the HU. It's definitely what I'd look at changing first.

[garfa]

the h/u doesnt "colour" the sound as your speakers and amps do, but having said that you seem prettty intent on changing the h/u so maybe a jvc (shudder!) or clarion?

[Bax]

I'll stick with alpine if they find me one that I need.

From what I remember the eq on the 9831 wasn't that flash? I'm starting to look at some of the latest alpines that have the ipod connectivity.

Either the 9965 I think or the 9855 or 9857.. But 9965 leaves the room for upgrading to a screen if I take that path..

As for splits and 2 channel amp, thats next- More than likely at the same time as the headunit. May consider getting my boot install redone with new amps and subs. But the fusion gears been treating me well- sounds alot better then my mates alpines. type r or s... the blue ones I think.. S??

As in.. His old setup was the fusions, he switched to alpines and they just didn't cut it.

[Jeff T]

From that list the 9857 probably isn't your best bet if you didn't like the 9831. It's actually got less sound adjustment features, i.e. no HPF/LPF, no parametric EQ, no time alignment. But it does have a nicer screen and better ipod connectivity. Still, it's more of a step sideways than a step forwards.

9855 and 9965 look great but they're hell expensive. The 9855 has a lot of features that you probably don't need though.

Yeah the blue Alpines are the type S, they're the entry level Alpine speakers.

But, if the 9831 didn't float your boat you might have to look somewhere other than Alpine, cos their other models are very similar.

[Jeff T]

Oh yeah just to add, if you get the 9965 you're gonna have to get an amp because it doesn't have an internal one.