Audio upgrade!

[Stuntmonkey]

I'm 100% looking to upgrade my sounds, and unfortunately I'm not willing to drop $900 on a alpine double din, even though it tilts and all that shit.

What single din headunits are out there that have the tilt option? I know there is the Alpine CDA-9835, but they are slightly old and hard to find these days!

 

[Ol'Blue]

Alpine all the way...

I have one and love the thing. Now I just need to upgrade the speakers next. It is about three years old and running strong. Just get the correct wiring harness for it so the antenna works correctly.

 

[Dutch-Runner '99]

I'm also looking for the same.... and it seems that all of my online searching has been for nothing unless I wanna spend $500. I think I'm going to have to break down and go to BestBuy/other car audio places to find a tilt stereo.

 

[BrianSD_42]

unfortunately I'm not willing to drop $900 on a alpine double din, even though it tilts and all that shit.

Yeah about that. I don't think the latest Alpines have the tilt feature. I'm pretty sure they discontinued TILT in 2005.

This brand new (out 1 week now) Alpine looks awesome for only $600 but no TILT ....

Alpine ICS-X7HD Digital media receiver at Crutchfield.com

:fish2:

 

[dirtbike250x]

I don't have any input on a headunit to purchase, but I'm just curious as to why a $500 head-unit is required. I have less than 500 invested in a headunit, 4 door speakers, sub with amp and are more than happy with it's sound quality.
Maybe I don't understand the features of the more expensive ones since I've never seen one. Not trying to put down them, just curious.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Yep my head unit cost about $200 and is quite good.

You really need a 4 channel amp + good speakers for quality sound. Keep that in mind (all) before dropping $600-$1000 on a head unit only to find out the sound still sucks.

 

[CZ Eddie]

I use my Android Galaxy S3 for all my media purposes these days.

I have it connecting to an APT-X High Definition Bluetooth receiver which sends the mostly uncompressed audio to my cheapo JVC car stereo via 3.5mm audio connection.

I'll never spend big bucks on another car stereo. My phone does everything I want, except play CD's which I never use anymore.
And with ~80GB of storage, my phone holds all my 320kbps MP3's just fine.

 

[Dutch-Runner '99]

Yeah guys I'm not trying to spend $500 on one single stereo... :spy: that's why I want to go to some local stores and have them try to advertise their tilt radios to me so that I know what is out there. I REALLY want the tilt option because in our trucks the radio is so low it would definitely be nice to have it tilted up so there isn't any glare on it and so the faceplate would be easier to read. From what the stores tell me I can just go onto Ebay/Amazon/Crutchfield and find it for half price more than likely.

 

[Stuntmonkey]

Yeah about that. I don't think the latest Alpines have the tilt feature. I'm pretty sure they discontinued TILT in 2005.

This brand new (out 1 week now) Alpine looks awesome for only $600 but no TILT ....

Alpine ICS-X7HD Digital media receiver at Crutchfield.com

:fish2:

I'm told by a dealer that Alpines top of the line unit (I forget the model number) has a fully motorized screen.

Thanks for input guys.

This one!

http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/ine-w927hd/

 

[Dutch-Runner '99]

I'm told by a dealer that Alpines top of the line unit (I forget the model number) has a fully motorized screen.

Thanks for input guys.

This one!

Alpine Electronics of America, Inc.

LOL! Yeah, that's not too awful expensive... its just $1400 :shocked:

 

[T4R_Finally]

In other words, it's not sound quality they are after, it's nameplates and gimmicks. To each his own. For under $200 bucks, I replaced the stock hu with a double din kenwood from crutchfield and it has iPod control and all the other bells and whistles and everything I needed to install it was provided. Can even adjust the colors to match the vehicle interior lighting. Sounds 10 times better even with stock speakers. Adding a sub would top it off and I will probably do that this summer.

But it doesn't say alpine on the front and it doesn't tilt and it doesn't whistle zipadee do da when the key is turned. But it doesn't need to either. Sure, being easier to read and reach would be nice, but not for the difference in price.

 

[BrianSD_42]

But it doesn't say alpine on the front and it doesn't tilt

Kenwood makes the same kind of $1000+ ridiculous receivers that Alpine does. They both also make sub $200 Head Units.

You are right though, your Kenwood does not say Alpine on the front LoL.

 

[Stuntmonkey]

Kenwood makes the same kind of $1000+ ridiculous receivers that Alpine does. They both also make sub $200 Head Units.

You are right though, your Kenwood does not say Alpine on the front LoL.

I'm not saying buy alpine because its the best, it's the only option.

JVC makes a unit that has full motorization, for $900. I can get the above alpine one thats $1400, for $900 on a local forum from the dealer.

 

[BrianSD_42]

That $1400 Alpine is not the only option.

You could buy a 2004 model of Alpine's high end line for about $100-$150 on EBAY and a brand new faceplate from EBAY for $100 - I know because I did it. Details are in my build thread on the first page.

My CDA-9835 has crazy specs but no bells and whistles like blue-tooth or HD radio.

But even though it is old its still awesome and lots of audio guys run them.

I have the following:

* 4V pre-outs x6
* 100+ db s/n ratio
* full tilt
* lots of audio controls
* aux-in jack

All for only $250 with the new faceplate. Think of what you can do with the other $1150 for your stereo!

 

[Shibby!]

Haha.

That's funny because the unit you listed in your first post is the one I believe I have sitting around. I use a old Premier deck I got with the truck because it has a AUX in cord for my Iphone.

I'll see if I can dig up that Alpine deck..

 

[Stuntmonkey]

Shibby if you can find it, let me know, I'll take it off your hands.

 

[SIKHILUXSURF]

there are other reasons why these units cost what they do it has alot to do with the Bluetooth integration navigation features, hands free calling and other options. i currently have an Alpine ina-910 and will be upgrading again to the new alpine unit. to each to their own. yes i can get buy with a sub 200 dollar unit but. i chose not to. i like my sound quality in my cars and this is why i will continue to use these higher end audio.

 

[BrianSD_42]

i like my sound quality in my cars and this is why i will continue to use these higher end audio

Sorry buddy but your $1000+ Alpine doesn't SOUND any better than a $300 Alpine.

You are mostly paying for the big LCD screen and Nav.

The $300 model has 4V pre-outs, 105 db s/n ratio, HD radio, blue-tooth and the same 18W RMS.

My system sounds awesome because I'm running 70W RMS x 4 and have Infinity Kappas.

 

[SIKHILUXSURF]

Sorry buddy but your $1000+ Alpine doesn't SOUND any better than a $300 Alpine.

You are mostly paying for the big LCD screen and Nav.

The $300 model has 4V pre-outs, 105 db s/n ratio, HD radio, blue-tooth and the same 18W RMS.

My system sounds awesome because I'm running 70W RMS x 4 and have Infinity Kappas.

I beg to differ. but also which unit are you refering to? the New 927 or the old 910 i have? the new Alpine 927 may have 4 v pre outs but bit has something your 300 alpines don't all have. a 9 band eq.so yes they do sound better than the 300 dollar units as the tuning capability for these units have more parameters. i have never liked infinity speakers. those and the Boston speakers have such harsh sounds reproduced on certain letters such as S's and T's. i am very happy with my Alpine Type X pros and sub they sound more natural than alot of speakers priced in the same range and way better than any others in the lower price range.

ok so this is a bragging match now? ok i see your 70watt rms. i run 200watt rms. muhahaz


J/k no hard feelings.

 

[Brian757]

I purchased an Alpine CDA-117 strictly for its audio capabilities. It was one of the smartest head units in terms of equalizing, sound clarity, and audio control for my sound system. It has no frills, no navigation & no bluetooth. Alpine also requires the bluetooth and navigation system "Add-On" hardware bullsh!t to use it.

My head unit works in unison with 2 additional amplifiers, a 4 channel and a mono. I have carbon fiber speakers (Kenwood Excelon), all new wiring, braided kevlar Kicker RCA cables, etc. It does it significantly better than my old Pioneer in dash and single din.
My CDA-117 retailed at $350 and was well worth it.

And [MENTION=65101]BrianSD_42[/MENTION] is correct. A $300 Alpine single din head unit can sound identical, if not better than Navi/DVD systems. Most often times a TV headunit will produce less RMS power due to it requiring power to the television and other various components. It comes down to the RMS power output from the head unit to its speakers. A nicer head unit will definitely have its "pros," being that it will have somewhat of an advanced equalizer onboard or sound monitoring system. But comparing Alpines $300 single din headunits to their $1,200 double din, Navi/DVD systems is silly because you are 110% paying for the television and add-ons that a TV would have(Navigation, DVD, etc.), not sound quality.

CLARIFICATION: The above paragraph does not mean that an Alpine TV headunit does not have sound quality. I know one of the Alpine TV head units that cost around $1,000 have some serious EQ settings but I am not a fan of driving and watching TV and my CDA-117 has the exact same EQ system, just not "touch-screened," and less attractive. But, my point would be that, ONLY IN TERMS OF SOUND QUALITY, both would be identical, under factory settings.