Audio upgrade!

[SIKHILUXSURF]

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. 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.

i completely agree here the reason why they cost more is yes the addded features. comparing a single din unit vs. a double dine media nav unit is comparing apples to pineapples. which is why i chose the multimedia unit vs. just a single din cd player with a nice eq system. i run my components off of my 2 amps ( 4 channel and a mono) so i really dont care what rms power the head unit has as i do not use the head unit power to amplify my components. that is what the amps are for.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Ok so not trying to get into a who's stereo is better blah blah but I just wanted to point out the difference in sound quality may be non-existent depending on the $300 model one chooses.

Even if your $1000-$1500 model has a 9 band EQ that isn't going to make it significantly better sounding than a deck with 6 band EQ like mine.[\B]

I have a CDA-9835 which was the top model in 2004. It still sounds awesome and when paired with a good amp will rock on just like your $1000+ model.

Anyone building a system needs to budget for a good set of speakers and a great 4 channel AMP. So many guys are running $1000+ head units paired with crappy speakers, amps and still factory wiring.

Spend your money wisely because after the head unit you are still looking at another $750 for amp, speakers and sound proofing. And that doesn't even include a subwoofer and amp. If you want that then add another $400.

Ok i see your 70watt rms. i run 200watt rms. muhahaz

Ok but I'm running 70 W RMS x 4 off a pretty damn decent 4 channel Alpine amp under my drivers seat. I seriously doubt you are running 200 W RMS x 4 lol. Sorry but I don't believe you.

 

[SIKHILUXSURF]

Ok so not trying to get into a who's stereo is better blah blah but I just wanted to point out the difference in sound quality may be non-existent depending on the $300 model one chooses.

Even if your $1000-$1500 model has a 9 band EQ that isn't going to make it significantly better sounding than a deck with 6 band EQ like mine.

I have a CDA-9835 which was the top model in 2004. It still sounds awesome and when paired with a good amp will rock on just like your $1000+ model.

Anyone building a system needs to budget for a good set of speakers and a great 4 channel AMP. So many guys are running $1000+ head units paired with crappy speakers, amps and still factory wiring.

Spend your money wisely because after the head unit you are still looking at another $1000 for amp, speakers and sound proofing. And that doesn't even include a subwoofer and amp. If you want that then add another $400.

You Still dont get it.

you obviously arent reading anything that was in the last two post because no one said that the 300 dollar head unit wasnt good. people buy 1000 units vs. 300 units for a reason. the extra features the provide.some people need/ want bluetooth, navigation and other features. NOT EVERYONE IS A AUDIOPHILE!

your not trying to get into a debate over whos unit is better this and that but yet you are still compairing qoute un qoute
"Even if your $1000-$1500 model has a 9 band EQ that isn't going to make it significantly better sounding than a deck with 6 band EQ like mine."

ok so you have a CDA-9835 which was the top model in 2004. OK it was a top model then yeah we get that but it has been 9 years since then things got better since then and alpine upgaded the technology of there units to be better. its what fuels companies to come out with a better product. Keep debating. sorry op for the debate battle in here.

 

[SIKHILUXSURF]

Ok but I'm running 70 W RMS x 4 off a pretty damn decent 4 channel Alpine amp under my drivers seat. I seriously doubt you are running 200 W RMS x 4 lol. Sorry but I don't believe you.

good for you. i never said anything about running 200w rms X4 now did i? the rears are not 200w since they are 5 1/4 they are rated for 160w only.

i am actually only running front stage right now in the truck as i am trying to source another MRV-545 to run my rear door components. i am running the MRV-545 i have now bridged and that is how i am able to run 200 w rms.

i have though about running a center stage speaker from alpine as well but though it would be to much over kill in a DD. Plus i would need to buy a JDM center console to use the 1 din speaker.

 

[BrianSD_42]

If you have a MRV-545 then why aren't you just running it in 4 channel at 4 ohms?

That's a pretty powerful amp and 125w RMS (per channel) is way strong enough for components and 5 or 6.5" in the rear.

Personally I don't really hear the rears and I have 6x9. I think you only need components in the front but I'm not saying they would sound bad.

I still think the argument of 6 band EQ vs 9 is bogus and if you have that amp then you are pretty good to go for sound quality. I assume you ran all new speaker wires as well ....

// yes I took your earlier comments as implying that a $1000 unit will sound better than a $300 single DIN (be it my old one or a new one) and I wanted to point out that is not always the case. As Brian mentioned and I see you agree with, most of the cost increase is in very nice features. I also realize technology has improved and most notably the quality of 4 channel amps has improved a good deal in the last 4 years. My amp is about 5 years old so I guess it isn't quite as good but I'm pretty happy as I hear no static even at 23/30 on my Alpine which is screaming ass loud on my setup.

 

[SIKHILUXSURF]

If you have a MRV-545 then why aren't you just running it in 4 channel at 4 ohms?

That's a pretty powerful amp and 125w RMS (per channel) is way strong enough for components and 5 or 6.5" in the rear.

Personally I don't really hear the rears and I have 6x9. I think you only need components in the front but I'm not saying they would sound bad.

I still think the argument of 6 band EQ vs 9 is bogus and if you have that amp then you are pretty good to go for sound quality. I assume you ran all new speaker wires as well ....

// yes I took your earlier comments as implying that a $1000 unit will sound better than a $300 single DIN (be it my old one or a new one) and I wanted to point out that is not always the case. As Brian mentioned and I see you agree with, most of the cost increase is in very nice features. I also realize technology has improved and most notably the quality of 4 channel amps has improved a good deal in the last 4 years. My amp is about 5 years old so I guess it isn't quite as good but I'm pretty happy as I hear no static even at 23/30 on my Alpine which is screaming ass loud on my setup.

the reason why is i am looking into doing an active setup and getting rid of the crossovers. the unit i have now is actually much better than my last unit which was a Avn 726 e it was lacking so much vs. the 910 i have now. the 726e made my speakers sound like they were baffled and held back. the 726e only had a 3 band which to me was weird since the older avn units like the 5435 had a 5 band. the 6 vs 9 band may be marginal to you but for me more tune-ability is always nice to bring out the best in your components. i am going to go check out the 9 band eq soon from my stereo guy.


im pretty loud at 18-21 already on the unit with the current amp and eq settings. but you know how it is you can play a crap audio file that will just sound like shit through the speakers no matter how good a system.

 

[BrianSD_42]

but you know how it is you can play a crap audio file that will just sound like shit through the speakers no matter how good a system.

Yes -- if only more people understood this. I had a friend just a few months ago who did his first new install and called me asking why it still sounds like crap. It turned out his music was crap or at least the recording was crap.

I have a few songs that I know were recorded very well and I try to use those for testing. Queen's Greatest Hits, Tool 10,000 Days, Nine-In-Nails (Trent knows his sh$t) are examples. Unfortunately a lot of mainstream artists release music that was recorded for crap with static right there in the audio track.

 

[rideexileex]

I just bought the pioneer deh-80prs... Gold

 

[Brian757]

I live near Norfolk, which is widely known as a military town. I would see squids and army walk in all of the time with re-enlistment checks and they would blow it all on their sound systems. Now, this sounds silly but it was cool to experience seeing monster systems built and tested.

I distinctly remember sitting in a GMC Envoy that a guy got worked on. He had 2 15" Memphis MOJOS powered with 3000W. He had me sit in the passenger seat and as I looked around his vehicle, dome lights were hanging, panels were missing, switches were gone, etc. He turned it up and Jesus, my heart started synchronizing with his beats.

People in my town are bass-heads. I remember amplifying my speakers, all of my friends told me I was doing it wrong. running that large wire with all (+) & (-) 4 channel speaker wires inside of it. That saved so much damn time. Its basically 8 power wires, (4 speakers x 2 terminals) and they are all sleeved together as one cable. It made tucking much easier. It is practically 0 AWG wiring.

I do notice that all of that info was completely irrelevant to aforementioned posts.

 

[S14]

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.

The OE radio didn't tilt. hwell:

The radio doesn't tilt in my 4runner and I don't notice any glare. But if you must have tilt, I'd recommend buying a good used alpine unit. should be cheap on ebay, CL or DIYMA.com.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Wouldn't the best option for your money (today) be to buy a high quality single din (doesn't have to be Alpine) for about $300 and then also buy a $200 Nexus-7 tablet which has a 90 d/b s-n ratio sound processor onboard and connect it through the aux-in or with an IPAD to connect digitally

Either way you have a awesome system mounted above glare level for only $600 at most. To me this is far superior to any current head unit.

If you have Verizon then tethering is free and you can run maps off wifi at no extra charge.

$1000 - $1400 just isn't worth it, even if it does tilt.

 

[Dutch-Runner '99]

The OE radio didn't tilt. hwell:

The radio doesn't tilt in my 4runner and I don't notice any glare. But if you must have tilt, I'd recommend buying a good used alpine unit. should be cheap on ebay, CL or DIYMA.com.

With most of the aftermarket radio's that I've seen most have the glossy finish over the front which would produce the 'glare' that I'm talking about. And also with the aftermarket radios, the writing is usually small so it's harder to read.

Unfortunately none of the radios that I like are being sold currently on any site... But I'm going to continue the search, I"m not one to give up quick :fencing:. I'm sticking to a single-din radio and no DVD/frilly items added onto it, just Ipod connectivity.