Quality Head Unit for Car Audio System ??

[RWebb]

no problem, motion - I am partial to Focal speakers -- ever since I found out that French co. made the tweeters in all the nice boxes I listened to...

Focal has a range of car audio speakers, so don't be afraid -- no matter how much money you want to blow, they can take of you.

[RANDY P]

a ****load of power fixes a lot of top down problems. that and a decent custom built sub up front. A single 10" with lots of wattage. I run the ENTRY LEVEL polks DXI seps in one vehicle and the DB seps in the Benz, with 100W RMS per corner and believe me, it works. No need for snobby french (or german) speakers. I've had everything from these to top of the line MB Quarts (back when they were german) and they all are good. Every driver is maxed out on power, and it plays over anything.

Just buy something quality that you like, and almost overpower them.

rjp

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by JR Indy

I just picked up an E28 and trying to decide between the x997 and the pioneer 80prs. My M3 has the x996 and I'm happy with it. I'm not seeing what would pull me towards the pioneer.

They both can x-over tweeters separately so if you bi-amp your fronts no need for extra xover. Pioneer has self-tune (most say it sucks) and separate L/R 16 band EQ that the Kenwood doesn't. Kenwood is an absolute killer at that price, I think it's the ONLY receiver of that caliber in that price range. Never tried a JVC and I'm scared to.

Pioneer has better display, I'll bet. If you have an x996 (I have a BT948HD and an x794) you know the display is all shiny and a PITA in the sunlight.

If you are like me that Pioneer will keep you tweaking and fiddling until the next millennium.

PS- Alpine as of 2013 quit making true high end decks, no more DSP or any of that- they are focusing on OEM. Only players left are Pioneer, JVC and Kenwood. Sony, maybe.

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by motion

The door speakers are Focals installed in RSR door panels, but the sound is worse than an AM radio in a 1975 Ford truck. I am tossing the RSR door panels and going with 993 stock premium sound door panels.

Your problem isn't the head unit (although it might be bright) & probably isn't the door speakers (unless you have blown them). It's the installation & the lack of a subwoofer. A car door is a horrible speaker cabinet. It should be treated with a good deadening compound & filled with acoustical foam or similar. But a 5 1/4 driver will only realistically go down to 80Hz or so. You need a subwoofer (s) & a whole lot of power to get the grunt. There is no compromise.

Ian

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

Your problem isn't the head unit (although it might be bright) & probably isn't the door speakers (unless you have blown them). It's the installation & the lack of a subwoofer. A car door is a horrible speaker cabinet. It should be treated with a good deadening compound & filled with acoustical foam or similar. But a 5 1/4 driver will only realistically go down to 80Hz or so. You need a subwoofer (s) & a whole lot of power to get the grunt. There is no compromise.

Ian

Absolutely. This is what I have been saying for years.

[motion]

Thanks.... I figured that's what the issue was. I bought one of these powered subwoofers a few years ago but haven't installed it yet. The plan was to put it in the floor space in the back seat. Junk or will do the job?

Kenwood KSC-SW1 Powered enclosed subwoofer at Crutchfield.com

[willtel]

Originally Posted by motion

Thanks.... I figured that's what the issue was. I bought one of these powered subwoofers a few years ago but haven't installed it yet. The plan was to put it in the floor space in the back seat. Junk or will do the job?

Kenwood KSC-SW1 Powered enclosed subwoofer at Crutchfield.com

It will be better than nothing but don't expect it to rattle the mirrors.

I built a fiberglass enclosure for a low profile 10" in my 930.

IMG_8185 by willtel, on Flickr


IMG_8214 by willtel, on Flickr

[motion]

That's similar to the setup I had in my '84 Cab. The previous owner spent $5K in 1990 money building a system with a custom fiberglass rear seat bottom enclosure and dual 12" subs. It was insane! Gorgeous interior on your car.

[RWebb]

"Sorry, the Kenwood Excelon KDC-X996 is discontinued."

[imcarthur]

Originally Posted by willtel

And a real woofer in a real enclosure is the only way.

Ian

[JR Indy]

Originally Posted by RWebb

"Sorry, the Kenwood Excelon KDC-X996 is discontinued."

X997 replaced it.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Willtell I love your custom box, even though one of my kids would quickly sit in the back seat and kick out that woofer.

[dyusem]

Originally Posted by willtel

Here is some good info on quality head units. Most of the units mentioned are no longer made and somewhat featureless compared to new ones.

Best Head Unit-Sound Quality - DIYMA Car Audio Forum

Thanks for providing this link!

I'm in the process of choosing a new HU for my '80SC Targa and I thought that I narrowed the list down to the following units but after reading the thread (that you posted) I'm scratching my head once again wondering WTF to do:

Pioneer DEH-80PRS - $349.99
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_13080PRS/Pioneer-DEH-80PRS.html

Kenwood Excelon KDC-X997 - $259.99
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KDCX997/Kenwood-Excelon-KDC-X997.html

Alpine CDE-HD149BT - $299.99
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500HD149BT/Alpine-CDE-HD149BT.html

It may be possible to locate a place to listen to these units but difficult to accomplish.

I currently have an old Alpine 7298 that has lasted forever powering MB Quart speakers which I may or may not change.

I listen to all kinds of music and will crank it up when the top is off on the highway. I know that fidelity is very subjective but if someone can give me some comfort that these units will be a good basis for updating my system, I'd be super grateful.

Cheers!

[RWebb]

if you find anything on that thread that is still available, post it

[RANDY P]

x996 shows up on ebay under $200 all day long NIB.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by JR Indy

X997 replaced it.

Pretty sure that is what I'm installing in my Miata (still sitting on the workbench)

[911boost]

Willtel that interior is freaking awesome! I love the red, my 86 was a can can interior...

Bill