Quality Head Unit for Car Audio System ??

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

Buy a head unit that has the features you need. Also try to buy one that doesn't light up like the Las Vegas strip. That is much more difficult. Alpine has always sounded bright & forward btw . . . I bought a plain-Jane Dual deck but that was 5 years ago or so. I put the $s into the amps & speakers & a lot of effort into the install & car acoustics. 70 mph top down bliss. And I can STILL hear the engine . . .

Ian

Ian - do you know of any headunits that do the D to A conversion in the deck itself - and do a better job than the iPhone I will connect to it?

[onewhippedpuppy]

One question for the audiophiles - if the source is an iPod, would the source be the primary quality constraint?

[RANDY P]

anything that uses a USB input for Ipod (using stock IPOD cable) will do that Weeb.

Especially Kenwood.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

One question for the audiophiles - if the source is an iPod, would the source be the primary quality constraint?

Somewhere there is a test of the 1st gen IPOD freq response VS a CD player. In short, it was found the DA converter in the IPOD is so close it's a non issue.

I guess the 4th Gen IPODS have a Wolfson designed DA converter and that's the one to have. I use a 3rd gen and a 5th gen mini with my Kenwood and they sound great. Of course, you have to have the resolution when you copy the CD maxed out to get the quality but it works well. Kenwood player decodes the IPOD in my present setup.

Noticeably smoother than the Alpine with a cable using the IPOD DA

[willtel]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

anything that uses a USB input for Ipod (using stock IPOD cable) will do that Weeb.

Especially Kenwood.

I don't think so. To get direct access to the Apple data stream from the dock connector the player has to be licensed with Apple and Apple has to grant rights to do it. The DEX-P99RS can do it but only with the Pioneer cable. If you connect it with an Apple cable it uses the DAC in the iPod\iPhone.

Digital Direct of iPod Music
The DEX-P99RS features a high-end first: a direct digital bit pipe from the iPod/iPhone to the DSP and DAC. What does this mean? For the first time, you can use an iPod as source material, without sacrificing sound quality.

The key is using Apple Lossless (ALAC) to "rip" all of your music. The result is identical to the same output from an audio CD - but you can store your entire music library on the iPod, instead of just a single album!"

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by willtel

I don't think so. To get direct access to the Apple data stream from the dock connector the player has to be licensed with Apple and Apple has to grant rights to do it. The DEX-P99RS can do it but only with the Pioneer cable. If you connect it with an Apple cable it uses the DAC in the iPod\iPhone.

According to Crutchfield many units do it- Car Selector

[rusnak]

Blaupunkt units have an earphone input. You just plug the wires in and you're good to go. Just plug that into the iphone.

[greglepore]

The Kenwood I have (an intermediate level excelon that was under $200) does it. I convert to flac exclusively and run the golden ear app. Sounds very crisp. Not likely an issue w/ low bitrate mp3's. It only does it plugged in though, not with a bluetooth stream.

[Chocaholic]

Quote de Chocaholic

It's all made in China out of the same parts bin. There will be little to no difference in sound quality with same settings

Yup. Just like there is no difference between an F-150 and a Corvette, all made in the same place with the same stuff.

Great analogy there Willie. A $70k car vs a 35k truck. Nailed it. How about a Taurus vs a Malibu? Or Camaro vs Firebird for us older folks.

As stated, in a similar price point (under $200), the differences will be in features, not audio. Speakers, sound deadening, etc will affect sound more than comparably priced head units. They're all pretty good today, so get what you would prefer to live with in looks and features.

[willtel]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

According to Crutchfield many units do it- Car Selector

It seems so! The info I was looking at was from when the Pioneer I have was released so it looks like much has changed in 3+ years.

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Great analogy there Willie. A $70k car vs a 35k truck. Nailed it. How about a Taurus vs a Malibu?

As stated, in a similar price point (under $200), the differences will be in features, not audio. Speakers, sound deadening, etc will affect sound more than comparably priced head units. They're all pretty good today, so get what you would prefer to live with in looks and features.

When you paint with a broad brush you're likely to miss a few spots. The fact of the matter is that not all head units are made in China with the same parts. The Pioneer in my BMW and the Denon in my 930 were both manufactured in Japan. That must be a big parts bin.

[Chocaholic]

And how old are those?

[willtel]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

And how old are those?

The Pioneer is a current product, the Denon was made in 2009.

[RANDY P]

That pioneer P99RS is cutting edge. I'd love one but may need to settle for the PRS 80.

Weeb- get yourself some old HiFonics amps like a Zeus and 4x 15" subs for your van. You'll be hip.

[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.

[RWebb]

thx for all the advice, everyone - I will be using a separate amp on this

one comment I read said the the PRS 80 was not nearly as nice as the P99RS

$1,200 does seem a bit steep, however...

unfortunately, there is no way I can listen to any of units with good speakers - I can listen to some Alpine units in one store here but with their speakers, their "listening room - it's almost all glass walled - etc.

[imcarthur]

And listening in a store won't tell you much. A car's acoustics are unique. Uniquely poor.

I am glad that I have never sold 12v audio. I remember at one CES years ago getting a flyer under my door advertising car stereos for $6.49 . . .

Ian

[RWebb]

nontheless I'm interested in hearing anything your contacts, colleagues, or fellow-travelers have to say on the matter...

one thing about car audio - the synesthesia of driving thru a beautiful landscape in a fun sports car while listening to your favorite music (or even her favorite music) with the right passenger on a sunny spring day cannot be duplicated in the house's listening room

[imcarthur]

I only have 2 car audio dealers in my whole dealer network & I don't know either of them well enough to really trust their judgement. I will ask however.

And I know about cruisin' with tunes. That's why I needed something that I could hear top down at speed. 600 watts with the twin Focal 8" drivers gives me the thump I wanted & the door components give me enough detail. I do turn it down in the city cause I don't want to look/sound too ghetto.

Ian

[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

While I have the DEX-P99RS I don't use the EQ or time alignment features it offers. I didn't plan it that way, I was going to keep my factory head unit and run the signal it provided to a JBL MS-8 signal processor which does time alignment, and a 31 band EQ with Logic 7 processing. During the install of the MS-8 someone broke into my car and stole the MS-8 display (useless without the processor that they left behind) and JBL couldn't provide me with the replacement parts I needed so I bought the Pioneer. Later on I located a used MS-8 display so I ended up with both.

Currently my Pioneer passes a full range signal to the MS-8 and it does all the processing before sending it's signal to the Soundstream amplifiers. I have a 6.5" separate set in the front doors, a 10" JBL sub, and a DIN sized center channel to get full functionality of the Logic 7 processing.

The MS-8 is excellent and the car sounds great while offering loads of adjustability. As Jim mentioned car acoustics are poor but the MS-8 does a good job masking many of the issues. My commute is long and the car is the one place I'm alone most often so I can crank it up without disturbing anyone, that doesn't happen often at home.

[motion]

Can any of you car audio Einsteins recommend good door speakers for my 993 Cab? I have a decent Alpine head unit and a JL Audio amp. No idea of model numbers, sorry. I purchased these about 8 years ago, with door speakers for something around $1500. 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. So, I believe I need 5 1/4" main drivers, 1" tweeters and a crossover. I am open to a new head unit, if that's a good idea. The Pioneer PRS80 looks nice. Any input? And apologies to the OP for stepping on your toes a bit here