[masraum]

Originally Posted by berettafan

be careful on the reviews. a lot are based on features (crossover points, programming flexibility, etc) and not so much on sound.

Yeah, I generally take most reviews with a barrel full of salt. I figure that between the fake reviews, and the reviews by people that do nothing but complain about everything and the reviews done by any idiot with a keyboard, there are only a small percentage that are worth paying attention to.

I found this link that was interesting.
Best Double Din Car Navigation Systems for 2014 - Car Stereo Reviews & News + Tuning, Wiring, How to Guide's
Apparently, the car stereo chick compares Pioneer, to Alpine to Kenwood.

These units are not perfect. If you’ve had Kenwood radios before, you know what I’m talking about. They pack a lot of features into their radios and it’s easy to get lost in their menus sometimes from something as simple as trying to adjust the bass on your stereo. Once you’ve had a Kenwood eXcelon unit though, you tend to look past the initial user difficulties because you appreciate the excellent sound quality. If sound quality is important to you and you are the type of consumer that can hear and appreciate the subtle differences and nuances between digital to analog convertors among brands, you will appreciate the superior sound quality in this deck. Some customers in my showroom can pick this difference out right away, others can not.


Alpine is easy to use and all about clean lines. What you see is what you get. Many consumers out there will appreciate Alpine’s simplistic design and ease of use. You definitely won’t get lost in any menus on an Alpine stereo or distracted by any bouncy or flashy lights and colors. They’re very straightforward and somewhat subdued. The pages and options are easy to navigate and are relatively responsive compared to some of the more feature packed models mentioned above.

Alpine has created what I lovingly refer to as the non flashy double din navigation units. These models are perfect for consumers that are seeking an upgrade without advertising it. They want a clean and almost OEM fit and finish and it’s evident that Alpine has taken great care designing their user interface. The simple, yet clean look they’ve developed reminds me a bit of Apple’s approach to design and function.