Stereo & Electronics - Head Unit decision...Kenwood vs. Pioneer

Hey guys,

I've narrowed down the HU that I want to the Kenwood X789 and the Pioneer DEH-P7700MP.

Kenwood:

http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2004/113/h113KDCX789-f.jpeg

Pioneer:

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pio/pe/images/portal/cit_3442/150874695DEH-P7700MP_big.jpg

I like the looks of the Pioneer better, but the Kenwood's specs are marginally better. The Kenwood has the graphic motion analyzer deal, which is cool, but not something to necessarily sway my decision. They're about the same price.

Opinions?

between those specific models, DEFINITELY get the Kenwood. see the chart below for the reasons why.....



http://members.cox.net/xunil76/headunits.jpg

Exactly the info I was looking for, thanks!

www.cruthfield.com You can select radios and use it as a Compare tool the same as above. I was looking for the DEH-P860MP to get a Comparison to the KDC-X789, but they don't carry it.

Oh well. Happy Deal Hunting.

cruthfield, or crutchfield? lol :jest: :poke:

Why not compare a pioneer of the same value :confused:

Do you have any recommendations?

You should take a look at the Pioneer DEHP80MP. About $50 more the the kenwood though, but pumps out a little more wattage if your not gonna add a 4 channel amp. Personally I'd go pioneer either way, I've had to many issues with people's kenwood HU's breaking down.

Do not buy anykenwood with the motorized face if you get 1.5 years out of it b4 it breaks you are doing good. I had two of them and they both did the same thing. I went with eclipse after that it has been in several cars over a 4 year period and they never hiccuped once. Not to mention eclipse and a few others out there have a three year warranty. The warranty make it wort it more than anything else.

i've had my motorized-faced kenwood excelon KDC-x815 for 3 years, and have yet to have a problem with it

Every now and then you will get lucky and find one that does last. I had trouble with both of mine and for the price a one year warranty sucks. As long as they work they are a very good unit though. I work at a local audio shop and we quit carrying any of the kenwoods with the motorized face b/c of warranty issues and upset customers. This has just been my experience though.

Over the years I have owned and installed lots of radios. I would say Kenwoods were probably the ones that gave me the most problems in both my own use and in customers cars. I personally have a 6 year old Pioneer deck that I use in my beater and it works great, it was the top of the line at the time though so that also may be another contributing factor.

My personal preference for source units are Alpines. They are the simpliest to use, give you a consistent great level of sound quality, usually not very flashy, and have always had lots of different features and options.

You should take a look at the Pioneer DEHP80MP. About $50 more the the kenwood though, but pumps out a little more wattage if your not gonna add a 4 channel amp. Personally I'd go pioneer either way, I've had to many issues with people's kenwood HU's breaking down.


This is exactly why I dont like kenwood stuff and why I dont recommend them.

What's the general consensus on Sony HUs? I know a lot of people aren't fans of them. I've owned two and loved them, though (both ended up stolen). I never had a problem with CD skipping with them, and that was in their old lineup.

This is the one that caught my eye:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-nxhtHzNcbDZ/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=62700&I=158F7715X

What's the general consensus on Sony HUs? I know a lot of people aren't fans of them. I've owned two and loved them, though (both ended up stolen). I never had a problem with CD skipping with them, and that was in their old lineup.

This is the one that caught my eye:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-nxhtHzNcbDZ/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=62700&I=158F7715X
In my opinion Sony headunits are some of the worst on the market. Their entire car audio line up has always been crap.

...My personal preference for source units are Alpines. They are the simpliest to use, give you a consistent great level of sound quality, usually not very flashy, and have always had lots of different features and options....


i had two Alpine units, and they were awesome......for as long as they worked......

at two years or less on both of them, they both stopped playing CD's.....they would both just take the CD in for about 3 - 4 seconds, then spit it back out. i tried the little red "reset" button behind the faceplate, and every other trick that the local Alpine dealer suggested, and nothing worked. they finally told me that most likely the optics needed to be replaced, and to do so would cost $150. so i said screw that, and just bought a different brand (my current Kenwood), and it has been flawless so far.

but the orignal question in this thread was which should he go with between the Kenwood X789 and the Pioneer DEH-P7700MP. the Kenwood is the superior between those two units.

...I work at a local audio shop...


Soundwaves?

find your self a little higher end pioneer. if u get a premier version they all have 4 volt pre-outs. the only downside to pioneer is if u have tv's u need to buy an auxillary in adapter that was the case at least with the ones from like 2 years ago, they may have changed that by now.

i never had any thing bad to say about pioneer, and thats all i use.

Lol on the Cruthfield....

My 2 brands are Pioneer and Alpine. Pioneer Lower-End is the Bargain Radio. The Best Features for the Money. Alpine starts with little Features, but goes more for the SQ off the Bat.

I like Pioneer. The DEH-P860MP/P8600MP is the one to look for. they sell usually for the Price of the Kenwood, but include a LOT more features and Is Quite a nice radio.

SN is usefull, but unless it is a Comp vehicle or where you listen to Music with the Car off and not running, it is an Arbitrary #. It is hard to Compair Apples to Apples unless they are on the CEA-2006 Compliace system.

Sony is not a Brand I like to deal with too much. Like a couple of people said they easily Break And every Kenwood I have owned that Worked for longer than years are 60 series and older. (7-8 years and older).

What's the general consensus on Sony HUs? I know a lot of people aren't fans of them. I've owned two and loved them, though (both ended up stolen). I never had a problem with CD skipping with them, and that was in their old lineup.

This is the one that caught my eye:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-nxhtHzNcbDZ/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=62700&I=158F7715X



Sonys break and skip alot from my experience.

Sonys break and skip alot from my experience.


yes, Sony makes pretty damn good Home Theater stuff, but most of their car audio stuff is shit, especially the H/U's

yes, Sony makes pretty damn good Home Theater stuff, but most of their car audio stuff is shit, especially the H/U's


Suprisingly, Sony is the Pioneer of Home Stereo. Best Features for the Money.

I have a Sony, but I'll be upgrading shortly after I save up for a Shortblock and the Cash to get out of the Army in 5 Months

I have had Sony, Kenwood, Pioneer, Alpine...

I have a Pioneer 8600MP right now, it is a nice radio. I also have an Alpine CDA-9835 which is the best radio I have ever had. I absolutely love everything about this radio. The extra money this head unit costs is worth it!! I got it off e-bay for close to half what local retailers were asking.

Brian