I have a JVC Exad and it is the best I have ever had!! Highly recomend it

 

I agree with ya 200%

 

5v won't make a difference.

http://www.caraudioforum.com/vbb3/index.php

 

Alpine 3148.44%
Pioneer 1625.00%

 

That's a lie.

Show me the results from IASCA that proves every SQ winner used an Alpine deck.

 

thanks again Kages, thats a good site.
Im gonna order the alpine 9885 as soon as my money transfers to paypal.

 

 

I would have agreed with you on Alpine up until last year. Alpine decks like my 9855 have very flexible built in processing, with a 3 way active crossover network, adjustable slopes, 5 band parametric eq and time alignment. In fact, I used my 2002 Buick Regal as a competition car last year, and won a large regional show in South Carolina using no outboard EQ or processors, only used the head unit's built in features. And even thought the 9855 was one of the upper end decks, these same processing features were available on several lower model alpine decks as well.

Now, the current models offer no built in eq or processing, not even the top model 9885. Reason being, is Alpine has created an add-on digital processor, that is infact very good, and very popular on the competition scene. But at about 600 bucks, the average guy who just wants a nice sounding system is not going to want to spend that, on top of what he spent for a head unit.

If you are a serious SQ nut and you are adding outboard processing anyway, Alpine is still a worthy candidate, as all you need from a deck at that point is reliability, ease of use, and cosmetics. But if you are looking for upgraded sound, and don't want to add other processors, eqs, crossovers, etc .. then Alpine has nothing for you anymore. The best value, imo, for that market is the Pioneer 880PRS. Nice deck, with built in crossover, time alignment, and independant left and right 13 band EQ (to my knowledge, it's the first deck to offer independant EQ built in, at least at this price point).

As for the competitors, yes, Alpine is popular, but I think you may start to see that go down as Alpine is starting to tone down their product line, while others are catching up. But up until a year ago, the Pioneer P9 system dominated the competition circuit.

I like Alpine, I just wish that they would not take a step back on the head units like they did this year.

 

I'm picking up an Alpine 9885 later today. It was a toss up between that and the 9883. I went with Alpine because i can get a good deal and it has all the features I need. It seems like it is a good foundation to start building a decent stereo. I couldn't wait for the CDA-9887.

 

Good choice!!!!!!!!!

 

I agree that they went away from their traditional sq roll last year, but I talked to the local representative for Alpine and asked him what they were thinking.

He stated that people just don't care about the sound quality anymore and are all in it for looks. So when Alpine started making head-units in 2006 they had ALOT of people complaining. He said that they are now going back to the original strategy of making good sq decks. Apline promissed him that the 2007 decks are going to be great decks, like their pdx amplifiers.

I guess I'm just picky upon they way things sound and the quality. I could care less if they rotated the display and had cars driving on them... I'm not here for the show.

I had a pair of Focal Utopia 6" 5 1/4" and tweet with a Xtant 1001.1 (the ones before they were bought out) and 604.4 with an older alpine deck running 3 xtant 10'' X Series subs... and let me tell you, It was amazing.. to bad it was all stollen... ... ...

Alpine better come back.. or I'll bomb them LOL


And just in my opinion, I believe if you get the right components for your stereo, good RCAs.. power cable.. and all, that you won't need a sound processor. The crossovers on the speakers and amplifiers should do enough to make it sound great.

My $.02

 

I agree with ya and that's my $.o1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

when I say processor, I don't mean things like fancy jazz club dsp effects, and other gimmicks, I use it as a generic term for a EQ, Crossover, Time Alignment, and Phaze adjustment if available. And yes, no matter how good your components are, you need it. Why, because no matter how good your equipment is, you are installing it in a car, which will completely alter the frequency response of your system. That is why systems like the P9, the Alpine 701 and F1 processors, the Rockford 360, and soon, the JBL MS-8 are all the rage on the comp circuit right now. The ability to digitally adjust all aspects of your system from one interface is really sweet!

I've been using an early prototype of the JBL MS-8, and I could actually change the phase of a paticular band of frequencies, which helps with correcting imaging problems for both driver and passenger side, as opposed to time alignment which makes one side worse as the other side gets better.

 

I agree with U. That's why i tell people to buy ALPINE HU's from few yrs back. Their definitely need to bring it back full force and they are.
All mine have
2-line color display with spectrum analyzer
MaxTune SQ tuner
Bass Engine Pro (5-band parametric EQ, 6-channel digital time correction, 6-position crossover with variable slope, plus subwoofer phase and level controls)
Media Xpander i-Personalize — create customized Bass Engine setups and text greetings
4-volt front, rear, and subwoofer preamp outputs
CD signal-to-noise ratio 105 dB

 

you2slo let me know how you like the headunit.
It kinda sucks they dont have the eq but i guess i can always upgrade later.

 

Well now ive decided to get an amp first and then a headunit, since i already have a jvc headunit and polk speakers. Im gonna get a 5channel Hifonics ampZXI8006.

 

I voted other...My factory MONSOON system is adequate for normal listening.

 

True for most people - either way though, the poll was asking about the "best quality" HU....even those that are happy with Monsoon certainly know that it is far from the best quality HU.

 

Alpine does make a good deck but when they swithced from best buy from circuit city they changed the qaulity of parts the put into theirs for mass production. Eclipse is a great deck but does cost a few more dollars but in a side by side comparison you can notice the different of the sound quality of an eclipse to any other radio.

 

x1000