I'm interested in an awesome indash receiver. It has to play cd's and would be nice to play mp3's. I want it to be above average so it should cost between$500 and $700. nothing much more expensive than that. EQ must be standard and it would be nice to take up both DIN's. Are there any out there?

Kenwood eXcelon Z919. $649 from crutchfield, probably alot less elsewhere. Only one DIN, don't know why you'd want more though.

sony xplod ES CDXM-750 my choice only two more payments and its mine

panasonic CQ-DRX900u -its interesting with the center speaker

Clarion ProAudio DRX9575Rz friend has it it rocks

JVC El Kameleon LX50 -i know i'm gonna hear about this one, but i had it and it wasn't bad w/the voice reco. it rocked

ALPINE CDA7969 THE TOP OF THE F-ing LINE
ALPINE 3DE7887 3 disc in dash - friend has this it not bad

Eclipse 55040 their top of the line
Kenwood eXcelon KDC915/ Pioneer DEH-P9200R both top of the line and both good

Hoped that helped




[This message has been edited by Faraz (edited May 25, 2000).]

Pioneer FH-P8800 is the best. Looks so nice, its Double Din, it has lots of features including EQ. They are $713 at autotoy.com. I got it just 2 weeks ago. I love it so much. I like this new one so much better than my old Premier DEX-P1R.

correction, the 55060 is Eclipse's top of the line. It's loaded, and has 8V preamp outs, 90% of the "high end" heads only have 4V. The 55040 is next in line, it doesn't have some of the features, but still has the 8V outs. YOU MUST HAVE AMPS FOR THESE HEADS!

The 55430 has a built in Pre-amp, so you do not need seperate amps. It only has 5V preouts tho. Whats gonna be in my Scoob come 5pm CST. They have a DIN CD-Changer as well. There is also a double din video unit.

Eclipse heads are some of the BEST on the planet. I'm sorry, but Sony, Panasonic, and Kenwood just don't compare. I've seen/heard heads from all of those companies and the Eclipse was simply the best. Not as "pretty" but the sound was insane. If you're lucky enough to have a dealer near you, take a peek. Check their site. www.eclipse-web.com (http://www.eclipse-web.com)

[This message has been edited by wolve80 (edited May 26, 2000).]

I don't know about best on the planet good but far from the best Wolve80. Eclipse has yet to really improve their head unit's internally other than bumping up the pre-amp voltage. Eclipse does make a pretty good headunit as I used to have one(loved the way it would greet me when I started the car). Eclipses biggest improvement is the VAAN navagation system which seems to be where they want to head. Their old 416 was a great deck and was definetly on the cutting edge with the digital out(which is what car audio will be coming to as mercedes even used alpine's optical digital system components in one of it's car's).
If someone were to say the best of all you would have alot of tough choices but 1 obvious one you can't deny considering how old it is was the Alpine 7909 a now almost 9 year old deck that was way ahead of it's time as far as sound quality still being used today(though most are modified to keep up with all the newer technology). Heck even Sony who made another big break through with the first XES components using digital signal connects showed the way of the future and noise free digital along with Pioneer and their ODR running digital all the way to the amp's. That is literally no real chance for any type of automotive electrical noise to interfere. Eclipse even did it with the 416 and (can't remember the processor) and did very well.
Remember this:
Compare, Compare, Compare
Just be sure to tell us what you find and what you get.
(\/\/)
[___]
.Rich.

If you go with the Pioneer DEH-9200R you can also add Pioneer's 6 disc, in-dash, CD changer www.pioneerelectronics.com (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com)

I have this in-dash changer, and the DEH-7200R. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/biggrin.gif http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/biggrin.gif

Very true Rice, I mean Rich. COMPARE, that is the only way. It's all a matter of taste. Listen to all the ones mentioned, and choose from there. Another reason I like the Eclipse is because of the way they go about anti-theft.

Wolve80 Shhhhhh!!!! it's supposed to be a secret http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/wink.gif I may have to make you Knight of Loose Lips http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/biggrin.gif . LOL
(\/\/)
[___]
.Rice.

Sony CDX-C90. THE best head unit on the market up to date. And I am not talking about McIntosh's and Nakamichi's. Don't know mucho about those. They might have a better deck, but $$$$$$.

I'm sorry our fearless leader, but the Sony ES CDXM750 is the top of the line Sony headunit. It has the Active Black Panel, the c90 does not.

yea, Joel is actually Hebrew for "Doesn't shut up". Really, look it up. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/biggrin.gif http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/biggrin.gif

Joel
The Knight of Nee!

Thousand pardons our merciful one! I shall now go commit Hari-Cari as I feel neither I nor my family can take this dishoner... No really I never even saw that thing. The Stereo shop I work for is high-end too; and I never saw that. Even in the catalog.. i'm gonna go check agian

Hey Alex while were on the topic why is it you could only get the C90 for orbby for $1000. I got mine for @$700 new (I can just see people e-mailing me about this one...).
I don't question Alex as I am running the same deck but I have the XDP-210 EQ and Tosilink Digital cable run between the two.
I had the CDX-C910 and didn't think they could really improve on it and decided to give it a try and boy was I amazed http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/eek.gif !!!
Alot cleaner/smother compared to the 910 and that was just the difference in the radios. McIntosh has great stuff but way too pricey(look at their Highly reguarded Home products) but great quality. Nakamichi has jumped ahead with 24 bit DAC's to lower the noise floor even further but I have yet to hear any of those radio's.
Hey Alex have you used that VC filter (I can't use it running the digital and never had it running analog mode)? Notice a difference?
One last thing my coaxial to optical adaptor is on it's last legs and I am sick of repairing it does the stereo shop you work for have any as I would like another one(that and I don't want to wait 6 months like I had to for the first one).
(\/\/)
[___]
.Rice.

ok, I just got me deck installed, thing kicks ass. Sounds AWESOME. Anyway, I remember a post about the stereo not turning off when the key is off, it appears that the post which said the doors have to be open is true. If my doors are closed, it turns off, open, it stays on until it's closed. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smile.gif

Joel
The Knight of Big Mouth

Rich, I don't know why I could only get the C90 for 1k. I asked my boss for special deal and he gave me 1k. I guess, I asked him for too much "special" deals for myself, hehe.

I am using ZAPCO D/A converter, so no VC filtering fo rme eiher. I am using the SONY Coax-Optical adapter it it seems to be working fine so far. My next minor stereo mod is to get a new optical cable. I heard really good reviews of the new ESOTERIC Home optical cables. $$$, though.

Faraz, I hope you didn't get offended. I was just messing with you. I appologize if I sounded harsh. I am just in love with Sony and know their line very well.

Nah, I was just kidding ... I love sony too! Now come talk home audio then we can talk top of the LINE, and ME .... don't worry it takes ALOT to offend or tick me off .

Hehe, then recommend me a nice mid level Sony Dolby Digial Receiver. I don't want crazy stuff, just something better than my Sony Rack system.

You are wrong. CDX-C90 is the top of the line Sony Mobile ES CD receiver.

SONY ES CDX-M750
http://www.crutchfield.com/pics/sonyheadunits/l158CDXM750_1.jpeg

SONY ES CDX-C90
http://www.crutchfield.com/pics/sony/l158CDXC90-1.jpg

CDX-M750 retails at $429.95
CDX-C90 retails at $1195.95

CDX-C90 Features

SSIR-EX tuner with Adaptive Reception
four 20-bit Burr-Brown D/A converters
Advanced Electronic Shock Protection
Custom File Plus programming (with optional CD changer)
3 sets of 4-volt preamp outputs
DVOL (Direct Volume) function for optimal signal-to-noise
Variable Coefficient (VC) digital filter
copper-plated chassis
separate internal preamp circuit board
wired and wireless remotes included
motorized fold-down panel with full-dot matrix LCD
separate amp(s) required
clock
CD frequency response 5-20,000 Hz
CD signal-to-noise ratio 109 dB
FM sensitivity 8 dBf
2-year warranty.

CDX-M750 Features

Active Black Panel
4-color dot matrix display with spectrum analyzer
SSIR-EXA tuner (18 FM/6 AM presets)
front and rear sets of 4-volt preamp outputs
4-volt subwoofer output (with 2-way crossover)
CD/MD changer/TV controls
HX DSP (includes a 7-band EQ for tailoring sound to vehicle acoustics, Digital Seat Position for optimizing balance, soundstage height and width enhancement, and Dynamic Soundfield Organizer, which combines 3 kinds of processing into 8 presets)
CD Text (with text-encoded discs)
Custom File (w/compatible changer)
phone attenuator
multi-language display (English/Spanish/French)
clock
wireless remote included
19 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels
CD frequency response 10-20,000 Hz
CD signal-to-noise ratio 90 dB
FM sensitivity 8 dBf
2-year warranty

*****

Please, next time you question your Fearsome Leader's statements, do some research. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by Imprezer (edited May 26, 2000).]

can we question our fearsome leader's spelling and UBB ability?

Ok, I'm gonna run away now.
Joel

Is everyone who is named Joel on this board have a big mouth?

I have one of the 50x4 watt premeir head units. Personally, I've been quite happy with it, and the integrated semi-paremetric EQ is an awsome advantage..

Only downside I've had is the unit seems to get quite hot when playing loud for extended periods of time... but that may be the fault of the car's console and ventilation.

If you don't want a seperate amp, I think the pioneer/premier product line is a great buy. If you have the money, I'd go for a seperate deck tho. All things being equal, a 50 watt amp and a 100 watt amp driving the same set of speakers to the same SPL... suffice it to say that the 100watt amp is almost certain to have lower THD. Not to mention you can get 3dB louder if that's yer kinda thing.

PS: home DD gear. Sorry to say Imprez, but the short answer is "don't get a sony." Sony's top of the line stuff is pretty good, but everything else isn't as good as other options. Yamaha and Dennon are 2 very safe bets. You can buy almost anything and rest assured that there was no other product with the same quality and features at the same price. There are some other random deals.. the original Newcastle gear before it was made in taiwan, etc. But yamaha and dennon are the best advice I can give.

I personally have abused a dennon for the last year or so. Still happy with it, it drives everything but my sub.

Sony home audio has been rated in many audio mags and consumer reports the most reliable and highest quality. If you want cheaper and pretty displays buy something else. You want quality buy sony. You need to give a price range and something, for me to recommend. I have an two year old about $400 reciever that needs $100 repair i'll seel ya for $100 or some kind of deal. Or prices on other stuff. Drop me an email or post agian. jason Denon is good also, but doesn't come with the kind of warrenty when you get to the High end.

Imprezer...Two Words....Wilson Audio.
Go look into it.

If you ask me, Eclipse and Alpine are the kings of the well-known brands... as for any that lie in the background (much like the countless hoardes of superb home audio manufacturers), I'm not sure. Nakamichi is supposedly excellent as well, and I know Kenwood's eXcelon line has made drastic improvements in sound quality recently. Very noteworthy.

I had a Pioneer Premier DEH-46 in my Acura up until last year, when I got a wonderful deal on an out-of-the-box Alpine CDA-7940. The Pioneer was amplified, the Alpine is a non-amplified unit. The Alpine is of much greater sound quality (and I love rotary knobs), but the Pioneer was a good deck.
Still is... I let my girlfriend put it in her Cavalier while she's at grad. school. I never had any problems with it.

-S2-

alex, where r u! i been tryin to get a hold of u for past few days =) msg me PLS

p.s. for those of you with a new model eclipse deck.. does their "cd-text ready" actually mean the deck reads cd-text?? or can it only read cd-text from a cd-text changer?