Best bang for the buck in head units

TampaWRX · 08-02-2004, 03:18 PM

I'm looking around for a standard DIN head unit. I have very little experience with car audio, as it is usually my last concern, but I need to get rid of the double DIN I've got now in order to make room for some other electronic goodies. Here are the three I've been looking at lately:

Pioneer Premier
DEH-860MP
DEH-P8MP
Clarion DXZ945MP

The Clarion is the most expensive, but seems pretty appealing and feature rich. I've always liked Pioneer's Premier line and both seem pretty nice.

Is there something else in this price range worth looking at instead? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

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mordy_2v · 08-02-2004, 07:11 PM

list more of your requirements, what do you want to add to the system? any extra gadgets? mp3 and wma? XM ready?

most will recomend alpine, and your feature needs are the determining factor with which one. Pioneer Premier is also good. The 860MP is pretty killer for about any application.

OneManArmy · 08-02-2004, 07:25 PM

alpine 7995 if you can still find one. Great sounding great basic HU...needs an amp though. But it's my favorite head unit that I've had...and I've had like 6.

TampaWRX · 08-02-2004, 07:59 PM

Really leaning toward the 860MP. Not planning on building a serious system...too much weight...but want a good, quality head unit with some bells and whistles.

Will have to look into the Alpine as well.

Siper2 · 08-02-2004, 10:02 PM

No, DEFINITELY look in to Alpine.

I firmly believe that Alpine, Eclipse and Kenwood eXcelon are the best HU manufacturers out there.

Clarion is very good, but I've always found them to be too "gadgety" I guess. Pioneer Premier, well I owned an older model of theirs, and liked it very much. Actually had an alarm feature for the car, called DFS I think. (I never used it, though.) Great FM reception, definitely good "bang for the buck."

(That very same HU, a Premier DEH-46, now resides in my wife's '95 Legacy. Runs great, but the display's starting to get weak. Not too bad.... it's been in four different cars over a seven-year span!!!)

Eclipse is utterly amazing, but very expensive, even comparably speaking, with their lower-end models. Alpine isn't cheap either, but they're more reasonable than Eclipse, and they actually do have a few models that are in the $100 range. I just think that Alpine's sound quality blows away 90% of the competition, even their lower-end models compared with others' mid-to-high end stuff.

Kenwood finally got serious a few years ago with eXcelon. I don't think anyone expected it, but they really did well for themselves. They're nice units, that are great-looking, but.... eh.... Maybe I'm just partial.

I have an Alpine CDA-7940 (passive CD tuner), like a 1998 model. It's been in two cars now, and after five years it's still strong as ever. The only thing I don't like about Alpine is their website. It's gotten better, but it's still not very helpful or comprehensive.

=S2=

pittymk · 08-03-2004, 11:48 AM

go to www.crutchfield.com to get a full review of the majority of the major brands. i just picked up a nice Clarion discounted from them with a crap load of features

Thumper23 · 08-03-2004, 11:52 AM

I got an Eclipse HU in my STi and its amazing

LatentWagen · 08-03-2004, 12:34 PM

i second eclipse... theyre nice for the money. the jbls actually arent that bad either.

TnTWRX · 08-03-2004, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnite_wrex

i second eclipse... theyre nice for the money. the jbls actually arent that bad either.

Another vote for Eclipse's quality here....I have an 8443 and i live it, but it is expensive.

Alpine is an awesome product for the money. So for the money...Alpine all the way.

TampaWRX · 08-03-2004, 09:34 PM

I would love to spend the money on an Eclipse head, but my needs just do not justify the high end capabilities. I like the Alpines, had an Alpine deck for YEARS that was fantastic, but I think I'm going to go with one of the Pioneers, as I can get a really good deal on them right now. Thanks for the input all!

08-02-2004, 03:18 PM	#1
TampaWRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 11854 Join Date: Nov 2001 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Floriduh Vehicle: 2018 Beloved Bugeye+ Formerly WRB, now ISM	Best bang for the buck in head units I'm looking around for a standard DIN head unit. I have very little experience with car audio, as it is usually my last concern, but I need to get rid of the double DIN I've got now in order to make room for some other electronic goodies. Here are the three I've been looking at lately: Pioneer Premier DEH-860MP DEH-P8MP Clarion DXZ945MP The Clarion is the most expensive, but seems pretty appealing and feature rich. I've always liked Pioneer's Premier line and both seem pretty nice. Is there something else in this price range worth looking at instead? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks! * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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08-02-2004, 07:11 PM	#2
mordy_2v Scooby Specialist Member#: 3381 Join Date: Dec 2000 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Pornocopia Vehicle: 2011 Sah nah tah dark	list more of your requirements, what do you want to add to the system? any extra gadgets? mp3 and wma? XM ready? most will recomend alpine, and your feature needs are the determining factor with which one. Pioneer Premier is also good. The 860MP is pretty killer for about any application.

08-02-2004, 07:25 PM	#3
OneManArmy Scooby Specialist Member#: 36154 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Santa Cruz County Vehicle: 2004 WRX Wagon White	alpine 7995 if you can still find one. Great sounding great basic HU...needs an amp though. But it's my favorite head unit that I've had...and I've had like 6.

08-02-2004, 07:59 PM	#4
TampaWRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 11854 Join Date: Nov 2001 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Floriduh Vehicle: 2018 Beloved Bugeye+ Formerly WRB, now ISM	Really leaning toward the 860MP. Not planning on building a serious system...too much weight...but want a good, quality head unit with some bells and whistles. Will have to look into the Alpine as well.

08-02-2004, 10:02 PM	#5
Siper2 Scooby Guru Member#: 1134 Join Date: Mar 2000 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Mechanicsburg, PA Vehicle: 2015 Outback H-6 White	No, DEFINITELY look in to Alpine. I firmly believe that Alpine, Eclipse and Kenwood eXcelon are the best HU manufacturers out there. Clarion is very good, but I've always found them to be too "gadgety" I guess. Pioneer Premier, well I owned an older model of theirs, and liked it very much. Actually had an alarm feature for the car, called DFS I think. (I never used it, though.) Great FM reception, definitely good "bang for the buck." (That very same HU, a Premier DEH-46, now resides in my wife's '95 Legacy. Runs great, but the display's starting to get weak. Not too bad.... it's been in four different cars over a seven-year span!!!) Eclipse is utterly amazing, but very expensive, even comparably speaking, with their lower-end models. Alpine isn't cheap either, but they're more reasonable than Eclipse, and they actually do have a few models that are in the $100 range. I just think that Alpine's sound quality blows away 90% of the competition, even their lower-end models compared with others' mid-to-high end stuff. Kenwood finally got serious a few years ago with eXcelon. I don't think anyone expected it, but they really did well for themselves. They're nice units, that are great-looking, but.... eh.... Maybe I'm just partial. I have an Alpine CDA-7940 (passive CD tuner), like a 1998 model. It's been in two cars now, and after five years it's still strong as ever. The only thing I don't like about Alpine is their website. It's gotten better, but it's still not very helpful or comprehensive. =S2=

08-03-2004, 11:48 AM	#6
pittymk Scooby Newbie Member#: 53006 Join Date: Jan 2004 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: NH Vehicle: 0807 Forester / B9 WRB / Black	go to www.crutchfield.com to get a full review of the majority of the major brands. i just picked up a nice Clarion discounted from them with a crap load of features

08-03-2004, 11:52 AM	#7
Thumper23 Scooby Specialist Member#: 11571 Join Date: Oct 2001 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Park City, UT	I got an Eclipse HU in my STi and its amazing

08-03-2004, 12:34 PM	#8
LatentWagen Scooby Guru Member#: 50315 Join Date: Dec 2003 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: New York Vehicle: 0806 LGTspecB & Saab 9-2xAero5MT DGM & MBP	i second eclipse... theyre nice for the money. the jbls actually arent that bad either.

08-03-2004, 09:34 PM	#10
TampaWRX Scooby Specialist Member#: 11854 Join Date: Nov 2001 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Floriduh Vehicle: 2018 Beloved Bugeye+ Formerly WRB, now ISM	I would love to spend the money on an Eclipse head, but my needs just do not justify the high end capabilities. I like the Alpines, had an Alpine deck for YEARS that was fantastic, but I think I'm going to go with one of the Pioneers, as I can get a really good deal on them right now. Thanks for the input all!