Alright... I have updated my list of HUs. Most likely I will get one of the following:
Rockford Fosgate RFX-9320 * $229.00 (OnlineCarStereo.com) * $261.47 (theZEB)
Alpine CDA-9831 * $302.90 (Wholesale Matrix) * $304.99 (Etronics) * $311.95 (Ikesound)
Pioneer DEH-P8600MP * $338.74 (Gopcplus) * $367.95 (Ike Sound)
Now... can anyone tell me which one is the better quality HU with the best features? (in your opinion)
Thanks in advance.
~Soul Karver
Replies (15)
aposynthesi on 07/7/2004 14:36:36
If you like graphic displays, go with the Pioneer.
Alpine makes high quality head units, I would suggest going with the higher model than the 9831 though, since it has a RMS of 18, while the 9833 has a RMS of 26, putting out much better sound.
The Rockford Fosgate HU is pretty cheap - has a 40W x 4 @ 4ohms peak, which isn't very good compared to the others, the amp outputs are pretty nice though - 5, while the others are 4.
If you choose not to go with Alpines 9831/9833, the Pioneer would be your best bet.
uochronos on 07/7/2004 15:53:45
the pioneer you mentioned is just a standard pioneer i belive and not a premier just so you know they have a bit less rms power then the premier along with not haveing as good of options.
usualy if you shop them you can get a premier for less then 350$
i got my deh p640 premier from a actual store here for only 250$ so online that same model shoped well would have been even less most likly
soul_karver on 07/8/2004 15:41:54
Hmm I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with Alpine.
The reason that I didn't choose the Alpine 9833 is because of the V-Drive thing... I didn't know enough about it I suppose and I didn't want to pay a bunch extra to get a huge wiring kit.
What exactly do you do different with the 9833... do you just hook up a 8-10 guage power cable to the unit and run it to the battery and a 8-10 guage ground cable to a nearby piece of the frame -- nothing else? Can i use the rest of my factory 16/18 guage HU wires (for the speakers, ignition/acc, illumination, etc.)?
Is that the only difference in complexity?
Your help is much appreciated!
aposynthesi on 07/9/2004 01:05:05
I have a 9835 - and I used my stock wiring with that, since my power and ground were already 12 gauge. I doubt 26w rms would need anything more than that.
alanjlamore on 07/9/2004 13:04:03
Just a quick FYI, the RMS rating of the HU only matters if you're using the speaker level outputs and are hooking directly to the speakers from the HU.
The voltage of the pre-amp outputs are what effect the quality of the signal if you're going from the HU, to an amp, to speakers.
Just something to think about. I remember having this same type of discussion before. :)
aposynthesi on 07/9/2004 13:18:20
Oh yeah. I forgot to say that... or else it wouldn't have made sense.
soul_karver on 07/9/2004 13:22:01
aposynthesi: well my stock power and ground wires are definitely not 12 guage or even 14 guage (my guess is that they are 16)... so i would definitely have to upgrade my wiring if i got the 9833...
alanjlamore: i know :) ... i am going to be using my hu's amp for my 4 aftermarket midrange speakers (thus the reason i'm thinking of getting the 9833)
i think it would be worth it though to get the 9833... too bad i already bought a brand new 9831 though... now i'll have to sell it so i can get the 9833... :(
swez on 07/11/2004 08:50:39
Can't go wrong with Pioneer Premier and midrange to upper end of Pioneer lines in HU's. Clarion Pro is also a good HU along with Kenwood Excelon series.
The V-Drive Alpines have a special power supply circuit that kicks up the output from the internal amps. These offer 25-27 watts RMS per channel @ 4 ohms instead of the typical 18-22 you find on most HU's.
However, if you do get a V-drive, only need a single #10 wire from HU to BAT. The rest of the wiring is small gage stuff. You could ues a #12 gage ground to floor pan or fire wall too.
Is there a big difference in output between say 18 and 26 RMS? Maybe +1.5 dB more sound per channel is all. If you really want more power to your interior speakers, an outboard amp is where to put your money. The HU features are the key things to consider when buying a HU. As long as it has RCA outs for mid/highs & subs, no pressing need to spend too much on HU amplification. DSP, EQ, Preamp inputs are all nice extras if you want them. The rest of the toys you like, are up to you. It's really one of personal preferences and price.
Swez
soul_karver on 07/12/2004 23:08:07
Swez: Thanks for the help man!! You really do give the best help available anywhere!
I still am not quite sure whether to stick with the 9831 or get the 9833 though... anyway... here is where i stand:
Reasons For 9833
=============================
-i am not planning on getting an external amp for my interior speakers for at least a year
-higher RMS and more features
-i already have the wire required to hook up the 9833's amp (it's extra wire i have lying around)
-the display looks a little better (i can't really tell if it does)
Reasons Against 9833
=============================
-i already have the 9831
-it will cost about $30 more
-it will take more time to hook up
-i would have the get an inline fuse holder and fuse
-i'm afraid that the features won't be much better than the 9831
-i'm afraid that the sound quality won't be much better than the 9831
Feature list (9831 v. 9833)
=============================
*18wx4 RMS v. 26wx4 RMS
*4-band EQ v. 5-band EQ
*3-Position 12dB/Octave Crossover v. 6-Position Digital Crossover
*4-Channel Digital Time Correction v. 6-Channel Digital Time Correction
Thanks if you reply... I'm hoping in one more day I will have this decided for good! :)
~Soul Karver
aposynthesi on 07/13/2004 00:37:26
There was a noticable difference between the 18w JVC HU and then 9835 that I got... the speakers weren't as distorted when they reached high volumes, which is probably ~ 105dB +/- 1 or 2dB, with the HU only.
================================
Bass Engine Pro (Internal Sound Processor)
The 9833 has Bass Engine Pro, letting you control your amplifiers from your subwoofer.
With Alpine HU's, you won't really need an equalizer - I use it on flat and everything that I play is fine without tuning anything... unless you want more SPL at lower volumes.
Will you have 6 speakers (incl. subwoofers) in your car? (Digital Time Correction). It also has a 6-position hp/lp crossover.
================================
Bass Engine Plus (Internal Sound Processor)
Bass Engine Plus has a 4-band equalizer, 4-channel time correction, 4-position hp/lp crossover and no controls for the amplifiers.
================================
How much will the upgrade to the 9833 from the 9831 cost you, including wiring, and the fuses... is Bass Engine Pro and an extra 8w per channel rms worth it to you? If you're not going to get an external amp for a while, I'd recommend the 9833.
Sean
soul_karver on 07/13/2004 22:05:46
Thanks for the reply aposynthesi! Yes the 8w more rms seems worth it to me but I'm not very knowledgeable about that. Yes I will have 6 speakers in my car (4 midrange/high speakers and 2 subwoofers) but im not sure i will even use the digital time correction as i have never had that option before. As for the cost to upgrade to the 9833, it will only be about $30 more total if I purchase it from Wholesale Matrix (http://thewholesalematrix.zoovy.com). I'm not sure if they will rip me off though because I haven't heard of anybody I know purchasing from them.
Oh, also, I have updated my reasons lists as follows:
Reasons For 9833
=============================
-i am not planning on getting an external amp for my interior speakers for a long time (if at all)
-it has higher RMS and a little better features
-i already have the wire required to hook up the 9833's amp (it's extra wire i have lying around)
-the display looks a little better (i can't really tell if it does)
Reasons Against 9833
=============================
-i already have the 9831 (it's not opened though)
-it will cost about $30 more total at Wholesale Matrix (http://thewholesalematrix.zoovy.com)
-i'm afraid that the features won't be much better than the 9831
-i'm afraid that the sound quality won't be much better than the 9831
Thanks to anybody if you can help!
~Soul Karver
aposynthesi on 07/13/2004 23:16:41
I actually got my 9835 from there... it works amazingly, and their customer service is very good too.
The features of bass engine pro are much better that the ones of bass engine plus in my opinion... if your going without an amplifier for ~ a year, then this will be the one for you.
The 9833 will put out a higher volume with a higher sound pressure level while maintaining perfect clarity, which is why I like Alpine HU's.
soul_karver on 07/15/2004 00:04:27
Thank you VERY much aposynthesi!!
OK So I will get the 9833 from Wholesale Matrix. Now the only problem is that I have to sell my (unopened) 9831. Do you think that you can help me sell it for at least $315 or can you direct me to any place that can help me do that? I could sell it on Ebay but I have never used it before and don't know much about it (or how to get at least $315 from it). Thanks if you can help! (I swear this will be the last time for a while! :) )
aposynthesi on 07/15/2004 00:14:49
You're welcome.
Sell it as a Buy-it-Now item... setting a price at approximately $280, then when it comes time to put the shipping price it, put however much it cost you to get it shipped from the wholesale matrix... you won't be able to mark up any since there are others on ebay selling for cheaper than $315. Most 9831's are going for $300 -$310 total on eBay.
Instead of going through this hassle for an extra $2, I would recommend returning it to the company and ask them to pay the return shipping.
I can't sell it under my name for legal reasons... otherwise I would.
soul_karver on 07/15/2004 11:27:51
Alright -- looks like I got it all figured out now! Thanks for all the help!
Rockford Fosgate RFX-9320 * $229.00 (OnlineCarStereo.com) * $261.47 (theZEB)
Alpine CDA-9831 * $302.90 (Wholesale Matrix) * $304.99 (Etronics) * $311.95 (Ikesound)
Pioneer DEH-P8600MP * $338.74 (Gopcplus) * $367.95 (Ike Sound)
Now... can anyone tell me which one is the better quality HU with the best features? (in your opinion)
Thanks in advance.
~Soul Karver
Replies (15)
aposynthesi on 07/7/2004 14:36:36
If you like graphic displays, go with the Pioneer.
Alpine makes high quality head units, I would suggest going with the higher model than the 9831 though, since it has a RMS of 18, while the 9833 has a RMS of 26, putting out much better sound.
The Rockford Fosgate HU is pretty cheap - has a 40W x 4 @ 4ohms peak, which isn't very good compared to the others, the amp outputs are pretty nice though - 5, while the others are 4.
If you choose not to go with Alpines 9831/9833, the Pioneer would be your best bet.
uochronos on 07/7/2004 15:53:45
the pioneer you mentioned is just a standard pioneer i belive and not a premier just so you know they have a bit less rms power then the premier along with not haveing as good of options.
usualy if you shop them you can get a premier for less then 350$
i got my deh p640 premier from a actual store here for only 250$ so online that same model shoped well would have been even less most likly
soul_karver on 07/8/2004 15:41:54
Hmm I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with Alpine.
The reason that I didn't choose the Alpine 9833 is because of the V-Drive thing... I didn't know enough about it I suppose and I didn't want to pay a bunch extra to get a huge wiring kit.
What exactly do you do different with the 9833... do you just hook up a 8-10 guage power cable to the unit and run it to the battery and a 8-10 guage ground cable to a nearby piece of the frame -- nothing else? Can i use the rest of my factory 16/18 guage HU wires (for the speakers, ignition/acc, illumination, etc.)?
Is that the only difference in complexity?
Your help is much appreciated!
aposynthesi on 07/9/2004 01:05:05
I have a 9835 - and I used my stock wiring with that, since my power and ground were already 12 gauge. I doubt 26w rms would need anything more than that.
alanjlamore on 07/9/2004 13:04:03
Just a quick FYI, the RMS rating of the HU only matters if you're using the speaker level outputs and are hooking directly to the speakers from the HU.
The voltage of the pre-amp outputs are what effect the quality of the signal if you're going from the HU, to an amp, to speakers.
Just something to think about. I remember having this same type of discussion before. :)
aposynthesi on 07/9/2004 13:18:20
Oh yeah. I forgot to say that... or else it wouldn't have made sense.
soul_karver on 07/9/2004 13:22:01
aposynthesi: well my stock power and ground wires are definitely not 12 guage or even 14 guage (my guess is that they are 16)... so i would definitely have to upgrade my wiring if i got the 9833...
alanjlamore: i know :) ... i am going to be using my hu's amp for my 4 aftermarket midrange speakers (thus the reason i'm thinking of getting the 9833)
i think it would be worth it though to get the 9833... too bad i already bought a brand new 9831 though... now i'll have to sell it so i can get the 9833... :(
swez on 07/11/2004 08:50:39
Can't go wrong with Pioneer Premier and midrange to upper end of Pioneer lines in HU's. Clarion Pro is also a good HU along with Kenwood Excelon series.
The V-Drive Alpines have a special power supply circuit that kicks up the output from the internal amps. These offer 25-27 watts RMS per channel @ 4 ohms instead of the typical 18-22 you find on most HU's.
However, if you do get a V-drive, only need a single #10 wire from HU to BAT. The rest of the wiring is small gage stuff. You could ues a #12 gage ground to floor pan or fire wall too.
Is there a big difference in output between say 18 and 26 RMS? Maybe +1.5 dB more sound per channel is all. If you really want more power to your interior speakers, an outboard amp is where to put your money. The HU features are the key things to consider when buying a HU. As long as it has RCA outs for mid/highs & subs, no pressing need to spend too much on HU amplification. DSP, EQ, Preamp inputs are all nice extras if you want them. The rest of the toys you like, are up to you. It's really one of personal preferences and price.
Swez
soul_karver on 07/12/2004 23:08:07
Swez: Thanks for the help man!! You really do give the best help available anywhere!
I still am not quite sure whether to stick with the 9831 or get the 9833 though... anyway... here is where i stand:
Reasons For 9833
=============================
-i am not planning on getting an external amp for my interior speakers for at least a year
-higher RMS and more features
-i already have the wire required to hook up the 9833's amp (it's extra wire i have lying around)
-the display looks a little better (i can't really tell if it does)
Reasons Against 9833
=============================
-i already have the 9831
-it will cost about $30 more
-it will take more time to hook up
-i would have the get an inline fuse holder and fuse
-i'm afraid that the features won't be much better than the 9831
-i'm afraid that the sound quality won't be much better than the 9831
Feature list (9831 v. 9833)
=============================
*18wx4 RMS v. 26wx4 RMS
*4-band EQ v. 5-band EQ
*3-Position 12dB/Octave Crossover v. 6-Position Digital Crossover
*4-Channel Digital Time Correction v. 6-Channel Digital Time Correction
Thanks if you reply... I'm hoping in one more day I will have this decided for good! :)
~Soul Karver
aposynthesi on 07/13/2004 00:37:26
There was a noticable difference between the 18w JVC HU and then 9835 that I got... the speakers weren't as distorted when they reached high volumes, which is probably ~ 105dB +/- 1 or 2dB, with the HU only.
================================
Bass Engine Pro (Internal Sound Processor)
The 9833 has Bass Engine Pro, letting you control your amplifiers from your subwoofer.
With Alpine HU's, you won't really need an equalizer - I use it on flat and everything that I play is fine without tuning anything... unless you want more SPL at lower volumes.
Will you have 6 speakers (incl. subwoofers) in your car? (Digital Time Correction). It also has a 6-position hp/lp crossover.
================================
Bass Engine Plus (Internal Sound Processor)
Bass Engine Plus has a 4-band equalizer, 4-channel time correction, 4-position hp/lp crossover and no controls for the amplifiers.
================================
How much will the upgrade to the 9833 from the 9831 cost you, including wiring, and the fuses... is Bass Engine Pro and an extra 8w per channel rms worth it to you? If you're not going to get an external amp for a while, I'd recommend the 9833.
Sean
soul_karver on 07/13/2004 22:05:46
Thanks for the reply aposynthesi! Yes the 8w more rms seems worth it to me but I'm not very knowledgeable about that. Yes I will have 6 speakers in my car (4 midrange/high speakers and 2 subwoofers) but im not sure i will even use the digital time correction as i have never had that option before. As for the cost to upgrade to the 9833, it will only be about $30 more total if I purchase it from Wholesale Matrix (http://thewholesalematrix.zoovy.com). I'm not sure if they will rip me off though because I haven't heard of anybody I know purchasing from them.
Oh, also, I have updated my reasons lists as follows:
Reasons For 9833
=============================
-i am not planning on getting an external amp for my interior speakers for a long time (if at all)
-it has higher RMS and a little better features
-i already have the wire required to hook up the 9833's amp (it's extra wire i have lying around)
-the display looks a little better (i can't really tell if it does)
Reasons Against 9833
=============================
-i already have the 9831 (it's not opened though)
-it will cost about $30 more total at Wholesale Matrix (http://thewholesalematrix.zoovy.com)
-i'm afraid that the features won't be much better than the 9831
-i'm afraid that the sound quality won't be much better than the 9831
Thanks to anybody if you can help!
~Soul Karver
aposynthesi on 07/13/2004 23:16:41
I actually got my 9835 from there... it works amazingly, and their customer service is very good too.
The features of bass engine pro are much better that the ones of bass engine plus in my opinion... if your going without an amplifier for ~ a year, then this will be the one for you.
The 9833 will put out a higher volume with a higher sound pressure level while maintaining perfect clarity, which is why I like Alpine HU's.
soul_karver on 07/15/2004 00:04:27
Thank you VERY much aposynthesi!!
OK So I will get the 9833 from Wholesale Matrix. Now the only problem is that I have to sell my (unopened) 9831. Do you think that you can help me sell it for at least $315 or can you direct me to any place that can help me do that? I could sell it on Ebay but I have never used it before and don't know much about it (or how to get at least $315 from it). Thanks if you can help! (I swear this will be the last time for a while! :) )
aposynthesi on 07/15/2004 00:14:49
You're welcome.
Sell it as a Buy-it-Now item... setting a price at approximately $280, then when it comes time to put the shipping price it, put however much it cost you to get it shipped from the wholesale matrix... you won't be able to mark up any since there are others on ebay selling for cheaper than $315. Most 9831's are going for $300 -$310 total on eBay.
Instead of going through this hassle for an extra $2, I would recommend returning it to the company and ask them to pay the return shipping.
I can't sell it under my name for legal reasons... otherwise I would.
soul_karver on 07/15/2004 11:27:51
Alright -- looks like I got it all figured out now! Thanks for all the help!
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