Thanks everyone for the help. I am going to look at decks and put myself into debt tomorrow, this is what I have determined so far:


Alpine 9833/35

Pros: Looks, crossover/eq/time-alignment features
Cons: Reliability issues with the 98 series? 4 volt/10 k-ohm preouts= weak bass?

Pioneer DEH-P8600mp

Pros: Simple face, crossover/eq/time-alignment features/24bit Burr Brown DA Converter, 4 volt/100 ohm outputs.
Cons: I haven't used Pioneer in a long time, not sure if I will like it or not.

Eclipse 5/8 series

Pros: Simple look, hi-volt/low impedance outs, crossover features, time-alignment on 8 series.

Cons: I am sure that ESN works, but the average crackhead is still going to break into my ride to take the deck.


So that is where I stand. The 9833 is the cheapest (around $450??), the Pioneer is about $700, and the Eclipse 5444 is around $750 I think. I could take a chance on the Alpine, pick up a line driver and still save some $$ on the other ones, make sure I get extended warranty, of course. Or I could look at the Pioneer Premier line, some of which have 6.5 volt preouts, and a 2 year warranty. Someone please help..... :D

I don't know if it applies to 9833/35 Alpine decks, but I have heard a 9815, and under deck power, the music starts to distort at 22/35. :|

Ouch. Hmmmm.

Deck power usually will. I used to sell a popular brand of headunit where the built in power clipped at 17/35 but I could get to 28/35 b4 the preouts did.

10k ouput impedance is so lame. Why do they still do that? :rolleyes:

Just to throw more chum into the water -I'd consider a Kenwood eXcelon also [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]

Thanks Paul, appreciate the help! I like the Kenwood suggestion, I am just not a fan of the looks/layout of them. Too many small buttons, IMO.

Are the preouts on the Alpines seriously THAT bad? Gah......I was looking at the 9833, 5444 eclipse to replace my broken Excelon (that I loved)

I don't know, maybe I just needed to have the sub out on my 7894 at +15. I had always felt that you set your gains so that the sub level control was right in the middle, to give you a bit of headroom, up or down.....

Boomers sells Eclipse -- Eli47, does Speaker City still sell it too?

the output impedance of the 9833 is 300 ohms not 10k, and remember depending on the amps you plan on using, having all the preout voltage may be unnecessary, depending on the seensitivity of the amp, some amplifiers dont need as much line voltage as others to attain max unclipped power output

I hear ya Defro, the Alpine rep gave the same info, but I found this on the 9833 manual from alpine1.com:

Specifications
Maximum Pre-Output Voltage 4 V/10 k ohms
Weight 1.6 kg (3 lbs. 8 oz)
CHASSIS SIZE
Width 178 mm (7")
Height 50 mm (2")
Depth 152 mm (6")
NOSEPIECE SIZE
Width 170 mm (6-11/16")
Height 46 mm (1-13/16")
Depth 18 mm (11/16")
• Due to continuous product improvement, specifications and design
are subject to change without notice.

Not sure who I believe....