Clarion vs. Pioneer - SQ HU
06-11-2005, 07:12 PM
#1
0 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 4
I'm looking to buy a good HU to put in my new-used BMW 635 (need to replace the old tape player...)
I'm not the type of person who upgrades to the newest and flashiest product each year - I want to buy something that's good and that I will be happy with for a long time.
Mainly concerned with sound quality - trying to make my car sound as much like a good quality home audio system as I possibly can (I run some nice Paradigm Reference speakers with a NAD amp at home)
That being said, I'd like some comparison oppinions between some of the higher end HU's - mainly the Pioneer DEH-P8600MP/P80MP and the Clarion DXZ 855MP because I can get them all local (London Ontario) and all three have better than a 1 bit DAC (I was trying to find units that didn't have the standard '1 bit' like all the cheap units have)
Granted, I know that SQ is a very subjective sort of thing and that I would be best listening myself... but the stores I'm dealing with are not the type that have nice quiet listening rooms where I can spend time making sure 'everything is equal' and do any quality testing of my own. Thus, I'm hoping to get at least some form of information from you all [img]smile.gif[/img]
The DEH8600 is the most expensive of the 3, at around $620 Canadian. The other 2 are about $500.
The 8600MP seems to have some extra features that the other 2 do not "built-in DSP with 13-Band Graphic EQ, Auto-EQ and Auto Time Alignment" and something about a microphone... How valueable is this feature? The other HU's do not mention anything about Time Alignment and I don't know anything about it - am I right to assume that I should be able to accomplish the same sort of effects with the other HU's except they wouldn't do it automatically like the 8600 would?
The Clarion unit claims '24 bit DAC' and the DEH8600MP claims '24 bit burr brown DAC'. Other Clarion units claim 'burr brown DAC' though - does the DXZ855MP have a different type of DAC? Would it be worse? (I know burr brown is considered to be good)
Finally, the only reason I'm even looking at these HU's is because I cannot seem to find any place in my area that sells McIntosh or Nakamichi HU's (I cant even get any place to order them it seems). I think the Nakamichi CD400 would be my top choice (cheaper than the McIntosh but still very well known for SQ) if I could actually find one somewhere local, but I can't. From a SQ perspective, would I regret having one of the Clarion/Pioneer units instead of the Nak CD400? (yes, I know Nak's are known to break easy.. but lets put that aside)
I could order from the states (or drive there..) but it'd end up being such a hassle that I'd somewhat like to avoid. It scares me to think of how much duty/shipping/tax would add to the price of anything I bought online from the states.. Everything looks like a good deal on the US online sites, but who knows how much extra it would end up costing by the time it got shipped to my door?
But as I said, I don't tend to upgrade stuff too often - so whatever I buy I want to be completely satisfied with for as long as possible - no regrets! I'd take the plunge and order from a US online place if it would get me a unit I'd be happier with or if I could save a bunch of cash - but I'm not sure..
I'm not the type of person who upgrades to the newest and flashiest product each year - I want to buy something that's good and that I will be happy with for a long time.
Mainly concerned with sound quality - trying to make my car sound as much like a good quality home audio system as I possibly can (I run some nice Paradigm Reference speakers with a NAD amp at home)
That being said, I'd like some comparison oppinions between some of the higher end HU's - mainly the Pioneer DEH-P8600MP/P80MP and the Clarion DXZ 855MP because I can get them all local (London Ontario) and all three have better than a 1 bit DAC (I was trying to find units that didn't have the standard '1 bit' like all the cheap units have)
Granted, I know that SQ is a very subjective sort of thing and that I would be best listening myself... but the stores I'm dealing with are not the type that have nice quiet listening rooms where I can spend time making sure 'everything is equal' and do any quality testing of my own. Thus, I'm hoping to get at least some form of information from you all [img]smile.gif[/img]
The DEH8600 is the most expensive of the 3, at around $620 Canadian. The other 2 are about $500.
The 8600MP seems to have some extra features that the other 2 do not "built-in DSP with 13-Band Graphic EQ, Auto-EQ and Auto Time Alignment" and something about a microphone... How valueable is this feature? The other HU's do not mention anything about Time Alignment and I don't know anything about it - am I right to assume that I should be able to accomplish the same sort of effects with the other HU's except they wouldn't do it automatically like the 8600 would?
The Clarion unit claims '24 bit DAC' and the DEH8600MP claims '24 bit burr brown DAC'. Other Clarion units claim 'burr brown DAC' though - does the DXZ855MP have a different type of DAC? Would it be worse? (I know burr brown is considered to be good)
Finally, the only reason I'm even looking at these HU's is because I cannot seem to find any place in my area that sells McIntosh or Nakamichi HU's (I cant even get any place to order them it seems). I think the Nakamichi CD400 would be my top choice (cheaper than the McIntosh but still very well known for SQ) if I could actually find one somewhere local, but I can't. From a SQ perspective, would I regret having one of the Clarion/Pioneer units instead of the Nak CD400? (yes, I know Nak's are known to break easy.. but lets put that aside)
I could order from the states (or drive there..) but it'd end up being such a hassle that I'd somewhat like to avoid. It scares me to think of how much duty/shipping/tax would add to the price of anything I bought online from the states.. Everything looks like a good deal on the US online sites, but who knows how much extra it would end up costing by the time it got shipped to my door?
But as I said, I don't tend to upgrade stuff too often - so whatever I buy I want to be completely satisfied with for as long as possible - no regrets! I'd take the plunge and order from a US online place if it would get me a unit I'd be happier with or if I could save a bunch of cash - but I'm not sure..
06-11-2005, 08:42 PM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Have you considered Eclipse or Alpine as well? I am a fan of the Nak just because of the way they look. I have heard that the reliability problem has been solved. Another no frills SQ deck to look at is the Denonford, you can find them on Ebay sometimes, I also like the way it looks.
06-11-2005, 11:33 PM
#3
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 597
If you don't mind, I'll shed some light on the microphone supplied with the DEH-P8600MP.
The microphone is part of a system that allows the DEH-P8600MP to automatically equalize & time align the speakers in your vehicle. This results in the most linear response as well as the most accurate sound to a specified position. This system was originally designed for the mobile environment about eight years ago but has now found it's way into home electronics as well. If you look at the Pioneer & Elite lines you will notice a feature call MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration Circuitry) & how valuable it is to have. I don't know of another product on the market even close to the price of the DEH-P8600MP that offers anything like this.
Other than that, my only other advice is to shop within Canada. Border issues, duties, taxes, etc. can be troublesome plus the fact that you will have no Canadian warranty.
If you need help sourcing a Nakamichi unit, one of my accounts in Vancouver is a Nakamichi dealer & I don't think it would be a problem helping you out if you decide to go that route.
Good luck with your decision & feel free to PM me if you'd like some information/advice on the Pioneer product.
The microphone is part of a system that allows the DEH-P8600MP to automatically equalize & time align the speakers in your vehicle. This results in the most linear response as well as the most accurate sound to a specified position. This system was originally designed for the mobile environment about eight years ago but has now found it's way into home electronics as well. If you look at the Pioneer & Elite lines you will notice a feature call MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration Circuitry) & how valuable it is to have. I don't know of another product on the market even close to the price of the DEH-P8600MP that offers anything like this.
Other than that, my only other advice is to shop within Canada. Border issues, duties, taxes, etc. can be troublesome plus the fact that you will have no Canadian warranty.
If you need help sourcing a Nakamichi unit, one of my accounts in Vancouver is a Nakamichi dealer & I don't think it would be a problem helping you out if you decide to go that route.
Good luck with your decision & feel free to PM me if you'd like some information/advice on the Pioneer product.
06-12-2005, 02:06 AM
#5
Originally posted by Pioneer Guy:
If you don't mind, I'll shed some light on the microphone supplied with the DEH-P8600MP.
The microphone is part of a system that allows the DEH-P8600MP to automatically equalize & time align the speakers in your vehicle. This results in the most linear response as well as the most accurate sound to a specified position. This system was originally designed for the mobile environment about eight years ago but has now found it's way into home electronics as well. If you look at the Pioneer & Elite lines you will notice a feature call MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration Circuitry) & how valuable it is to have. I don't know of another product on the market even close to the price of the DEH-P8600MP that offers anything like this.
Other than that, my only other advice is to shop within Canada. Border issues, duties, taxes, etc. can be troublesome plus the fact that you will have no Canadian warranty.
If you need help sourcing a Nakamichi unit, one of my accounts in Vancouver is a Nakamichi dealer & I don't think it would be a problem helping you out if you decide to go that route.
Good luck with your decision & feel free to PM me if you'd like some information/advice on the Pioneer product.
If you don't mind, I'll shed some light on the microphone supplied with the DEH-P8600MP.
The microphone is part of a system that allows the DEH-P8600MP to automatically equalize & time align the speakers in your vehicle. This results in the most linear response as well as the most accurate sound to a specified position. This system was originally designed for the mobile environment about eight years ago but has now found it's way into home electronics as well. If you look at the Pioneer & Elite lines you will notice a feature call MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration Circuitry) & how valuable it is to have. I don't know of another product on the market even close to the price of the DEH-P8600MP that offers anything like this.
Other than that, my only other advice is to shop within Canada. Border issues, duties, taxes, etc. can be troublesome plus the fact that you will have no Canadian warranty.
If you need help sourcing a Nakamichi unit, one of my accounts in Vancouver is a Nakamichi dealer & I don't think it would be a problem helping you out if you decide to go that route.
Good luck with your decision & feel free to PM me if you'd like some information/advice on the Pioneer product.
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