Kenwoon VS Alpine
11-19-2009, 03:38 AM
#3
There are better brands than both of those for all applications. I've heard type-R's & type-X's in single cabs, ext cabs, 4-door trucks, and trunks. Type-R's don't have good SQ. The Type-X's are decent but I never liked the multi-roll surround. I'd buy a Type-X over any Kenwood.
11-19-2009, 02:44 PM
#6
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 16,855
Well, IMO the only time a Kenwood and Alpine may be compared decently is when talking about head units. I've had both and like both. I have not had a new one of either but am seriously looking at the new Alpine decks.
I find that most people tend to believe new products are inferior to older ones whether warranted or not.
I find that most people tend to believe new products are inferior to older ones whether warranted or not.
11-19-2009, 05:17 PM
#7
!!!!AWAITING CONFIRMATION!!!!!!
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 152
I've had a couple Alpine decks from ~'03. First was a 9805 then a 9811 (loved it!!). After thoose two I thought Alpine was the best, then I bought my wife an '07 Alpine 9885 and it does not compare. Not even close (yes I ran it in my car for a good comparison).
In my last car I tried an Alpine amp (forget which one) to power two 12" pheonix gold Titaniums, not so good. In the end I used a Kenwood Excellon 1000Wrms 1ohm stable class D which I loved. But in hindsight had I spent the $850 on an Alpine amp there's a good chance I would've been happy too.
All that being said I'm going to go with Alpine again and try the IDA-X100/305 for two reasons. 1) a 24bit burr brown DAC with a digital usb input from an Ipod with Apple lossless music files (bypas the ipod DAC that most HUs use), and 2) I figure that once I add a pxa-h100 the sq and sound processing should be atleast as good as the 9811 (blowing the bare 9885 out of the water).
For the most part I've only used more mainstream equipment i.e. the above mentioned, Infinity, JBL & MTX.
In my last car I tried an Alpine amp (forget which one) to power two 12" pheonix gold Titaniums, not so good. In the end I used a Kenwood Excellon 1000Wrms 1ohm stable class D which I loved. But in hindsight had I spent the $850 on an Alpine amp there's a good chance I would've been happy too.
All that being said I'm going to go with Alpine again and try the IDA-X100/305 for two reasons. 1) a 24bit burr brown DAC with a digital usb input from an Ipod with Apple lossless music files (bypas the ipod DAC that most HUs use), and 2) I figure that once I add a pxa-h100 the sq and sound processing should be atleast as good as the 9811 (blowing the bare 9885 out of the water).
For the most part I've only used more mainstream equipment i.e. the above mentioned, Infinity, JBL & MTX.
11-20-2009, 11:25 PM
#8
0 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 11
most of the shops in my area carry both lines and almost all of 'em for the past couple years are saying that kenwood is a way better SQ and bang for your buck. I've always been an alpine HU guy myself but with the new cell phone ban in ontario i'm getting a kenwood HU with built in bluetooth.
Again i'm assuming you're talking HU alone, because all bets are off for other components. you can get better speakers and amps from a handful of other companies for less $.
Again i'm assuming you're talking HU alone, because all bets are off for other components. you can get better speakers and amps from a handful of other companies for less $.
