What makes a good deck?
12-02-2005, 12:47 AM
#1
0 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 25
I see a lot of my friends, and mutal friends that don't truly know anything about car audio arguing a lot about head units.
One camp says get a good amp, sub and speakers with a cheap deck and that is your best value. After a certain price point, all decks are the same and you are only paying for a brand name (alpine, clarion, etc.)
Another camp says to get the best deck you can afford and get a cheaper sub to save money.
This makes me wonder what is it in a great head unit that makes it great. What is the difference between a high-end Alpine and a cheapy future shop Kenwood? Both play the cd the same, both send out the signal to your speakers. What is it that makes one sound better?
Considering that, what do you look for when shopping for a deck to get that great sound? Is it features (EQ features, etc.) or plain old word of mouth from people who have tried them?
One camp says get a good amp, sub and speakers with a cheap deck and that is your best value. After a certain price point, all decks are the same and you are only paying for a brand name (alpine, clarion, etc.)
Another camp says to get the best deck you can afford and get a cheaper sub to save money.
This makes me wonder what is it in a great head unit that makes it great. What is the difference between a high-end Alpine and a cheapy future shop Kenwood? Both play the cd the same, both send out the signal to your speakers. What is it that makes one sound better?
Considering that, what do you look for when shopping for a deck to get that great sound? Is it features (EQ features, etc.) or plain old word of mouth from people who have tried them?
12-02-2005, 09:09 AM
#2
I think just personal preference(cosmetic, current mood and quality)and features are the main issue for me. I really can't tell the difference between my old 9827 and my 9833 even though the 9833 has 6 dac's as opposed to 1 in the 9827. I've had great sounding systems using many brands including; Alpine, Sony, JVC, Stock Ford, GM, and even Realistic(Radio Shack). I will admit that using the stock deck did not produce as good sound, but I believe this was more due to the use of a LOC(line out converter) than due to the cd unit itself. All in all, I think your money is better spent on speakers than head units.
12-02-2005, 09:29 AM
#3
1000 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,267
I think the bass engine pro on Alpines high end decks is very user friendly and works realy well!I have never used a clarion or Pioneer so I cant comment.However using the crossovers in my deck to my front speakers....I am happy with spending $500.00+++ on a hu!
12-02-2005, 10:43 AM
#5
I agree with The Boy...if you are not using external signal processors, in my case all the bass engine functions are not usable once the head unit is connected to the processor via ai-net(sucks, if I had known that I probably would not have bought the 9833,though it's very cool looking)). If it's your only source, then it's great because you don't have to run separate x-overs and time alignment processors etc..
12-02-2005, 10:45 AM
#6
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Posts: n/a
FutureShop doesn't carry Kenwood, so your analogy doesn't work, as anyone knows an Alpine that exists will always sound better than a Kenwood that doesn't!
I would say that the head unit is the least important piece in determining sound quality, ranking pretty close to amps. Speakers, their placement and the rest of the installation have the greatest effect on SQ.
I choose a headunit first on features, then cosmetics and ease of use, next on price, and finally whether it sounds good or not.
I would say that the head unit is the least important piece in determining sound quality, ranking pretty close to amps. Speakers, their placement and the rest of the installation have the greatest effect on SQ.
I choose a headunit first on features, then cosmetics and ease of use, next on price, and finally whether it sounds good or not.
12-02-2005, 10:47 AM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Oh and for me reliability is also a big issue. Picture what a CD player is doing. It has a ton of moving parts that are all trying to focus a tiny laser on a microscopic point on a spinning disc in a vehicle that is vibrating and bouncing around. It is a wonder they work at all.
12-02-2005, 03:49 PM
#8
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 254
I actually went from a Kenwood Excelon to a Clarion LCD unit. I like the features of the Kenwood and the pre-outs seemed to be more powerfull. Sound quality seems to be the same with either unit.
The biggest difference is the Clarion can play movies and play my xbox.... that kinda makes it win over the Kenwood. [img]tongue.gif[/img]
The biggest difference is the Clarion can play movies and play my xbox.... that kinda makes it win over the Kenwood. [img]tongue.gif[/img]
12-02-2005, 05:44 PM
#10
Originally posted by Danny H:
What is the difference between a high-end Alpine and a cheapy future shop Kenwood? Both play the cd the same, both send out the signal to your speakers. What is it that makes one sound better?
What is the difference between a high-end Alpine and a cheapy future shop Kenwood? Both play the cd the same, both send out the signal to your speakers. What is it that makes one sound better?
In theory every component in the signal path has the potential to affect the sound. From the transport's ability to provide a stable digital stream, to the DAC's ability to accurately convert bits to an analog signal, to the preamp's ability to faithfully process and transmit the signal, and everything in between. Then there's the power supply's ability to deliver constant quality power, and the chassis's succeptibility to outside noise, interference, and vibration.
Better sounding head units will have better components throughout, especially those components with the greatest effect on sound quality: the DAC and the preamp (high voltage and low impedance).
