OK, my question is why does maxima.org rep eclipse soo much? I have heard a pretty nice eclipse, and a pretty nice alpine, and i would have to lean more twards the alpine.

I love to have a good solid **** to turn for volume and a button to push to skip between tracks, but that has nothing to do with it.

Why would you go with eclipse over alpine? I understand if one might find them more physically apealing, but is there really a difference in the SQ they will put out?

 

Yes, there is a difference in SQ. Eclipse wins here. I am speaking of the higher end models of both companies. I have owned Alpine since the early 90's. My best Alpine SQ setup was an Alpine CDA-7949 paired up with an Alpine PXA-H600 digital phase processor(this setup came out around 1999), connected via the Ai-net connection and a fiberoptic cable. This setup was way more SQ oriented that what Alpine has on the market today(this does not include their highly over priced F#1 stuff). The processor took care of the digital to analog converion with its four 20bit Burr Brown DAC's. Alpine still uses their Regulated 1bit DAC's for their higher end models, where Eclipse goes the extra step by adding multi bit DAC's (24bit), believe me there is a clear audible difference when listening to music between these converters. I also owned a CDA-7998, but this did not compare in sound to the my previous Alpine combo, or the Eclipse CD8454 that I currenlty have in my car. Their current line still uses the same DAC's. Alpine seems to have gone more towards trying to integrate more options with their HU's, which is fine if that is what the person is after. I believe my Alpine HU's were a little easier to use than my Eclipse. For me though SQ was what I wanted out of my HU, something compareable to what I had before, the Eclipse CD8454 was the clear answer.

I probably would have kept my older Alpine setup if it were not for the CD player not being able to play CD-R's. I tried to stay with Alpine, but I think that they left this kind of sound behind with their older stuff.

 

Which one has more SPL? I'm looking at type r vs eclispe aluminum.

 

Alpines offering have been weak for years, reputation and loyalty keeps their sales strong. People expect more for their $$ and Eclipse is clearly delivering in that dept a better sounding deck.

 

lol the type r is a joke compared to an eclipse. i had a type r, Its ok not bassy at all