im having a really hard time deciding what in dash head unit to get.. ive got it narrowed down to the alpine iva-c800/dva-5205 combo with the pxa-h510 decoder, the pioneer avx-p7000cd/sdv-p7(dvd player)combo with the avm-p9000r master unit, or the kenwood kvt-910dvd/cd excelon with their version of the pro-logic decoder. i dont car about difference in price, so thats not a factor. i would like to take up the enitre double din space but im willing to do without it if the kenwood is the best choice. i will be using external amps, subs( i think they all come with a seperate sub control. if it doesnt i dont want it), front and rear componets and will get a center speaker for the pro-logic sound. i know the alpine has 4v outputs, kenwood has 4.5v and the pioneer has almost 5v. id like to know from an expert's opinion, which if these is the best head unit for a serious stereo. what are the pro's and con's for each one, and why would you pick one above the others? ive done alot of looking around and asked opionions, but i want an unbiased one. i cant trust a guy in a stereo place becuase he's just gonna tell me to go with the one he sells. which one has the best graphics, the best features, and will be the best sounding for the music.. ?????

sorry to discriminate agaist any of the other .org members in here, but i dont want people telling to get the xxxxxx just cause they have it their car or their friend has it. i want the opinion of the experts on here that can give me a concrete reason why one is better than the others.. thank you in advance

 

 

Like I said in my other post, I feel the Alpine has one of the best sounding hu on the market. Another note, if you get the Alpine equipment the decoder will AI net to all the components hence adding to the sound quality. As far out voltage out puts go, I could tell you why that in some cases is not important but then some peole will argue with me and tell me that I'm wrong, exsample my reply to the 6x9 post. But anyway...I would also recomend getting the Alpine DVD changer rather than the 5205. The 5205 is over priced (in most places) and is an older product, they haven't updated it since the 5200, just changed the remote and model number, slick huh? The DVD changer give you flexiblity of a cd changer plus bonus it plays DVD's and I think its very close to the 5205 in price. Unless you really want the DVD in your dash. Again having the AI-net is nice because the 1006 will control all the units thru the OSD. The Kenwood sonicly is a good unit, but I would say second to the Alpine. Honestly you need to figure out whats more important graphics or SQ, my thoughts are the graphics might be cool at first but in the long run will get old and distracting. Also check out Car Audio and Electronics or Car Sound mags websites, I know they have reviews on all the units, use that to aid in your choice. Bottom line, buy the unit you like. Play with all of them, try them out, listen to them. I would again say the Alpine but it require you spend more $$$$ on adding the DVD.

 

IMHO out of all the ones you listed the Kenwood 910 DVD will prefom the best. It has the most features and the BEST picture. As far as SQ the Alpine does beat it in that department but its made up for with picture quality and features(TV tuner,center channel mod, AUX In)
Retail is around $2300-2500

my.o2,
Ant

 

well.. each one i listed has 5:1 prologic capability, just a matter of buying what you need foe it.. i see that nobody even mentioned anything about the pioneer, so i guess its not that good a unit.. i guess now im starting to lean towards the kewood.. i want good sound quality, but i also want the toys ya know.. i dont plan on competing in sound competions,(i say that now),this is just for my own entertianment and to show off a lil.. do either of you think that i would really be able to actually hear the difference between the kenwood and the alpine if that was the only difference between systems.? and also.. does anyone know of a site that sells the prologic decoder for the kenwood? i havent seen it anywhere.. MAX,, what does the AI net for the alpine actually do? what does it mean? finally, does anyone have any idea's what i could use to take up the extra din space if i go with the kenwood.. i appreciate all the help.. thank you..

 

i have the kenwood 910 and a kenwood center channel (which only gets used during movies with the ladies)--i don't know about the alpine or pioneers but the kenwood has a ton of settings to play with in order to get things to sound the way you want, it took me awhile to get what i was looking for but it sounds amazing now so it was worth the wait, pics at homepage

 

AI-net is the "link" that all of the Alpine components use to "talk" to each other. It allows you to control the DVD and or DVD/changer from the head unit. It also brings the sound from one unit to the next elimating the need for RCA cables from the dvd to the head unit and from the processor to the DVD hense reducing the risk of introducing noise into the signal path. Not to mention that Alpine's changers are the worlds smallest and fastest. Will you hear the difference between the two? I don't know, depends upon how acute your hearing is. Like I said go and try them out see if you can hear the difference. Honestly price isn't going to be that off, by the time you buy the Alpine and the processor and the DVD or DVD Changer you'll wind up spending close to if not more than the Kenwood and still have no TV tuner(If that's important to you).The kenwood is a great unit like I said before. I actualy wanted that unit for the demo truck that I drive, the JBL Tundra http://www.jbl.com/car/eXtreme%20Ins...eme_tundra.asp
However Kenwood wouldn't give me the unit and with rebuliding the truck this winter with our new power seriers woofer I didn't have enough money left in my budget to get it. So I'm going to use the P-907 with an external DVD unit. I'll let you know how that works when I finish the truck. So again play with them and than make your choice, I think that you might be happer with the Kenwood based upon what your looking for in a head unit, its a great unit you won't be unhappy. Good luck!

 

lol... ok im speachless.. thats for devoting the time you did to entetain my questions.. what are your thoughts on compents and amps? as of now i have 2 sets of daimond audio componets.. i think there the hex series i dont remember rite now. my friend has the kenwood head unti we discussed, with a 6 channel diamond audio amp running the enitre system and a set of components from germany, cant really recall the name. all i know is they embarass mine and sound soooooo much better. any recomendations? i want this stereo to be the best i ever had. i plan on taking it along with me if i get a new car..

 

Well I try to help you know, I know a fair amont about audio. That's why this bbs is so great everyone give others a little help. But anyway, components are the way to go. They do require more power but they can sound so much better than a coax. As for the Diamond's I've heard a set or two but I'm not to familar with them. As far as amps go again I don't know a whole lot about the Diamond but my experican with multi channel amps has been that they can under power speakers in most situations. And 90% of the time when you blow a speaker its because you under power it, granted if you run like 1000 watts to a tweeter it will blow, now I'm sure someonw will have a smart $ss reply to that coment but anyway. If you have the room in your trunk do multiple amps, besides it can look really sweet if you build a nice amp rack. I would recomend listening to stuff, and setting a realistic budget. Don't say I want to do everything for $800 and look at $600 amps. But if you want high end its going to cost you, we make the Kappa Perfect components that retail for around $600 for the pair, they sound killer. A new set of components that we just released are the JBL GTI's, I have a set of the 6.5" for my car, haven't put them in yet, but they sound amazing. They aren't cheap thou, a pair sells for $700! But the techonolgy in them makes them one of the best components money can buy. Check the site for more information. I'll also have either 2 sets of 5.25" (one center and one rear) or protype 4", not sure yet. Might do 8 channel surround as well, depends on how many amps I can stuff into my trunk, LOL But like I always say listen to the speakers, go to a good shop and ask them for recomendations and see what they say. Bring a few of your own cd's to listen to. This gives you an idea of what to expect, again keep in mind that it will sound different in the car than on the demo board, but in most cases its always better. Another option to explore is Horn Loaded compression drivers, I currently have a set of Image Dynamics, they sound great. They mount under the dash and image accross the dash board(the are for sale right now at a great price $400 with 4 mids and the cross overs). I'm getting rid of them to install the new JBL equipment so that I can get a few demo car features, but they are still a great sounding speaker. Did you figure out what head unit your gonna get, when you do let me know how you like it.
So you like my demo truck huh? I'm going up to NY tomorrow to start building the new sub box, we are putting in 3 12" power series subs with a 1200 watt mono dedicated to each sub, the truck should be in the 150's. It will have 8 amps in it and we are using our new 8 channel processor, should be really cool. Good luck!

 

hey man thanks for all the info and the time you spent answering me. i think im gonna go with the kenwood. im notsure exactly when imma order it, but thats gonna be what i get. as far as componets im probably gonna get the ones my friend has too. at least i know exactly how they'd sound in my car and the music sounds really good comin outta them.. very crisp and clear.. what part of ny are you goin to to get your bax made? im from nyc... ya know, not for nothin, but your rite about alot of the people on this board. everyone's got somethin to say.. i hate all these moderators especially.. hehe.. thanks again

 

i aint an expert so i dont think i should respond

 

how much did u pay for ur 2k2? U got an SE with no leather right?

 

Seriously, They are all good. The Panasonic, Kenwood and Alpine. It all adds up to what features you want. If you wait for the new KVT911DVD it will have Sirus satellite radio and a few cosmetic upgrades for the same price as a 910DVD.