HU ---> Sound - Team-BHP

panky12345 · 12th April 2006, 02:03

hi, was wondering if u have good amp, good speakers and good sub....in short a good set-up, what role has HU to play? i mean its basically the amp that amplifies, so a HU with 20W X 4 or 40W X 4 should normally produce the same O/put when connected to same amp. any inputs?

navin · 12th April 2006, 11:36

The HU offrers a stable platform for the CD and laser mechanisims and manages teh singal till it converted into a analog signal. Not all HUs sound alike. if you are using an external amplifier the internal amp in your Hu can be disabled or ignored.

Sam Kapasi · 12th April 2006, 11:43

Lets just say, that you could have the best amps, components and subwoofers, but if you had a head unit that sounded bad, all the various speakers and amplifiers would only further amplify all the bad sound. GIGO - garbage in, garbage out.
A good HU can change the way you listen to music. And the difference is not small, it's bloody HUGE. Lets say you have a cheap HU from say, Pioneer or JVC or sony or whatever.
You keep the exact same rear end setup and replace with say, a top end Alpine, or an Eclipse.
The sound tonality and quality changes completely. Full zameen-aasman. And this has little to do with the voltage of the preout. No i am talking of the quality of the sound.
Thats as good a non-techie explanation I can give. Baaki toh Navin zindabad.

aZa · 12th April 2006, 11:59

Hey come on ... "A good setup" includes the HU too. Crossovers, EQs and DSPs are found in most of the HUs now and do contribute to ur good setup.

souravbasu · 12th April 2006, 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by panky12345

hi, was wondering if u have good amp, good speakers and good sub....in short a good set-up, what role has HU to play? i mean its basically the amp that amplifies, so a HU with 20W X 4 or 40W X 4 should normally produce the same O/put when connected to same amp. any inputs?

In many of the postings related to budget ICE systems I have found that cost of the HU alone is (approx) half of the total cost of the entire system. This is true in my case also.

This would indicate the importance of HU in your ICE Setup.

low_bass_makker · 12th April 2006, 12:22

GO for a good HU it will also offer good features also but they are made of better componets than the lower models. Rest the amp built in the HU are rarely used in a good ICE setup. So dont go for HU amp output.

navin · 12th April 2006, 19:29

Sourav, in the case of budget ICE systems the HU is also the amp. so in that case 50% of the money goes for the speakers and 50% for the Hu AND amp.

Rehaan · 12th April 2006, 20:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

The sound tonality and quality changes completely. Full zameen-aasman. And this has little to do with the voltage of the preout. No i am talking of the quality of the sound.

Hey Sam,
Does this make such a big difference even if you are bypassing the HU amp and using an extrernal amp?

cya
R

Vivekphadnis · 13th April 2006, 00:07

Having a good digital to analog converter is important. For example, the higher priced Pioneer have Burr Brown op amps, which are obviously more high end than the ordinary DACs.

Rehaan · 13th April 2006, 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vivekphadnis

Having a good digital to analog converter is important. For example, the higher priced Pioneer have Burr Brown op amps, which are obviously more high end than the ordinary DACs.

Ahh... thanks Vivek.
I didnt think of the quality of the DAC! Makes sense.

cya
R

navin · 13th April 2006, 10:55

Vivek, there are a few grades of Burr Brown. Atleast 2 I know of. I have manged to lay my hands on a pair of MIL spec ones but have not had the time to use them. someday I hope to upgrade my 63Ki with them. he he.

Vivekphadnis · 13th April 2006, 13:33

But I suppose the higher-end ones will not be available freely in the market. Will they?

navin · 13th April 2006, 13:37

Sadly you are correct. I got these some time back from the US.

nrajeshkumar · 27th July 2006, 00:43

Some one please tell me what are the Alpine & Eclipse models available in india

gunbir · 27th July 2006, 00:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by nrajeshkumar

Some one please tell me what are the Alpine & Eclipse models available in india

There are no models of Eclipse available in India as Eclipse isnt available officially OR in the grey market.

As for Alpine, search around... I remember posting this a while back with prices...

12th April 2006, 02:03	#1 (permalink)
panky12345 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,407	HU ---> Sound hi, was wondering if u have good amp, good speakers and good sub....in short a good set-up, what role has HU to play? i mean its basically the amp that amplifies, so a HU with 20W X 4 or 40W X 4 should normally produce the same O/put when connected to same amp. any inputs?

12th April 2006, 11:43	#3 (permalink)
Sam Kapasi Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (but watch this space) Posts: 6,700 View My Garage	Lets just say, that you could have the best amps, components and subwoofers, but if you had a head unit that sounded bad, all the various speakers and amplifiers would only further amplify all the bad sound. GIGO - garbage in, garbage out. A good HU can change the way you listen to music. And the difference is not small, it's bloody HUGE. Lets say you have a cheap HU from say, Pioneer or JVC or sony or whatever. You keep the exact same rear end setup and replace with say, a top end Alpine, or an Eclipse. The sound tonality and quality changes completely. Full zameen-aasman. And this has little to do with the voltage of the preout. No i am talking of the quality of the sound. Thats as good a non-techie explanation I can give. Baaki toh Navin zindabad. __________________ Live the YetiLife® *MA-DONNA! MA-DONNA! MA-DONNA!*

12th April 2006, 11:59	#4 (permalink)
aZa Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Noida / Delhi Posts: 1,199 View My Garage	Hey come on ... "A good setup" includes the HU too. Crossovers, EQs and DSPs are found in most of the HUs now and do contribute to ur good setup. __________________ -[ " If the ride is more fly, then you must buy. " - Snoop Dogg ]-

12th April 2006, 12:22	#6 (permalink)
low_bass_makker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Faridabad Posts: 5,724 View My Garage	GO for a good HU it will also offer good features also but they are made of better componets than the lower models. Rest the amp built in the HU are rarely used in a good ICE setup. So dont go for HU amp output. __________________ Looks Can Be Deceiving

13th April 2006, 00:07	#9 (permalink)
Vivekphadnis BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 673	Having a good digital to analog converter is important. For example, the higher priced Pioneer have Burr Brown op amps, which are obviously more high end than the ordinary DACs. __________________ Thank God for DIY audio.

12th April 2006, 11:36	#2 (permalink)
navin Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: mumbai Posts: 11,564	The HU offrers a stable platform for the CD and laser mechanisims and manages teh singal till it converted into a analog signal. Not all HUs sound alike. if you are using an external amplifier the internal amp in your Hu can be disabled or ignored.

12th April 2006, 19:29	#7 (permalink)
navin Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: mumbai Posts: 11,564	Sourav, in the case of budget ICE systems the HU is also the amp. so in that case 50% of the money goes for the speakers and 50% for the Hu AND amp.

13th April 2006, 10:55	#11 (permalink)
navin Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: mumbai Posts: 11,564	Vivek, there are a few grades of Burr Brown. Atleast 2 I know of. I have manged to lay my hands on a pair of MIL spec ones but have not had the time to use them. someday I hope to upgrade my 63Ki with them. he he.

13th April 2006, 13:33	#12 (permalink)
Vivekphadnis BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 673	But I suppose the higher-end ones will not be available freely in the market. Will they? __________________ Thank God for DIY audio.

13th April 2006, 13:37	#13 (permalink)
navin Team-BHP Moderator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: mumbai Posts: 11,564	Sadly you are correct. I got these some time back from the US.

27th July 2006, 00:43	#14 (permalink)
nrajeshkumar BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: chennai Posts: 61	Some one please tell me what are the Alpine & Eclipse models available in india

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