High End Headunits

Epic · 18th August 2008, 19:15

Hi,

I have been told that the quality of sound in any ICE set-up also depends on the headunit. Is this true? Apparently one of the ways to get the best quality of sound can be achieved if using a high end headunit. Now my question is; how does one differenciate between a high end system and any other? I am presently using the Pioneer DEH-P6950UB and thought it was a high end headunit but was told that it is not so. So i am now looking for a high end headunit. Can anyone let me know the different and best highend headunit available in the market and what are the features that make it so?

greenhorn · 18th August 2008, 19:29

Epic, what's the rest of your ICE like ?
Amps , speakers etc

in any ICE setup, the flow is like

HU->amps-> speakers

so it makes sense to upgrade your HU for better sound only if your amps and speakers are upto it. (kinda like upgrading your engine without upgrading the rest of your car

)

The sound of various HU's are described to vary, and seems to be a matter of personal opinion.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/produ...neer-p880.html is an interesting thread . Some popular high end HU's are compared there

nitrous · 18th August 2008, 19:44

Alpines are entry tickets to high end headunits.
Heard Eclipse HU is THE one to have.

gunbir · 18th August 2008, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitrous

Alpines are entry tickets to high end headunits.
Heard Eclipse HU is THE one to have.

Depends what you call 'high end'. Alpine has a F#1 Status HU, while Eclipse doesn't have anything up there. There are many other HUs to consider at that level, beyond Eclipse and Alpine.

greenhorn · 18th August 2008, 20:27

at least among the cheaper HU's the alpine's do sound better ( in my opinion)

Disclaimer : I own one !

low_bass_makker · 18th August 2008, 21:25

Few High end which I would love to have are,

Alpine F-1
Pioneer P9 combo
Clarion HX-D2

blueraven316 · 18th August 2008, 21:40

among popular names
Eclipse CD7100 / CD7200
Alpine 9887 + Imprint

For the price the Eclipse makes the standalone 9887 look like a baby.
Both sound real good at the end of the day.

There is always something better available............always.

noidaboy · 18th August 2008, 21:43

Is it mandatory all high end HU sound good? Doesnt it depend on the features,the components used in the HU.The signature sound.

Yes they would sound better than the current one you are using,but it will depend on how do you define good and what do you compare it too.

serioussound · 18th August 2008, 22:09

hi Friends please checkout these 3 headunits:

Nakamichi-CD 700 II
Clarion -HX D2
Mcintosh-MX-406

zucchero · 18th August 2008, 22:26

epic what equipments are you currently running??

gunbir · 18th August 2008, 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by serioussound

hi Friends please checkout these 3 headunits:

Nakamichi-CD 700 II
Clarion -HX D2
Mcintosh-MX-406

Sir, all the above compared and tested by JB and I, along with the Alpine 7998, Kenwood K-CD01, Panasonic Tube CQ-TX5500. We did this shootout about a year ago, spread over a few days. HUs were tested in home and in car. Results were very interesting.

May do another one when we get the time. This time we'll throw in a 9887, a P880 and an Eclipse in the mix.

serioussound · 18th August 2008, 22:50

Hi Gunbir sir,so you checked all those headunit,sir can you please suggests me which one is best among those 3 especially among clarion and nakamichi,i would like to replace my current headunit(eclipse-cd7100) with one of them,actually by sound quality wise i like nakamichi bt what the matter is i didnt like its look,thts why i give preferance to clarion its sounds good as well as it looks good too.So sir please give me your valuable advise

greenhorn · 18th August 2008, 22:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunbir

Results were very interesting.

can we have some details

Epic · 19th August 2008, 12:51

Hi Guys,

Since most of you have asked about the equipment im running; here goes: -

Headunit - Pioneer DEH-P6950UB
Front Components in door stock location - JBL GTO 606Ce
Rear 6X9 on MDF parcel tray - JBL GTO 937
12" Bass Tube - Infinity Ref 1200
4-channel amplifier - JBL GTO 75.4
Mono channel amplifier - JBL GTO 301.1

I am planning to change the headunit; hence your suggestions required and also the front components to Illusion Electras and rear 6X9s to Illusions 3-way 6X9s. Will also get rid of the bass tube and upgrade to 12" Ground Zero sub in an enclosure.

Kindly suggest a good high end headunit.

low_bass_makker · 19th August 2008, 13:10

I would suggest to go for Pioneer P-80, 8850 (coloured screen), Alpine 9887,9886

18th August 2008, 19:15	#1
Epic Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,572 Thanked: 1,015 Times	High End Headunits Hi, I have been told that the quality of sound in any ICE set-up also depends on the headunit. Is this true? Apparently one of the ways to get the best quality of sound can be achieved if using a high end headunit. Now my question is; how does one differenciate between a high end system and any other? I am presently using the Pioneer DEH-P6950UB and thought it was a high end headunit but was told that it is not so. So i am now looking for a high end headunit. Can anyone let me know the different and best highend headunit available in the market and what are the features that make it so?
	() Thanks

18th August 2008, 19:29	#2
greenhorn BANNED Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,878 Thanked: 4,910 Times View My Garage	Epic, what's the rest of your ICE like ? Amps , speakers etc in any ICE setup, the flow is like HU->amps-> speakers so it makes sense to upgrade your HU for better sound only if your amps and speakers are upto it. (kinda like upgrading your engine without upgrading the rest of your car ) The sound of various HU's are described to vary, and seems to be a matter of personal opinion. https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/produ...neer-p880.html is an interesting thread . Some popular high end HU's are compared there
	() Thanks

18th August 2008, 19:44	#3
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,964 Thanked: 333 Times View My Garage	Alpines are entry tickets to high end headunits. Heard Eclipse HU is THE one to have.
	() Thanks

18th August 2008, 20:27	#5
greenhorn BANNED Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,878 Thanked: 4,910 Times View My Garage	at least among the cheaper HU's the alpine's do sound better ( in my opinion) Disclaimer : I own one !
	() Thanks

18th August 2008, 21:25	#6
low_bass_makker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Faridabad Posts: 6,813 Thanked: 306 Times View My Garage	Few High end which I would love to have are, Alpine F-1 Pioneer P9 combo Clarion HX-D2
	() Thanks

18th August 2008, 21:40	#7
blueraven316 Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,109 Thanked: 21 Times View My Garage	among popular names Eclipse CD7100 / CD7200 Alpine 9887 + Imprint For the price the Eclipse makes the standalone 9887 look like a baby. Both sound real good at the end of the day. There is always something better available............always.
	() Thanks

18th August 2008, 21:43	#8
noidaboy BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Noida Posts: 1,003 Thanked: 268 Times View My Garage	Is it mandatory all high end HU sound good? Doesnt it depend on the features,the components used in the HU.The signature sound. Yes they would sound better than the current one you are using,but it will depend on how do you define good and what do you compare it too.
	() Thanks

18th August 2008, 22:09	#9
serioussound BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: kerala-trichur Posts: 32 Thanked: 5 Times	hi Friends please checkout these 3 headunits: Nakamichi-CD 700 II Clarion -HX D2 Mcintosh-MX-406
	() Thanks

18th August 2008, 22:26	#10
zucchero BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: faridabad/rourkela Posts: 250 Thanked: 0 Times	epic what equipments are you currently running??
	() Thanks

18th August 2008, 22:50	#12
serioussound BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: kerala-trichur Posts: 32 Thanked: 5 Times	Hi Gunbir sir,so you checked all those headunit,sir can you please suggests me which one is best among those 3 especially among clarion and nakamichi,i would like to replace my current headunit(eclipse-cd7100) with one of them,actually by sound quality wise i like nakamichi bt what the matter is i didnt like its look,thts why i give preferance to clarion its sounds good as well as it looks good too.So sir please give me your valuable advise
	() Thanks

19th August 2008, 12:51	#14
Epic Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,572 Thanked: 1,015 Times	Hi Guys, Since most of you have asked about the equipment im running; here goes: - Headunit - Pioneer DEH-P6950UB Front Components in door stock location - JBL GTO 606Ce Rear 6X9 on MDF parcel tray - JBL GTO 937 12" Bass Tube - Infinity Ref 1200 4-channel amplifier - JBL GTO 75.4 Mono channel amplifier - JBL GTO 301.1 I am planning to change the headunit; hence your suggestions required and also the front components to Illusion Electras and rear 6X9s to Illusions 3-way 6X9s. Will also get rid of the bass tube and upgrade to 12" Ground Zero sub in an enclosure. Kindly suggest a good high end headunit.
	() Thanks

19th August 2008, 13:10	#15
low_bass_makker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Faridabad Posts: 6,813 Thanked: 306 Times View My Garage	I would suggest to go for Pioneer P-80, 8850 (coloured screen), Alpine 9887,9886
	() Thanks