Kenwood or Pioneer

akshay4587 · 6th April 2009, 18:50

Guys I need to pick up a Entry level HU for my Car
in a day or two.

Options are

Pioneer 2150UB-5.4K Without B&W

Kenwood MP 543 HU-6.4K with 2 years warranty or 5.2K With bill

Kenwood 5039\5539-5K without B&W

This Head unit would be driving Bull Audio components(Powered by a Blaupunk Amp).

Which out of these is a better buy?

I personally liked Kenwood's build quality that was way better than tacky pioneer,but then its just not about build quality

Help guys

abhibh · 6th April 2009, 19:03

My choice will be 543U / 5039. 543 is a nice looking HU with better build, but i think it doesn't have HPF control from HU.

Though you should remember few things:

1. Kenwood is slow in reading CD's and USB compared to Pio

2. User interface is better in Pio.

abhinav.gupta88 · 6th April 2009, 19:04

Why not the 3050?
Did you compare the features of that with the 2150.
It is a good hu with 2 preouts usb , ipod etc.

akshay4587 · 6th April 2009, 19:19

3050 was not available
user interface is not an issue
i can fiddle with it
slow reading hmmm doesnt matter much
but somehow i dont like tacky look of pioneer

chiragh_bir · 7th April 2009, 21:38

go for pioneer 5050 below that will be a compromise you won't feel any difference if you shift from sony to 3050 i have tested it personally!!

kenwood are good but atleast buy 5039 you will get HPF setting in it good for future

but i still say save up and get a better HU or you will land up upgrading all the time and loose money !

abhibh · 8th April 2009, 01:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiragh_bir

go for pioneer 5050 below that will be a compromise you won't feel any difference if you shift from sony to 3050 i have tested it personally!!

kenwood are good but atleast buy 5039 you will get HPF setting in it good for future

but i still say save up and get a better HU or you will land up upgrading all the time and loose money !

He found the one he wanted i guess

Did ya audition his ride yet ? If yes then you gotta hear it with the new HU upgrade.

akshay4587 · 8th April 2009, 09:15

Got A Kenwood 5539

D1ISTHE1 · 9th April 2009, 01:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiragh_bir

go for pioneer 5050 below that will be a compromise you won't feel any difference if you shift from sony to 3050 i have tested it personally!!

kenwood are good but atleast buy 5039 you will get HPF setting in it good for future

but i still say save up and get a better HU or you will land up upgrading all the time and loose money !

Dude .. @chiragh_bir is right, go for a good HU that has audio settings for future upgrades..never compromise on the HU its the basic engine.
D1

karankapoor · 9th April 2009, 12:39

one should never compromise on head unit,if you use a basic hu and amps worth lac it will sound like a Desi system.i will not call it a engine i will call it heart of the system

abhibh · 9th April 2009, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by karankapoor

one should never compromise on head unit,if you use a basic hu and amps worth lac it will sound like a Desi system.i will not call it a engine i will call it heart of the system

Yup but the budget and equipment hardly crosses 20K.

1. Kenny 5539
2. Balu MKII Amp
3. Bull Compos
4. Wiring.

Good VFM IMHO.

pawan_pullarwar · 16th April 2009, 14:55

Which one to go for
I am upgrading my cd player. I like Kenwood sound over Pioneer. I have two option in Kenwood. Kenwood 543u for 7400/- with bill and 2 year waranty from Kenwood authorised car accessories and Kenwood 5039 for 5600/- without bill from local car accessories shop.

esteem_lover · 16th April 2009, 17:04

The Kenwood package sounds better.

ascertain · 16th April 2009, 17:13

I would suggest kenwood over pio any day!. Because- I auditioned at least 14 HUs (from the stables of Sony,Pio & Kenwood) before getting my kenny HU (posted in Sound off & Show off under "Cool fiesta Sxi ICE) , and it still blows my mind every time I turn it on!

akshay4587 · 16th April 2009, 19:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawan_pullarwar

Which one to go for
I am upgrading my cd player. I like Kenwood sound over Pioneer. I have two option in Kenwood. Kenwood 543u for 7400/- with bill and 2 year waranty from Kenwood authorised car accessories and Kenwood 5039 for 5600/- without bill from local car accessories shop.

this is somewhat expensive
I was quoted 6.4K for 543U with bill and warranty,and 4.8K without.
5039 has been replaced by 5539 so you may need to check if its 5039 or 5539

5539 without B&W is for 5K

hillram · 16th April 2009, 20:11

Kenwood is any day better in terms of features and output.
I have been long time user of Kenwood and what more..Mclaren Mercedes uses Knwood radio and hifi systems in their racing cars and radio communication with Pits and engineers.

6th April 2009, 18:50	#1
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,151 Thanked: 4,525 Times View My Garage	Kenwood or Pioneer Guys I need to pick up a Entry level HU for my Car in a day or two. Options are Pioneer 2150UB-5.4K Without B&W Kenwood MP 543 HU-6.4K with 2 years warranty or 5.2K With bill Kenwood 5039\5539-5K without B&W This Head unit would be driving Bull Audio components(Powered by a Blaupunk Amp). Which out of these is a better buy? I personally liked Kenwood's build quality that was way better than tacky pioneer,but then its just not about build quality Help guys
	() Thanks

6th April 2009, 19:03	#2
abhibh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Back in the HOOD near you! Posts: 2,768 Thanked: 39 Times	My choice will be 543U / 5039. 543 is a nice looking HU with better build, but i think it doesn't have HPF control from HU. Though you should remember few things: 1. Kenwood is slow in reading CD's and USB compared to Pio 2. User interface is better in Pio. Last edited by abhibh : 6th April 2009 at 19:04.
	() Thanks

6th April 2009, 19:04	#3
abhinav.gupta88 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi , India Posts: 4,092 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	Why not the 3050? Did you compare the features of that with the 2150. It is a good hu with 2 preouts usb , ipod etc.
	() Thanks

6th April 2009, 19:19	#4
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,151 Thanked: 4,525 Times View My Garage	3050 was not available user interface is not an issue i can fiddle with it slow reading hmmm doesnt matter much but somehow i dont like tacky look of pioneer
	() Thanks

7th April 2009, 21:38	#5
chiragh_bir Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In front of you :P Posts: 1,123 Thanked: 74 Times View My Garage	go for pioneer 5050 below that will be a compromise you won't feel any difference if you shift from sony to 3050 i have tested it personally!! kenwood are good but atleast buy 5039 you will get HPF setting in it good for future but i still say save up and get a better HU or you will land up upgrading all the time and loose money ! Last edited by chiragh_bir : 7th April 2009 at 21:40.
	() Thanks

8th April 2009, 09:15	#7
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,151 Thanked: 4,525 Times View My Garage	Got A Kenwood 5539
	() Thanks

9th April 2009, 12:39	#9
karankapoor Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: in the car!!! Posts: 1,675 Thanked: 6 Times	one should never compromise on head unit,if you use a basic hu and amps worth lac it will sound like a Desi system.i will not call it a engine i will call it heart of the system
	() Thanks

16th April 2009, 14:55	#11
pawan_pullarwar BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pune - Now in Munich, Germany Posts: 778 Thanked: 129 Times	Which one to go for I am upgrading my cd player. I like Kenwood sound over Pioneer. I have two option in Kenwood. Kenwood 543u for 7400/- with bill and 2 year waranty from Kenwood authorised car accessories and Kenwood 5039 for 5600/- without bill from local car accessories shop.
	() Thanks

16th April 2009, 17:04	#12
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 502 Times View My Garage	The Kenwood package sounds better.
	() Thanks

16th April 2009, 17:13	#13
ascertain BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cannanore Posts: 155 Thanked: 41 Times	Kenny al the way I would suggest kenwood over pio any day!. Because- I auditioned at least 14 HUs (from the stables of Sony,Pio & Kenwood) before getting my kenny HU (posted in Sound off & Show off under "Cool fiesta Sxi ICE) , and it still blows my mind every time I turn it on!
	() Thanks

16th April 2009, 20:11	#15
hillram Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 2,942 Thanked: 1,326 Times View My Garage	Kenwood is any day better in terms of features and output. I have been long time user of Kenwood and what more..Mclaren Mercedes uses Knwood radio and hifi systems in their racing cars and radio communication with Pits and engineers.
	() Thanks