Does a HU really make a difference

Perez · 7th April 2010, 17:10

Hi guys,

I have a sony HU(dont remember the model) and agree that its not the best HU around. However, I use an Aux-in for playing my music and want to know if the HU would actually make too much difference in the SQ.

Am currently on a very tight budget and want to know whether i should spend it on better speakers or a better HU considering that i use my portable music player and very rarely used CDs.

Cheers,
Perez.

Epic · 7th April 2010, 17:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perez

Hi guys,

I have a sony HU(dont remember the model) and agree that its not the best HU around. However, I use an Aux-in for playing my music and want to know if the HU would actually make too much difference in the SQ.

Am currently on a very tight budget and want to know whether i should spend it on better speakers or a better HU considering that i use my portable music player and very rarely used CDs.

Cheers,
Perez.

Hi,

First you need to tell us the kind of equipment you are running i.e. which headunit (as you have already mentioned), which speakers, which amps & sub if any. So you coulb be using a low end headunit with good speakers in which case upgrading the hedunit would make a huge difference or vise versa. Today, most headunits come with iPod ready/iPod adapter ready, USB slot and/or Bluetooth facility. This will help with using your portable music player.

This thread may also help you get an idea of the difference between Hig End headunits and regular ones and the practical difference they make in an audio setup
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/ask-gu...headunits.html

greenhorn · 7th April 2010, 20:08

The whole system needs to be balanced, thats all. give us a list of you equipment, and we'll tell you what to upgrade first

santhosh_lv · 7th April 2010, 20:57

Just upgrading the speakers or the HU will not do justice to the quality of music. They need to be balanced. Please tell us which HU do you use and about the existing speakers. Help us understand wat exactly is missing and what is that you wanted to upgrade in the sound? ( Example: clarity or Bass or Sound distribution.. )

ranjitkodali · 7th April 2010, 22:20

The HU, speakers and cables form a complete package. You do not want to run a ferrari on autorickshaw wheels or put a ferrari alloys to an autorickshaw. So if u are going to a better HU, ensure that u have appropriate setup to deliver the performance of the new HU.

DerAlte · 8th April 2010, 01:02

@perez, put in a good pair of components in the front, and shift the existing speakers to the back.

When the HU conks off (it eventually will, in the not too distant future *no I am not casting a jinx*) replace it with something better. By that time you will be able to tell the difference, as well feel the lack of something. All the best!

Perez · 8th April 2010, 09:51

hey all, thanks for the replies.

My existing setup is a sort of 'khichdi' of brands, sony xplod HU(sorry but still cant find the model number but its 4 years old), and JBL 6x9 in the back and pioneer 6.5" coaxials in the front. I listen to a variety of music. Not a big fan of boomng bass but yes, i like to feel a decent thump in my music. I'm more of an SQL guy rather than an SPL guy

My question though was a little different, so restating. Considering the fact that my music is genereally played off an auxillary cable, will upgrading the HU make a difference. I use a Microsoft zune as the portable player and have not come across a HU which supports the same through a direct jack and so would need to use an aux only.

Thanks

alpha1 · 8th April 2010, 11:27

Oopsie, to bust many ppl's bubble - but the speakers do make most difference.
The make/model as well as placement.

Next comes your source. This is where digital to analog conversion takes place.
And last comes amplifier unit.

Perez, please spend first on speakers.

Sam Kapasi · 8th April 2010, 14:21

While the case of GIGO (Garbage in, garbage out) is as true in car audio as anywhere else (more true actually), a head unti only begins to show it's true nature with advanced car audio.

Means?

If you have a head unit with a standard BTL amplifier (a few watts rms) and basic tone controls, there will be a difference in the tonal quality, yes, but not enough to justify the cost of a new HU.
The minute you have an amplifier and good speakers, then the difference between one head unit and the other is very, very apparent.

Perez · 8th April 2010, 14:39

Thanks sam, so i think the first thing i will do is get better speakers

cheers,
Perez.

navin · 8th April 2010, 15:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perez

Thanks sam, so i think the first thing i will do is get better speakers

.

A-ha the upward spiral starts...first better speakers, then a better amp to drive them, they a netter HU to ensure the best performance of the amp and speakers is obtained..then still better speakers...

mobike008 · 8th April 2010, 15:58

I agree Navin. The quest for the perfect sounding stage is a never ending search

One quick question, I have an old Pio HU 6850 and the knob has come off it. I am just using the pin inside that to change my music. Its becoming a bother.

Can that knob be fixed back on? When i press the knob in, it keeps falling out.

montyguru · 15th April 2010, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobike008

I agree Navin. The quest for the perfect sounding stage is a never ending search

One quick question, I have an old Pio HU 6850 and the knob has come off it. I am just using the pin inside that to change my music. Its becoming a bother.

Can that knob be fixed back on? When i press the knob in, it keeps falling out.

to be safe, u can try with rubber solution fevibond. or use elfy or fevikwick.

HU:
i have personally auditioned eclipse CD 7200 MKII on various setups. by chance once, i got a chance to compare it head on with alpine 9887. on a v. basic bull audio component setup in an 800, as soon we changed the kenwood 8401 amp to Audio Art, the eclipse showed all its glory. the songs came alive, and i felt that it was the first time i was hearing so many instruments off Rehman's Rang de Basanti. alpine was nowhere close to it.

i have also done this keeda with MB Quart... and image dynamics... though the speakers were good and expensive, the head units didn't make any diff, both played the same.

it may sound amateur... but that's the way i suggest to go about it. first, buy a good head unit. then a good amplifier. then speakers. yeah, i'm sure speakers make a big difference. but the source first must be as good as it can get. it can even make the most averagely priced speakers sound awesome.

7th April 2010, 17:10	#1
Perez BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 56 Thanked: Once View My Garage	Does a HU really make a difference Hi guys, I have a sony HU(dont remember the model) and agree that its not the best HU around. However, I use an Aux-in for playing my music and want to know if the HU would actually make too much difference in the SQ. Am currently on a very tight budget and want to know whether i should spend it on better speakers or a better HU considering that i use my portable music player and very rarely used CDs. Cheers, Perez.
	() Thanks

7th April 2010, 20:08	#3
greenhorn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,878 Thanked: 4,910 Times View My Garage	The whole system needs to be balanced, thats all. give us a list of you equipment, and we'll tell you what to upgrade first
	() Thanks

7th April 2010, 20:57	#4
santhosh_lv BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 134 Thanked: 76 Times	Just upgrading the speakers or the HU will not do justice to the quality of music. They need to be balanced. Please tell us which HU do you use and about the existing speakers. Help us understand wat exactly is missing and what is that you wanted to upgrade in the sound? ( Example: clarity or Bass or Sound distribution.. )
	() Thanks

7th April 2010, 22:20	#5
ranjitkodali BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 48 Thanked: 8 Times View My Garage	The HU, speakers and cables form a complete package. You do not want to run a ferrari on autorickshaw wheels or put a ferrari alloys to an autorickshaw. So if u are going to a better HU, ensure that u have appropriate setup to deliver the performance of the new HU.
	() Thanks

8th April 2010, 01:02	#6
DerAlte Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 8,027 Thanked: 2,920 Times	@perez, put in a good pair of components in the front, and shift the existing speakers to the back. When the HU conks off (it eventually will, in the not too distant future no I am not casting a jinx) replace it with something better. By that time you will be able to tell the difference, as well feel the lack of something. All the best!
	() Thanks

8th April 2010, 09:51	#7
Perez BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 56 Thanked: Once View My Garage	hey all, thanks for the replies. My existing setup is a sort of 'khichdi' of brands, sony xplod HU(sorry but still cant find the model number but its 4 years old), and JBL 6x9 in the back and pioneer 6.5" coaxials in the front. I listen to a variety of music. Not a big fan of boomng bass but yes, i like to feel a decent thump in my music. I'm more of an SQL guy rather than an SPL guy My question though was a little different, so restating. Considering the fact that my music is genereally played off an auxillary cable, will upgrading the HU make a difference. I use a Microsoft zune as the portable player and have not come across a HU which supports the same through a direct jack and so would need to use an aux only. Thanks
	() Thanks

8th April 2010, 11:27	#8
alpha1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: LandOfNoWinters Posts: 2,184 Thanked: 3,013 Times	Oopsie, to bust many ppl's bubble - but the speakers do make most difference. The make/model as well as placement. Next comes your source. This is where digital to analog conversion takes place. And last comes amplifier unit. Perez, please spend first on speakers.
	() Thanks

8th April 2010, 14:21	#9
Sam Kapasi Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (but wat Posts: 6,935 Thanked: 2,483 Times View My Garage	While the case of GIGO (Garbage in, garbage out) is as true in car audio as anywhere else (more true actually), a head unti only begins to show it's true nature with advanced car audio. Means? If you have a head unit with a standard BTL amplifier (a few watts rms) and basic tone controls, there will be a difference in the tonal quality, yes, but not enough to justify the cost of a new HU. The minute you have an amplifier and good speakers, then the difference between one head unit and the other is very, very apparent.
	() Thanks

8th April 2010, 14:39	#10
Perez BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 56 Thanked: Once View My Garage	Thanks sam, so i think the first thing i will do is get better speakers cheers, Perez.
	() Thanks

8th April 2010, 15:58	#12
mobike008 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 12,008 Thanked: 17,209 Times View My Garage	I agree Navin. The quest for the perfect sounding stage is a never ending search One quick question, I have an old Pio HU 6850 and the knob has come off it. I am just using the pin inside that to change my music. Its becoming a bother. Can that knob be fixed back on? When i press the knob in, it keeps falling out.
	() Thanks