4v vs, 2v preout sq
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=110494
Printed Date: May 02, 2024 at 2:33 AM
Topic: 4v vs, 2v preout sq
Posted By: manahawkinrob
Subject: 4v vs, 2v preout sq
Date Posted: January 09, 2009 at 1:02 PM
I just recently replaced my Alpine CDA-9885 HU with a Kenwood DNX7120 DVD/NAV system. All other components are the same. An Alpine PDX 4.100 driving Alpine components in the front, the other 2 channels bridged for the (2) 8" subs, and Alpine coax in the rear driven by the HU. Since the swap, first I had to turn my gains up signifiganlty. The other thing I noticed is that my SQ has deteriorated greatly. The Alpine had very clear highs and deep bass, while the Kenwood seems muffled. The only obvious thing I notice in the specs are the different preout voltages. Could this be my problem and would line drivers solve this, or is it just that the Alpine unit is superior in SQ to the Kenwood?
Replies:
Posted By: whiterob
Date Posted: January 09, 2009 at 1:58 PM
manahawkinrob wrote:
I just recently replaced my Alpine CDA-9885 HU with a Kenwood DNX7120 DVD/NAV system. All other components are the same. An Alpine PDX 4.100 driving Alpine components in the front, the other 2 channels bridged for the (2) 8" subs, and Alpine coax in the rear driven by the HU. Since the swap, first I had to turn my gains up signifiganlty. The other thing I noticed is that my SQ has deteriorated greatly. The Alpine had very clear highs and deep bass, while the Kenwood seems muffled. The only obvious thing I notice in the specs are the different preout voltages. Could this be my problem and would line drivers solve this, or is it just that the Alpine unit is superior in SQ to the Kenwood?
The reason you had to turn the gain up more was due to the preout voltage. However, the reason your sound qualty was worse was most likely due to the Alpine deck being a superior deck then the Kenwood. It is unlikely that there was a great difference in sound quality just because of the preout voltages.
Posted By: manahawkinrob
Date Posted: January 09, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Thanks for the reply. I was hoping I could improve the quality of the Kenwood with line drivers, I hate to be stuck with this SQ for the price of the HU...oh well
Posted By: haemphyst
Date Posted: January 10, 2009 at 12:36 AM
A line driver may or may not help, most likely hindering your goal of SQ, but I can GUARANTEE that it will add noise and distortion to the system, no matter HOW "good" it/they (the manufacturer) might say it is. It's a gain stage, pure and simple, and EVERY gain stage will cause some amount of destruction (as well as add it's own noise) to the signal. It is a fact of life.
And, as I know that Audio Control happens to be the "leader" in the line driver arena (certainly the most named, and most recognized), I will stop you from even considering that particular brand, as I will guess that was the product you were going to ask about next... The S/N ratio of nearly ALL the AQ gear is outrageously high, and this one piece is no exception. DON'T DO IT!
My suggestion? Go back to the Alpine head... The Kenwood IS NOT a step up in the SQ department. Sell it, and cut your losses to a bare minimum. The addition of ANY line driver will only boost the poor output performance of a crappy head to even higher levels of crap, and then you'll be stuck off-loading TWO pieces of inadequate audio gear.
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It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."
Posted By: manahawkinrob
Date Posted: January 12, 2009 at 11:18 AM
haemphyst: Thank you for the reply. You guys have pretty much confirmed my fears. I got a crappier quailty unit. I really did love the Alpine, still do as I put it in my other car, that is why I can still compare the two HUs. The reason I bought the Kenwood is that it is a NAV system as well, but after having the Alpine, I know what good SQ should sound like. I put a lot of work into the new kenwood though, backup camera, sirius, bluetooth, so now I am just gonna have to sell the whole truck and start all over :-(
Posted By: cadenceclipse
Date Posted: January 15, 2009 at 12:44 AM
sell it 4get bout nav, at least if your talkin anything bout sq
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: January 15, 2009 at 3:26 AM
Still want SQ and GPS and high output voltage and low impedence preouts, look no further than the Eclipse AVN6620. I use the last years model and it is a far superior unit as far as I am concerned. www.eclipse-web.com for more info. ------------- Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: cadenceclipse
Date Posted: January 15, 2009 at 10:59 AM
well i think forbidden hit the mark on that one. gotta b like 2 gs though.
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: January 15, 2009 at 12:11 PM
I sold all of the ones I had in stock, they were on sale for $1000CDN and included a Bluetooth interface.
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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: cadenceclipse
Date Posted: January 15, 2009 at 12:13 PM
damn, that hurts, canada rules
Posted By: manahawkinrob
Date Posted: January 16, 2009 at 10:52 AM
I appreciate the recommendation on the eclipse HU, but I think you got a little off topic from my OP. Obvioulsy I do not want to rip the entire unit out, attempt to sell it at a huge loss, then start all over again with another model. Also, the Kenwood has Garmin NAV, which is one of the best. Anyways, my OP was about how I might be able to improve my SQ on the Kenwood HU, I didn't think it would be so noticable between the two units. Anyways again, thank you to the people who answered the OP with their input.
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