Head unit question
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=22881
Printed Date: May 16, 2024 at 11:04 AM
Topic: Head unit question
Posted By: eternalrollaz
Subject: Head unit question
Date Posted: December 15, 2003 at 8:00 PM
I need to get a new head unit, right now i have a 180 watt JVC. The system im running- 4 audiobahn 5x7 in doors, 2 audiobahn 6x9s, 2 alum15q subs, JBL 1200 watt mono amp, soon to be MA audio 4000 watt. I have no amp(s) powering my doors and my 6x9s. What would you guys recomend i go with?...Under $400.
Replies:
Posted By: INTENSECUSTOMS
Date Posted: December 15, 2003 at 9:34 PM
i think one of the best headunits for that type of set up is the alpine 9813 it has a built in bass engine 5-band eq and a built in v-drive amplifier 60x4 channels that radio usually goes for about 400 ,and that ma amp is nice i have three of the hk 4000d thats a pretty expensive amp i carry them if you have any questions email me
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Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: December 16, 2003 at 12:28 PM
For now, throw out the cd player and bigger sub amp purchase, if your existing cd player has front / rear pre-outs, add a good 4 channel amp to the system. It will greatly improve the sound quality of the system, provide much greater volume levels and give the speakers protection from damaging frequencies by means of the high pass crossover. An cd player that says it makes 60 watts x4 of mosfet power need to get slapped upside the head, most cd players make between 14-25 watts rms of power and not much current to go along with it, especially compared to an outboard amp. If you are after a higher end system, ignore that MA audio 4000 watt amplifier (unless it has a fuse size of about 370 amps (for 100% efficency). Your buying an amplifier, not a wattlifier. If you read soe of the posts, you will see that most people recommend Eclipse or Nakamichi head unit before an Alpine. Alpine does make good cd players but the other two generally speaking will hand the Alpine it's walking papers. Just another .02 cents ------------- Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: INTENSECUSTOMS
Date Posted: December 16, 2003 at 3:50 PM
Nakamichi and eclipse are definitely good radios,but the matter of the fact is if the guy is not using an amp for his components the alpine v-drive is one of the best,and mostpowerful radios for under $400.00 I agree that i would use an amp for the 5x7 and the 6x9s but if you dont have an amp you dont have an amp! If you would like an amp for the 15qs get the audiobahn2300 -------------
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: December 16, 2003 at 4:21 PM
I read the post as what he would do for under $400.00, thus to make the biggest difference in sound I would look at a 4 channel amp. Any cd player that says it makes that much power is on crack. A diffenence in output levels that is noticable by the ear is 3db give or take. This would mean that his cd player at 160 watt peak power or 40 watt x4 peak would need to be 80w x4 peak, not bloody likely but you never know. The fact is that Alpine does not produce 60w x4 of clean power, in fact it is a marginal difference in output levels from one brand to another. The fact is that any head unit is not capable of producing the "wattage" it claims nor the current to drive the speakers cleanly as compared to an amp. Any eq or bass engine etc. built into a cd player is a good way for a customer to start and fry speakers in any system, amplified or not (more so with the latter). I am a firm believer that customers in general do not use nor understand a stereo system the way that I do, thus I expect them to have problems when they use an eq or bass engine etc. A cd player will improve his quality of sound if he is to change to an Alpine, Nakamichi or Eclipse, granted, but with what he has right now, he will probably get a better "value" with putting in an amplifier for the front and rear speakers. Now if he has a problem with his cd player that he did not post and that is why he wants a new cd player well then that's a different story.
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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: eternalrollaz
Date Posted: December 16, 2003 at 6:31 PM
As always, I thank you all for your help and information. I think im going to end up buying a 4 channel amp, as it will be less trouble, and cost, to do that instead of ordering an alpine cd player, but i thank you both for your help.
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