Opinions on which deck

Debating between Pioneer Avic N1, Kenwood Kvt915dvd, and a McIntosh MX406.  Obviously if I am looking for the best playback I will choose the McIntosh, but for some reason the mobile video nitch is biting me in the ass.  Just wanted some opinions on the three and maybe a little reasoning behind them.  Please don't waste the time of mentioning any other sources because I will be using one of these three. (maybe just maybe a Pioneer P9)

-------------

As much as I love the Pioneer P9 it still wont compare to the macintosh, and after you buy the DEQ 9 processor to go with it its gonna be as much as the Macintosh anyways. Outta the two video units I would do the pioneer for two reasons a) I think they sound better than the Kenwoods and B) I think the interface is easier to use. Now both of those are suggestive comments and could change depending on the person. I dont know that Mac deck very well, if it has an aux you could always use a stand alone screen and DVD player and still get the wonderful benifits of having the Macintosh deck. Just a thought

-------------
double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer

I agree with Ravendarat, if you HAVE to choose between Pioneer and Kenwood, Pioneer will win.  But man, neither of those (and not much else) is even in the same neighborhood as far as SQ goes to a McIntosh.  You simply cannot compare a Mac to any mass-produced brand as it will outclass them before you turn it on.  Granted, if you want built-in video or bells and whistles, then don't look at McIntosh (or Nakamichi, the only Japanese brand that can compete) as they are built to SOUND good, not to make you go ooh and ah looking at pretty flashing lights...

-------------
Support the12volt.com

it always seems to come back to quality  vs. quantity

-------------
Kevin Gerry
Certified Electronics Technician
MECP First Class Installer

Owner/Installer
Classic Car Audio
since 1979

The only complaint I have about the McIntosh is that there is no seeking through tracks on it.  I know that sounds pretty dumb, but alot of my music is ambient, trance, and techno.  Some of the songs are just to damn long so you want to get to the peaks in the song.  Hmmm and the other thing, my subwoofers are of a different impedance.  Read through one of the other posts about the subs being a different impedance.  Only thing is though I really didn't agree with the response he was given.  The part about the subwoofers having different voltage drops in a series connection I can agree with.  The subwoofers in parallel though would have the same voltage drop, they would just draw different amonts of current.  Either way if you guys have more reasoning behind those thoughts please share. 

-------------

Yes, that is a weakness of the 406.  If you pair it with a changer, the remote has track skip.  Next year's surce model should fix that shortcoming.

As far as woofers in parallel with different impedence ratings, there is nothing electricaly wrong with this as the amplifier will not care and will indeed supply as much current as it can into the net load it sees.  And you are correct, both loads will drop the same voltage and split the available current depending on thier impedence.

So, what happens if one sub is 4 ohms and the other is 2 ohms with the same voltage acrosss each?  Power = Voltage squared divided by resistance, so if the amplifier is operating at 20 volts, the 4 ohm driver will produce 100 watts of acoustical power, and the 2-ohm will produce 200 watts, correct?  So in effect, you will hear the lower impedence driver at twice the apparent power level of the higher one.  The net effect is that the contribution of the higher impedence sub to the net sound becomes almost negligable and you might as well not have it in your system consuming energy needlessly.  The best way to use two unequal impedence drivers os to cross them over into different frequency bands so they can each operate seperately and you can realize the potential benefits of both.

-------------
Support the12volt.com

That would be another issue, the fact that the subs will running off of the bridged output of the McIntosh amp. All together series-parallel

-------------

If your subs (the ID Max's?) are 2 different impedences, do yourself a favor and either only run one of them or trade one in to match the other.  If you are going for SQ, keep the higher impedence one you have and make the other match it.  Otherwise it will be more trouble than it is worth.

-------------
Support the12volt.com

How much are all those decks??  If there in the $3000 range, then im shure as hell shure you'll get better perfomace from a Alpine DVI-9990.  I know you don't want any other suggestions, but i just wanted to throw this one in.

-------------
2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.

The Macinstosh will out preform any alpine deck in the area of SQ anyday of the week, including F#1 status decks. At least I am lead to believe this from everything I have seen and read about the mac decks

-------------
double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer

It's actually 3 subwoofers that's the only reason they are of a different impedance.  (Next year's surce model should fix that shortcoming.) what did you mean by this.....I wouldn't be surprised considering the 406 has been out for 7 years now. 

-------------