Time for new gear

Merely hours after my last post, I went out to dinner with some friends. When I came back, my window was broken, and my head, processer, and one of two amps were gone.

Usually that would be a cause for concern, but since my insurance company is covering a good portion of the replacement value, it's time to change topologies. For a while now I've used a head -> processors -> amps -> speakers design. I'd really like to simplify that a little, perhaps by getting a new head that can handle a 3-way setup with internal DSP.

I know all about Pioneer's 960MP, but I'd like a little more flexability in the XO points than it gives. I've been having trouble finding out exactly what Eclipse (8454/5444?) allows you to do with their DSP heads, same goes for Clarion (9835?). What I really want is the ability to select my XO frequencies at will, or on 1/3 octave centers, have real live time alignment, and support for both a changer and an aux input. I'm not into video or surround. just nice, simple, stereo rig with 2-ways and stereo subs. Budget is...well...I can afford to buy the DEH-P960MP new without any trouble, but I'm not sure I want to.

I'm willing to consider a head/processor combination, but only if I don't like the head-only things. Fewer boxes means more simplicity. Simplicity is good.

-dave

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This is not a sig. This is a duck. Quack.

really i have not found a head unit that i was happy enough with to eliminate my crossover completly.   I am still running the 30 band. I have tried a few times to use diffrent head units but it just dosent cut the freq's quite as accuratly as they say they will. My friend has a new eclipse deck that has a billion crossover features but no matter what we still ended up putting his in dash eq back in.   

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2009 0-1000 Trunk WR 154.0DB 2009 1001+ Trunk WR
2007 USACI World Champion
2007 World Record
2006 USACI Finals 2nd Place

I've never found that much EQ was required in my car...I get by just fine with 3 bands of parametric right now. I'm mainly interested in getting things like the time alignment and 18/24dB XOs available at whatever my chosen frequency is (1/3 octave centers are my minimum requirement).

I suppose what I really need to define is what I'm looking for:
3 way DSP crossover
Crossover points that aren't preselected for me (I hate what Pioneer gives me for tweeters)
Time alignment (yes, I can hear it)
18 and, if available, 24dB crossover slopes

I remember a few years back, there were a number of units that did time alignment. Now it seems to have been passed by the wayside by the market, along with sane XO points (come on, 5k for a 6.5" to a tweet? WTF?) and steep XO slopes (6dB? I can do better with a passive).

The DEQ-9200 and it's ilk are what I'm trying to get away from.

What I've found so far:

Pioneer's DEH-P960MP is a Pioneer, and I'm not a huge fan of the sound or the look. Negative marks for terrible XO frequency limitations.
I hate the interface on Alpine's gear, save the unobtanium F1 7990, and I have a long grudge against them as a company.
The Eclipse (CD8454) doesn't have a detaichable face, which really bugs me. CD-Key doesn't seem like a particularly good alternative to me. I rather like the look and the functionality of the unit tho, not to mention the outstanding sound.
Pro Mode for the Clarion DXZ945MP won't do 3-way, and I really don't want to speand a grand on a head unit (DRZ9255).

What else is there that does what I want? Am I really asking too much?

-dave

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This is not a sig. This is a duck. Quack.