CD Recievers

cam5860

I have a question about the da converters on these head units. Can you tell a lot of difference in a 1 bit da converter and 24 bit da converter. Alpine still uses the 1 bit on there high end models, but kenwood and clarion high end models carry the 24 bit burr brown converter. Is there a lot difference in the sound quality of these converters.

MacLeod

Nope.

audiobliss

MacLeod wrote:

Nope.

[RANT&RAVE][/RANT&RAVE]

The 24-bit Burr Brown DAC is the only (pretty much) reason I wanted my Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP HU. I'll just keep telling myself there is a difference.

1996blackmax

cam5860 wrote:

I have a question about the da converters on these head units. Can you tell a lot of difference in a 1 bit da converter and 24 bit da converter. Alpine still uses the 1 bit on there high end models, but kenwood and clarion high end models carry the 24 bit burr brown converter. Is there a lot difference in the sound quality of these converters.

I believe that you can tell that there is a difference. The difference may not be huge, but it is noticeable. I have owned HU's with 20bit, 24bit, and 1bit DAC's. To some people finding a HU that has more tuning options and more functions that they will use might be better than just getting a unit with a better DAC.

I ran two older Alpine setups that had four 20bit Burr Brown DAC's, and then went to their newer units (3 total) with the Regulated 1bit DAC's. One of these is installed in our other car. The difference to me was pretty aparent. Two of the one's with the 1bit DAC's were their top models. It had better internal components than the rest of the line, but the 1bit DAC's did not match the sound that the Burr Brown converters had (I believe they produce a bit fuller and warmer sound). I finally sold my Alpine 7998 and went with me Eclipse HU as it offered the features I wanted as well as the guts I wanted in a stereo, one of them being the 24bit DAC. The 7998 was a very nice stereo, and I liked it a lot (had it had BBE I think I would have kept it). I think it was nicer looking, and way easier to use than my Eclipse CD8454.

I think that the most important thing in getting a HU would be to get one that will have the features that you want and will "fit" in your install the best. If you can find one you like, and it has the better DAC, then that is a plus.

exalted512

i think there is, its hard to tell because no two head units are the same with only different dac's, but ill continue buying pioneer because they have better dac's
-Cody

PoweredByDodge

i believe so...

the difference in sound quality between my near 500 dollar retail alpine that i just removed and the 300 dollar retail kenwood i put in is insanely clear. while the kenwood is cheaper, the sound it puts out is more clear, more crisp, and it makes the output of the alpine sound somewhat of a "foggy vision".

i don't know if its that the alpine had a 1 big dac and the kenwood has a 24 bit burr brown, or that the kenwood is just made better overall - but that's my experience so far.

MacLeod

Possible that the Kenwood is just made better overall. Also, does it have higher volt outputs than the Alpine?

I noticed a big differnce in going from a 2 volt head to my current 4 volt Alpine due to the stronger signal.

zgw8

Definately a difference...

audiobliss

zgw8 wrote:

Definately a difference...

I'm with ya there. I really think there is.

1996blackmax

I knew I was not heargin things .

PoweredByDodge

the KW is 5 volts rms - the Alpine was "4 volt outs" but they were 4 volt peak to peak. rms out was around 2 1/2-ish.

MacLeod

That Kenwood looks like a very solid unit. Im thinking of upgrading my head unit down the line and may have to look into one.

PoweredByDodge

excelons are wonderful little ****. i had been avoiding getting one since i saw those blasted "flip down" faces with the little ribbon wire that connected the actual deck to the faceplate - those were a damaged deck waiting to happen, my friend saw so many come back into circuit city when he was there.

then they got all snazzy again and i started to want one but not having money laying around became a factor - i finally bit the bullet and just bought one.

the cool thing now though i that since i took the alpine cda-7864 out of my grandfather's truck and replaced it with the alpine from my truck, i now have that "almost good working" 7864 and the broken 7863 from my ex girlfriend's car. since the 64 and 63 are identical (faceplate is silver on the 64, black on the 63 - thats the only difference)... i'm going to try to "mix and match" and put together one good working deck. if i can do this, then i will throw it in my 88 and be one step closer to a "perfect" restoration of my former love. if this keeps going as well as it is - i may just have to "repossess" the optimus 4 channel in his truck (obviously donating an mtx or something to him in exchange) for "restoration" purposes as well. god i'm so sentimental.