Just picked up a Pioneer DEH-P8600MP

1996blackmax

I bought this head unit to try it out, and to see if it would offer SQ close to my Eclipse CD8454. If it does I will probably keep it and sell the 8454. I installed this in my car on Thursday, and I think I may have it adjusted to where I want it. The auto EQ and time alignment on it work really nice. The auto EQ I used as a start and only made small changes to it (it has a 13 band graphic EQ). The auto time alignment was perfect, the singer's voice was right in front of me. The BBE processing on it is one of the main reasons I picked this unit up, and like before it did not dissapoint. It has a 1-Bit Burr Brown DAC (with 24-Bit resolution) which re-quantizes the 16 bit digital signal to convert it to the 24-Bit format. Some people say that these converters are not at the same level as a true 24-Bit DAC like the one in the Eclipse HU, but it sure sounds nice to me. It is supposed to produce sound with more detail than a 1-Bit DAC, and close to what a 24-bit DAC would.

I will try it out for a couple of weeks and see what I decide to do then. So far I am really liking it. It is a tad flashy for me, but I like how it sounds. I believe it is more user friendly than my Eclipse (is next to me in the computer desk right now). While I listen mainly to regular CD's, I sometimes use my MP3 CD's. This thing is great at the MP3 thing. The Eclipse does not even show the folder or song #, let alone let you search for a song. The 8600 starts playing them right away, and you can search other folders very quickly and easily. The one thing I really liked about the Eclipse was that it had a dedicated input for additional sources, with the Pioneer I had to purchase and additional part. I will add more info as I continue to use it.

exalted512

the 860 has the 24-bit burr brown dac. you should like it, id rather have the premier models, but pioneer is a very good brand
-Cody

1996blackmax

These units have the exact same DAC. I looked into it, and contacted Pioneer about it. The only differece between these units are that you can run the 860 in the 3-way active mode, and that it has 2.5 additional volts on the pre-outs.


The main thing is that both units have pretty low resistance on the preouts, 100 ohms. Some people say that this is more important than having a higher pre-out voltage. With the Eclipse I have you get the best of both worlds. With Pioneer's higher models you also get this .


I think for the price I paid it is a very good deal .

unrealii

traitor

1996blackmax

unrealii wrote:

traitor

:eek:



I really like the Eclipse for SQ, but if the Pioneer can give me nice SQ and more features........

MacLeod

Now that my system is pretty much comlete I need something to upgrade and Im looking into a new head unit.

I doubt Ill go with Alpine this time cause I wanna try something different and Ive narrowes it down to either Pioneer Premier or Eclipse.

Those Premier models are extremely nice and have oodles of features so its gonna be hard to pass them up.

PoweredByDodge

<-- still voting for Ken-ferd Excelons

MacLeod

Those are no slouches either.

I was looking at Clarions and they dont seem to be all that great in their upper price models. They used to be the ****.

exalted512

clarions are good if you can figure out how to use em...
-Cody

1996blackmax

Yeah those are not that easy to use. They are up there with Eclipse for ease of use.



Looks like I am going to go buy one of those switches for the power antenna. I hardly listen to the radio, and now everytime I turn the HU on the power antenna goes up. I had forgotten about this before I installed it. Pioneer has one cable for the power antennna and a turn on lead. Why they skimped out on the true power antenna cable, I do not know. Not that bad of a ding against it though. Besides this thing has BBE , man I really like how it makes the music sound. Oh I think I already mentioned that .


Hey MaCleod, you could get pretty good deals on the upper end Pioneers. The only difference between the Premier and the regular line (for the upper end models), are only the preouts and the 3-way active setup, and one more year on the warranty. I think you are not running rear speakers so the Premier would probably be better for you as you can run a fully active front stage system. That with the time alignment feature would make your VERY NICE (Drooling smiley goes here) speakers sound very sweet .

MacLeod

I thought the Premier units also had better quality inards and overall build quality.

Still I would like to have an active crossover option in my h/u just in case but my SR's crossovers are of such superb quality (plus they are tuned precicely for the SR's and that ever important tweeter protection) I doubt Id ever use anything else.

I have thought tho, after bitching about EQ's for the last several years, that Id like to have one. With my tweeters in the A pillars Im getting more harshness from the windshield than Id like and maybe I could filter it out with a good EQ, plus it would give me something else to play with.

1996blackmax

This HU would be nice for you as the auto EQ function would tame the frequency peaks in your system that are causing that harshness. It will also adjust the time alignment perfectly.

I did tune the auto EQ down a little, mostly on the upper two bands just a tad after turning on the BBE processor, but that is really all I have done with the EQ. I am very impressed with the sound that this thing produces. I did not think that it would sound as good as it does. I think that I am going to keep it . One of my friends asked me about my Eclipse. I will talk to him later in the week. The Good Guys gave me a good deal on it, basically knocking down the price and included a 7 year warranty for $10 dollars. I should be able recoupe most of my money on Ebay in case my friend does not want it.

MacLeod

Dont like time misalignment. Its cheating.

Auto EQ? Does that mean you cant adjust it yourself?

1996blackmax

Wow, there is no way that my system could sound as good as it does without the time alignment function, in its current form. When I turn it off it just does not come up to the same level. The basic sound coming out is still nice, but the overall sound is not the same.

I could spend a ton of cash, or time creating custom kick panels and such, but why when I can do it from my head unit. You could also say EQ's and X-overs are cheating, but I will use what ever sound tuning capabilities I can to make my system in my car sound as good as it can .

You can adjust the EQ yourself as well. With the auto EQ you can only turn it on and off. What I did was copy this setting and I tweaked it just a little. The auto EQ adjusts for an overall flat frequency response. This unit actually gives you two user EQ settings, one for the current source (G.EQ 1), and one for all of the sources (G.EQ2).

exalted512

1996blackmax wrote:

I could spend a ton of cash, or time creating custom kick panels and such, but why when I can do it from my head unit.

Well, MacLeod is wanting to compete in SQ. Time alignment would work great for the driver, but then the passenger side would sound like ****.

MacLeod, the auto eq is a nice guide to go by. Obviously it wont be perfect because everyones personal preferences are different, but it does give you a good starting point
-Cody

1996blackmax

My goal is not to compete but to have a system that satisfies me and not some judge. I do not want to heavily modify my vehicle this goes for both audio stuff, as well as performance upgrades. For my application it is great. I can play with the time alignment to give both people upfront a better stage than without the time alignment. It will not be perfect, or sound like I have it just for me or just the passenger, but it will sound ok.

audiobliss

Congrats on the new HU! As you ca see from my sig, I think it's a pretty nice unit (though I went with the 860). The ONLY complaint I have about it is that it takes tooooooooooooooooo long for it to initially load an MP3 CD. Oh well. I'm happy!

1996blackmax

audiobliss wrote:

Congrats on the new HU! As you ca see from my sig, I think it's a pretty nice unit (though I went with the 860). The ONLY complaint I have about it is that it takes tooooooooooooooooo long for it to initially load an MP3 CD. Oh well. I'm happy!

Thanks . Mine seems to load them up pretty fast. Might be that I was used to the Eclipse loading though .

AustinKP

audiobliss wrote:

Congrats on the new HU! As you ca see from my sig, I think it's a pretty nice unit (though I went with the 860). The ONLY complaint I have about it is that it takes tooooooooooooooooo long for it to initially load an MP3 CD. Oh well. I'm happy!

That is the reason I went with Alpine instead of Pioneer. Loading time took forever.

PoweredByDodge

idea...

The Spinellli Creations Sexalon Premier DT-9000

a head unit that did nothing but play adult movies on its 14" folding wide screen retractable display.

PoweredByDodge

by the way - all 83 original foamy episodes are now archived here...

www.spinellicreations.com/foamy

only the last 15 or 20 are on the actual ill will press site - but bastids! i found em all!

SamSagaZ

i have an pioneer 8650 i didnt try the DSP already (The 3 Way Feature) ill try that this weekend when i will receive the C500.1

SamSagaZ

have the same features than 8600, but just 6.5v Pre Out

1996blackmax

Actually the 8600 also does not have the 3-way feature. I like using my rear speakers so I don't mind not having it. I am liking this thing more and more .

MacLeod

PoweredByDodge wrote:

by the way - all 83 original foamy episodes are now archived here...

www.spinellicreations.com/foamy

only the last 15 or 20 are on the actual ill will press site - but bastids! i found em all!

Outstanding!! Great Vinnie! I was wanting to see the rest of the episodes!