New headunit

DaveSal

Looking to spend about $450, and I've got it narrowed down to 2 options:

Alpine 9855
Pioneer DEH-P880PRS

Alpine looks like a good contender, except for the glide touch -- many people seem to have probs w/it. That's my main reservation about this unit. I'm afraid the glide will be difficult to use (esp. while driving) and that it could break easily.

Features on the Pioneer are similar to Alpine, except that I don't think it allows multiple crossover presets (I believe the Alpine has six?). Plus, the Pioneer's slope settings are more limited -- 12db/oct limit on HP & 18 db/oct for LP, compared to at least(?) 24 db/oct HP & LP on the Alpine. Both units have time alignment, but again, Alpine allows you to preset this, whereas the Pioneer doesn't.

Anyone have experience with either of these? Any recommendations? I'm thinking about gearing up for amateur SQ competition. Both of these units seem to offer a lot of tuning/sound shaping capablities without costing a fortune.

brettw22

I have the predecessor to the 880 and love it. I was just scanning their site the other day and thought the 880 was a sexy lookin beast.

If you want to get the 860, I'll sell ya mine......(installed since mid Januaryish roughly). I guess before I commit to that I should actually look at the 880 in a store to see if i like the overall look.....

MacLeod

Get the Alpine. The glide touch is kinda weird to use but Ive not had any trouble out of mine and you really dont have to use it for many things so treat it with care and I imagine it will last.

It also has the best time correction of any head unit I know of. 6 channel, fully adjustable at .5 ms increments. Their is also a 5 band parametric EQ or a 7 band graphic EQ. Ive found the 5 band works best tho.

I also compete in SQ competitions and my score improved dramatically when I got the 9855 due to all the tuning options.

1996blackmax

DaveSal wrote:

Looking to spend about $450, and I've got it narrowed down to 2 options:

Alpine 9855
Pioneer DEH-P880PRS

Alpine looks like a good contender, except for the glide touch -- many people seem to have probs w/it. That's my main reservation about this unit. I'm afraid the glide will be difficult to use (esp. while driving) and that it could break easily.

Features on the Pioneer are similar to Alpine, except that I don't think it allows multiple crossover presets (I believe the Alpine has six?). Plus, the Pioneer's slope settings are more limited -- 12db/oct limit on HP & 18 db/oct for LP, compared to at least(?) 24 db/oct HP & LP on the Alpine. Both units have time alignment, but again, Alpine allows you to preset this, whereas the Pioneer doesn't.

Anyone have experience with either of these? Any recommendations? I'm thinking about gearing up for amateur SQ competition. Both of these units seem to offer a lot of tuning/sound shaping capablities without costing a fortune.

I've had alot of experience with Alpine HU's, and had a Pioneer unit that was similar to the one you are getting. I would go with the Pioneer unit. That thing has pretty extensive sound tuning capabilities, as well as nice Burr Brown DAC's . The Pioneer has the microphone which will allow you to measure the frequency response in your own car. This will allow you to see peaks in your system (cause boomines or harshness), and then you can use the 16 band EQ's to tame them. The Alpine has a parametric EQ, but it is only 5 bands. While I prefer the parametric one, the Pioneer I believe offers the better EQ. The only drawback I see with the Pioneer is the lack of buttons. I did not like having to go through menus, and submenus to do basic functions. Once you get used to it though, it should be ok.

1996blackmax

MacLeod wrote:

It also has the best time correction of any head unit I know of. 6 channel, fully adjustable at .5 ms increments.

My HU in Custom mode can do that, as well as the TA thing in .05 ms increments .

MacLeod

But can it do it for $450?!

1996blackmax

Yes, that is what I paid for it .


This was before taxes, and the $35 dollars installation fee. I let them do the install to get the 3 year Eclipse warranty.

1996blackmax

You my friend have the nicer display though.... .


My CDA-7998 had that display. It was clean, and simple.

MacLeod

Yes, I admit, this is the best looking head unit Ive ever owned and one of the best looking ones out there period. No flash, just all business.

1996blackmax

This one is my alltime favorites. Had two of these bad boys.

deepinya

Best Buy has the 9855 for $360 last I checked.

audiobliss

I love the looks of the 7998, too. These pics do it better justice:

1996blackmax

That was a very sweet HU, and very easy to use.

1996blackmax

My sister has a brand new one. She has not gotten around to putting an alarm in her car, so I have not put in the HU, amps and speakers.

Maybe I should give that a shot again........




I know she likes my CD8455.....


Heck, I may even buy it from her.......

MacLeod

deepinya wrote:

Best Buy has the 9855 for $360 last I checked.

Thats because theyre discontinued. 05 was the last year for them so theyre getting rid of the ones they have now.

neomagus00

1996blackmax wrote:

My sister has a brand new one. She has not gotten around to putting an alarm in her car, so I have not put in the HU, amps and speakers.

Maybe I should give that a shot again........




I know she likes my CD8455.....


Heck, I may even buy it from her.......

i so call dibs if you sell your current HU

1996blackmax

If things go that way, dibs you have .

DaveSal

Many thanks for all of the replies/advice. This is gonna be a tough decision. The 9855 is in short supply these days, so I guess I'd better make up my mind soon -- before they completely sell out & I have to just go w/the Pioneer by default.

The Alpine is soooo nice looking. If I just went based on looks alone, I think the 9855 would win out. We'll see...

1996blackmax

This HU is a very nice one. Looks great and has very nice tuning capabilities.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4041_291159496,00.html

1996blackmax

This is another very nice HU.

http://www.eclipse-web.com/cd/cd5000.html

MacLeod

Wow! I like that new Pioneer!

exalted512

yea, that new Pioneer is AWESOME. I sold one to a buddy of mine. Hes running DLS 6.2s with a CDT upstage kit, IDQs, and all DLS ultimate amps. He loves it. It has a 16 band eq for the left AND right. Thats really unheard of in head units. Hell, thats better than a lot of EQs. I played with our display for about an hour. The menus are extremely easy to navigate, which is usual for Pioneer, but I was really suprised how the lack of buttons didnt make things any worse...swear to god it doesnt...lol.

I personally despise the glide touch. I dont like using it, I know many people that have had problems with it...and theres a reason why alpine no longer has it.

Anyway, Im biased, but I love the new 880. Ive been thinking about ditching my old 940 for it, but i probably wont, I have more important stuff I could waste my money on. Go with the 880, its one of the best on the market right now.
-Cody

MacLeod

Eh, there is nothing wrong with the glide touch. Yeah, its weird and you have to get used to it but once you do its no problem. Besides, you only use it to navigate thru the menus. Once youve selected the menu item you want, you use other buttons to dial em in.

1996blackmax

That is because you got one of the later models Mac. There were many people that had to return their units.

jderdock

1996blackmax wrote:

Can't say I'd ever put that in my dash.

LOVING the 9857.

audiobliss

jderdock wrote:

Can't say I'd ever put that in my dash.

Why not? I think it looks great!!

I tell ya, there's just no accounting for personal taste!

jderdock

Looks like a garbage JVC i put in my ex-girlfriends car 7 years ago, but I'd love that little nav option.

I was in Best Buy the other day and casually glanced at the head units on the wall....what is up with Pioneer? I mean, that would look nice if I had matching spinners or a pink flamingo in my yard, but damn.

1996blackmax

jderdock wrote:

Can't say I'd ever put that in my dash.

LOVING the 9857.

SQ owns your HU . Function over form, reason I have the CD8455.

audiobliss

jderdock wrote:

what is up with Pioneer? I mean, that would look nice if I had matching spinners or a pink flamingo in my yard, but damn.

ROFL!!!

That's hilarious!! Especially since I agree!

EDIT - Ok, I'm an idiot. The first 13 times I read your post, I thought it said Panasonic. My bad. No, now I don't agree. I think Pioneer's stuff looks good.

Red230SX

But I am biased....

jderdock

That's nicer looking than the stuff I saw in Best Buy. I'm sure it was lower end stuff.