Can't find the "perfect" HU

**RedGTiVR6** · 03-16-2006, 09:48 AM

Ok - somewhere some communication missed the boat

I though we were talking about Alpine. Since it had been mentioned quite a bit earlier in the thread. I didn't reread the previous posts.

As for the quality of Eclipse, in years past, they were bad ***.

however, in recent years, their product has gone cheap. They now look like a cheap JVC head unit IMO. Their feel is cheap too. lesser quality components than in years past.

**-zip-** · 03-16-2006, 11:58 AM

Please explain the lesser quality components that the CD84XX have over the CD5XXX series 4 years ago.

**RedGTiVR6** · 03-16-2006, 02:00 PM

I cannot go into specifics, as I'm not that knowledgeable.

Of the people in the industry that I have spoken with, all of whom are involved heavily in the industry, they have all said the same things, the quality of the components have gone down.

This seems to be the case across the board, Alpine, Eclipse, etc. with head units as of late.

I do know, however this:

of the 5xxx line:

they had two head units without any built in power, one with 8v outs and another with 16v BALANCED outs.

The highest they offer now is 5v, not bad, but not what they had in the past.

The current series all offer built in power, if I'm looking for a high quality HU, I don't want built in power.

The 8061 of years past also had a copper chassis (along with the 16v balanced outs mentioned earlier) among other features.

but to ask such a specific question, (compare this one line from this one year with this other line from this other year), and want specific answers, you'll need to go to someone who has been in industry and worked with the eclipse units in detail

I can tell you what I've heard in conversation.

**mbuchman** · 03-16-2006, 05:38 PM

Eclipse still has an 8v preout headunit, the CD5000. But I can't agree more with the whole thing about on-board amplification. I mean, if you are going to spend over 200 dollars, let alone 800 dollars or whatever the 7000 goes for, then you better at least get an amplifier, or you are wasteing your money.

As for Alpine, I personally never liked them too much. I couldn't tell you why, it's just how I have always felt.

-Matt

**-zip-** · 03-16-2006, 06:30 PM

Red you know Alpine like no one else and have great knowledge, but please stop making inaccurate comments about Eclipse it is just annoying.

**RedGTiVR6** · 03-16-2006, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by -zip-

Red you know Alpine like no one else and have great knowledge, but please stop making inaccurate comments about Eclipse it is just annoying.

I'm sorry that I apparently offended you.

Why is this? Are you affiliated with them?

And no, I don't know Alpine better than anyone, not by far.

Would you care to tell me why my views are wrong? I'm basing my views based on the individuals I have talked to in industry. If those views are completely inacurate I would appreciate someone doing more than just telling me they are wrong, I would love to get some hard facts.

I'd love to learn something here.

I sold Eclipse for a while, I ran Eclipse for a LONG time, YEARS in fact. I have a special place in my heart for them because I feel that they are one of the last holdouts when it comes to the shiney bizzy boppy buzzy things. However, they just blew all of that out of the water with this years lineup. I have other reasons as well, but I'd love to be enlightened.

**RedGTiVR6** · 03-16-2006, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by mbuchman

Eclipse still has an 8v preout headunit, the CD5000. But I can't agree more with the whole thing about on-board amplification. I mean, if you are going to spend over 200 dollars, let alone 800 dollars or whatever the 7000 goes for, then you better at least get an amplifier, or you are wasteing your money.

As for Alpine, I personally never liked them too much. I couldn't tell you why, it's just how I have always felt.

-Matt

are you saying that you WANT internal amplification if you're going to spend that kind of money?

I'm saying I WOULDN'T want that.

**mbuchman** · 03-16-2006, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by Red GTi VR6

are you saying that you WANT internal amplification if you're going to spend that kind of money?

I'm saying I WOULDN'T want that.

I meant I agree with you that it is a waste of money to have on-board amplificaiton on head units. I can understand that lower end head units would have them for those who just swap the factory head unit for an aftermarket one, but once you spend 300 or more dollars on a head unit, you would think it wouldn't be a half-assed install, otherwise you would just buy the cheaper deck!

Frustrating I tell ya. It is actually hard to find a head unit that just plays music, with no useless functions (aka maps, dolphins, tv tuneing, internal amps...).

-Matt

**RedGTiVR6** · 03-16-2006, 08:17 PM

EXACTLY!

Thank you Matt.

I don't want to start crap, but to include DVD functions and Nav functions on high end head units and not offer a nice CD player that does JUST that? it tells me a lot about where the company puts their value at...care more about look than about function.

**chuyler1** · 03-17-2006, 01:06 PM

Originally Posted by mbuchman

I meant I agree with you that it is a waste of money to have on-board amplificaiton on head units. I can understand that lower end head units would have them for those who just swap the factory head unit for an aftermarket one, but once you spend 300 or more dollars on a head unit, you would think it wouldn't be a half-assed install, otherwise you would just buy the cheaper deck!

Frustrating I tell ya. It is actually hard to find a head unit that just plays music, with no useless functions (aka maps, dolphins, tv tuneing, internal amps...).

-Matt

www.nakamichi.com
- no dolphins -- check
- no maps -- check
- no tv tuning -- check
- no internal amp -- (depends on model)