All head units sound the same?

[v8nick]

I have been shopping around looking for a new head unit for my car. I stopped in at a car audio shop today to look at a few HUs. I asked several questions, to which I knew most of the answers already, but there were a few that I didn't know. I think the salesman got annoyed with me. He looked at me and asked how much I was looking to spend and if I was going to buy anything. I told him I would decide on what I want to spend when I find something that suits my taste and if he had something I was interested in I might buy it from him. So he tells me it doesn't matter what head unit I buy, they all sound the same. What?! Yeah he informed me that a $100 unit sounds exactly the same as a $1,000 unit. All you are getting for the extra money is features. Yeah features like an adjustable paramatric EQ, time alignment, crossovers and so on which all affect how an HU sound! So, no I won't be buying from that shop. I really stopped in to check out some features of a couple of units I was curious about that I can get online way cheaper anyway.

 

[d_man1]

higher end units will have a higher pre-out voltage resulting in a "clean' non clipped signal. not to mention great eq's and expandability. you get what you pay for really

 

[Jason]

Distortion levels are what he is referring to. Look at the specs my man. Price doesn't equal quality but it is somewhat proportional.

 

[James86]

I used to have a Panasonic CQ-7401U (well still have it on the shelf) that I loved because of the 7 band EQ, HPF, LPF, and it played Mp3's. I paid about $260 for it, but its been getting pickier about discs and cleaning it didnt seem to help, so I found a Pioneer DEH P5100UB at Best Buy for around the same price and despite the Panasonic having 25W RMSx4 and the Pioneer having 22W RMSx4, it still sounds really good, likely because I have Pioneers all around in my ranger. With the acoustics I have and since I dont want to sacrifice the rear jumpseats for a sub, I refuse to live without an EQ since I've have one for 3 years now in my other vehicles. It also helps I have a 200W amp for the rear 6x9''s I shoehorned in.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Yeah Well I think the sales guy is kind of right to a point... Alot of it also has to do with speaker quality as they are what produces what you actually hear. But the HU is responsable for the voltage outputs and depending on how well they are made how good the sound comes out. Not to mention they control all of the sound levels and EQ bands. A decent head unit with a set of amazing speakers will sound great. But just a head unit you might get dissapointed.

I took my time and did my research and I think I have got an Amazing stereo. I got a Pioneer Preimer DEH 410UB or something like that. and even though it doesn't have alot of features it produces really high quality sound. And when I changed my speakers out I got some really nice pioneer preimer TS -D802P and adjusted it just right so that the sub takes anything below 120Hz I can crank it up to the max and get minimal distortion except for that of the waving sheet metal.

An Excellent HU unit with a good variaty of adjustment (as long as you know what to adjust) will be a definate step up. And with a set of good speakers you can get amazing sound. Oh and side note I went to an audio store too when I was visiting a friend and the guy told me to stay away from pretty much anything but alpine because they others have alot of adjustments for the kids... (some people will treat you like an idiot that doesn't know wat you are doing.)

 

[rjppunk]

I generally look more for features that suite what I need. All the head units in like 100$ range are going to sound similar if their brand name is worth anything. If you power through an amp just make sure it has all the features you want and need and that the DIN size fits your vehicle.

 

[STingray1300]

If you're familiar with top quality electronics (laptops, LCD tvs, etc.) then you know the name Fujitsu. Fujitsu makes "Eclipse" HUs. I bought a CD5030 recently. Very happy with it. FWIW

 

[Jason]

If you're familiar with top quality electronics (laptops, LCD tvs, etc.) then you know the name Fujitsu. Fujitsu makes "Eclipse" HUs. I bought a CD5030 recently. Very happy with it. FWIW

Fujitsu also makes a ton of factory head units for Toyota, Honda and Subaru. Maybe more also. Their radios are truly top shelf stuff.

 

[v8nick]

I am very familiar with Fujitsu. I had an Eclipse in my Trans Am for quite a while. When I bought it it was very close to their top of the line. I have an Alpine in my Contour and that Eclipse I had blew the Alpine away in every aspect. I have a nice Kenwood in my Ranger that I am satisfied with. I am looking to replace the Eclipse in my Trans Am. I have read a lot of mixed reviews on the Eclipse 5030, so I wasn't sure if I would want one. There is no place close to me that deals Eclipse anymore because Fujitsu is getting out of the aftermarket car audio segment. Right now I have it narrowed down to 4 models, 2 of which haven't hit the market yet. Those 2 are the Kenwood KDC-X994 and the Pioneer MVH-8100. The other 2 are the E.clipse CD5030 or a Kenwood KDC-X693

My problem with that guy was his attitude, it was like he was annoyed with my questions. I think he saw my truck and assumed that I was just there to window shop. My truck runs great but it's ugly. Little did he know that I had $1500 in my wallet just looking to be spent on some car audio.

 

[Tempe]

Buying electronics is an investment. No one plops down hundreds of dollars without making an informed decision. His lack of patience will be rewarded with no sale as you march your happy ass to another place to buy something. What exactly are you looking for in a head unit?

T

 

[AllanD]

I was looking for a few things when I went to upgrade...

1)Sony, only to be compatible with acessory units I already had

2)Mp3 playback (which I didn't have)

3)Bus connector (see item #1)

4)LARGE display on Fold down face panel (I don't like "exposed" CD slots)

5)a display that showed as much information as possible
and on sony's you get to choose disc/album/track number
on all units up to the "6" radios.

Model numbers starting with a "7" have multi-line displays
and show the Artist/album/track titles simultaneously with
the disc/album/track number

My "new" as-of last month, HU is a five year old model I got a deal on used... a "9" series sony, a CDX-M9905X that I paid $95(shipped) for.

IT wasn't the unit I wanted, but it does everything I needed it to do.
It's the stuff I don't need it to do that drives me buggy

AD

 

[v8nick]

I am looking for alot of the things AllanD is looking for, basically something with a large screen display, usb port, plenty of sound adjustment, and high pre-out voltage.

 

[Ranger#1]

i like a large screen no cd [all digital] and no conections in the face i like it all to be in the back much cleaner that way it alows me to run imputs to my center console

 

[Pistons23]

higher end units will have a higher pre-out voltage resulting in a "clean' non clipped signal. not to mention great eq's and expandability. you get what you pay for really

the only advantage of higher pre out voltage is a lower noise floor. setting your gains properly will help achieve a clean non clipped signal.

 

[Pistons23]

If you're familiar with top quality electronics (laptops, LCD tvs, etc.) then you know the name Fujitsu. Fujitsu makes "Eclipse" HUs. I bought a CD5030 recently. Very happy with it. FWIW

anyone looking into eclipse MIGHT want to hold out for closeouts. eclipse will no longer be manufacturing car audio. and the cd5030 and 7200 are the only decent decks currently offered. their older stuff was way better.