any of you audiophiles out there know of high-end head units? There are high-end speakers, subs, and amps but I never hear of head-units. Do you just pick Alpine and go to the really expensive section?
I’ve always had an affinity for Alpine, and I’m looking to get a new head unit to replace my really old, fading Alpine head. I’ve been looking at the CDA-7893.
Suggestions?
EDIT
Okay this topic should really have been “head units with best SQ”
alpine makes great head units, also check into
the new 7998 sounds great.
eclipse
clarion
pioneer
denon
nakamichi
hth
I’m sure it is great 
but I kind of cannot spend $800 on a head-unit. Gotta save some for speakers too!
try etronics.com. they had some good prices last time i was there.
What exactlly do you consider high end? What’s a price range? The best place to buy head units is www.ebaymotors.com .Just make sure you check out the sellers feedback and don’t buy from anyone with a negative or netueral feedback rate of over 5% and read all of the feedback. You should be fine
I got a CDA-7850 which is kind of old but it looks cooler than any of the new ones.
You might want to consider Blaupunkt. Although some people give them bad press, the negative commentary almost never comes from anyone who owns one. If you want a high-end head unit, check out their SkyLine product line.
As a standard feature, they all have either 4V or 5V preouts as well as a true digital receiver and 32x oversampling on the cd. Most of those units also allow the internal amp to by bypassed by way of a software menu.
I have owned 2 Blau units and they were both top of the line. The sq is amazing and the German engineering/design makes them very easy to use and nicely laid out. IMO Dolphins will do little for your sq – j/k.
The best judge will be your own ears. Go to a reputable shop and listen to some decent lineups and make your decision from there. Personally, I would suggest a unit without an internal amp or a selectable bypass and a 32x oversampling cd. A dedicated sub out and rotary volume knob are also things that are close to my heart.
If you are strictly interested in competiion gear, look at Eclipse, Alpine, Clarion, Nakamichi. Myself, I swear by the blue dot and challenge any nay-sayers to demo one and make your own decisions…
The only inconsistency with your post is that you ask for high-end units but then you mention you don’t want to spend $700+… This is where most of the high end units start on their pricing scale. Some folks will throw down $1500 and up and not even bat an eye…
Take care,
Andrew.
aka neex.
aka lover of the blue dot.
Thanks for the info. I guess my post really doesn’t make sense. I’m just looking for very good sound quality for less than $600. I’ll slowly be adding amps and speakers, but want to upgrade the head first.
i know this is kinda off topic…yet still on topic…but how good are the OEM CD players for the DC integras? i just want something clean… simple…and not flashy. any opinions? much appreciated.
josh.
The OEM units in our cars are produced by Alpine and the build quality is very good for the mostpart. The best way to use the stocker is to use a line output converter and run the signal to a high quality amplifier. Those heads have very good SN ratios and sound very clean but they lack internal power.
An IASCA competitor ran a stock head unit and took a nice trophy a few years back. There was a catch though… He had a shop bypass the internal amp and output a toslink connection for a pure digital signal to his processor and amplifiers.
You can get a decent line output converter for maybe $50. Give it a try you might be suprised. Call your dealer and ask what the replacement cost of your deck is… Set up properly, they can be astounding.
Andrew
aka neex.
I have always used Eclipse (3 different models now), and have been very impressed with their SQ. It is a quality made deck, with a not-so-flashy exterior. and doesn’t have bunch of buttons that aren’t needed.
For $600, you can get quite a good deck (I’ve bought 2/3 of my decks from pawnshops, just 'cause they have no idea what they have), I personally recommend Eclipse, but I have friends with Nakamichi and Denon head units as well, and you would not be disappointed by any of them at all.
I also like having a higher end name brand of a deck (I know that sounds kinda weird, but I like that not everyone knows of Eclipse, and people always ask about my friends Denon/Nakamichi decks as well)
Question: Will I get superior SQ by buying a head w/o an internal amp, just using a nicer 4-channel external amp?
Originally posted by Amos
Question: Will I get superior SQ by buying a head w/o an internal amp, just using a nicer 4-channel external amp?
If you’re going SQ and DON’T do that, you’re not gonna do very well- you have to get a dead head no ?'s asked if you want to compete in SQ competitions- the best one under 500 prolly is the alpine CDA-7977 if its still available
i’m not going to be in any competitions, I just want really good SQ when I listen to music. . . heh. So getting a head without an amp is better right? you confused me alittle there.
Exactly, getting a head unit without an internal amp is better. Just think of the size of a deck, and the size of a good amp, rated at the same power. Which is bigger? A manufacturer cannot cramp a good amplifier into a small space like a deck, and still have space for all the necessary components to play CD’s/Radio functionality.
That being said, if beyond the deck and external amp, for optimal SQ, you will need a EQ. It makes a world of difference, even on the highest-end decks.
Originally posted by Essence
Exactly, getting a head unit without an internal amp is better. Just think of the size of a deck, and the size of a good amp, rated at the same power. Which is bigger? A manufacturer cannot cramp a good amplifier into a small space like a deck, and still have space for all the necessary components to play CD’s/Radio functionality.
that’s true, but is not the real reason why a dead head is better for SQ- if that was the only reason an amplified head with 3 pre-outs would have the same SQ as a the same model dead head with 3 pre outs - for instance the alpine CDA7875 vs. the Alpine CDA7977.
the real reason why a dead head is better is amplifiers produce heat. Heat ALWAYS leads to distortion. Distortion is the enemy of SQ. The processor in a dead head has MUCH less heat in it than a processor in an amplified deck. For a real life example, go to a car stereo shop and see if they will let you do a little science experiment of your own. Play a CD in an amplified deck for 10 minutes and then feel the temperature on the chassis of the deck. Then do the same with a dead head. The dead head will be in most cases room temperature where the amplified deck will sometimes scald your hand it’s so hot.
If you are wanting to spend a little less cash though-as much as this should NOT be the area of your system where you get cheap- the alpine V-Drive decks are amazingly powerfull- 60X4- rms prolly 25X4 - and sound very good. These will make a descent pair of coaxials sound great- but when you get into most components its still not enough power to get what you paid for out of the components
Thanks a bunch guys, I am now informed. Now, what dead head would you get that was the best bang for the buck, and what amp to power some decent 6.5 components?
THIS looks to be the replacement for the CDA7977- its a little more than the 7977 was but it also plays MP3 files if that’s an interest to you. THIS would be the best amp hands down for a front-staged good SQ system, but if you can cough up a little more and wanna get an amp to do your subs as well, THIS would be a good amplifier to purchase. As far as components go- I am more of a fan of JL’s line although some will tell you MBQuart, Focal, or others. THESE are some of the best components $ for $ that I’ve ever heard- at around $399 a set- if you dont wanna spend that much, I would go with the infinity 605CS’s at about $199.99/pair
HTH
thanks for the info. Now if I were not planning on getting a full custom EQ, would I be better on getting something like the Pioneer DEH9300 with the 13-band internal EQ? I don’t think pioneer even makes a “dead head” . . .
the Alpine one I really like but there doesn’t seem to much in terms of equalization, which I consider a priority. Maybe I’m not reading it right?
any other decks to suggest without internal amp? same price range. . .