Which headunit?

[grantman54]

Hey guys, I was given this http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130DEHP360/Pioneer-DEH-P3600.html?tp=5684&tab=features_and_specs headunit but by the time I buy an aux cable, wiring harness, and dash mount. I could upgrade to a new player.

I have no idea what exactly to look for in terms of specs. I am adding a subwoofer in the back and obviously could use a upgrade to the stock stereo. My biggest feature that the headunit must have is ipod control. I also would like to spend under 180.

here are some that caught my eye.
http://outlet.crutchfield.com/p_613MP538U/Kenwood-KDC-MP538U.html?cc=01&tp=5684
http://signature.crutchfield.com/s_105KDA605/JVC-Arsenal-KD-A605.html?tp=5684
I think these are better:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130P3100UB/Pioneer-DEH-P3100UB.html?tp=5684
http://signature.crutchfield.com/s_130P310UB/Pioneer-Premier-DEH-P310UB.html?tp=5684

[grantman54]

Is it best to get one with a sub pre-amp?

[fabez14]

id go with the ones that caught your eye man
i checked out the specs, and they have the features you listed
depending on your budget, you can get some pretty cheap equip
pm me if you have questions, on what brands are decent, i may be able to help you out

[fabez14]

sorry for the double post
but do you plan on just adding a sub? or another amp for the speakers?

[02celica]

go buy the CDA-105

[grantman54]

I have an amp set for the sub. I have another thread in audio "help with sub, bass" check it if you are interested

[grantman54]

Is the CDA 105 going to be that big of a difference in sound quality? I was comparing that to the Kenwood Excelon KDC-X492 and the JVC Arsenal KD-AHD59. Right now those are my top 3 pics. I just honestly dont like the looks of the CDA 105. But hey if it kills it in quality I will buy it.

Anyone else want to chime in?

I still am confused what a sub pre-amp does and do I need anything more than 4 channels?

[02celica]

What you can do is, Get the CDA-105, then get the imprint kit. And you'll never want anything but an alpine ever again.

[02celica]

Also, if your looking for good sound quality and looks go for the cda-9886. On sonicelectronix it's $265 with ipod cable (a good 20$), just save up a little long and you'll be really happy with the look and sound quality.

And on a side note, sound quality isn't all in the deck, you need good sound components to accompany the deck.

[grantman54]

K thanks. I pretty much decided on the CDA105.
Im not gonna spend that kinda money on Imprint. It would be really interesting to hear before and after tho.

[02celica]

Trust me, before and after is amazing. You never really think about how off balanced sound is in a car until you hear imprint.

[grantman54]

edit

[nikmoretto]

go with a panasonic flip screen...ive got one and shes always treated me well!

[02celica]

Good luck getting a flip screen for under 180.

Reading > Nikmoretto.

[yodaddyguido]

Reading > Nikmoretto.

lol... im with grantman, alpine has some really great stuff to work with. i havent been in the market for a headunit for awhile, but alpine has always been a great choice. ive heard good things about that imprint setup too.

[hectorj]

what does the imprint do? is it like a equalizer?

[02celica]

what does the imprint do? is it like a equalizer?

Alpine's Imprint is an audio processor that is in an external module, unless you're baller and get the CDA-9887 (Like me ;)), but what it does it it auto tunes EVERY aspect of the deck and it's audio perspective. You have to go through about an hour long process of setting it up to where it will do it.

What it exactly does is it auto-tunes the EQ of the deck to produce a flat response wave. It also does time correction so you are surrounded by sound and not just hearing something from one side dominant (speaker closest to your head)

Here is a link to the product description:
http://alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product_acc.php?model=PXA-H100

And here is a picture which shows my before/after freq. response wave (on right side):

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b233/02celica/0820091512.jpg

Please ignore the Spike in the low freq. But you want your freq response wave to be as flat as possible so you can clearly hear all the freq the same.

[grantman54]

I ordered the Alpine CDA 105. :) :)
So 02 Celica: it sounds to me that the Imprint is a one time deal. It also sounds like you upload the data onto your computer. So since we have the same car would it be possible to load your data onto my headunit say via a USB drive?
OR if that doesnt work, would you wanna ship me your imprint to do the data/install and then I could ship it back plus a big THANKS! :) :)
Im half joking, half serious

[02celica]

Grant,
Imprint isn't a sorta data storage thing. It's an external module which, you not me (since i have imprint built into my deck), have to keep hooked up to your deck.
And it varies between every car, depending on acoustics of your car, even though we have celica's they are acoustically different. Also depends on equipment, speakers, amplifiers, subs, etc.

But yes it is a one-time deal, as long as the person who does it in your car does it correctly, i've had it done twice. First time was horrible. 2nd time is good, but still not done the correct way.

[grantman54]

Hey all. Just switched my order to the CDE 103BT because it has bluetooth built in and the illumination can be changed to amber/green to match my stock. Some how that unit was never listed on crutchfield until this morning. Glad my 105 was backordered. Only thing I didnt like about it was that the USB was on the front. But for 10$ i ordered a rear high speed one for the ipod. Im pretty stoked that I got exactly what I wanted.
Oh and it technically doesnt have a sub-pre amp but you cant change in the settings the rear RCA outputs to be a sub preamp. So no loss.
Cant wait to get it!

[02celica]

I'm not sure if with the RCAs if you will get the full control of an actual Sub preamp.

[00toyogts]

hey man, the kenwood that caught you eye, i was about to get that one, the guy showed me and stuff and it was nice. i say go for that one. or the last pioneer premier.

[grantman54]

I'm not sure if with the RCAs if you will get the full control of an actual Sub preamp.

True, it doesnt have a "set sub preamp" but the Crutchfield reps said it work fine in the rear RCAs

this is the FAQ on it:

There are two sets of preamp outputs; one is front and the other is switchable between rear and subwoofer. Both are 2 volt/10 kΩ. When the subwoofer is turned on (the second preamp output is set to sub) its output level is adjustable from 0 to 15. You can select either System1 or System2 for the desired subwoofer effect.

Subwoofer System 1: Subwoofer level changes according to the main volume setting.
Subwoofer System 2: Subwoofer level change is different from the main volume setting; even at low volume settings, the subwoofer is still audible.

[02celica]

That doesn't make sense though.. I don't see how that could be as good as a dedicated sub preamp output.

[grantman54]

New headunit wiring coming in today and tomorrow! Ill be taking pics of my new setup :)