New head units????

[Ratdaddy]

Just how good are alpine head units been looking at an Alpine CDA 7998 or 7997 wondering if anyone has these units and your thoughts >Installed now is


Head unit stock D/C
Door speakers ,Rockford Fosgate Tweets also R/F
Rear pillers, Boston Acoustics
Amped head unit by R/FPunch 301X 900 watt 4 channel
Rear sub, 8in or 10in Bazooka tube
Sub amp Bazooka 300 watt bridged

Sounds pretty good now but ive been told an after market head unit will make it sound oh so much better. And why?

I always thought the amps and sound equlizers did all the work and the radio just picked up the sig from the source why do i need to spend more money on a new radio good advice very welcome

[toddhawaii]

I just put this in my Turbo:

An Alpine CDA-9815 (http://ecominet2.alpine-usa.com/pls/...y=45&p_main=10)

It sends signals to 2 Alpine amps

1) a MRPV-F340
(http://ecominet2.alpine-usa.com/pls/...=120&p_main=10)

that drives Alpine Type "R" component sets in the front and rear
(http://ecominet2.alpine-usa.com/pls/...y=90&p_main=10)

2) and a MRP-M350
(http://ecominet2.alpine-usa.com/pls/...=140&p_main=10)

that powers the JL Audio Stealth Box .
(http://www.jlaudio.com/stealthbox/ptcruiser.html)

It sounds way better than stock.

(pictures are available if anyone wants to see the procedure)

[charwoods3]

i am about to get that 9815. how do you like it so far? have you figured out all the eq's and stuff yet? i have heard it is a great unit, but takes some time to learn. i think i am going to pick one of those up and a us acoustics amp with some cdt comps for the front. i have a dd 9515 with a jbl in the back for now, but plan to take it out for a more sound quality install.
as for the hu question, i believe that the quality of some hu's are better than others. some use diff/ technology to process the sound. most people don't get external amps for the speakers and just run them off the hu. that is why people say that you should notice a difference in the aftermarket hu then stock. aftermarket hu's usually have more power to push to the speakers making them sound smoother and can get louder. the stock hu in the cruisers don't have much power at all. any aftermarket hu should be an improvement to it. i think you will notice a difference if you choose to buy the aftermarket hu and wil like it.

[GR8FLPT]

Reason it sound better is becaue you are not using the amplifer built in the stock head unit, dropping the output & impedance level to match the input of your amps. Then reamplifing it to drive your speakers.
Even if you run Hi-Level into the amp cause it is there, the amp has a built in adapter to convert the signal so the internal preamp stage can handle the voltage & impedance.
Same goes for those after market adapters... that is where some of the losses are. Also the stock built in amp is a small chip amp which has HORRIBLE distortion & freaquency characteristics. They are built that way because it is CHEAP to do.
If you notice, most OEM speakers do not include a tweeter in the system, maybe a whizzer cone on the "6x9" (most popular speaker made for cars" it is because the radio sound like C**P

Spending the extra money on aftermarket sounds better because the reasearch is spent by the manufactor to produce the best sounding head unit or that price catagory. Otherwise they wouldn't stay in business.

Good luck

[TurboBlue]

Ratdaddy,

I have owned an Alpine CDA-7897 for almost a year now. I LOVE it! The CDA-9811/13/15 models are basically the same radio except they are DIN sized. The CDA-7897 and CDA-7998 are considered DIN (for mounting purposes only) but really have a DIN+1/3 size for the display. I think the CDA-7897 and CDA-7998 have easier-to-read displays.

The CDA-7897 differs from the CDA-7998 in basically three ways: 1) Display is dot-matrix instead of the better "Bio" display
2) The CDA-7897 has built-in power (CDA-7998 is NOT powered, a true tuner) 3) The iPersonalize feature is adjustable by CD-R. You can set-up your EQ, time delays, etc. parameters on Alpine's website. You can then burn a CD with your parameters and upload them to the CDA-7998. Great reset feature if power becomes lost to the radio or someone goofs with your settings....

In two weeks, the great install starts. I can't wait!
Equipment: CDA-7897 (already installed)
Alpine XM tuner
Front: JL Audio XR653
(tweeter and mid in Q-Forms kickpanel)
(6 1/2 in an aperiodic front door enclosure)
Rear: JL Audio XR570-CXi
Sub: JL Audio PT Stealthbox
Amp: JL Audio 500/5
EQ: Orion DEQ 30

Scott

[toddhawaii]

> i am about to get that 9815. how do you like it so far? have you figured out all the eq's and stuff yet? i have heard it is a great unit, but takes some time to learn.

I'm still in the process of learning and breaking all the equipment in, when it's ready (and I have the time) I'll get it tuned and tweaked. From the time I've spent with it, I've found out it has a TON of features and it sounds great without all that much tweaking.

[Dreamin2]

My dad has the 1003 flip out TV alpine headunit with built in xm radio capability. Real nice. We just put in the xm unit that went with his radio today.

[HiiPERCRZ]

had an alpine head unit in my honda for 6 years.....very nice stuff. i also like kenwood.