A+ Sound Quality Hu ?

[rtune]

I was going to get a double-din all in one unit .. probably the pioneer avic, but then I read

on the avic411 forums that the sound quality is lacking ! Then I think what $2k+ might

buy if I don't mind using a tomtom or garmin..

I had a pioneer double-din previously and really the sound quality wasn't so great considering

the jl audio amp and speakers were top notch. So I blame these all-in-one head units.

my question is therefore what is known to have top musical quality either as an ipod

adapter or for playing dvds of FLAC, or with integrated HDD, and great FM ... CDs come

last because I don't really drive around with a bunch of them..

I'm thinking of buying a soundstream amp, like the van gogh or picasso, and an MCX amp for

a sub.

Ideally it would be a single DIN then I could reserve the second slot for future expansion

(eg a flip-out car-puter touch screen when that gets a bit more mature).

Nothing garish either.. price not really an issue (as I'd be up for $2k+ for the original

double-din idea anyway)..

what brand should I be looking at?

[rtune]

Too late for an edit..

after much looking around .. what about this setup?

alpine 9965 head unit (multi media player)

alpine h701 signal processor (setup from hu)

alpine ipod connector (control ipod from hu)

mtx thunder subwoofer amp

jl audio HD600/4 main amp

(and of course, speakers to suit .. )

I kept seeing SQ recommendations for the pioneer P90 combo (hu + equalizer) but the

equalizer is simply not available anymore just second hand rarely ... also

the mcintosh head unit, or a denon (all these look like a million bucks).

But the all those really lack features like bluetooth or mp3 or ipod .. so I'm hoping

the 9965 has SQ with the icing as well..

PS: Do USA hd compatible head units work with the aussie stations?

[rocketboy]

Too late for an edit..

after much looking around .. what about this setup?

alpine 9965 head unit (multi media player)

alpine h701 signal processor (setup from hu)

alpine ipod connector (control ipod from hu)

mtx thunder subwoofer amp

jl audio HD600/4 main amp

(and of course, speakers to suit .. )

I kept seeing SQ recommendations for the pioneer P90 combo (hu + equalizer) but the

equalizer is simply not available anymore just second hand rarely ... also

the mcintosh head unit, or a denon (all these look like a million bucks).

But the all those really lack features like bluetooth or mp3 or ipod .. so I'm hoping

the 9965 has SQ with the icing as well..

PS: Do USA hd compatible head units work with the aussie stations?

Hey man, I may have a P9 combo avail if you were keen on it. It's the older model silver one. AFAIK it is the same as the newer P90. The P90 may have a newer CD mechanism and obvioulsy the black/dark colour. I have been running a P9 combo for the last few years and absolutely love the fantastic SQ these units put out. The fine tuning is a control freaks dream. Anyway, flick me a PM and I can get more info for ya if need be. The unit is over here in NZ, but no major to get it to you.

[Chris Rogers]

clarion HXD2 - google that model then flick me an email . I'll do you a deal on one.

[rtune]

clarion HXD2 - google that model then flick me an email . I'll do you a deal on one.

thanks,

Oh I see, the HDX2 is the aussie name for the DRZ9255 ? makes sense this

would be better than any alpine.

For that setup I guess I'd do aux in, and an ipod/iphone mount ... and forget

about the bluetooth.

For ultimate digital sound out of an ipod you have to play the data on the disk

through a quality DAC, otherwise you are using the ipod dac ..

One interesting possibility is an mac mini carputer, and an USB to audio DAC

like this one:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/govibe-pe...-update-290711/

then you get itunes (ipod docked or not) .. perfect SQ with the burr-brown dac

off FLAC .. plus all the 'puter stuff. Although the mac carputer software isn't

as advanced as the XP stuff yet. In particular navi is weak.

But for $1000 or whatever for a clarion, I can see a mac mini, touch screen,

and dac being a cost competitive option with a lot of interesting possibilities.