Hey Guys

I need your help and experience on this. Wanna replace my non-bose unit with the Clarion DXZ835 or 735. What do you guys think?

I like the Alpine units alot, but really want to have Sirius Radion (not XM). I also like these becasue these can be had for like 40% off online + install and can control DVD changers. SO that's all I would need to have to play DVDs on my Pioneer Navi screen.

Would alpines control DVD changers or will I need to add a DVD player to it? Your opninions please.

gurgen

 

i actually prefer the clarion to alpine units in general. I would go with the dxz-835mp since that unit has six 4 volt preouts which will give you a cleaner signal to an external amp if you ever add one. Its also a better deck overall in comparison to the 735. Go with the 835 and you'll be happy.

 

awesome

I also like dthe fact that you can control prety much everything with it.

So the sound will be real clean even without anamp right? AS clean as the alpine unit right?

Gurgen

 

I think I am going Alpine 9815 now, so I would reccommend that. It does XM and not Sirius though.

What I like about it is the 2-line display which will be useful for XM radio info and MP3 id3tag info. Also, it has a better amp in it so you have to run a power line straight to the battery, which I did for my sub and is pretty easy to do.

Blue LED's are always good....

Oh, and 3 preamp outputs. Also, it has the ability to turn off the internal amp when you are using external amps. This allows it to use that extra power elsewhere...

 

the Alpine 9815 is waht I wanted to go with. But I just think the Clarion gives you more for the money, and I am just concerned with the sound quality which is, from waht I understand, just as good as the Alpine 9815.

Is this true. Please advise.

gurgen

 

I have always heard good things about clarion. I haven't heard that particular unit though. I advise you to do what I did, I burnt an mp3 cd and took it to the local electronics store. Before I went I read the user manual for the Alpine Units online so I could mess with settings. After messing with it and listening, I knew I would like it.

 

Another thing to keep in mind is that you will have to buy the Sirius Radio Tuner Module ~$150 if you want to control Sirius through your radio. If you already have the external "shuttle" receiever then you could attach that to the clarion or the alpine through auxillary inputs.

I am trying to decide if I want to get the XM delphi unit (would cost me $100 for the Delphi w/car kit) and a pro fit mount ($30). Or the Alpine XM module and antenna (~$300).

The advantage of the Delphi is cheaper and seeing more info at once. With the Alpine the Display would still have 2 lines of info but would be integrated (look cleaner). Also with the Alpine I would just have to detach the face when I park and be done. With both units I would have 2 things to detach.....

 

I already have the external Kenwood Sirius receiver. Can I connect that to the Calrion HU and work it as if it's a clarion receiver (which isn't out yet)?

Do I need an adapter or smth or does the wiring patter have to be messed with? It is the same thing in principal right? These receivers all work by pretending to be cd changers as far as I knwo. It should be possible to be done.

Gurgen

 

You are right that with some trick it could be done. I don't know how easy it would be though...
There is a clarion Sirius tuner module out, the model number is DSH920S. It is available from etronics for $120.
The Clarion and Kenwood probably have different buses for their cd changers/sirius tuners and different sets of control logic, that's why you'd probably need an adapter to make them work together. I am not positive on this though if anyone else wants to chime in.
I do know that Alpine for example uses Ai-NET as it's external device control bus, and that Ai-NET is proprietary to Alpine. You can get an adapter for it that let's you connect something via RCA's, but then you lose the control part of it.

So if you had you kenwood sirius tuner module and also a kenwood module controller(similar to the delphi SKYFi or Sirius Shuttle). Then you could use that to control it with and bring the signal in via RCA's. You just wouldn't be controlling it with the Clarion HU then.

Does this make sense? Any Questions?

 

Thanks a lot for the help. That was great. I guess it is worth it to spend the 120 and get the tuner. I also want to be able to control it via the deck, and get track info and stuff....

So no complait about the clarion. noone seems ot be carrying those in retail stores, so I can't seem to demo it before buying.

I am looking for the 835. Anyone knwo of a shop in the bay area?

Gurgen

 

yea, definitely get the clarion. I have heard both units as i used to work in retail and i can assure you that the clarion has a cleaner signal than the alpine. Some people will swear by alpine, but when comparing these two units, the clarion is superior overall. Check out ultimate car toys in dublin, ca or possibly even best buy...i think they carry clarion as well.

 

You are the man!

Thanks for the info, you made up my mind.

Gurgen

 

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAu...roductID=13053
This place has the 835 for $319, I haven't bought from them before though. I will probably get the Alpine 9815 from etronics, I think it's about $360 there.

Good Luck, we want pics when you're done!

 

thanks a lot for the info. I found the 835 at etronics for 274 shipped (checked via pricegrabber.com)

Will do the pictures. Thanks a lot.

Gurgen

 

hmmmmm

the Clarion has Dual 24bit DAC's
the Alpine has 6 regulated 1bit DAC's

I think the Clarion would win here...hard to say...

I am definitely getting XM though, so I should just get the Alpine.

I am scared that Sirius won't be around for very long, XM already has "1 million customers" (they do have some satellite problems though, but they are about to launch a new one)