Trying to decide what I should do for my headunit upgrade. I already have a double-din kit sitting and waiting to be installed as soon as I make up my mind. Here are the candidates I'm looking at:

Alpine DVA-9861

Clarion DXZ865MP

Eclipse CD7000

All seem to have their pros and cons but seem to fall in the same price range. I'm not looking for any fancy touch screen, movie viewing, or blingy eye candy. Just looking for a solid SQ headunit to play my CDs and enjoy my audio setup while I drive. Let me know which ones you have experience with and which one you would prefer.

BTW, I've already done the speaker, sub, amp upgrade with MB Quart QSD comps, JL 300/2 and 500/1 amps, JL 10W7 sub, and plenty of dynamat.

Thanks!

 

Eclipse gets my vote.

 

I'd go Alpine. Out of all of them its the most basic looking and working unit that will offer the best sound quality due to it running 2 24bit dacs.

 

Cool. I actually saw your CD7000 install post at a car audio forum when I was googling on the Eclipse. You seem to have some kind of EQ control unit below the HU. Can you explain your setup? I also noticed that you are an installer. This car has been my first opportunity to realize my car audio interests, but I ended up paying top dollar to a reputable shop for the install. Now that I'm wiser, I'm already thinking about my next setup and this time I want to get more involved with the design and concept with an installer that I can get more face time with than a guy who's got 5 other cars to install that week. Nonetheless, the work that was done is clean, functional, and it sounds good. I'm definitely encouraged by some of the trunk layouts I've seen from other members. Most notably the custom vinyl/plastic paneling I've seen on the galleries. After I get a daily beater, I'm soo ready to throw out the spare and go medieval on my trunk!

 

I only use the 7000 as a transport and eye candy for customers. The unit below it is an Arc DXE Analog processor. It does everything I need and at the fingertips.

Feel free to shoot me a PM or email if ya wanna chat sometime. BTW..Where are you located?

 

Go with Eclipse. Aside from Denon and Nakamichi, it offers the purest SQ I've heard from a HU.

 

Thanks for the word of support!!! I'm sorta starting to see a trend towards the Eclipse. I was put off by Alpine's '06 lineup, but had not demoed any of their new units to make a call. I only read about the Eclipse and the new Pioneer units don't seem to update their upper echelon 960MP and 860MP models. I will start trolling local shops to see if I can demo the Eclipse unit.

Thanks!!!

 

Hey thought of another one for you after reading your last post. Pioneer does have a new unit coming out in there premier line that is intended for the audiophile. The dehp880PRS, retail on it is 450.00.

 

Its a very nice HU both cosmetically as well as build quality. Of the 6 Ive sold so far theres been no complaints. Although most of my customers still choose the Eclipse.

 

I "use" to be an Eclipse fan but the last two Eclipse units both had issues. Different models with different problems. They were both covered under their three year warranty but was a pain in the rear to remove and send in having no HU during the repairs. I then switched to Alpine and have not had any issues. My .02

 

im about to get myself a new headunit, current have an alpine cda-9835 now....

the new flagship cd model headunit for the eclipse is the CD7000 right? if so can someone compare it to the alpine cda-9835/9857 in terms of SQ?

Also does the CD7000 have a built in 3way active xover like on the alpine cda-9835?