14 replies to this topic

[ck1]

hey guys,

Im trying to get some USER feedback here and advice on whether to go and buy a Pioneer or Alpine head unit. They would both have equal specs and both have 50w x 4channel

So my question to you guys is.. IS THERE ANY REAL DIFFERENCE QUALITY WISE, SOUND WISE??

Also i later want to get speakers, subs and amp also.. this is the same question i ask going on that the both brands of speakers and subs are around the same specs.. put out the same WATTS and RMS.

IS THERE ANY REAL DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY AND SOUND???

hope you guys can help me make up my mind
thanks alot,
ALEX

[blanketman]

Yes
and why JUST those brands?
just curious

[Brucee]

yes there's is a different, which model are we talking about? if both is the lowest range of alpine and pioneer, i don't think there's a different. but if we're talking abount 9855 vs 9650, yes there's a different

[Kev]

I would get/have got a Pioneer. But I would be happy with either. I would be happier with something non-Alpine/Pioneer but I cant afford it

[Kev]

If you are using the internal amp, my mate went from a Sanyo to a Alpine.... HUGE difference. Sanyo really should stay the hell away from CD players.

[ck1]

yeh im talking about like the middle range of pioneer and alpine head units... from the comments ive got so far havnt really given me anything solid..

like i said before.... if u buy a head unit with the same watts, rms and features WHICH ONE WOULD GIVE YOU MORE QUALITY, SOUND or is there no difference.

I ask the same question between pioneer speakers and alpine speakers (r's) that have same specifications. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY OF SOUND?

Im planning to use the internet amp just to run the 6.5" speakers in the doors.

Oh and why just alpine or pioneer well i have a supply link to them. Are there other brands for head units that exceed these brands in quality? if so dont hesitate to mention them.


Alex

Edited by ck1, 08 October 2005 - 03:31 PM.

[Luke352]

Out of those two at the price range your talking about i think, I'd go the Alpine but thats my opinion, but go use them in a store see which one you like, there has been similar threads and i think the consenses has been Alpine has the better SQ or rather the more prefered sound, quality wise probably not much difference, bling bling wise depends what you like. But why not go Blaupunkt, or Eclipse.

[maderia]

ck1, on Oct 8 2005, 05:28 AM, said:

like i said before.... if u buy a head unit with the same watts, rms and features WHICH ONE WOULD GIVE YOU MORE QUALITY, SOUND  or is there no difference.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

For pure SQ, I'd recommend Eclipse as they are known to produce best SQ on the market. However, as between Alpine and Pioneer, it really comes down to personal preference things like appearance, features, etc. I'm really happy with my CDA 9853R, it offers heaps of tuning features like 7 band EQ, Time Alignment, 3 way adjustable x-cross etc.

[shiny_car]

for mid-spec HUs, alpine has a reputation of being superior for SQ over pioneer. but i've not done a direct comparison to check.

also, it depends very much on what speakers/amps you are running as to whether they'll reproduce any difference (ie: cheap stuff won't reveal a difference), and how experienced your ears are. if it all sounds 'good' to you, then you won't hear the difference, and this is the case with most people.

personally, if you're looking at midspec gear then you will be happy with either. both will sound great and should provide the features you want. it may simply boil down to whether you want a black or silver HU.

[SlimLim]

me and my bro tested a clarion, alpine, and pioneer deck in the same car. while everything else being equal (speakers, amps) nothnig touched bar the headunits.

FLAT settings: alpine extremely flat. Pioneer had a more enhanced sound, sounding more lively. Clarion was jsut plain dull.

Note: clarion was bottom range of mp3 unit. Alpine was 9831 and pioneer 8650

can't really tell u much more as i didnt test it that long

[Jezzza]

hmm, maybe i could help a little.

yes i have had a clarion db346mp, alpine 9831, and now have a pioneer 8650. what slim said is correct, when testing it on flat, alpine is very very flat, pioneer has more of a curved sound, and the clarion was just plain dull. i wouldnt really include the clarion in this comparison because it was one of the lower clarion models.

i paid the exact same money for both alpine and pioneer models..

the alpine: looks great, i still love the design over the pioneer. how it sounded? well, i compared it on a set of soundstream xsc6's (current splits) and wasnt very lively. it seemed to be losing a 'feeling' and sounded very iffy. also, changing settings was quite annoying. for example, the bass volume was in a whole different section compared to freq crossover settings etc.
the pioneer: looks somewhat cool becuase of the oel display. auto eq is probably one of the best things invented on a headunit (to me that is). the functions are all set out into 3 groups which is very very very easy to navigate. all the audio is in 1 section, folder/file searches are in another and all the visuals are in the last.

overall: i prefer the look of the alpine (older series 983x), but much prefer the sound, navigation and set out of the pioneer.
be careful when buying the 985x series, alot of reviews about the glide touch as being faulty.

hope this has helped.. and remember, these are my thoughts

[SlimLim]

haha i would personally disagree...i think alpine has a nicer sound for SQ. pioneer is a little artifical to my ears.

but there are stacks of features and bling on pioneer.

The decision is up to u...

[Stone]

ck1, on Oct 8 2005, 03:28 PM, said:

yeh im talking about like the middle range of pioneer and alpine head units... from the comments ive got so far havnt really given me anything solid..

like i said before.... if u buy a head unit with the same watts, rms and features WHICH ONE WOULD GIVE YOU MORE QUALITY, SOUND  or is there no difference.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Using the internal amp you are not going to get great SQ out of any head unit. Using the EQ in the head unit, i'm sure you could get both brands to sound as good as each other.

ck1, on Oct 8 2005, 03:28 PM, said:

I ask the same question between pioneer speakers and alpine speakers (r's) that have same specifications. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN QUALITY OF SOUND?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Speaker sound quality will vary alot between models, let alone brands... Go listen for yourself. Different people like different sound.

ck1, on Oct 8 2005, 03:28 PM, said:

Oh and why just alpine or pioneer well i have a supply link to them.  Are there other brands for head units that exceed these brands in quality? if so dont hesitate to mention them.
Alex

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Eclipse, but they lack detachable face.