Not sure if this should be posted here but I figured it was most likely to interest the SQ types so here it is.


Eclipse is bringing out a new Dead Head, aka no internal amp, anyway here's the link http://blog.sounddomain.com/2007/12/ces-2008-previe.html

mmm copper

interesting....

but will they have something to compete with the 9887...maybe on features, but so far nothing to compete with it price-wise

The Eclipse has more tuning ability, so it should cost more, makes sense to me...and before someone mentions Imprint, I've heard a car with Imprint and done an A-B comparison, it's ok but not worth $300 of my money.

Interesting. Looks decent. If only it had 4way x-overs, and a better EQ, then this would be a real threat

hmm it is just next years new model for the CD7200 only without an amp and added bluetooth.

I think the 9887 will still win

I don't get it the CD7000etc.. series have twice as many PEQ bands as the 9887, has the 6ch TA, 3 way xover etc which is very flexible, and it's only $799, $200 more then a 9887, you have to spend almost twice that amount and up, to get anything on the market that outstrips it tuning wise HXD2 etc...

Alpine are too limited IMO, interms of fine-tunability.

EQ in particular is severely limiting, with the band setting restrictions, etc.

I'd go the Eclipse in that regard, but I still don't like the look all that much.

I guess i could live with it IF I had to..still prefer a Pioneer P80.

CD7000/CD7100/7200 all have basically the same internal DSP,

which is a improved version on the original 8053, then 8454 then 8455.

The Alpine and Eclipse have IDENTICAL Time alignment Features, and IDENTICAL Crossover Features,
Both offer 3 way options and regular f/r/s arrangements.

The Alpine has a 5 Band PEQ, with 3 Q curves, This EQ operates over ALL outputs
The Eclipse has 11 Bands in total. 5 Band PEQ, With 5 Q curves for the Front output (tweeter/high), 5 Bands for the Rear (midbass/midrange), and 1 band for the Subwoofer out (midbass/subbass).

The Alpine and Eclipse have the same Centre frequency options. The Front and Rear outputs are limited down to 63hz on the eclipse however, which is perfectly acceptable.

The Alpine 9887 has a Software 24 Bit DAC (not hardware like the HXD2 and 9965E) and so does the eclipse.
At this price your asking a bit much to get a real 24bit dac.

At $599 and $799 there really isn't much in it..
My take is simply this.

If your intention is to run a Active system, with either a Semi active 3 way front + sub, or Fully Active 3 Way without sub, or Fully active 2 way front + sub,
then the Eclipse wins hands down.. The alpine will do all of this.. but the Eclipses increased functionality makes it most definatly the way to go. More
Complicated to use, but this is always the case with added funcationality.

However, if your intention is to run Rear Speakers, in addition to the usual passive front splits and a subwoofer, then I would lean towards the
Alpine, simply because the Alpine doesn't penalise you if you run in this mode, the Eclipse severely reduces your tuning capability if you
refuse to run in the Pro Active mode.

If you run the Eclipse in Standard mode, you get a reduced 7 band PEQ (not GEQ) with reduced centre freqency options,
you also get reduced X/over capabilitys for the sub to mid exchange.. for this reason in a traditional front + rear + Sub system.
(which really would not be a SQ system then) I would choose the alpine.

Simply
Audiophile Active X/over Guru Head and PEQ Master = Eclipse 7200
Regular beginner joe blow with rear speakers = Alpine 9887

Juls

Alpine 9886 is due out soon. IF the specs are correct it'll do the same thing as the 9887[with addition accessories like USB, etc] at a lower price. and the some PXA-100 imprint box thing as well.

HX-D2 would __s h i t__ on a current spec Eclipse for raw SQ in my opinion.

How would this thing suit a 3-way active + sub setup?

from what i can remember from what i was told and playing with it yesterday the 9886 doesnt have time alignment and possibly lacks crossovers too (would have to check that one) but is compatable with the PXA-H100 and has a differnt layout to the 9887/5/3.....and yes as philz said it does have a USB flylead but it probably needs and extention if you wanted it to reach your glove box....and it has a blue part of the OEL display

and i hope you like blue

Find me a new HX D2 for $700!

You might not be a complete idiot but you certainly are mostly idiot..

the HX-D2 Better poo on the the Eclipse, for the $1500 EXTRA you have to pay for the HXD2.



It will suit if you run the Mid/tweeter Passively.. this is alot easier anyway, and you'll save a HUGE amount of headaches
running the midrange and Tweeter off a stock passive x/over anyway.

it cannot offer Full 3 way active + Sub,

but it can do 2 way active + sub, and the High Output can go down to 200HZ, so this would suit most 3 way midbass to midrange drivers.

so you can run, active midbass to midrange, then passive midrange to tweeter.
Trust me if you never ran active before, this is the best way to go.. so much easier to get it really really nice.

Alternatively you could buy a separate 2 way x/over and put it on the high output.

Juls

I just got an active 3-way Tru Tech x-over today anyway, so I can experiment and play with configurations 'till my head explodes.

Not a fan, its an ugly looking unit. Bring back Eclipse units of a decade ago, they looks classy. Piano black and smooth.

Yeah I also prefer the older decks for looks and the better build quality, but my main interest in this is, it shows steps towards Eclipse realising that they need to try and reach back to there roots of building high quality SQ based units, this is partially obvious if you look at there US models and there dropping from 7 models down to 3, partially by dropping the entry level JVC built units they had as I think they realised the quality of these units was pulling there high end image of past further down the drain and there trying to make steps to restoring this image.

Ok, my R2-D2 was not new, but WAS 700 bucks, in as close to as new as you can get second hand. I'll stick with it thanks

True

Pardon my ignorance here but I didnt really have much idea what one did cost (knew it was above 1.5k) But I do now

I'm looking forward to seeing this deck and using it in the flesh, from experience the Eclipse 8v decks are great for SQ.

They just seem so different to the current Alpine offerings, I put one in a display board not to long back and did an A/B comparison and it was an amazing difference, both the Alpine (which I took out) and the Eclipse were good don't get me wrong but the Eclipse was better suited to my own taste in how I would want it to sound.

I'm very happy with my 8v CD5000 .... it has done me well

Im not sure of either features from the new alpine and eclipse, BUT, this is the stuff up from many so called 3way h units.

IF in their wisdom they allowed the sub channels LPass filters to go upto atleast 800hz, that way u can run a tweet from the high channel, run a midrange from the mid channel using the onboard bandpass crossovers , then run a midbass from the sub channel using the Lpassfilter at 800hz or less depending on what u are running.
Its simply a matter of using the the amp crossovers for the midbass HPass, dont think that this is less than a hu crossover because u can filter at any hz cut off u want, eg~50hz to 100hz in small increasements, sure u probely only have 12db slopes, but they are nice anyway
And ofcourse you just split the sub channel RCA in the sub amp aswell and use the Lpass sub amp filter, 24db slope witha good sub amp is great.
Stuffing around with a processor with many many setting and using the amp filters aswell , i reakon u can use the amp filters to greater effect in regards to sub LP and midbass HP anyway.

The crossovers in all those h units are limited anyway, but on a peq note for a 2wayactive+sub, 5 bands is average when u can have 5bands for your rangey tweet and 5 for the midbass and 1 for the sub, infact how great it is to be able to lift up your subs performance by EQ'ing it.
Even the PEQ in a sub amp is awesome and with another in the hu im sure u can make your sub very linear.


corey

http://www.eclipse-web.com/cd/cd7200overviews.html

no amplifier, 8V, 3 way active, copper chassis etc.

Looks like it'll be this unit going in my new car


Eclipse have dropped the 5000 series from their range

I am also trying to decide between these two.

Doesn't look like the 7200 has a graphic EQ tho.

(im a noob and dont know how to use / have never used a parametric)

Also, the 7200 has support for USB keys and has free online tuning as opposed to spending 300 bucks on an imprint kit.

Are the menus on the Eclipse really THAT hard to navigate? (I have non-active front splits and a subby on 1 amp)

I do like the look of the Alpine better.

And one more important factor for me - is that it looks like one needs to buy a bluetooth kit to make the 9887 work with phones, whereas the 7200 has it built in..

I hate making these decisions

You can know get the 9887 and imprint for $699

but the alpine still has its usual limitations with regards to eq, and also the fact there's only 5-bands, AND the t/a is in seconds not distance (although, personally i'm used to it that way now)

wazzab4, where can i get it for that cheap if u dont mind saying?

Also, what is the ipod control on the 7200 like? If it is good, i may get it.

Also, i really want built in bluetooth - How do these 2 compare in SQ and all the rest against the Pioneer DEH-P8950BT??

the 7200mk2 has built in bt doesnt it?
and will blow the pioneer out of the water in terms of raw sq, THEN it has all those tuning features which the 8950bt doesnt

mmm ok, the 7200 is looking better and better.

But does it REQUIRE the iPC-106 ipod adapter to use an ipod and get full control of it using the head unit? Cant find that info anywhere..

EDIT: oh, it does. So it will be around $900 all up then. Nothing else out there for that price?

Alpine headunit and imprint you can get from your local dealer for that price. If you have troubles PM me and i can get it for you.

The cd7200mk2 use the ipc 106 for the ipod it is incudled in the price for $699 i also can help you out there also if you have trouble.
and yes it has bluetooth built in.

Wazza.

i always found the eclispe to be very fast and easy in the folders , except for sub ch volume when u run pro mode, this is in the TA folder.Its just as easy to run a sub amp dial up in your driving area for that quick sub volume .If u want my oppinion the older alpines are harder to navigate then the pro mode eclispe.



apparently they sell the ipod stuff with it in its cost, i got offered one for $650 the lot.