First of all, an introduction as this is my first post here after lots of lurking - I work in the classical music biz and our company is one of the few in Oz producing SACDs (check us out http//www.melbarecordings.com.au) ... but our studio test pressings are all DVD audio as you can't burn SACDs yourself!

So it would be nice to have another system to test in other than my universal DVD player / surround home seup - ideally 5.1 if I can swing it.

Problem 1: I drive a Copen so roof aside, space is real tight and so the eventual 5.1 install - assuming I can find someone willing to tackle it! - is going to be real fun (not)

Problem 2: I can't afford Alpine F#1 so that's not an option (hey, I work in CLASSICAL, not in pop music )

I'd like a screen as well so we're down to the two somewhat more affordable Alpine multimedia HUs with 2-channel DVD audio capability and the new Pioneer AVH-P7850DVD, which has proper 6 channel DVD audio output out-of-the-box, 5 volt outs, time alignment, and DTS Neo surround as well as the usual PLII processing for CDs and other 2-channel material (http://www.pioneer.com.au/products/car_entertainment/Visual/AVHP7850DVD/index.html)

SO ...

Has anyone had the chance to try out DVD audio in these various units?

My concern with the Alpine units is that on paper they only seem to play the 2 channel downmix not the proper 2-channel advanced resolution tracks (96k/192k) plus I've heard if you get the PXA-H701, the analog input - which you'd be having to use with DVD-A material - is not the best. And will these HUs play a DTS/DD alternative from a DVD-A through optical?

My problem with the Pioneer unit is that I can't seem to find any reviews of it, nor it is it easy to find on a demo board (I'm in Melbourne). But the spec appears to be VERY good.

Would appreciate your comments on the SQ and capabilities of the above! And if you know anyone who could tackle a Copen ...

Cheers

black_magic

PS. If you were on the comp circuit back in the mid-late 90s in Vic, you may remember my previous ride - a custom yellow Volkswagen roadster built for SQ - complete with Alpine 7939E HU+stacker, Infinity 3-way splits in the kicks, centre channel, two 10" subs (sealed box), PG bass cube + EQ230 for processing and one PG MS275 driving 11 speakers through a custom passive crossover network

Actually i'm quite curious on this myself. The pioneer unit has nearly everything i need, but i have been offered a 9965 on a good deal.

That i understand, the alpines down mix to 2 channel. Anything major processing is done through the 701 via optical (is the optical proprietry? )
With the pioneer, is it toslink? and what is the playback and firmware like..

Also Black Magic, i've seen a model of JVC doing DVD-A. Unfortunately processing on the JVC units is rather naff..

Alpine uses the toslink optical connection, but not for DVD's. Pionner uses their P-bus system, though Im not up to speed on that one.

The Alpine downmix to 2-channels unless you use the H700/701. But then it just uses the AiNet cable, NOT the optic connection. Some people find the difference massive, others cant tell between the two (optic and AiNet).


Nope. Not as far as I know.

Have you considered looking into an Eclipse unit? Those have 5.1 out of the box too.....

Thanks for the responses, guys.

1. Well, if the Alpine downmixes everything and doesn't allow the other surround versions to play that's more or less put the ball straight back into the Pioneer's court. Might as well get a straight DVD video unit then!

2. Yeah, I thought of the Eclipse units, although I'd be much more interested in the Eclipse we can't get here yet (the AVN-7000, with surround, gobs of processing power and hard drive-based sat nav). No DVD-A though but it's better than the 5000 and 6000 units combined!

3. Agree that the JVCs don't have much processing power (shame, that in-dash 3" screen looks pretty good) and neither do the Kenwood multimedia units with DVD-A ability.

4. I have the install manual here (well, the US one anyway for the equivalent 7800 model) - it uses two chunky 30-pin cables from the HU to hideaway unit - IP BUS and AV-BUS only appear to be used if you have the in-dash DVD stacker. All the D/A is done in the HU, makes sense for the higher res audio.

Shame I can't hear the Pioneer yet (or SEE it - it's meant to have a 1.1 megapixel display which gets fed a COMPONENT signal from the DVD mechanism.). Went down to one of the local Pioneer dealers this morning and they can certainly get the unit in but they didn't think they'd be getting one in for the demo board

Cheers

black_magic

PS. RYDA.com.au have the unit for $2.5k, not sure if dealers would match that ... but that price puts it into the same ballpark as the Alpines without the 701!