head unit question

[Gator13]

I am looking for a pretty decent head unit. I was wondering if there is a head unit out there with a good control and nice preout voltage for my amps. The thing is, I dont need the head unit to put out any power to my speakers because I have amps. Is there a head unit that has no amplifier output but instead has better features. If so please tell me ...maybe eclipse alpine pioneer
thanks
Alex

[sunrunner_pei]

I'm loving my Alpine CDA-9835. It has Alpine's V-Drive internal amp, but you can turn that off (like I did).

Alpine CDA-9835 (http://iweb.alpine-usa.com/pls/admn/item_info?p_item_name=CDA-9835&p_category=10&p_subcategory=45&p_main=10)

[praasch]

i'm runnin' the pioneer deh-6500P deck, and i love that thing.

[birdhouse]

How much is your spending limit? That will help out a lot...

[bobgagt]

I got a Kenwood excelon 979

50x4 internal
3 sets of 5 volt preamps
aux input rca's
high pass and low pass filters for all speakers
delay settings
2 zone audio
dolby prologic surround
3 band eq thats FULLY adjustable
SRS Wow and Focus adjustments
Flip face with security code if someone steals it
u can upload a 10 sec mpeg (a couple of them)
cd text mp3 etc...

I love that thing... list goes on forever but I picked it up off ebay brand new for $275 shipped.

http://www.globalsound.com.br/kenwood/mp3/kdc-x979/kdc-x979.jpg

All the other decks sound good too... I'm just informing what I have / why I like it... not saying its better than anyone else's... I like all car stereo :)

-Bob

[Gator13]

well right now I have a pioneer DEH-P8400MP and it is pretty nice but I might be leaving it in the grand am when I sell it. I dont really have a limit. I was more wondering if there are head unit that dont have built in 50x4 or v-drive amplifiers. That would save money not having to put one in so the head unit might have good options on it.
-ALex

[car audio dave]

my alpine deck is a couple fo years old, and they dont make it anymore, but mine has what youre looking for. its the alpine CDA-7995. last i heard theres not many without a built in amp. eclpise makes one thats got no power amp, balanced output, but its around $850. Nakamichi made one...not sure if they still do, then theres the alpine CDA-7990, im pretty sure thats not a built amp headunit, but its like $3000. :lol:
http://iweb.alpine-usa.com/img/asb/cda-7990.gif

[matts]

that alpine is a mean MOFO. :gravey: i thought i was the only one around that's ever heard of it :P

back in sony's old days of mobile ES they made a deck that didn't have an internal amp, but i'd say 99% of them have a internal amp nowadays. although on some of them you can turn it off. i know certain kenwood excelon models do it. or at least they used to, not sure if they still do

[sunrunner_pei]

Yeah, you could turn it off in my Kenwood eXcelon KDC-X659.

[car audio dave]

Originally posted by matts
that alpine is a mean MOFO. :gravey: i thought i was the only one around that's ever heard of it :P

back in sony's old days of mobile ES they made a deck that didn't have an internal amp, but i'd say 99% of them have a internal amp nowadays. although on some of them you can turn it off. i know certain kenwood excelon models do it. or at least they used to, not sure if they still do

yea well im into F#1 status stuff...if i could only afford it.

and the sony deck was CDXC-90. it had an optical output...which would run into a processor that would convert from digital to analog...that deck was the bomb. copper chassis, brushed aluminum looking face...nobody builds a deck as good as that anymore. ill try to find one thats pretty new when im in the market for a new deck.

[bobgagt]

You can turn off the internal amp in my deck also. I think you are going to be hardpressed to find a deck lacking an internal amp for less than $600 (unless you get an older used one). Nowadays even the decks that have hivoltage preamps and TONS of other features still include an internal amp just b/c theres more people that would use it than those that wouldn't. But most are switchable.

-Bob

[Gator13]

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-qgMIRpxUIuw/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=300&I=500CDA9855

what do guys think about this alpine? You think you an turn the internal amp off?

[birdhouse]

Yes! And get that deck! If you can afford it, you'll never need a deck again... Well, until you bore of it a few years down the road... :P

And, yes, you can turn off the internal amps in most Alpine decks. Don't be afraid to pick that one up... I saw it in my friend's GP, and damn... If I wasn't going to Ft. Lauderdale for spring break, I'd be trading in my old 7894 for that bad daddy!

Actually, upon further inspection, that's not the deck my friend has. He has the deck with the bio-lite display, but not the touch-glide thingy... Hrm...

[car audio dave]

thats a bad ass deck...get it. thats just about alpines best deck this year.

[sunrunner_pei]

Originally posted by birdhouse
Actually, upon further inspection, that's not the deck my friend has. He has the deck with the bio-lite display, but not the touch-glide thingy... Hrm...

Sounds like he had the same deck that I do. :)

[ylime555]

Originally posted by bobgagt
I got a Kenwood excelon 979

50x4 internal
3 sets of 5 volt preamps
aux input rca's
high pass and low pass filters for all speakers
delay settings
2 zone audio
dolby prologic surround
3 band eq thats FULLY adjustable
SRS Wow and Focus adjustments
Flip face with security code if someone steals it
u can upload a 10 sec mpeg (a couple of them)
cd text mp3 etc...

I love that thing... list goes on forever but I picked it up off ebay brand new for $275 shipped.

http://www.globalsound.com.br/kenwood/mp3/kdc-x979/kdc-x979.jpg
also try www.onlinecarstereo.com
All the other decks sound good too... I'm just informing what I have / why I like it... not saying its better than anyone else's... I like all car stereo :)

-Bob
you have the upgrade of mine i think, they don't have mine anymore in the store but yea mine was like 300 brand new this is what mine look likes. i love it.



http://www.infinitecaraudio.com/shop/uploads/kdc_mp822.jpg

[sunrunner_pei]

Originally posted by ylime555
you have the upgrade of mine i think, they don't have mine anymore in the store but yea mine was like 300 brand new this is what mine look likes. i love it.



http://www.infinitecaraudio.com/shop/uploads/kdc_mp822.jpg

It's similar, but the one he posted is an eXcelon, which is Kenwood's high-end line.

[ylime555]

yep... im thinking of getting a new one this summer

[Gator13]

so what do you guys think is the best head unit is the 500-700 dollar range?