I've got an A4, do I tap into the light that illuminates the tranny position?

 

I wish I could talk you into an Alpine CDA-7878. THis is the most incredible HU I've ever owned!!! You won't regret purchasing one! You can get one from "mick3y00@aol.com" for $579 to your door!! :D

 

How is it better than the Kenwood?

 

Well Shanman, without going into details these pop into my head right off.

1. The Kenwood only has two preouts where the Alp has 3.
2. The Kenwood isn't XM ready, though it is Sirius ready (sirius is having SERIOUS technical difficulty that will likely hamper it's viability) the Alp is <this will be BIG in 6 mo's!> is XM ready.
3. The Kenwood does have an onboard EQ, The Alp does <and it's audiophile quality>.
4. The Kenwood doesn't come with a remote, the Alp does.
5. The Kenwood has a SINGLE remote ON wire, whereas the Alp has two - one for antenna and the other for amps. This is a BIG ONE if you want to listen to CD's and don't like your antenna being up.
6. The Kenwood has more THD <harmonic distortion> than the Alp.
7. The Kenwood is more expensive.

I will give the Kenwood ONE plus, though - It does have a dimmer wire.... :seeya


[Modified by EdwardETraylorIII, 9:03 PM 10/28/2001]

 

Sorry Ed you are way wrong about a few things on the Kenwood

1. The Kenwood has 3 outputs Front Rear and Sub + Aux input. Not real sure the Alpine has Aux Input :yesnod:

2. Yes your right about the sirus but I doubt the XM will be ready in 6 months.

3. System E's on the Kenwood. is equeal to Alpines on board Eq.

4. The Kenwood Does come with a remote.

5. The kenwood does have 2 remote wires a ant. and remote

6. The Kenwood has 4.5 v preouts compared to Alpines 4v. They are equal on thd. I would agree the test bench results are slightly better but I doubt if it is audible to the humen ear. 4.5v preouts are slightly better.

7. I bought my Kenwood. Z828 for $540 with tax thats about $39 less then what you paid.

Not only does the Kenwood have a detachable face like the Alpine but it also has code protection.

Here is a excellen recent review of the Kenwood. http://www.caraudiomag.com/archives/..._tests03.shtml

Ratings

S/N Kenwood 96 db Alpine 105 Alpine gets the plus

DAC Type : Kenwood 8 Level AE Alpine Regulated 1-Bit Kenwood gets the plus

Dynamic Range (1kHz) : 95 dB both the same

Frequency Response : Kenwood 10-20k Alpine 5-20k You can't hear 5hz to 10hz anyway

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) Kenwood .01 Alpine 0.008% Alpine would get the plus. .002% is not even close to being audible.

Channel Separation (1kHz) Kenwood 90db Alpine 85 dB Kenwood gets the plus.

As you can see these are pretty equal decks I personally like the Kenwood a little better then the Alpine but there close. In the past I have purchased Alpine products and they always lived up to my expectations where Kenwood was not quite as good years ago.

I bought my Z828 deck 5 months ago when they came out it has worked with out a flaw and love almost all the features on it. It is by far the best head unit I have ever had.

What ever deck you buy I am sure you'll be happy I just wanted you not to be strayed be misinformed facts :yesnod:




[Modified by Wicked C5, 8:34 PM 10/28/2001]

 

Wow, thanks guys!

 

Wicked, thanks for the corections! I was using Kenwood's site for my info. I guess they need to update it! :)

Just an FYI - The CDA-7878 has an Aux input. Also, you say you doubt XM will be ready by then - It's already broadcasting and I'm listening to it in my home as I type this.

 

Sorry your right about the Xm Radio I guess it will be fully rolled out on Nov 15th to the rest of the country. I have digital cable radio and never listen to it in my house so I doubt I would listen to it in my car. My guess is XM will buy out Sirrus and brodcast it to those radios also.

I wasnt aware the Alpine had a Aux input with a Msrp of $849 it D a m n well should

 

Ya, it's got the AIN which you can daisy chain Aux input's with, as I understand it.

I doubt XM will buy Sirius since XM has THEIR OWN bird's in the sky <Rock and Roll are the satellite names> so that would not prove useful for XM at all.
The way I understand it, Sirius is supposed to have fewer commercials in their programming.

I need to figure out a hack for XM!! :)

 

No bashing, just curiosity.

Can either the Kenwood or the Alpine do random across an entire MP3 disc?

 

I know the Kenwood can only do random in a folder. Unless you put all songs in the root or in a single folder, no.

 

On the Kenwood I honstley don't remember I will try it today and repost.

 

Yes, The alpine does have M.I.X which is random throughout EVERY folder.

 

[QUOTE]
The way I understand it, Sirius is supposed to have fewer commercials in their programming.
[QUOTE]

The XM radio is supposed to have NO commercials. That's one of the reasons you're paying for it. They have to make money somehow.

And yes Sirrus is having some roll out problems. If you notice it's only on the Kenwoods :D

 

Jeff,

I'm afraid XM has commercials. about 2-3 an hour. Not bad at all. In fact, I hardly notice them.

 

:( That was one of my purchasing factors and the reason I got the JVC...

 

FYI: I found a wholesaler on Ebay that can ship the Z828 for $480!

 

Nice price. I told you someone would deal on that. $100 profit for them is better then none. Enjoy your new deck I know I do. I really have no intention of signing up for sirrus or XM so that was not even a issue with me.

 

wicked,

Who said anything about <cough> signing up!! :)
:D

 

I like the Z828 better. It's the cool formula 1 car video :) Actually, I like the motorized faceplate of the Z919 more, but I like the display and the fact that the Z828 is able to read the mp3 tags.