Spec for spec, a top level Sony (or Kenwood) would seem to be as good as a comparable Alpine - yet Alpine seems to clearly be the brand of choice. Why?

 

I think it's a brand name thing. Maybe back in the day it was because they were the OEM manufacturer for Lamborghini stereos. I just bought an Alpine 7892 and changer with MP3 capability for my Vette. I have a Sony Xplod in my Ranger. I will compare the two and tell you which I like better. I have to admit, the Alpine looks nicer, but the Sony in my Ranger sure sounds nice. I hope the Alpine works as good as it looks.

AC

 

Sound is a very subjective thing, a lot of it has to do with quality ... my two favorite car audio companies are Alpine and Clarion, why?

The other brands focus not only car audio but other audio and video products ... Sony for example makes mediocre products across the board ... they are not the "best" at anything (except the PS2) they do a lot of things well, just not the best ...companies that focus on one product line seem to make a better product,

for example, Dell is a PC maker, they dont :bs with printers and other items, while HP makes great printers, but less that great PC's compared with Dell ...

Sony,Kenwood,Pioneer, etc ... all excel at 1 or 2 things ... but none seem to excel at car audio ... Pioneer makes great home theater products, Kenwood has the same market ... Sony is good at TV's and portable electronics ...

Alpine is priced higher ... but worth it sometimes ... it all depends ... if you plan too install a Alpine HU, dont skimp on the other componenets, because no HU can make speakers sound better than their best, I try to match everything ... in my parents Corvettes(2), they spent money on Alpine, JL Audio and MB Quart. But in my Audi, Kenwood and Pioneer ... it all has to match ....

 

I have a/d/s and JL amps (and subs) and MB Quart speakers with a Kenwood eXcelon which I do like. I will be installing an Alpine ERA-G320. I just can't help but wonder what the craze is over the Alpine. Granted, sound is all subjective but again, why is Alpine a better unit when when the specs match up... I agree specialty brands often do a better job, but I'm having a hard time finding the differences here...

 

Iv heard good things about the Kenwood HUs - I really doubt youd notice a difference if you put in an Alpine. I have had good experience with both Alpine and Kenwood and would recommend just about everything they sell :cheers:

 

When comparing the higher models in these brands, I think that their are no differences. Its all about looks at that point. I like Alpine the best personally, I like their overall quality and looks ... their top of the line units have many useful features, and you are right, most HU's have identical features, locally, my shop is an Alpine dealer, so that does influence my decision also ...

I suggest that you not worry about it tooo much, one thing that I am sure about it that if I can, I try to stick with 1 brand for electronics in the car, Alpine has their AiNet, Kenwood - ZBus, and Clarion CeNet, which allows the HU to control other items, which is the best feature they share ...

 

I have had the "top of the line" of all, Kenwood, Sony, Clarion, Denon.... But I keep coming back to Alpine. When you get into high end audio, you need a source unit that will deliver....Alpine has always done it and always will. They have always been a step ahead of the competition. I am also saying that I only look at Alpine as a good/great front end....there is many other companies that will fill the void as far as Amps, Components, Subs and Video....and my final words will be "it's all a matter of taste and your wallet" :cheers:

 

Whatever happened to Denon's car audio division anyway? Are they still around? They used to make some nice head units. :)

AC

 

Alpine has built top-of-the-line HU’s for decades. They stand for quality and performance. Alpine has never compromised their quality and that has kept them highly respected in the car audio industry.

LOL no, Alpine was high-end long before they put them in Lamborghini’s. In fact, that’s WHY they put them in Lamborghini’s, because they are such high-end stereos. Alpine has been around for a long time.
People who have been into car audio for many years knows Alpine is the best because of their track record. Alpine comes out with high-end features first and you can always count on an Alpine to perform and last. That can’t always be said for the other brands...ESPECIALLY Sony! Sony is not a quality HU; you are paying for a name only with them. I have owned many different brands of HU’s in my day and Alpine has always out performed them and continues to today. That’s why I, and most car audio enthusiasts, prefer Alpine, only the best for our ears. Until something better comes along and proves itself over time, I will only put Alpine in my cars.

Features and nifty displays alone don’t make a good HU. Performance, quality and durability are what make a lasting leader in the car audio industry. :yesnod:

 

Can AiNet (Alpine sound Processor) - be combined with a Kenwood HU?

 

If the processor has a Non-AiNet input ... yes ... otherwise ... nope ..

 

I was actually considering switching to the Alpine F-1, a $3,000.00 head unit. It was installed in my car, and I swear, I did NOT think it was any better than my Kenwood Excelon I already have. Since the shop did it as a test for me, I am glad I didn't buy it outright first!

Everyone touts Alpine, but compared to other high end units, it may be dificult to actually "hear" any difference.

 

Thanks NewVette - I wasn't sure if these were just proprietary names for the same thing...

 

indypace78, Hearing the difference is probably impossible ... but it is the overall rep that keeps me going back, I have had 2 bad experiences with Kenwood, so I wont buy them ... thats me ... I think that after $500, most HU's of equal price are just for looks ..

 

the thing to look for is what are the SQ sound off competitors using for their sources....

for the most part, it is Alpine and Eclipse.

the reasons are simple... they make the best HU's.

The sound, the preamp sections. Alpine was the first with 4 volt preamp outs... first with integrated processor communications (AINet).

now, are other brands catching up? sure... but I am not impressed.

they add flying dolphins, Alpine adds better sound controls.

the one way I use to determine head unit quality... when the system is really pumping, does the lighting on the head flicker??? if so, trash it.

here are the leaders in their fields:

Heads: Alpine or Eclipse
Apms: JL Audio, Zapco or ADS
Drivers: Boston, Quart or Focal (JL is catching up - their drivers are made by the same people who make Quarts!)
Crossovers: Audio Control
Subs: JL or Boston
EQs: Alpine and Audio control - Zapco makes some nice ones too.

this is a short list, and there is a brand I know I am missing... just don't remember.

there is not any one company that makes the best of the best of everything.

oh, and Denon is out of the car audio biz. I was on their site the other day... nada.

 

That is my list exactly ...

 

The list look pretty good....
I'm going to assume that my Kenwood Excelon is the "weak link" in my system, but I gotta say, this head unit that I have, the KDCx911, has balanced 8v output which is feeding my Zapco parabolic audio control, with a super clean signal, and system really sounds clean clean clean! :yesnod:

 

I have the excelon 917 and have recieved great complements. It does sound very good. But like anything, unless you can do a direct, head to head comparison, its hard to realize what we may be missing.

 

Installing head units for a living I had the luxury of putting different head units in the same car on a regular basis. Spec to spec they would have all seemed the same. But specs often lie. Hearing them you could definitely hear subtle differences. The general consensus was that the Alpine sounded great overall, the pioneer had a good radio section, the Nak couldn't be beat tape or CD but stunk with radio, Denon was good but sounded flat for some reason, and Sony was lacking in highs and lows. Other radios such as JVC, Kenwood, Blau, etc. weren't in the same league. Clarion has cleaned up its act and Eclypse is good so they would go in the group with the others.

 

For subs and drivers you forgot "Image Dynamics".
There is also an argument for "Rainbow Pro" drivers.

For amps you forgot high end "Rockford Fosgate" (not the Best Buy stuff).
They may not have a lot of bells and whistles but they do have everything you need and are extremely powerful. Haven't seen a Fosgate amp yet that wasn't underrated by at least 75 watts.

Absolutely right, that’s why you have to shop around and figure out what brands match up best with each other for optimal performance. Let’s also not forget, the install is probably 85% of any sound system.
Hence the old car audio adage, “It’s all in the install”. :yesnod:

Denon makes excellent studio equipment, in fact I run Denon CD players and interlinks in all of my studios, but I never was impressed with their car audio line. :nonod: