Alpine vs. Pioneer

[Moki]

I need a new head unit. I am looking at two that are both the same price:

Alpine CDA-9885 and the Pioneer DEH-P7800MP

Alpine Pros:
Floating remote
Bright Display (yes I can see mine on the dash)

Pioneer Pros
5v RCA output over Alpine 4v
More features: Motorized faceplate - 16 band equalizer

Anyone care to opine?

[philwsailz]

Hey Moki-

What price range are these two? (buried in reports, took a brief glance, no time to shop on-line)

I might throw a third in, depending on your budget...

[Moki]

Hey Phil!
Both are $299.

[spharis]

The 4V and 5V pre outs likely are not going to be an issue on your amps. The 16 band eq is also nil as the Alpine surely has a comparable tuning setup; The last one I installed had a movable x-over and eq range. I don't care for source unit EQs. So that leaves te Pioneer with a motorized faceplate in the options you listed as factors.

Alpine is a sure win. I think the only source unit that I like better than Alpine is a Denon. Those are hard to find, usually exist in bulk as rebranded Rockford units. Nakamichi also makes a good unit.

My opinion, go with the 'pine.

[philwsailz]

Hey Phil!
Both are $299.

Okay, I want to throw out one more to consider, for a few reasons:

SONY MEX-1GP

This H/U has a 1 GIG flash drive built into the faceplate. No skipping.

If you do not have an MP3 player, or do not want to take one on the boat for fear of the inevitable splash, this radio is a real good choice.

The new Marine remote from Sony, (I think it is the XA55M) is rated IPX6, i.e. submersible, and has a full sunlight viewable digital readout display. The remote is hard wired, so if you want a hand-held remote, the IR remote that comes with it does not float, and IR is not going to work in sunlight.

If you like like the idea of built-in music, see if you can find one.

Not trying to sway you with the Sony option; I have no good feel for the two radios you proposed, and I totally will toe the line with Spharis' comments re: voltage. I am buddies with the guy in charge of 12 volt development at Alpine, and if he brought a marine radio to the market, I have no doubt it is a good one.

[Moki]

Thanks guys for your informative comments. Phil, I will look more into the Sony, my only problem is that I am trying to get my stereo done today and am limited by what it in stock at the local stores.

BTW, Spharis my Rockford Fosgate 9220m that I bought off ebay won't play out of the right channel and after about 10 seconds of play, the volume turns all the way up on its own -- must be the "I can't hear it feature". So, I am abandoning it for a new unit.

[NICKYPOO]

I have the similar Pioneer set up. I would probably go with the Alpine. A couple things I don't like is how long it takes to get around on the iPod. From what I understand Alpine has the solution. Second would be this damned remote. It doesn't seem to like me. It seems to be one thing after another with it. 9-times out of ten, I need to unhook it from the battery in order to reset the brain. Other than, I'm real happy with the performance. Personally, I would go Alpine next time.

[spharis]

That's funny....."can't hear it feature", hope mine doesn't start. So far it seems like a very nice well rounded very capable unit. That model, 9220, is not made by Denon. RF is also no longer making source units. The Denon made units are $350+ usually, and will not do MP3s, and have pre-outs only. No source unit driven speakers.

Damn ebay.....Did that start doing that immediately, or did it just happen. What are you going to do with it. I can pay you this shipping if it is going in the can.

I refuse to purchase an ipod, but I do hear that Alpine's pod interface is the best available; except for that stupid slide touch sensitive interface they were pushing for a while.


Sony catches alot of flack b/c the entry level source units really do suck, but some of the units are ver very nice. I had a CDX-MP80, and at one point a cdx-9901.....these were very nice, very capable units.

[NICKYPOO]

I refuse to purchase an ipod,

Did Apple wrong your family at some point? What's up Dude? You sound kind of bitter.

[spharis]

No, I just don't like supporting communist/socialist practices. Apple and their hardware/software are like a mini-socialist nation.

[Domsz06]

Alpine all the way, hands down!!

[Moki]

I got the Alpine.

Spharis, PM me your address and I will send you the 9220m. I never tested it when I first got it and just installed it yesterday. You will probably be able to fix it, or at least use it for spare parts. I had one of the cheap Sony units, they do give Sony a bad name. I am sure their high end stuff is good.

Nicky, that's what pushed me over the edge is Alpine's RF remote, it allows you to control the stereo up to 100 feet away and it floats. Now, I won't be drilling any holes in my transom for a hard wired.

My kids are IPOD people, but I am an MP3 player guy because I believe in information democracy - in other words I hate how IPOD locks everything down. I don't steal any music, I buy CDs off of Amazon and rip them. I also like the flexibility of other formats such as lossless OGG. But, my kids will be using the IPOD functionality and there is no need to purchase another component to make it work, just a cable.

[NICKYPOO]

I don't get into politics.

[zad0030]

I just typed a whole long thing and then deleted it so... Im anti IPOD!
Forget the Apple commies and buy a PSP, Its cheaper, it has more functions, and its more durable.

[spharis]

LOL....Sony isn't any better.....rootkit anyone?