I'm looking to replace my stock deck and would like to get the best sound quality I can, and would like to see hear your opions of these decks.

Kenwood Excelon KDC-X889

Panasonic MXE CQ-C9800U

Alpine CDA-9835

JVC Arsenal KD-AR7500

Pioneer DEH-P9600MP

 

Don't know about that JVC Aresonal model but I have one don't remember the model # that I got about 1 and a half years ago. I love it and would highly reccomend it. I don't know about the regular JVC line and I don't remember them sounding that great when demoing them but I love my JVC Aresonal and it is one of the best HU's I have heard sq wise without running external amps. I also have an Alpine in my truck again not sure what model # and like it but it was a big let down after having the JVC. It doesn't sound as clean nor go as loud although it goes loud enough. Overall the JVC sounds cleaner and is a lot nicer feature wise also. I don't know about the other 3 your looking at although I know a few people with Kenwood HU's and they seem to be very good. While I am dissapointed in my Alpine I would say that if I buy another one if it wasn't for JVC Aresonal line Alpine would probably be my second choice. I would look at the Aresonal, Alpine, or a Eclipse HU in that order.

 

well I dont believe you have the right number for the KDC-X889... it doesnt show up on kenwood, at all... However, I have the X859, its a little older, but seems to have more build quality than some.. of the newer ones ive heard... but thats just hear say... if you are going off my generation of Excelon headunits.. they are great. Crystal clear, both in speaker and RCA imputs, My headunit rated at 4.5v, quite nice..

If I had one complaint about it.. it would be.. well... I guess I dont have any , I love this headunit. But I dont like the speed of Kenwood support for answering questions of their equipment.. and some features they have arent clearly explained in the manual.. If you get it (check on the actual model #) Ill see if it shares the same generation features and I can explain most of them if not all, and how they work with Amps and such...

EDIT: on a side note... Kenwood seems to be the clarity brand at least when it comes to Speakers (excelon line of course... no experience on others), however onced amped, they can boom too (night and day difference in overall performance when amped)... So if just clarity (unamped) is your goal, I would definitly say Kenwood.