I need some advice...I am upgrading the sound system in my EM1 and need a new head unit. I just picked up a 10inch Kicker L5 sub in ported box, a Kicker KX600.1 mono class D amp, and a Stinger SWKH4 HPM series 4 gauge amp kit. Also, I plan on keeping my interior stock speakers for now.

So I've been looking into the Pioneer and Alpine head units and they both look good. I particularly like the Pioneer Premier line and Circuit City has the DEH-P770MP for $270. I also like the Alpine CDA-9857, at BestBuy for $330. I don't have an ipod right now but am leaving the option open for the future.

Can anyone give me advice on these units, or make any suggestions for my setup? I want something that will give me what I need, and I really don't need all the extras. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

 

If I were you I wouldnt consider the 770, it is a 2005 model and does not work very well with the cd-ib100 (pioneer i-pod adapter).
Look into the DEH-P780mp it is the replacement for the 770 and the i-pod adapter ties in seamlessly.
Also the 770 is 4volt preouts and the 780 is 5 volt
The 770 has a single color OEL display while the 780 has a 65,000 color OEL display with 4 times the Pixel count.
The 770 has a 3 band eq while the 780 has a 16 band.The 780 has time alignment, and the 770 does not.

In short the 780 is light years better than the 770.
the deh-p780 runs approximately $429

I am a pioneer man, mainly because I feel they are a better value than alpine.

 

Thanks for the info Incubus! I did not know that the 770 was a 2005. I just checked out the 780 and I like it, but its kinda pricey and I don't necessarily need the color display. Do you think the 680 will fit my needs?

Can anyone give me any recommendations on the Alpine units as far as my setup?

 

u should look at the 9856

its a 06 model n it has ipod , xm radio & mp3
n all the goodies like the higher models

for only $199

 

yes the 680 is a better headunit than the 770, the 680 has been almost impossible for the store I work at to keep in stock, as soon as we get them they are gone. I-pod functionality is much better with the 680, and it has a 7 band eq.

The problem I have with Alpines this year is the fact that all the way up to a $350 deck you still only get 2 volt preouts.

With pioneer the second number indicates the year it was produced in decending order:
8=2006,7=2005, 6=2004 and so on.

We had the deh-p680 on sale at my work for $249 for 6 weeks, theyre $269 now and worth every penny.

 

Alpine > Pioneer

I'm biased.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDM_Ej &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Alpine &gt; Pioneer

I'm biased.</TD></TR></TABLE>

yea dat
couldnt have said it better myself

 

we sell both at my work, alpine sucks *** because they whored it out to 12 year olds in china to build it. buy the pioneer. and the 780 costs more than a 680 because it has a multi color oel and burr brown d/a converters. the 680 will be just fine.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDM_Ej &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Alpine &gt; Pioneer

I'm biased.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Ive said it before and Ill say it again. Prove it, dont just make an empty statement.
Id be glad to do a comparison. We can do price point to price point.

I could make the statement that hyundai &gt; honda but it wouldnt mean anything unless I had the facts to back it up.

 

damn bro take off a face plate from an 05 model. theres a sticker on the back "made in china". even our rep admitted they had alot of problems. the first batch we got in last year got recalled because their glidetouch was messing up. we pull iva-d310's all the time because the touchscreen locks up, 9820xm faceplates go bad, and they will start randomly losing memory. im not say alpine sucks and pioneer perfect but we havent seen nearly the problems with pioneer in recent years. besides its all opinion anyway, I say pioneer,you say alpine.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 5THGENSI &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">damn bro take off a face plate from an 05 model. theres a sticker on the back "made in china". even our rep admitted they had alot of problems. the first batch we got in last year got recalled because their glidetouch was messing up. we pull iva-d310's all the time because the touchscreen locks up, 9820xm faceplates go bad, and they will start randomly losing memory. im not say alpine sucks and pioneer perfect but we havent seen nearly the problems with pioneer in recent years. besides its all opinion anyway, I say pioneer,you say alpine. </TD></TR></TABLE>
that was directed towards the other guys 5thgensi, thats why I qouted them. Most of the opinions on this forum are nothing but a band wagon and Alpine is one of them. I was agreeing with you.

 

yeah i figured that out after i posted, my bad. but anyway there is my 2 cents.

 

pioneer or alpine, hummmm, both good radios. Both have there up's and down's, I feel that pioneer gives you more for your money. And there looks are on the rise. Alpine been here for while and there higher end models are top notch. I feel that alpine wants you to spend a arm and a leg to get features that you real want and need. Pioneer gives them to you for a decient price. I been selling pioneer and alpine for awhile plus some other names. But when you break down the cost and the functions that you get for the price. People tend to lean towards the pioneer. I would go with the 7800mp it has 5 volts amp preouts vs. the 6800mp 2.2volts. But don't get me wrong the 6800 with still give you great sound. And i hooked up many system with them, Plus I like the option of three rca outputs- Front,Rear,Sub. And the aux input the 7800mp has. The 6800mp falls short on this. But you can use there built in 2 way x-over to bring it up to par.

 

the 6800 has an aux in on the bottom of the faceplate i think.

 

It does, sorry forgot it, i don't use that option all the time.

 

i used to be a kenwood guy but last year i got my first pioneer. Pioneer all the way baby!!!!!!! the 80hertz crossover for my speakers work badass and i dont even have the amp connected yet.

kinda sad not cause the 780 has more options but im still happy with my 770. I got it for 200 bucks plus the 2 year premier warranty. boo-ya!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wrx-killer-Sti eater &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It does, sorry forgot it, i don't use that option all the time.</TD></TR></TABLE>

beat me to it, the OP is looking at Premier head units so it would be between the 780 and 680. The 780 has (3) 5v preouts and the 680 has (3) 4v. so that isnt really an issue. The 680 fits his budget better.

Im going to put a 780 in my car today until the 980 comes out.

 

isnt the 980 the bt unit

 

im sure whatever you pick it will be fine. im an alpine guy... pioneer is fine but i notice people end up selling that stuff to upgrade and with alpine people hold on to it til it gets stolen., of course look on ebay at last yrs models (new) im sure you can get something nice.