I currently have a Pioneer DEH-P7000 (from 1999) head unit in my car, which has 4.8V preouts... my buddy just gave me his DEH-P7200 (from 2000) head unit he didn't need anymore, which has the 2.2V preouts...

While I'm using the built-in amp now, I had been planning on buying a 4-channel amp in several months... question is... do I retain my current head unit (which, admittedly, has a fading EL screen) in favor of the higher voltage preout, or do I go with the newer Y2K model?

How much difference is it in clarity between the two voltages? Is it really that big of a difference? Can amps take that high of a voltage? It seems like most head units these days are all 2V anyhow!

 

So in terms of fidelity and sound accuracy (e.g.: THD), there is not a difference between the 4.8V preout and the 2.2V preout, correct?

The newer 7200-model does have a more aesthetically appealing display...

Additionally, the amp I'm likely to purchase (Alpine MRV-F340) has a specification where the input sensitivity is rated from 0.2V to 4.0V. The head unit I currently have is the 4.8V. Will that mean that the amp is incompatible with my head unit??

Sorry for all the stupid questions... I'm still a little green on autosound!


[Modified by PyroVTEC, 1:19 PM 7/9/2002]

 

Ahhh... OK.

So if i were to have the amplifier at a volume of 7 for the 2.2V head unit, and maybe a volume of 5 for the 4.8V head unit, would it then be safe to assume that there would be more of a chance of introducing white/pink noise at the higher amplifier volume (with the 2.2V head unit)?

If this is the case, I think I'll stick with my P6000 then... I just hope Pioneer can send me another P6000 faceplate as mine's starting to fade a bit... A lot of it has to do with the way the 6th Gen Civic dashes slope AWAY from the driver, thus making it harder to see. If worse comes to worse, I'll just have to relocate the stereo to behind the cupholders, as in the 96-98 Civics...

Thanks again Teken!

 

Very good info. Thanks for the read.

 

Hmmmmmmmmmm.......

Wouldn't the hiss only be heard at very low sound levels, if any?

So if I were to get a larger amp, the hiss would still be there, but it would be more resistant to overheating, correct?

It turns out that the new faceplate is $150! I'd rather spend $150 to get an amp that can handle more power! Going from the Alpine MRV-F340 at 65Wx4 RMS @ 2ohms to the Alpine MRV-F540 at 100Wx4 @ 2ohms, would I "compensate" for the difference in the voltages at all? Would the amp "filter out" any more hiss if it was bigger?

 

Heheh... I think I'm overanalyzing!

What I meant about the lower sound levels was high volume, but little signal from the source (e.g.: a slow section in a classical piece played from a CD).

OK, then would you think a 65Wx4 RMS is more than enough for a Civic then, with the 4V preout? This should be more than enough, right?

More to think about...

 

do the newer headunit with the larger amp you will be much happier with this setup. the 7000 series have defective buttons that "collapse" and the 7200 model has been redesigned with that in mind. and the display is way cooler.