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i am about to buy a new HU and was wondering which you would reccommend. I was thinking on either the alpine CDA-7998, Alpine CDA-7897, Eclipse CD8062, and the new clarion tv/dvd unit. I like the tv, but i can always add one, i was looking for the one that would give the best sound quality. and would best run the system i am going to be putting in. i know that the CDA-7998 and the CD8062 do not have internal amps, but i was gonna amp everything anyway, so thats not a big deal.

 
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clarion = the epitomy of build quality, less clarion in for repair than anything else, ever. (its also our biggest seller) but i have to express a concern for the gearing on that pop out screen.

if your buying retail, i would get it. if yoru buying online, i would probably not get the screen.

however, the fewer components in line in yoru system, the less potential there is for noise to enter your system. so in that respect, the all in one unit would be far better than any of the other options.

plus, the clarion has a touch screen,. which is just badass [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]

but i would buy it retail, for sure. only $2499.......

 
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I don't believe you could go wrong with any of the decks mentioned, but I'll throw in my 2 cents.

The CDA-7998 is probably the winner in the features category. The FantomXL face is a big plus for those that struggle with a typical din sized unit. The buttons are a tad on the small side, but you can't beat a rotary volume ****. Oh, and don't forget the digital output. Pretty nice for the sound Q minded.

The CD8062 is the king when it comes to output voltage. Used with the balanced output, you are looking at 16 volts of signal. No noise in that set up. The Eclipse is also a little more bulletproof than the Alpine in that it lacks all the motorization that the FantomXL face has. Doesn't have a digital output, but who cares with 16V of output?

The CDA-7894 isn't really in the same category as the other two decks. Probably a good compromise for the budget conscious, but I'd stick with one of the two above before getting it.

You mention that you may get a monitor later on. If this is the case, than I would probably look at the Alpine DVA-7996. This will give you the best of all things multimedia. DVD, CD, Tuner, it's the deck of all trades.

So, in summary:

For SQ: Eclipse CD8062
For features: Alpine CDA-7998
For future upgrades: Alpine DVA-7996

Have fun!

 
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thanks, i wont be buying retail though, a guy i know that owns a car audio shop lets me get it 5% above cost cause i sell alot of stuff for him, so its not gonna be but about 1600-1700 for the clarion, which isnt a bad price. i liked the 7998 and the 8062, but wasnt too sure about how well they performed. i was thinking that performance wise, i should get either the alpine or the eclipse, then add a stand alone monitor, but was really looking for input on which would be my best choice.

 
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If you want SQ, you definately want to stay with alpine and eclipse. I prefer alpine units myself and currently have the 7894. Tons of features. I am still learning the darn thing. However, the display is just barely visible during the day. I don't really need to see it but it is annoying.

I would go for the 7998 hands down if you are going to buy retail. The display is supposedly legible in all conditions. I am pretty sure you get a bump from 4 to 5 volts on the preouts as well. Plus, no face plate to mess with.

In general, these fancy motorized face plates have significantly more problems than those that don't. I don't care for the motorized plate but it seems like everything is going that way these days. I would buy the unit retail and get an extended warranty if I was you. You can get the 7998 off of ebay for around 600 or so. Some of the sellers offer a 1 yr warranty through their businesses but I don't know how legit they are. I bought my 7894 from ikesound.com since I only had pocket change to spend. LOL You may want to look at it as well or the 7895. Outside of the display, you really want be compromising anything. I would hardly consider a $400-500 cd player a compromise.

Another issue to consider with the HUs with screens and such, is the visibility to the outside world. Due to the position of our Hus on the dash, most anyone in a car along side you in traffic can see your expensive unit sitting there. Plus, you can walk by the car and not even be paying much attention and you'll immediately see the fancy HU. My point is, if someone is hunting for stereo equipment, your nice HU may as well be the north star on a clear night.

 
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If you are looking for persuasion to go with one brand or another, I wouldn't know what to tell you. People have been debating which brand is best for years. Imo, it just comes down to personal preference. You can't go wrong with either.

 
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hehe, your kinda shopping for the same thing I was thinking of several months ago.

Linky: HUs I’m considering - Opinions Please

 
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I have the CDA-7998 in my Civic and I love it, wouldn't trade it for the world. Display is legible in daytime, and if you want quality it is there. It also has the time correction for adjusting delays and aligning the imaging of the speakers. I can't say anough about it, and it mounts beautifully with the AI kit using the iso din

 
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i'd go with the eclipse.... eclipse is just pure quality