which one to get
What is your price range? Alpine tend to make the best decks for the price. Pioneer is good, so is Eclipse and clarion. Stay away from brands like Sony, Kenwood and Jensen they are crap in my opinion.
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I research Moblie Audio products for a job...Here is my opinion. Both HU's are excellent. Alpine, and Pioneer are both excellent brands.
CDA9815 ALPINE LIST OF FEATURES:
Chassis Size Code IEJ
RMS Power Output 27 watts
Peak Output 60 watts
RMS Power Bandwidth N/A
Preamp Voltage 4 volts
Video Control No
Preamp Outputs 3 pair
Subwoofer Preamp Outputs Yes
AUX Input Optional
Display Color Multicolor
Key Button Color Blue
EQ Bands 5
Sound Shaping Type Bass Engine Pro
Wireless Remote Yes
Wired Remote No
Changer Control Yes
Security Detachable face
Parts Warranty 1 Year
Labor Warranty 1 Year
Tuner
Tuner Type MaxTune SQ
FM Sensitivity 9.3 dBf
FM Presets 12
AM Presets 6
European Tuning No
Seek/Scan Seek
Radio Data System No
Satellite Radio Ready XM
CD
CD Frequency Response 5-20kHz
CD Signal-to-Noise 105 dB
Anti-shock Memory None
CD Text Yes
CD-R Playback Yes
CD-RW Playback Yes
MP3 Playback Yes
DVD Playback No
PIONEER DEH-P8400MP
Chassis Size Code IEJ
RMS Power Output 22 watts
Peak Output 50 watts
RMS Power Bandwidth 50-15kHz
Preamp Voltage 4 volts
Video Control No
Preamp Outputs 3 pair
Subwoofer Preamp Outputs Yes
AUX Input Optional
Display Color Organic EL
Key Button Color Green/Blue
EQ Bands 3
Sound Shaping Type Easy EQ, SFEQ
Wireless Remote Yes
Wired Remote No
Changer Control Yes
Security Detachable face
Parts Warranty 1 Year
Labor Warranty 1 Year
Tuner
Tuner Type Supertuner III
FM Sensitivity 9 dBf
FM Presets 18
AM Presets 6
European Tuning No
Seek/Scan Seek
Radio Data System No
Satellite Radio Ready XM
CD
CD Frequency Response 5-20kHz
CD Signal-to-Noise 94 dB
Anti-shock Memory None
CD Text Yes
CD-R Playback Yes
CD-RW Playback Yes
MP3 Playback Yes
DVD Playback No
In a side to side comparison of their features....both models benefit from the same features, both play MP3's, both have RCa pre outs....3 in total, both have a wireless remote, both have cd changer controls,
DEH-P8400MP

CDA9815

So the decision is really up to you...I would say the Pioneer...Because I like their quality more than I like Alpine's. I also like the way the radios faceplate opens up.
CDA9815 ALPINE LIST OF FEATURES:
Chassis Size Code IEJ
RMS Power Output 27 watts
Peak Output 60 watts
RMS Power Bandwidth N/A
Preamp Voltage 4 volts
Video Control No
Preamp Outputs 3 pair
Subwoofer Preamp Outputs Yes
AUX Input Optional
Display Color Multicolor
Key Button Color Blue
EQ Bands 5
Sound Shaping Type Bass Engine Pro
Wireless Remote Yes
Wired Remote No
Changer Control Yes
Security Detachable face
Parts Warranty 1 Year
Labor Warranty 1 Year
Tuner
Tuner Type MaxTune SQ
FM Sensitivity 9.3 dBf
FM Presets 12
AM Presets 6
European Tuning No
Seek/Scan Seek
Radio Data System No
Satellite Radio Ready XM
CD
CD Frequency Response 5-20kHz
CD Signal-to-Noise 105 dB
Anti-shock Memory None
CD Text Yes
CD-R Playback Yes
CD-RW Playback Yes
MP3 Playback Yes
DVD Playback No
PIONEER DEH-P8400MP
Chassis Size Code IEJ
RMS Power Output 22 watts
Peak Output 50 watts
RMS Power Bandwidth 50-15kHz
Preamp Voltage 4 volts
Video Control No
Preamp Outputs 3 pair
Subwoofer Preamp Outputs Yes
AUX Input Optional
Display Color Organic EL
Key Button Color Green/Blue
EQ Bands 3
Sound Shaping Type Easy EQ, SFEQ
Wireless Remote Yes
Wired Remote No
Changer Control Yes
Security Detachable face
Parts Warranty 1 Year
Labor Warranty 1 Year
Tuner
Tuner Type Supertuner III
FM Sensitivity 9 dBf
FM Presets 18
AM Presets 6
European Tuning No
Seek/Scan Seek
Radio Data System No
Satellite Radio Ready XM
CD
CD Frequency Response 5-20kHz
CD Signal-to-Noise 94 dB
Anti-shock Memory None
CD Text Yes
CD-R Playback Yes
CD-RW Playback Yes
MP3 Playback Yes
DVD Playback No
In a side to side comparison of their features....both models benefit from the same features, both play MP3's, both have RCa pre outs....3 in total, both have a wireless remote, both have cd changer controls,
DEH-P8400MP

CDA9815

So the decision is really up to you...I would say the Pioneer...Because I like their quality more than I like Alpine's. I also like the way the radios faceplate opens up.
I have the pioneer and I love it. haven't had any problems with it and i've had it about a year now. handles all the mp3's you can throw at it and has some really nice adjustments for SQ. i'm not ready to set all kinds of crazy equalizer settings, so it has some presets that can give you a nice variety of sound fields with the stock speakers. Its also nice to be able to actually SEE the display in the day time.... I don't know how the Alpine compares, but I'm with Pioneer all the way. Also, if it comes down to a $$$ factor, you may look at the 7400. i know there are several sites right now that have it for less than 250. It has all the same features as the 8400, without the flipdown face. Just another idea. Good luck with your purchase!
I have that pioneer h.u. pretty nice, i like it, just one complaint, unlike gliph, i cant really see mine during the day unless i cover it with my hand to block the sun. besides that its a great unit and if you're going for show, the pioneer has graphics that the alpine can't touch. if you're just going for sound though, go with the alpine both units are comprable in sound but alpine is cheaper
I have a 740 pioneer and I like it a lot. Of those, i'd go for the Alpine. I've heard things about that headunit being difficult to see, especially with our angle and the way it comes out. Whichever you buy, make sure you don't get it from Crutchfield, they're good as a reference site, but purchase it from another online retailer or Ebay, you'll save a lot of money. my Pioneer p740mp was only $237 online shipped, not off ebay.
i have seen the 8400mp at about 360 at alotta online sites, and the 9815 is usually about 30-50 bux more...8400 loox alot cooler with the oel and flippy face, but alpine's v-drive is kik ***. I guess its a choice of loox vs sound, although both are great in these areas
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I like the pioneer because of the look of it but people have been having problem with the angle of the unit. I like the alpine because of the clarity it provides. I am going to buy one of these hu before the month ends. So keep the input coming . Thanks for all the input
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From: Louisville, Kentucky, US
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I would say the alpine, the pioneer just has to look gay in our cars, the bottom flap has to point nearly straight up. We sell both where i work, and i see much fewer alpines come back with something not working, lately i've noticed a lot of pioneers coming back with bad speaker outputs, among other things. In fact, i dont remember the last time i saw an alpine come back.
alpine: "• Regulated 1Bit DAC"
pioneer: i KNOW this is a 1 bit DAC
bottom line: they are gonna SOUND the same. so go with which one you think looks better, and is easier to use.
piooneers tend to load mp3's slow. but if you like hte looks/features better....... *shrug*
expect identical audible performance
pioneer: i KNOW this is a 1 bit DAC
bottom line: they are gonna SOUND the same. so go with which one you think looks better, and is easier to use.
piooneers tend to load mp3's slow. but if you like hte looks/features better....... *shrug*
expect identical audible performance
If this alpine is new for this model year then it has a very very cool feature. It's called something like music search. Basically what happens is when you're listening to and MP3 disc or XM you can flip through all of the other MP3s or XM channels WHILE STILL LISTENING to the same song you were when you started. When you find the song you want, then you switch songs. That way you don't spend 20 of silence just flipping through the 200 MP3s on your disc. Nothing huge but I think it's cool. It's part of Alpine's ad for this year "non-stop music"




