Rep Power: 0

Hey guys just wanted to hear a few suggestions from u guys who have had experience with Alpine & Pioneer HU's. My old HU just broke down today (clarion) I couldn't eject my disc anymore and it wouldn't play. I decided to just get a new one. I'm choosing between Alpine CDA-9856 & Pioneer DEH-6800.

I'd like to hear ur experiences with these brands or with these specific models.
Thank you.

Alpine CDA-9856


Pioneer DEH-6800

 
Rep Power: 0

alpine makes one of the best quality head units out on the market and has for many years. and thats prolly what i would reccomend for sound quality. if you want more show like and graphics and stuff. go for the pioneer

 
Rep Power: 0

I really am about the sound quality.

 
Rep Power: 268

ive got the cda 9856, sounds a lot better than stock. but the glare is horrible

 
Rep Power: 0

yes, with our vics, and the way that the center bezel is angled. its better to have a a deck with graphics cause it shows better. decks with out, are horrible in the sun even when the contrast is at the best settting. just what ive learned from past experences. something to also keep in mind

 
Rep Power: 0

I have a 9856 deck, my first deck, i am very satisfied with it, ipod connect, mp3 n other goods. Alota koo features, i like it a lot

 
Rep Power: 266

i have a pioneer 8600mp and love it, quality is awesome and features can't be beat, get a pioneer

 
Rep Power: 0

i mess with both of the decks all day at work and like someone else said if you want graphics go with the 6800 if you want a nice clear sound go with the alpine. another thing is me personally i think without an amp a pioneer sounds better but if your amping interiors as well id say a alpine. just my personal opinion though everyone hears what they want to hear in music anyways. you got to look at the thing everyday for however long pick which you would rather stare at.

 
Rep Power: 0

i got pioneer and its cool

 
Rep Power: 0

both are very nice. good luck with your decision, but i've always leaned towards the alpine design.

 
Rep Power: 0

I've got the Pioneer. Love it. Gotta love the mp3, wma, aac support, line input for a mp3 player and the ipod adapter is pretty nice (but an optional part) Sound is awesome and the graphics are interesting. SO yeah. I reccomend the Pioneer.

 
Rep Power: 0

pioneer for me.

 
Rep Power: 0

I have had many a deck in my time (yes I am quite old) and by far the most versatile, most reliable, most powerful and most enjoyable unit is my current alpine deck.

 
Rep Power: 260

alpine hands down

 
Rep Power: 0

i just recently bought a pioneer deh-p7800mp and i was debating on whether to get the alpine cda-9857 or the pioneer. i went with pioneer cuz my old cd player was a pioneer and i've never had any problems with them. both companies make great head units.

 
Rep Power: 247

I have that pioneer right now and I love it... my opinion go with the pioneer

 
Rep Power: 286

I'd buy neither of these decks, lol.

Here's my input anyway. I've owned 4 different Pioneer decks in my car, and the current one in there is a Pioneer. I've never had a problem with any of them, but you must know I've also never had a deck for more than a year in my car. SQ is great with the pioneer decks I've used, but I don't know how it is for mid range Pioneer decks. I usually buy the top of the line models, but that's me. I'd say go for Pioneer, but Alpine is not a bad choice. I don't think you could go wrong with either one.

 
Rep Power: 0

Wow this is really a tough choice...lol

Here's what I like about each.

Alpine CDA-9856

Likes:
- Design & Style
- Sound settings
- Ipod Controls
- Detachable Faceplate

Dislikes:
- Display color
- Remote is not included
- Aux input is optional

Pioneer DEH-8600

Likes:
- Design & Style
- Display color
- 7 Band EQ & Sound settings
- Built-In Aux Input
- Remote included
- Detachable Faceplate

Dislikes:
- A bit more expensive
- questionable sound quality (I need to test both and compare)

I am an SQ person. I really have got to test these out first. I hope I'll pick the right choice to match my JL xr's. I am running them on a pioneer amp hmmm...should I match the pioneer HU to my amp?

Tough tough choice. Thanks guys for all your opinions keep 'em coming.

 
Rep Power: 0

The Alpine with the ipod control ($29) is the way to go. Put the line to your glovebox with the ipod and forget about it.

 
Rep Power: 247

you can do the exact same thing with the pioneer (it is done in my car)and you can control it from the deck so I dont know what ur talking about

 
Rep Power: 254

I've only put Alpine decks in my vehicles in the past and I totally love them. I've always been a fan of Pioneer, though. BUT due to the fact that Alpine has a good track record with me, I'd say go for the Alpine.

 
Rep Power: 0

I got the Alpine 9857, and it's really a great unit. If u get yourself a good set of speaker, u can get good SQ. It also come with a remote and much better graphx than the 9856. In the sun tho, it's kinda hard to read...

 
Rep Power: 0

Yeah I saw that 9857 too and it does include the remote. I have JL XR's and an amp. I dunno why alpine only released a few mp3/wma player this year. The color of the graphx is just white no other choices too.

Hmmm now I'm having second thoughts maybe I should just wait for Alpine's 2007 new line up.

 
Rep Power: 0

I put an Alpine CDA-9856 in my 04 sedan & took it out after a week. The unit played great but the glare made it almost impossible to see in the day time. I also had a Pioneer DEH-p6600 in there for about a year & you could see the display better but not great. The Pioneer sounded pretty good also. I think on a middle of the road quality receiver you can't go wrong with either. The glare is a problem. I would be curious to hear from someone with the DEH-6800 on how the display does in the daytime. I also tried an Alpine CDA-9833(great deck) but the glare was terrible on that one also. I am contemplating fixing my sons old Kenwood Excelon KDC-X817 (which I bought for myself but somehow ended up in his car) to see if it will look decent in the daytime. Just my two cents worth.

 
Rep Power: 247

Glare is not a problem, the only trouble i have with it is not being able to see the song numbers in the upper right hand corner during the day but thats probaly because it is like size 8 font glare wise for the song titles and such is not bad at all....always readable

 
Rep Power: 286

Pioneer ipod adapter is not that much more expensive. I bought mine from www.cardomain.com for $50 USD.

I have my ipod in my glove box as well, and all you see in the glove box is a wire, and the ipod as well. You just hide the pioneer adaper box behind the deck area.

If you like SQ, I wouldn't bother with either of the decks you are looking at

If you say your an SQ type of person, I'd go for the 9857, or the pioneer 7800 (16 band adjustable EQ). The Pioneer also has 5v pre outs, versus the alpine's 2v preouts.

btw, glare will also be an issue with our cars. Its just the design of the car. I've had 5 different aftermarket decks in my 7thgen, and all were hard to see in the daytime. My old JVC deck, and my pioneer premiere 550mp both had similar displays when compared to the 6800. Both of those decks were hard to see in the daytime. Trust me when I say this. Glare will always be an issue, so don't buy deck based on the display. Your always going to have a glare issue, unless you relocate your deck to where the cigarette lighter is.

 
Rep Power: 0

I got the Pioneer 6800 and it sounds really good. This is my 4th pioneer deck and never had any problems.