Car audio guys, help please?

Hey guys, the HU in my Pathfinder died and I'm buying a new one. I'm still undecided between 4 (2 from JVC, 1 Pioneer and 1 Clarion).

These are the models:


http://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KWR9...T.html?tp=5684

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130P800...T.html?tp=5684

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_020CX50...1.html?tp=5684

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KWHR...T.html?tp=5684

I'm limiting myself to:
Bluetooth
Usb
Double Din
Under $300 (just spent $1,200 on a guitar amp, gotta keep it tight)

Thanks in advance!







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I would go with the Pioneer, it has a higher pre-amp voltage and more EQ bands

Pioneer just seems to always have great sound quality. Even low end ones.

Well, I guess Pioneer it is :(

I really dig the JVC look... Lol




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Originally Posted by Munizfire

Well, I guess Pioneer it is :(

I really dig the JVC look... Lol

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I agree, the JVC is sick looking. in all reality there probably isn't a huge difference in sound quality between the 2

Pioneer even tho im a sony guy

Ive had Pioneer before and they have nice quality with higher Wattage per channel.

Ive also noticed with Pioneers you get louder play without having to turn the volum up that high.

I currently have JVC now and quality is just as good, as this was the HU i had running 3 MTX 9500s and the quality was great from the RCAs.

You wont be dissapointed with either

What about kenwood?




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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Munizfire

What about kenwood?




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Not for audio, Been down that road years ago. They used to make decent Amplifiers and HU, but recently their quality is way down and not good for quality audio whether its for listening to music or for Bass.

Ok, thx




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I have had a pioneer hu in my car for almost 2 years now. Now complaints whatsoever. I have no idea what the max volume is bc i have never gone higher than 46 with it lol. Im afraid the subs would blowout my back window! It makes the factory speakers in my blazer sound nice too. I think thats sorta what Rich was saying about volume levels^. Ive heard JVCs are ok too but i wouldnt get the clarion. When i was doing research into mine 2 years ago the guy at the audio shop said he really didnt like them that much. Just my 2cents :)

Are you planning on installing an audio system.

If so Pioneer, JVC and Clarion all will do very well in the quality department with very little feedback or Clipping

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

I have had a pioneer hu in my car for almost 2 years now. Now complaints whatsoever. I have no idea what the max volume is bc i have never gone higher than 46 with it lol. Im afraid the subs would blowout my back window! It makes the factory speakers in my blazer sound nice too. I think thats sorta what Rich was saying about volume levels^. Ive heard JVCs are ok too but i wouldnt get the clarion. When i was doing research into mine 2 years ago the guy at the audio shop said he really didnt like them that much. Just my 2cents :)

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Your pretty close to maxing it out. Pioneer usually peaks at 50 or 60 in volume.

Depending on setup turning it up that high could mean you need to replace your Mids and highs. And let the Amp do the bass powering to the subs not the HU

Bah, screw it, I'll order the Pioneer, and if I don't like it, I'll change it....

Yes, as an Electrical engineering student who has modified and 'made' guitar effects and amps, i think this wouldn't be a problem




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My next build will be a Clairion Flip out HU and ill be setting up 2 FI BTL 18s as well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Munizfire

Bah, screw it, I'll order the Pioneer, and if I don't like it, I'll change it....

Yes, as an Electrical engineering student who has modified and 'made' guitar effects and amps, i think this wouldn't be a problem




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That's how I roll, if I don't like it open it up and fix it EE major defiantly the best decision I have ever made

Pioneer all the way. I have had a HU by them and it was awesome. They make one of the industry standard club mixers also btw. Clean and crisp!
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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Your pretty close to maxing it out. Pioneer usually peaks at 50 or 60 in volume.

Depending on setup turning it up that high could mean you need to replace your Mids and highs. And let the Amp do the bass powering to the subs not the HU

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Lol youre getting too technical on me Rich! I dont do this stuff like you guys so idk what mids and highs are? Im fairly certain the amp does do that though...2 12" kenwoods are ok for a kenwood 1000W amp right?

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Lol youre getting too technical on me Rich! I dont do this stuff like you guys so idk what mids and highs are? Im fairly certain the amp does do that though...2 12" kenwoods are ok for a kenwood 1000W amp right?

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Its fine, But when you need to turn your HU up to almost near max, something isnt right.

Mids and highs will be your door speakers and tweeters hooked up to a amp filtering out any noise,clipping and controlling the bass to them.

You turn up the HU to make the bass louder, when in reality the amp should be doing that once you hit a listening level.

Just remember any system build is only 10% parts and 90% how you build it.

If the box is built to spec whether ported or sealed wit hthe right air space, powered right with the right OHM impedance you will have a clean system that will be loud.

Over powering and udner powering will destroy the voice coils FAST, and always always warm your stuff up.

Dont jump in and start bumping it right away. Need min 5 mins warming up the coils

Well, I'll be just running the HU thru a quad of Boss 6.5" , no amp or anything (yet).

Why Boss? Facepalm... When this problem started, a few months ago, I thought the issue was in the speakers, so I replaced the stock Clarion ones and threw them away... It didn't occur to me to measure their impedance... FAIL

And since I had just spent $400+ on my first BP, and almost $1k on guitar gear (that will be the end of me), I went with the cheapest speakers I could find, (which I ended overpaying for :mad:)

I suck




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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Munizfire

Well, I'll be just running the HU thru a quad of Boss 6.5" , no amp or anything (yet).

Why Boss? Facepalm... When this problem started, a few months ago, I thought the issue was in the speakers, so I replaced the stock Clarion ones and threw them away... It didn't occur to me to measure their impedance... FAIL

And since I had just spent $400+ on my first BP, and almost $1k on guitar gear (that will be the end of me), I went with the cheapest speakers I could find, (which I ended overpaying for :mad:)

I suck




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Be sure to check if your car has a stock amp. Alot of newer cars have amps for the speakers for the bass. If you change the speakers and dont keep the ohms you will blow that amp.

Im guilty of that one as my amp was 2ohms and i wired at 4 ohms and POP.

2002 pathfinder...

I'm a noob when it comes to car audio... LOL




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Look in the car manual as its usually located in the trunk space hidden under carpet.

I use a pioneer 7 inch screen not sure of the model but I love it. It was in the 400$ range though.


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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

Its fine, But when you need to turn your HU up to almost near max, something isnt right.

Mids and highs will be your door speakers and tweeters hooked up to a amp filtering out any noise,clipping and controlling the bass to them.

You turn up the HU to make the bass louder, when in reality the amp should be doing that once you hit a listening level.

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I usually run it aroud 38. I just meant like i have gone as high as 46. The dial on the amp for bass is set to like 9 and it goes up to like 18 i think. I had to turn it down because some songs would have so much bass that i couldnt hear the words to the song lol. As for the door speakers im pretty sure that my blazer came with factory Bose's so i didnt bother replacing them when i bought it. I think it just like the higher trim of the vehicle? They still sound good imo right now, but eventually ill probably need to change them out...

I vote clarion.

Best RMS watts (IMO the only type of watts that matter)
You DONT want to go past 4volt outputs you can burn out an amp over time with that. I had an Eclipse headunit do that many years ago that was a 5volt output.
and it has everything else you need.

However just to toss the idea out there did you look into Alpine at all? They are Top notch in my book.

I called and they made me an excellent promo offer on the JVC, so i ended up getting the higher JVC one.

I know alpine is top notch, but it doesn't fit my budget. Besides, I honestly don't care for superior car audio, I'm only THAT picky in guitar amps :D




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http://img.tapatalk.com/ade4f020-932e-e006.jpg

Not too shabby




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Looks good. The only complaint i didnt think to mention with my pioneer was that the knob was small and really smooth so it makes it a little bit harder to control... Anyone else have a fix to this problem?

Every radio I ever owned was a Pioneer. I always wondered my my system was never as loud as all others I heard.

Then I realized that Pioneer puts out the lowest RMS of all brands. So my next radio will not be a Pioneer.

I was shocked to see everyone recommend Pioneer, I was leaning towards Kenwood, which puts out 22 Watts RMS to Pioneer's 14.

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Originally Posted by Tzeentch

Every radio I ever owned was a Pioneer. I always wondered my my system was never as loud as all others I heard.

Then I realized that Pioneer puts out the lowest RMS of all brands. So my next radio will not be a Pioneer.

I was shocked to see everyone recommend Pioneer, I was leaning towards Kenwood, which puts out 22 Watts RMS to Pioneer's 14.

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:hijackd:I am right there with you but when i was doing Car audio i took it way to far. I had an Alpine headunit MB Quart mid ranges PSD 216s in the rear and the DSD 213s in the front power by a JL e4300 4x75 @ 4ohms. so for me I never used the built in "AMP" on the head unit but Kenwood does have a nice one for the money. and of course did the whole crazy subwoofer thing too.

But that JVC install looks nice. Hows it working out for you?

I use a Pioneer avh4300dvd. It does have low RMS, but I have never run speakers with out an amp... 14-22 RMS I cant hear a difference. Now put 50-75 watt RMS to your speakers and you will certainly be set.
And you can pick up a small 2 channel 50 -75 watt RMS per channel amp for really cheap. I have found a few amps on craigslist that work perfectly for front door speakers for under $40

I currently am running a 100w rms 2 channel to some pioneer component setup for the fronts. Stock rears(just filler). And a kenwood 1000w 300wRMS mono amp to a pioneer 10". I found everything but the head unit on craigslist very cheap.

And also if only I could have linked this to you at first it was only slightly above your budget.

http://www.amazon.com/JVC-KW-AV60BT-...1056294&sr=1-1

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Originally Posted by tcutting

But that JVC install looks nice. Hows it working out for you?

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Thanks, it was my first time doing anything car audio related :P

So far, so good. Loud enough for me (for now... lol)




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