First of all let me start with I know squat about car audio systems so please don't come back with a lot of technical data that will make my head spin more! I've read through hundreds of threads and unfortunately too much of it goes over my head. Because I don't know what I'm doing, I'm researching and upgrading my system a piece at a time. Currently I have upgraded the door speakers (not the final upgrade) and added the Lucid rears. These moods made a big improvement. Now I'm focusing on replacing the head unit. My current choice after reading various threads is the Alpine 9815. Unfortunately I went to a local installer to see the unit but the display unit (un amped and un subed) sounded like crap. Therefore my questions are

1) Has anyone installed this unit in their car without an amp and a sub?
2) If so, is there a noticeable improvement in sound quality / volume (especially at 70+ with the top down)?

I'm clueless as to how this HU will compare to the 02 OEM HU; so feel free to provide a tutorial (in English please).

My next upgrades will be an amp and good separates for the front doors followed by a sub if necessary; but I need to become much more educated before I commit to those components.

 

I'm probably going with the 9813 to save $100 I can live without the CD burnable settings interface.

Lots of people on this board have this HU.

I heard one in an S2000, without an amp, and it sounded good to me. They are rated at 60W. I'm thinking about this HU and replacement door speakers, later installing a sub & amp, single channel if I'm happy with the HU power to the fronts.

This is all for what it's worth, as I don't know squat either.

 

I have the 9815 and I love it!!! I'm running my front componants off of an amp, but my rears off of the HU and it sound wonderful. I agree with S2k Awe, though. If you can do with out the iPersonalize feature, save yourself $100 and get the 9813. The only other major difference is the button colors (green on the 9813 and blue on the 9815).

 

A subtle but interesting difference I noticed between the 9813 and the 9815 on the board in the showroom, the knob on the 13 doesn't come out quite as far. Makes it a little tougher to handle.

 

are the button colors on the 9813 and/or the 9815 changeable? i think i read somewhere that the 9813 can change to amber button colors??? please correct me if i'm wrong...

i know the alpine 7894 can change to amber...

 

According to Crutchfield, the buttons can be green or red

 

on which deck?

 

The 9815 buttons CAN NOT be changed. The change themselves when in time corr/eq mode...then switch back.

 

I just installed a 9813 in my Corsica, and it powers the front and rear speakers, with the sub out going to an Infinity Basslink. Of course, the car is quieter than the S, but side by side I can hear a huge clarity difference over the stock head unit with the cars parked. The 9813/9815 are great head units and capable of good sound within limits. At a setting of 23 I can't handle the pain anymore, so it works for me One of the problems at a dealer is that rarely have they tuned the receiver for maximum performance. With so many models on display, I've never seen a salesperson who knew how to adjust a unit properly. The 9813/15 have so many variables such as equalizer curves, time delay, MX boost, crossover points and slope, and more, that you just can't do it without the manual in front of you. That said, I think you will be amazed at these units, whichever one you pick.
Before you add lots of stuff like amps and subs, try it and play with the adjustments. I think you will find the un-amped unit to work very well. And the light display is cool!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by chipperman
[B] The 9813/15 have so many variables such as equalizer curves, time delay, MX boost, crossover points and slope, and more, that you just can't do it without the manual in front of you.