Which Digital Media Receiver should I get?

Alpine iDA-X305S vs Kenwood KIV-700 vs Pioneer MVH-8200

From the looks and function seems like Kenwood is the best.

But from experience seems like Pioneer has better sound in general.

 

What are your priorities? Without that info you'll just get people recommending what they prefer which may or may not be relevant to you.

 

 

My pirorities are sound quality and quick/easy ipod control.

 

And are should I wait for the next year models? Since it should be around the corner

 

I believe only the 305s has the capability of displaying Chinese characters(not all though).

 

This is correct but the problem is with newer version of windows it cannot read my old chinese MP3s anyways.

And I dun really listen to chinese songs anymore... so be able to read chinese or not is not a decision factor.

 

The Alpine models (I have the first gen one) that are designed for Ipod control IMHO are the easiest to use. As for SQ, I would say Pioneer and Alpine are the front runners. All three are very capable units, just depends on which one you prefer.

 

Alpine iDA-X305S
Pro:
Burr Brow DAC
USB Aux at the back
Con:
Cluttered Face Design
Smaller screen than others
Limited color choice for buttons

Kenwood KIV-700
Pro:
USB Aux at the back
Big LCD screen
4v Pre-out
Clean face design
Variable Color buttons
Con:
When using iPod it does not by pass iPod DAC

Pioneer MVH-8200
Pro:
Big LCD screen
Clean face design
By pass iPod DAC
Variable Color buttons
SD card reader
Con:
Front USB connection

 

I am currently shopping roughly the same market as you and for me the deal killer on the Pioneer was the front USB. I wouldn't want the radio door open and having to plug and unplug the cable all the time. This would be okay if I put my 'car music' on a SD card, but unfortunately the Pioneer has limitations on SD card size that is pretty small (2GB i think). In this price range you should also require a premium DAC so the Kenwood is out, but this is more or less important depending on the rest of your setup. The better your system the bigger your need for DAC bypass and quality DAC in the head unit. The Alpine looks good feature wise but I think the face is ugly and the 305S is priced at a premium considering it does not have any more advanced sound control features than other digital media units from Alpine out of the box. The EQ and preouts are basically the same as their cheaper units.

Personally I am now leaning towards a CD equipped unit like the CDA 117.

Does anyone who knows more about car audio know when companies usually introduce new model year products? IE when will 2011 lineup details arrive for most car audio companies?