1. Is the stock head unit able to handle additional rear speakers or will it degrade the sound? I just installed a set of 5 1/4" Alpines in S-pods and I can no longer crank the volume or serious distortion will kick in (especially w/ bass heavy tracks.)

2. Why does it seem that the HU of choice for the S2K is Alpine? Are there any other recommended brands?

I did several searches to answer these questions, but couldn't find any. Thanks for your help!!

 

1. it can handle the extra speakers... but the OEM HU's are way weak on the amplifier side. your new speakers are probably way less sensitive than the OEM's, so you're getting a whole lot less volume w/ the same power.

2. i've had Sonys, Kenwoods, JVCs, Pioneers, and Alpines over the years... my Alpines have given me the best reliability and skip free sound, with clear sound even fromt the built in amps. also, they have a solid feel w/o a lot of needless gadgetry.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PJK3
1.

 

I'll fight the common trends and recommend the new Kenwood HU's like this:


Just beware if you like Kenwood, as their systems with MASK aren't good for the S2000 with it's radio door!

Alpine's are good; I just don't like the way they look. I have been using an Alpine 4 channel amp for like 5 years though (3 different cars) and have treated it terribly (no room to breathe) and it works like a champ. Can't beat that kind of reliability! Best part is, I bought it from Circuit City's "Open Box Special" case. So it was slightly used too!

 

I just put the Clarion 745 in my S2K, but I was also looking at the Alpine 9831 and Eclipse 8443.

I'm not fond of the asthetics and small buttons on my Clarion, so I'm thinking of getting the Alpine 9831 (awesome deck) or maybe the Eclipse.

Those are also my top three choices in HU's for the S2K.

1) Alpine
2) Eclipse
3) Clarion

Alpines look great and have many good features. Eclipse has higher outputs and good features, but usually behind both Alpine and Clarion. Clarion is nice, many good features, but is not as appealing to me as far as looks and ease of use.

 

Eclipse is no good in my book, because....

while the headunit itself is fantastic...the uprgadability of the system isnt all that.

Everyrthing I have....the changer, the AUX, etc...plugs right into the Ai-Net, and works seamlessly. No other manufacturer has something so refined....yet.

 

Clarion has the CeNet, which is similar.

But yes, I agree about the Eclipse! You have to buy so many other things to do what the Alpine and Clarion already do. It's a money-making scheme!

Go with the Alpine!

 

Thanks for all the input. I think I'll be getting the Alpine 9805 or the 9825. I definitely want to get the new interface for the Ipod that's coming out from Alpine this summer. Thanks, again, for the help!!

 

The 9825, 9827, 9830, 9831, 9833 and 9835 are all models I considered. I like the 9831 the most. You don't want the V-drive models (9833 and 9835) if you're putting in an aftermarket amp and such (so I learned!).

The 9831 had a nice set of features and also looked great!

Either way, you'll be happy!

 

Recently I just install a Alpine 9831 & a pair of rear Kenwood Excelon running with Lucid DCI. I am very impress with quality of sound without running Amp. Also it maintains all the factory original functionalies (volume control, mute button)from the remote control, plus other enhancements coming from DCI unit.

Total cost around $500. I only got the DCI from Lucid, others from online shopping.