pre-amp output voltage, in the real world, amounts to little more than the marketing hype you were complaining about above. as long as the amp gain is set to properly accommodate the pre-amp voltage, and the combination allows for the amp to reach it's maximum output, it's largely irrelevant what the input voltage and gain are actually set to.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "same level" in:
I am with you that MP3s are a lossy compression, and have less "data" to work with to reproduce "music." But in the case of the Alpine IDA headunits anyway, you have a bit-perfect stream of 1s and 0s feeding the HU's D/A converter.


And Claus, regarding: the whole nature of Lossless compression is that after conversion you get back the exact same original data. It's the principle behind computer software "compression" such as ZIP. It wouldn't work out to well if when expanded you only got an "approximation" of the program you purchased. You need bit-perfect data for the program to run properly. Same for music. MP3s are an approximation. Lossless is the exact same data as the original.

 

I disagree. Line voltage on the pre-outs attributes directly to the sound quality. A lower voltage signal is going to have more loss on the same coax than a higher voltage signal. Going from 8V to 6V is DEF not the same as going from 3V to 1V. There will be difference in how hard that amplifier has to work - and the harder it has to work, the more noise it will introduce into the music. That's basic electronics.

 

Yes, noise goes up as signal level goes down. The issue is whether this "difference" is actually meaningful.

I'm pretty sure that you're mistaken in saying the Eclipse's preout is 8V across the entire volume range. Every headunit controls volume through a variable voltage output. The stated voltage by the manufacturers is the maximum voltage the preamp stage of the headunit reaches at the full volume. The vast majority of the time, you're at a very small fraction of that.

 

8V preouts are all well and good, but if you don't have an 8V amp, it doesn't do squat. Furthermore, fanboi or not, if you don't like Alpine, that's your perogative, but I've owned every brand of radio in existence, and have been happiest with my Alpine.

 

you aren't an EE, are you?

 

[QUOTE=Neutered Sputniks,Mar 4 2009, 08:12 AM] I disagree.

 

Yes, that is what Lossless means, "ideally". The main data stream maybe identical, but is the algorithm handling all the harmonics(signal wise, not what you learned in Physics class) correctly?

Stereophile is a great source for for info, but not all the time. They've been accused of doing favors for some companies in a few occasions.

 

JVC El Kameleon KD-AVX44... check out the original thread... you won't regret getting this esp w/ the modifry dci. good luck w/ the shoppin'...

 

what do u guys think of DEH-P700BT? does anyone have that installed? would like to know how'd it goes? thanks

 

you already have an alpine but the 9887 is what is in my stepdads 135i and it has an amazing sound proccesser or anything Nakamichi but im not sure if it runs ipod or not..