Thanks to all for this useful forum
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From: Fort McMurray
Thanks to all for this useful forum
Today I went for a cruise with my new gear - Nachamicki head unit and Focal V2 speakers. I realize this is only steps one and two towards a true audio system, but I am a happy camper with the progress to date.
I just wanted to say thanks for all the advice I picked up lurking on this forum - speaker choice, price level, wiring to front doors, AM reception issues, and on and on!
Most helpful!
I just wanted to say thanks for all the advice I picked up lurking on this forum - speaker choice, price level, wiring to front doors, AM reception issues, and on and on!
Most helpful!
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From: Fort McMurray
My head unit is a Nakamichi CD-400, a fairly simple unit I purchased because I like the clean appearance (as they say no flying fish), I was hoping for good quality circuits, and I love the Nakamichi system in my other car.
So far, no regrets.
Thanks for the thumbs up!
So far, no regrets.
Thanks for the thumbs up!
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From: Fort McMurray
Not owning a dB meter, it is difficult to say how loud is loud. But two comments:
- I think - not yet sure - it is adequate, and I do like a bit of volume.
- the head unit has 60 volume divisions; there is audible distortion from level 56 and up (not enough to harm the speakers, and I stopped when I heard it!) - so I was demonstrating this to my wife and she had her fingers in her ears from about level 45 up. She thought it was loud. Top down, in the garage.
Hope that helps.
Bruce
- I think - not yet sure - it is adequate, and I do like a bit of volume.
- the head unit has 60 volume divisions; there is audible distortion from level 56 and up (not enough to harm the speakers, and I stopped when I heard it!) - so I was demonstrating this to my wife and she had her fingers in her ears from about level 45 up. She thought it was loud. Top down, in the garage.
Hope that helps.
Bruce
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
awesome, thanks.
i'm still trying to decide on whether i'm gonna go with the nakamichi or just an alpine... the 24bit dac sounds very good... but i really want cd changer controls...
what other HUs did you look at before deciding on the nak, and may i also ask why? thanks again bruce.
dan
i'm still trying to decide on whether i'm gonna go with the nakamichi or just an alpine... the 24bit dac sounds very good... but i really want cd changer controls...
what other HUs did you look at before deciding on the nak, and may i also ask why? thanks again bruce.
dan
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
many of the Focal components are unusually sensitive speakers for components... thus the midrange and below components (polyglass and access) can sound quite good w/ HU power only.
and Bruce -- it's not uncommon for pre-amp distortion to begin at 2/3 to 3/4 full volume on a HU.
and Bruce -- it's not uncommon for pre-amp distortion to begin at 2/3 to 3/4 full volume on a HU.
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From: Fort McMurray
Hmmm ... What was I thinking!
Rightly or wrongly:
- I wanted a deck with the CD slot in the front face. I decided opening and closing the S2K radio door was enough, without then also pushing buttons to shift a motorized face and then handling a CD.
- the short list was Alpine 9807 (top model with the slot in the front, and also lowest cost model with a remote control), Clarion DXZ635MP (the MP part being of interest) and the Nak CD400.
- I thought, rightly or wrongly, Alpine and Nak would have a higher standard of fundamental electronics
- I couldn't get my head around the 9807's silver face and green display, although it was certainly the safest choice.
- The additional capability of a more expensive Alpine was tempting, but (a) I was really attracted to the large, simple controls (particularly rotary controls) of the Nak, and (b) doubted I was enough of an audiophile to actually set up time delay etc.
So there you go.
By the way, having owned a CD-changer-in-the-trunk, I have the belief I will get the music I want by inserting each disk when I want it - particularly if it was easy to do (see no-motorized-face above).
Hope that helps.
And, yes, I was aware the Focal V2s have a sensitivity rating of 93dB, but was also prepared to be disappointed because of the lack of an industry standard for that spec. So far no disappointment.
Cheers
Rightly or wrongly:
- I wanted a deck with the CD slot in the front face. I decided opening and closing the S2K radio door was enough, without then also pushing buttons to shift a motorized face and then handling a CD.
- the short list was Alpine 9807 (top model with the slot in the front, and also lowest cost model with a remote control), Clarion DXZ635MP (the MP part being of interest) and the Nak CD400.
- I thought, rightly or wrongly, Alpine and Nak would have a higher standard of fundamental electronics
- I couldn't get my head around the 9807's silver face and green display, although it was certainly the safest choice.
- The additional capability of a more expensive Alpine was tempting, but (a) I was really attracted to the large, simple controls (particularly rotary controls) of the Nak, and (b) doubted I was enough of an audiophile to actually set up time delay etc.
So there you go.
By the way, having owned a CD-changer-in-the-trunk, I have the belief I will get the music I want by inserting each disk when I want it - particularly if it was easy to do (see no-motorized-face above).
Hope that helps.
And, yes, I was aware the Focal V2s have a sensitivity rating of 93dB, but was also prepared to be disappointed because of the lack of an industry standard for that spec. So far no disappointment.
Cheers