HU choices!?

HU choices!?

Please help...
I have the choice between those 2 models - they are the same prices!
I've got an 4-ch amp, so I need front and rear preouts

Sony CDXMP40

Flip-down Detachable Face
CD/MD Control
MP3 and CD-R/RW Playback
XM Ready
EQ3
SSIR-EXA Tuner
Front and Rear Preouts (2V)
official information

Sony CDXCA720X

CD TEXT Disc/Track Title Display
CD/CD-R/CD-RW Playback
X-tal Lock Tuner with SSIR-EXA Front End
XM Satellite Radio Ready
CD/MD Control
DSO (Dynamic Soundstage Organizer)
EQ7 7-Band Equalizer with 7 User Adjustable Presets
5.5-Volt Front and Rear Preamp Outputs
52W x 4 Channels High Power
Dual-knob Design
Blue 13-Segment LED Display

I think the CDXCA720X is not sold by Sony anymore (couldn't find the official web presentation), the other is. I don't care if the model is discontinued! Quality is my first goal

Reading the specs, the main question remains is the 5.5V output will make a difference compare to the 2V for my amp and ears ??

For the MP3 playback I can leave without it..

Sony and Kenwood have one of the highest service rates of the big brands... I took more Sonys back for skipping, lasers out of alignment, CDs jamming and outputs getting friend than any other deck... plus their power sucks ass unless your running an amp... my suggestion, get a Pioneer or Alpine unit... more reliable, better warranty and everyone carries them so service is easy to get if needed...

Lets just say when it comes to car audio Sony is definitely not the brand to go with ....also to add what SS said too......their headunits tend to overheat.

So I agree Pioneer or Alpine is ur best bet

I agree!!! Sony is not a good brand when it comes to car audio, but I personally would go with the Sony CDXMP40. It may have have less features but it looks more reliable to me. Anyways if want go to this place www.ikesound.com and check out different brands and prices you may like something there. Just know that many of the stuff there is refurbished thats why the prices are lower.

What do you think of Panasonic head units?
The CQ-DF802U is also available with a good discount!

I like my Panasonic. I've had it for a good while now. I don't have any pics of it (they're getting developed soon)...but I like it! 8)

Panasonic « Ghost » installed :mrgreen:

OFF
As you can see, there's nothing when it's off, you just see the black "touch screen", nice feature!



ON
You just touch the "screen" (glass made) to make the adjustment. It was really weird when I start using it but after a while, it's really easy and fast. Plus, the remote helps a lot while I'm driving!


W~

hey sony's are nice but.....no..dont do it....Alpine...or eclipse...yea or nakamichi...iono how to spell it....dont get sony anything but.....

I've got the Panasonic CQ-DF802U already :mrgreen:

Better sound than my previous Aiwa Mp3! No doubt!

Ive replaced 3 of the 1st gen Ghost face units... Havent had too much experience with any new ones though. Every brand has first year burps when they come out with new technology... Kenwood had a terrible 1st year with the MASK face units! Alpine has had problems with the phantom face, and you can bet your ass all the first gen flip out monitors broke! I think Panasonic offers some pretty good stuff... tends to have lower power output than the other comparable head units though. I noticed that full volume off the deck output was generally equal to about 2/3rd of the competitions max volume... but with an amplifier you solve that problem!

Basically be careful you dont push too hard... the main problems I see are cracked faces, scratched faces and broken face plates with those units... be careful when you clean it, store it in its case and dont push too hard!

Most of the time I'm using the remote control Thank you for the advices!!!...

Personal experiences with decks and why I like/hate them....

[Sony -

Pros - ES line has some good technology, rotary encoder knob is the ONLY knob to actually increase/decrease the faster you move it, other knobs will skip or flip out if you go too fast, some units have good adjustablilty and are clean if run with amplifiers

Cons - VERY low power output, usually have to navigate through 3 menus to get what you want, which is VERY difficult when driving!, lasers go out frequently and they skip like crazy unless you have the high end units that are skip free, faces can break and not attach properly...

Aiwa -

Pros - None that I am aware of

Cons - Sony product manufactured under another name to allow other vendors to carry it... same problems as Sony

Kenwood -

Pros - Excelon line is pretty bad ass, some decks have 8v preouts that you really cant use unless you have an excelon balanced input amp so they are pointless. Upper end decks have lots of nice crossovers to use if you can figure them out...

Cons - Can they make a deck any more difficult to operate? I find these decks ugly with confusing displays and impossible to figure out menus due to the fact that you have to hit multiple buttons or go through menus to get what you want... Also your stuck with Sirius and cant use XM

Alpine -

Pros -Bad ass decks, look slick, some of the best technology around with the AINet, cant beat their F#1 series stuff... VERY clean sound out of them and for the most part they dont break

Cons - One of the hardest decks to tune correctly with the Bass engine plus, Most people make it sound worse trying to tune the sound fields and distances, expensive for what you get, Phantom faces break a lot, hard to get to most features or menus because you have to hit multiple buttons to get there

Pioneer -

Pros - One of the easiest decks around to use with the auto EQ, also allows bass and treble adjustment, VERY durable, lots of features, TONS of power, ability to boost output to amplifiers for more power, majority have 4v or more preouts, almost ALL decks have sub control and crossovers, good technology, cool EL display

Cons - Display gets annoying at times, sometimes all the audio features can get difficult to figure out, everyone and their mom has one so dont expect to be unique!

eclipse -

Pros - good reputation, good sound quality and features, good power

Cons - near IMPOSSIBLE to get any warranty work done because no one is ever a dealer for them! Displays look cheasy and cheap, lack of multiple buttons makes it a pain to figure out

Clarion -

Pros - CHEAP, cool features, look nice

Cons - the single most returned and warrantied deck I have EVER installed... I got more of these back than any other deck! Technology is just at par, accessories are very few, touch to get warrantied due to lack of retailers....

Panasonic -

Pros - Typically inexpensive, 8 disc changer is cool, always look clean, cool factor of the Ghost face

Cons - Weak as it gets for deck power... probably the weakest in my opinion... the only deck ive ever used where I can turn it ALL the way up and its still not loud... Ghost 1st gen had lots of problems, displays are usually cheesy

JVC -

Pros - CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP, high end decks have bad ass features, good power for the price, very simple to use, lot of features for the price paid!

Cons - bad reputation, not much for accessories available

Ehh im tired, this should be a decent start... and remember THESE ARE MY OPINIONS, NONE OF THIS IS FACTUAL INFORMATION, ONLY WHAT I HAVE PERSONALLY COLLECTED OVER THE YEARS OF MY INSTALLATION CAREER!

cool review man!

can u say ne thing specifically about sony xplod CDX-M630 or the CDX-M800MP by any chance....those are the ones that i am lookin at currently but i am not sure how reliable the flip out face is...i am also lookin at a panasonic head unit but i believe it has been discontinued