k, i know enough, but not ENOUGH info to pick a head unit for my car here's what i want, and i would love for you all to help me out, k, here's wat i want:
-somethin that i can change the background colors on(like the ones w/7 different colors)
-sub volume control! i want to be able to change how much bass the sub is putting out when with certain people
-crossover
-DIN obviously
-under $350(canadian:P)
-manual EQ, none of that "pop, rock, flat, live"preset stuff(that is fine, but i want manual control too)
-and lots of power to control the speakers, even tho i'll be runnung 2 amps on 2 10" Kenwood kickers
-oh, and by the way i have Focal speakers all around, if that matters...
so threres what i want, please help! this is the last/main part i need, thanks,

 

If your running an amp to the speakers then your internal amp in your deck doesn't matter how much it puts out and if your not running an amp to your focals then you should consider doing so because no deck power is going to power them like they should be powered ( I have focal speakers as well good choice). Some of the features you are asking for might be a little hard to get for under 350 canadian. If I'm not mistaken thats about $250 US. Usually decks with full manual EQ are a bit higher priced but If you have a well tuned system with your speakers subs amps and have good crossover setup etc you shouldn't really need to mess with your equalizer much at all. EQ is mainly to compensate for system that isn't properly tuned to begin with. Almost all decks with 3 preouts will have a separate sub control so that shouldn't be hard at all.

Decks I would recomend are:
Anything Eclipse makes (best sound quality anywhere)
Alpine makes some really good decks as well
Premier are great decks for a modest budget and have pretty cool displays

 

Wrong about the EQ thing -they're to make the frequency response of your system as close to flat as possible....(awaits billace to add the complete answer underneath )

 

OK my turn. Almost all car speakers you buy have a frequency response chart and tell you they are +/- 3db. That is a measurment done in a lab and once in car they can be +/- 9db or more. That is due to teh absorbing and reflective surfaces in the horrible car interior. I look at an EQ as a chance to erase all the bad things my car does to my perfectly good equipment. The glass is reflecting & raising 8K hz by 7 db, just cut it at the EQ. That being said, the problem is most aren't used properly or aren't flexible enough to fix the problems in your system. 1/3rd octaves are the only way to really dial in a system, and parametrics can work if they have the right # of bands, correct centers, and correct width. I've done 1/12 octave 85 band EQ's before, It's like POWER, can't have too much, hopefully you don't need it though. I usually have customers get tehir cars without EQ's, break in the speakers and then take some measurements to decide how best to imporve the sound and handle the problems.

 

I knew it would happen

Good call billace!

 

First of all, BillAce really knows his stuff, and is dead on about the EQ. I would recommend an Audio Control EQT (2nd gen EQT) as your EQ. It's a little expensive, but works wonders on dialing in your system. As far as a head unit, I would go with an Alpine CDA-9831 ( http://www.crutchfield.com/S-7AoCSny...=alpine&wmsf=1 ). It offers a lot of goodies, like time correction so you can set a delay on all 4 corners of your car independently to center your front stage. It also allows you to scroll thru 512 different colors, so I'm pretty sure you'll find the color you want. I personally have the model below this one and love it! I'm kicking myself for not spending the extra few $ to get this one though. Anyway, hope this helps.

 

Good equipment choices, but you can't use the time correction and the EQT's, the EQT's have one stereo input and the time correction works on seperate preouts. Get the Alpine PXA-H701 processor and have EQ/Xover/time/phase control per channel and a 5.1 decoder.

 

Ahhhh...right you are! I was thinking that the new EQTs had gone to a single unit with multiple inputs, but nope...you're right.

 

thanks guys, GREAT suggestions so far, black3oz, i LOVE that alpine deck, and its got what i want, if no one else makes a better suggestion over the next couple days, i'll be getting that, cuz my local A&B sound has it in! so, thanks guys, and BillAce for that expert info....thank

 

that is a great idea. i have had my share of stereo systems and i would go with alpine. i have had 5 alpine headunits. never had a problem with one and alway sseem to sound the best. go with the alpine you will be happy with it.

 

check ebay...if you don't mind buying online. i bought mine on there for CHEAP...and it was new with a warrnty! i'll try to find the name of the ebay shop that i bought it from.

 

wow...that was easy. i saved my receipt to my hard drive, so you're in luck (if you choose to go this route). the name of the place is audiovibrationz. you can contact hanglo99@aol.com to see if they have that model and get a price. good luck...you'll love it!!

 

k, thanks black03oz!!!!

 

no prob...let me know if they can help you out.

 

ok help me out here you want a flat sound you don't want spikes at any frequency level correct?

So why would you need a full 13+ band equalizer to lower or raise levels at certain frequency's when the normal setting is flat anyway if your system is properly tuned at the amps and deck and set up correctly to start with?