4 volt pre-outputs: does this make it a GREAT head unit?

 

Silver Member
Username: Phuktupbasshead

Scottsdale, Arizona United State...

Post Number: 368
Registered: May-05
At Audio Express, I almost spent $400.00

I'm supposed to go there in 3 hrs to buy a head unit... I was looking at the Alpine's, but the guy told me the Premiere's were the "cream of the crop".

When I asked how to know if the headunit was the s,h,i,t -

He said,
"If it has a 4 volt pre-out, then it's the s,h,i,t! You see, the 4 volt pre-out enables the stereo to deliver..." blah, blah, blah.

Is there any truth to that? Can someone help me out so I don't get phuked over by this salesman? Then again, he could actually be a GREAT salesman... problem is, I have NO IDEA!!!

I have various questions:
1. What makes a good HU?
2. What difference does the 4 v pre-out make?
3. 4 v pre-out = "upper" bracket of quality?
4. What are the most affordable models on HU's in that "upper" bracket of quality?
5. How much do those affordable models in the "upper" bracket actually cost?

Thanks for reading, everyone... please help!
I really appreciate this one!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Silver Member
Username: Tjmutlow

Post Number: 811
Registered: Sep-05
what head unit did you buy? and the higher pre out voltage the better, If you got the 770 it was 2 much for 400, warranty issue aside, that unit is 200 on ebay and the 860 unit has 6.5v pre outs and is only around 350. Look at the eclipse and panasonic(they hve 5volt prouts) and eclipse high end units are 8volts.
 

Silver Member
Username: Tjmutlow

Post Number: 812
Registered: Sep-05
take a look at this unit, it is really really nice and around 400 refurbeed from pioneer with warranty.DEH-P90HDD

CD/MP3/Memory Stick Player - 10 GB Hard Drive
Suggested Price: $2,100.00

(2198 KB, 314 sec @56k)

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Close Up Front View
Close Up of Remote Control








Supertuner
Supertuner III
24-Station/6-Button (18FM/6AM) Presets
BSM (Best Stations Memory)
CD Player
1-bit D/A Converter 8fs/20-bit
CD-R/CD-RW Compatible
AGC (Automatic Gain Control)
Disc Title Memory
Track Title List
CD Text Y
Audio Features
Built-in Speaker Power Y
Equalizer 13-Band
DSP
Auto-EQ (With Mic Included)
Listening Position Selector
BBE Digital
Automatic Sound Levelizer (ASL)
Electronic Balance/Fader
Source Level Adjuster (SLA)
High-Pass Crossover (HPF) Y
Subwoofer Crossover (LPF) Y
General Features
10GB HDD (CDDB Preinstalled)
MagicGate Memory Stick Player
ATRAC3 Encode/Decode
Rotary Volume Control Pop-Up
Remote Control Steering Wheel
Cellular Mute
Detachable Face Security
Face Case (Included)
Warranty 1 Year
Premier
Premier Service and Installation






 

Gold Member
Username: Illuminator

USA

Post Number: 2434
Registered: Apr-05
A headunit's pre-out voltage alone is a bad way to judge how nice it is.
 

Gold Member
Username: Rovin

Trinidad & T...

Post Number: 4447
Registered: Jul-05
pre-out voltage is a major factor when choosing

but of course also u must like the layout of bottons (ease of use) ,features , product reputation based on reading alot of reviews & price ........
 

Gold Member
Username: Illuminator

USA

Post Number: 2436
Registered: Apr-05
Most head units now vary between 2-6v with 4v being standard. I don't see how it's a major decision...

What is important, however, is the RCA output impedence, but that's another story...
 

Platinum Member
Username: Glasswolf

Wisteria, Lane USA

Post Number: 10871
Registered: Dec-03
4 volt pre-outs have higher resolution than lower voltage pre-outs.
this translates to a cleaner, more detailed signal at the amplifier input stage for a cleaner audio reproduction.
 

Silver Member
Username: Vinnyqh

Portland, OR

Post Number: 141
Registered: Nov-05
i woudln't really say that 4volt is standard. you have to get into the upper 3/4 of the headunits to get 4volt or higher now, most are 2.2 volt.
 

Silver Member
Username: Phuktupbasshead

Scottsdale, Arizona United State...

Post Number: 370
Registered: May-05
(Now i'm REALLY interested)
Keep talking you guys, I'm soaking all this up!!!
What DOES make a good head unit?
Should I go for more than 4volts?
Know of any affordable ones?

You guys are awesome.
Thanks again for reading.
Really.
Thanks again.
 

Silver Member
Username: Phuktupbasshead

Scottsdale, Arizona United State...

Post Number: 373
Registered: May-05
Now we're talking! Keep going guys... I'm soaking all this up!!!

You guys truely are awesome. I wanna know more.
Keep talking, keep talking!!!!

Which ones of these SPECTACULAR HU's are the best for the $$$?
 

nugz
Unregistered guest
features I looked for when buying my most recent headunit

-3 sets of preouts: front, rear, and subwoofer (4volt minimum)
-auxilliary rca input: easy to hook up my mp3 player
-brand reliability/reviews
-signal to noise ratio
-price

In the end I narrowed it to 3 headunits, then bought the one I could get the best deal for on ebay.

I ended up with the kenwood x789 for under 200 shipped.
 

Gold Member
Username: Illuminator

USA

Post Number: 2462
Registered: Apr-05
I wouldn't trust reviews. People can be pretty stupid when it comes to car audio, and they blame it on the product itself the majority of the time. Also, the reviewers need experience. A reviewer who has only owned Radioshack might be massively impressed with a Sony, whereas a reviewer who has only owned Alpine might be massively unhappy with the same Sony. Additionally, reviews are overall performance/price/ease of use. You might just want something with good performance regardless of price-ruling reviews useless.

Signal to noise ratio wouldn't make much of an audible difference in modern headunits-unless you're comparing a RadioShack to an Alpine.
 

Gold Member
Username: Rovin

Trinidad & T...

Post Number: 4613
Registered: Jul-05
well i like my premier 860 which replaced a Jvc i had b4 . Jvc preout was standard 2.2 & with this 6.5v on the Premier it sounded so much livelier & vol knob did not need turning up as much . The Jvc is not crap by any means ,in fact i liked it alot .

This HU was the best i could find with what i wanted @ the time $340 shipped - has all the bells/whistles but some features could have been more easier accessable but then again with so many features they have to make it so that a few buttons must be pressed .
Display in full sunlight is a tad under but how often will it be in the sun . No complaints @ night though . When i recently did my install i didn't really need to use this deck's 13 band EQ because its clean enough but the feature is handy for personal tastes ....but overall really good deck imo .......
 

Silver Member
Username: Phuktupbasshead

Scottsdale, Arizona United State...

Post Number: 379
Registered: May-05
right on...

thanks for the input.
what do you know about eclipse head units?
I've heard good things about them, but I get the impression that they're really expensive.
How do they compare against the Pioneer Premiers mentioned above?
Also, I really appreciate your guys' help.
Any and all input is still alot of help! Keep talking, I'm listening!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Silver Member
Username: Phuktupbasshead

Scottsdale, Arizona United State...

Post Number: 381
Registered: May-05
Rovin, have you ever had experience with the Kenwood head units that flip over when turned off to deter theft? I was wondering if they are exceptional as well, or if it's just a cosmetic feature to make up for its lack of sound quality/production.
Valid question from a headunit noobie to a vet like yourself, right?
lol
thanks, man.
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