Which excelon?
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Bronze Member Username: SchinnerPost Number: 78 Registered: May-07 | hey looking for your opinions. would you spend 120 on a refurb x492 from crutchfield or 135 for a new x692 from hookedontronics.com?????? http://outlet.crutchfield.com/p_613KDCX492/Kenwood-Excelon-KDC-X492.html?tp=13566&avf=N&tab=detailed_info http://www.hookedontronics.com/show_product_details.jsp?cid=54917&brandtype=18 |
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Gold Member Username: IlluminatorUSA Post Number: 5075 Registered: Apr-05 | The x692 is definitely the better deal in this case, though I wouldn't be afraid of touching a refurbished unit, either. But for a difference of $15, you get a better unit with that nice, easier to read display and some other options. The only benefit of the x492 I can see is that the USB input is on the front, which is more convenient. But you can always grab a USB extension cable to bring around front and place in an even more convenient location. Normally I would find either of those cheaper on ebay, but ebay doesn't seem to have one complete (just a faceplate, or just the guts w/o faceplate). Have you checked out Pioneer or Alpine by chance? Kenwood is good, but I prefer Pioneer or Alpine. The Kenwood's I've owned in the past 8 years haven't lasted very long (CD mech dies, faceplate illumination dies/button markings wear off). Kenwood headunits tend to age quite quickly in terms of wearing down. |
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Bronze Member Username: SchinnerPost Number: 79 Registered: May-07 | yea i guess ive looked at pioneer and alpine briefly....kenwoods model sounds like it has better sound shaping and 4 volt outputs....i wont be using the unit for its built in amplifier, i'll have a 4 channel amp for the speakers. what pioneer/alpine unit would be comparable for the price? |
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Gold Member Username: IlluminatorUSA Post Number: 5077 Registered: Apr-05 | I really like the Pioneer DEH-P4200UB You can get it for $138 shipped from Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-DEH-4200UB-Receiver-Display-Control/dp/B00389XE12 It has pretty much everything the kenwood's do (including 3 sets of 4v outputs). You might also like the Alpine CDA-105: http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPINE-CDA-105-CD-RECEIVER-MP3-USB-2009-MODEL-GREAT-/2705685 41967?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Car_Audio_In_Dash_Receivers&hash=item3eff244f0f ^ $115 shipped (though it does appear to be slightly used/open box |
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Bronze Member Username: SchinnerPost Number: 80 Registered: May-07 | Wow, thanks for the quick suggestions...I'm really liking the look of that pioneer. one thing though on soundomain.com they say that the pioneer headunits are known for a small micro-fuse blowing which causes a lot of noise...early speaker death too? they say it has to do with grounding the unit. O since you've been so helpful i would also like to know if i need all 3 preouts for a 4 channel amp? i know there will be enough terminals but i heard that a dedicated sub preout will sound tons better for a sub than a rear preout? he said that using the headunits crossovers are much more effective than using the crossover on the amp. |
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Bronze Member Username: SchinnerPost Number: 81 Registered: May-07 | lol noticing that I was looking at the older kenwoods I checked into the newer ones and the x794 looks sleek and awesome! 4 line display...not too flashy and all kinds of good sound shaping. i youtubed it and found a guy who went through some of the features and he said he has been in car audio for a long time and is super impressed with this kenwood. i found it for 170 shipped on ebay....what do you think about this one? better deal than the pioneer for 145 shipped??? |
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Silver Member Username: JbpittPittsburgh, Pa. Usa Post Number: 343 Registered: Jul-09 | I acually have that kenwood in my car. I like it,nice display,4volt,solid ipod control. I think thats about what i payed for mine. The Pioneer seems like a good deal too so... Id also look into clarion too. |
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Gold Member Username: IlluminatorUSA Post Number: 5094 Registered: Apr-05 | The microfuse only affects the pre-outs and blows if you're not being careful with the RCA outputs and they get grounded somehow. I don't know if this is still a problem on the new headunits such as the one I listed in this thread. It's fairly rare and if it does happen, you can simply connect a wire from one of the RCA's to the ground of the headunit and the problem is fixed. It won't damage the speakers, either. Haha, yeah, I was also noticing you were looking at the older Kenwoods. Wasn't sure if you were looking at them for a cheaper price or what, but I'm glad you found the newer ones. I'm not sure how you have your 4 channel amp configured, but in any case, the more pre-outs, the better. If you're running the fronts and rears off it, then yeah, you can hook up the front and rear pre-outs to it, and still have a sub pre-out. I completely agree that it's better to use the headunit's crossovers as opposed to an amp because you're getting it right at the source. If you want to get the Kenwood, you can. It's a pretty decent price. I'm somewhat biased toward Pioneer and Alpine ;) I'd rather you get one of those, but if the Kenwood is what you want, then I don't see why not. |
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Bronze Member Username: SchinnerPost Number: 82 Registered: May-07 | well to be honest i haven't yet installed anything yet in this particular car. just doing all my research and picking it out piece by piece with the best plan of attack from the get go. I think I'm going to get the kenwood but none-the-less thanks for the great suggestions and help. if your curious heres the equipment ive got so far... Diamond Audio D363.5 6.5 comps for the front Rockford Fosgate 4 gauge wiring Kicker CompVR 10" DVC 2-ohm then ive chosen...haven't ordered them yet but the rest is MB Quart Discus 480.4 Kenwood KDC-x794 the main obstacles left are somehow making the doors accept these speakers as there weren't any speakers in that location previously....kicks would sound better from what i hear but i really dont want to sacrifice the foot room and doors should still sound pretty decent. the car just had 3.5s in the dash and 6x9s in the rear deck....forget that....this also means like i said there going to need to be custom mounted. i was planning on putting the tweets right down next to the woofer...maybe in the bottom most corner to bring the sound stage up to head level. ive read its not really ideal to have the tweet shooting "thru" the waves of the mid...but its either that or the sound stage goes to the floor right? i suppose if i could angle the mids enough then the tweet could go above them and still have the sound stage up higher? i want to hear it first but ive also been reading about sound dampening...i dont plan on having the car however and want to revert the stereo to stock when im done...so if i did any deadening it would likely be just some CLD tiles the next big obstacle is the woofer enclosure...i plan to build two boxes and try them out...1 sealed and 1 vented. i want to make a slot ported box but the more i think about it might be better to have a round pvc shoot right up through the old 6x9 cut out. thinking maybe 34 or 32 hz???? looking to have a good range with the sub as i want sq....with loudness. it seems like i can spend 5 hours reading learning all kinds of stuff...then spend 20 more and just keep learning more and more... |
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Gold Member Username: IlluminatorUSA Post Number: 5095 Registered: Apr-05 | That's good equipment so far, especially for what you're wanting. No worries about going with the Kenwood. You're supposed to get what you want, not what I want haha. I'm not a salesman, that's for sure. So there is a way to mount speakers in the front doors without getting kickpods? I think you'll be impressed with that set of Diamond component speakers. My suggestion is to mount the tweeters near the A-pillar where any of the red dots are:  The problem with mounting the tweeters lower is that higher frequencies are deflected much easier than lower ones, thus by putting your leg in front of the tweeter etc. you are going to muffle the treble. That's one of the reasons why mounting it near the A-pillar is ideal: they won't get blocked by anything and can make it right to your ears. They do, of course, also bring the soundstage up and make it more realistc. I would really recommend a sealed with the Kicker subs, but yeah, if you're willing to build two different types of boxes, then that would be ideal. See which one sounds best. You'll have to keep me updated as I'm curious myself as to which one you'll end up liking more. Yeah, this stuff can be addicting, I'll definitely give you that |
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Bronze Member Username: SchinnerPost Number: 83 Registered: May-07 | is it good to have the tweeter that far from the mid?? i thought it was best to keep them right next to each other for timing? i guess if i can keep them roughly the same distance away from my head as the mid, it should work good? i guess it'll prolly be easiest if i just hook them up and move them all around to find the best spot/angle...maybe it will work out that i can put them where the old 3.5s are, they are in dash corners, where the vent comes out in the pic you posted...then maybe angle them from there... im really excited to hear this setup, my last one was a ford explorer with 5x7 front and back pioneer premiers...jvc headunit...2 10" cvrs...and a zx750.1 the speakers were powered off the headunit and had zero midbass what so ever. when it comes to mounting the mids i have to start from scratch...i was planning to maybe cut the door panel in half below the arm rest stuff and making a new lower half out of mdf with a baffle right on that (that way when i get a new car i can re-blend the old half back into the door)....kicks are an option i suppose, but like i said i really want to return the stereo to stock when i get a new car...few years down the road...college... i'll have to snap some pics of what im working with...i came up with a really neat idea for the enclosure for my 1 cvr...im excited to start constructing and installing all this stuff....sucks that schools not over for a few more weeks and i dont have any access to tools or anything to get going on the project until i go back home for the summer. |
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Gold Member Username: IlluminatorUSA Post Number: 5096 Registered: Apr-05 | Yeah, it's fine to have tweeters mounted there. You'll notice in many newer OEM stereo systems with tweeters, that is where they are typically mounted. In my previous car, I had the tweeters mounted with the midbass drivers and it sounded all right, but then I detached them and moved them to the A pillars and the difference was remarkable, really. I hope it's the same for you. And yeah, it would probably work out quite well to have them where the 3.5" speakers were. Again, as you said, if you just try out different angles then you'll find a location that works best for your musical tastes. And you certainly should be looking forward to that setup! Perhaps one of my biggest thrills in sound quality is just adding an amplifier to the front speakers. It really does make a difference. It definitely enhances the stereo separation as well as gives your speakers much more midbass punch. If you have the know-how to build the speaker panels for the doors, then go for it. You will definitely have to post some pics of how it turns out once you finish. Yeah, this kind of thing can take hours, days even, and it's good to do it when you have the right tools instead of doing a ghetto job or something haha. |
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Platinum Member Username: Insearchofbass2 hifonics 2607s, 2dcSounds12xls SPL\idmax12SQ Post Number: 14147 Registered: Jun-04 | good choice going with the kenwood deck.....thats all I consider good from them is their deck making |
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Gold Member Username: IlluminatorUSA Post Number: 5370 Registered: Apr-05 | ^Good point, actually. Hadn't thought of that. |
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