Audio Nerd needs help Alpine vs. JVC

[findoe]

Hey Guys and Gurlzzz

I have a bit of a dilemma w/ my car's audio config and was hoping one of you auto-audio geeks could shed some light on me.

here goes!

I have currently in my car (02 p5)...

1. a JVC 200w mp3 player (which came with the car)
2. Infinity Kappas for all 4 doors (no tweets)
3. A 10" JL sub in a large wedge box in the back fed with a 400w alpine amp.

Im no bumpity bump sidways hat wearin kid but I do consider myself an audiophile. Most important is as flat frequency response as possible, clean crisp HFs and Nice punchy lows - I dont need to kill myself w. bass BUT I do want those frequencies to be represented. Which is why my sub is about 33 percent on That said though sometimes I do like to pump it, and this configuration is more than enough for the task.

This setup has been great so far but theres a few things I would like to change.

Heres what I'd like to do. Replace the JVC head unit w/ a new alpine, so that I can take full advantage of my ipod and get the kit and all that. NOW of course the JVC is a '200 watt' amp, which Is odviously devided by 4 channels manking it 50x4.

Is the '200watt' JVC delivering the same overall output as the '50x4' alpine? or is the 50x4 not a 200w system, and delivering a paltry 12.4 watts to each channel?

I guess the dealbreaker for me here is - is the alpine headunit alone going to even come close to the output/power of the JVC - forcing me to not only get a new headunit, ipod interface, AND fancy amp to get it to where it was w/ the jvc. Or are the two power designations essentially the same thing worded differently.

Anyone using just an alpine headunit happy/unhappy with your results?

Im also pondering which headunit to get. I want something w/ mp3 playback odviously, ipod functionality, but what would really be nice is a little bit more display functionality, I know some of these have this but I dont know which ones. I.e. I would like to be able to change the look of the interface to match my dashboard, AND I would like to be able to dim/and or turn off the display entirely if I can. I live in a very dark (non lit) area and it is really nice to be able to dim all the dash lights to almost nil. Unfortunatly the JVC does not afford me this luxury.

Also I saw a newer alpine headunit that has essentially a touch strip on the bottom. Can you use this to scroill through parameters of the ipod? i.e. use it as a transport jogwheel through tracks?

many thanx guys my ears thank you

/s

 

[NoRotorNoMotor]

if you are concerned about sound quality amp the door speakers

those ratings are max power so you arent getting anywhere near that

 

[RedKatanax9]

Check to see if your JVC deck has the ability to accept auxilary input, you can then add hook up your ipod, although the JVC can't display title inforamtion as opposed to an Alpine Ai-Net CD player with iPod interface, but the sound quality should be comparable.

The 200 or whatever Watt on your JVC is just max power output, it means nothing, always look for RMS power rating, same goes for your Alpine amp.

A new Alpine deck with ipod interface makes ipod hook up easier and possibly a little bit better sound, but it won't be anywhere close to adding an extra amp for the door speakers.

 

[findoe]

Check to see if your JVC deck has the ability to accept auxilary input, you can then add hook up your ipod, although the JVC can't display title inforamtion as opposed to an Alpine Ai-Net CD player with iPod interface, but the sound quality should be comparable.

The 200 or whatever Watt on your JVC is just max power output, it means nothing, always look for RMS power rating, same goes for your Alpine amp.

A new Alpine deck with ipod interface makes ipod hook up easier and possibly a little bit better sound, but it won't be anywhere close to adding an extra amp for the door speakers.

Yeah I understand the concept of rms. and that the 200w is in reference to peak output. But is the "50x4" on the alpine 50 watts TOTAL split 4 ways OR is it 50x4 - 50 watts to each of the 4 channels??

I guess Im a little confused about the two's inconsistancy in marketeng-oriented power ratings. p.s. none of each other;s data includes peak/rms values. I am also a little confused as to how much power I need going to those 4 speakers to achieve sufficient 'creamy'ness.

anyways though either way: does anyone have an alpine head w/o an amp? I dont need mind numbing / screaching hi/mid frequency power, just want it to be clean and crisp up to a pretty reasonable limit. I listen to a lot of dance music though, lots of house, electro etc. which can be demanding on speakers esp. loud.

The JVC does have an aux in on the back and a 1/8th in jack on the front panel, but thats not what Im after. I wanna modulate the ipod via the head unit, have the ipod get power, and stream audio digitally without it having to be seen or touched.

I just really dont want to put another amp in this thing! I allready have the 400 and its mounted on the back of the rear seats. One is enough! Having another one on the other side would be totally rediculous.

thanx gang

/s

 

[findoe]

ok, I think Im getting closer here..

Yeah I understand the concept of rms. and that the 200w is in reference to peak output. But is the "50x4" on the alpine 50 watts TOTAL split 4 ways OR is it 50x4 - 50 watts to each of the 4 channels??

ok here we go. Upon further inspection it appers most alpines get aroung 12-14w rms and a *theoretical* peak of 50w per channel. They seem to have the integrity to not label that as a '200 watt' product, as JVC does. BUT upon further inspection - Theirs is the same, 12-16 RMS with 50w peak per channel.

So to sum it up, replacing the "200 watt" (yeah right) jvc w/ the 14rms/50peak x 4 Alpine would make a negligable difference in output, but would probablly put me over the top w/ better components, d/a s etc. Not to mension my mobile media archive at my fingertips

please correct me if im wrong

 

[RedKatanax9]

ok here we go. Upon further inspection it appers most alpines get aroung 12-14w rms and a *theoretical* peak of 50w per channel. They seem to have the integrity to not label that as a '200 watt' product, as JVC does. BUT upon further inspection - Theirs is the same, 12-16 RMS with 50w peak per channel.

So to sum it up, replacing the "200 watt" (yeah right) jvc w/ the 14rms/50peak x 4 Alpine would make a negligable difference in output, but would probablly put me over the top w/ better components, d/a s etc. Not to mension my mobile media archive at my fingertips

please correct me if im wrong

You got it dude! Yeah if you want control, search, display function on your HU, Alpine with ipod interface would be what you want, but I heard some peeps say the search function is quite frustrating. I think all ipodders are all spoiled by the scroll wheel.

If you don't want to add another amp, you might try get a more powerful 4 channel amp, wire it so it's a three channel output, two channels power the front speakers while one channel power the sub, and have the HU power the rear speakers. It would have to be a pretty powerful amp, though.