Finally decided on the HU

[NY94J30]

I was able to audition the Nak CD-400 against the Eclipse 5423, and I think the Nak was noticably better (cleaner), and thats saying alot. So i bought it. I had previously auditioned the Eclipse against the Alpine 7995 (which I assumed to be a real good SQ unit), and thought the Eclipse was much better. I now have rear fill (MA Audio Synergy - they're just fill, and were a bargain, I think, at $35) and a headunit.

I'm getting there. Need comps and an amp. I think on Simm's recommendation Im gonna get the precision power ppi-480 ($340). I still havent measured to see if I have the depth for the CDT cl-61 ($150) 2 and 7/8" (I think probably not), otherwise, I'll wait until I have the money for the kappa perfect 6.1s ($200).

Comments/suggestions?

I dont know if anyone has ever compared a $300 Eclipse unit to a $3-400-500? Kenwood or Panasonic. I did for kicks as Tweeter, it was absurd the SQ difference. The Alpine is MUCH better to, but the Nak is in my subjective taste the best ive ever heard. I though better than the Eclipse 8 series. Granted I've never heard a real audiophile deck like a McIntonsh, but the sound this Nak puts out is amazing. Can't wait to get it in.

[nuQ]

i've been out of the car stereo game for awhile (the early 90's). mb quarts were the hot speakers at the time. trying to see where you are going with your setup. are you going with a good component system in the front doors and smaller speakers in the rear deck for fill???? are you going to use one amp???? subs???? i think you have me sold on sticking with nak and eclipse for a head unit. was going to keep the stock look of the bose head and put in a seperate amp to aftermarket speakers. i'm sure the sound wouldn't be the best with this set-up. what are considered the best component speakers now or at least that would fit in the doors of the Q. you're giving me the "bug" again!!!!thanks jeff

[Rex]

Too bad this Nak isn't available in the states, as it looks like it would belong, no "neon/bling".



This Clarion isn't too bad, but I'm not big on the display



Of course, both are CD/MD combo units, see a pattern there

[NY94J30]

The great thing about that Nak is that it does look stock, very understated/simple. None of those superfluous fuctions, but maybe less a few that are useful (time correction, etc.).

As for the components if you truly mean best there are plenty of $1000 pairs out there, the Focal Utopias, Rainbows..., but if you're looking for quality, you can find it around $200 (Infinity, CDT, Crystal, MB...).

[nuQ]

like i said, i've been out of the game for a while........ what is time correction?????

[Rex]

Auto time setting, Atomic clock...

Okay, maybe that's not what he means

[elbles]

Many Alpine head units have time correction/delay. It basically uses a lot of the same techniques used in home theater setups, so that the sound from certain speakers is "delayed" (on an order of milliseconds) so that the listener feels "centered" on the soundstage. In other words, in the driver's seat, you are closest to the driver's side front speaker, and furthest from the passenger rear. You would set the delay to be the most for the driver side front speaker, so that the speakers would appear to be equidistant from each other, or that's at least how I perceive it to work. I haven't actually used it myself, seems a bit gimmicky for the size of a car, but YMMV. Hope that helps . . .

[NY94J30]

time correction takes account of the driver not being the center of the soundstage and allows you to adjust the speaker outputs to create a new focus by delaying the outputs of the speakers with shorter focal distances by a certain number of miliseconds - can be a dramatic difference if properly corrected on an SQ setup

[nuQ]

thanks guys!!!!!!

[ayjay]

damn... i should have gone for the Nak! ah well the 5423 was cheaper and had 5v pre-outs instead of the Nak's 4v... now you just gotta get a nice set of components to run up front. damn! thezeb.com has the CDT HD-642's for $399! if you can somehow afford those i'm sure you could compete in SQ competitions. haven't heard them, but they are supposed to be no comparison between those and the CL-641's which i have and i am quite impressed with mine (even compared to my buddy's Focal 165K3 setup)...

have you ever heard the CDT's vs MB Quart or Infinity's in a soundboard? i would like to hear that...

[NY94J30]

I have heard the Kappas (not the perfects), and the full line of MBs. The Kappas are nice, very crisp, maybe a little too crisp in the highs with the titanium tweeter. I prefer a silk tweeter to aluminum or titanium. The MBs I find to be a flatter sound, though I didn't hear them together with the Kappas. I've never heard CDTs at all, but I was almost willing to buy the CL-61s on recommendation alone as a midbass driver. Unfortunatley I dont think that theyll fit the J w/o modification to the door panel. I'm willing to make an MDF plate to fit the larger 6.5s but don't want to have to modify the door panel to accomadate more depth. So I'm still looking at the Kappa Perfects, and some Focals and Crystals

[NY94J30]

I finally got the Nak hooked up - decided to get the integreation harness for now b/c I'm a little short on the cash for the comps and amp right now. It still sounds much, much better than the Clarion unit. It sounds much clearer and the bass hits that used to distort don't anymore. I'm not sure why that would be as the speakers aren't being given anymore power but I switched back to the clarion and it really is much more defined.

Anyway the bad news is the factory head unit is damn near impossible to separate from the mounting bracket. I stripped clean 5 of the 8 M5 screws. Could barely get the other ones out wtih a 1/2 HP drill. Its like they thread locked them. I had to order a new bracket which wont be here until wed.