E46 FL stock HU with PXA-H701 or Clarion D2, which sounds better?

[Playtennis]

Hi Bros,

Wonder if anyone has done a similar sound quality comparison between the Clarion D2 and E46 FL stock HU with PXA-H701? Which is better? Will there be a significant difference?

Cheers!
Jenn :juggle:

 

[richlee7]

Re: E46 FL stock HU with PXA-H701 or Clarion D2, which sounds better?

hi. i believe you are referring to the clarion hx-d2?

swap comparo (all similar except stk+701 vs hx-d2 with identical setup in same car) i didn't do, but on seperate installs, i think stk (e46FL, which is actually alpine)+alpineH701 is the better deal.

if you opt for the 701 path, just be careful of what hi-lo you use... dun go for the high-end hi-lo. go for the cheap (normal) ones with no filter, no noise canceller etc. its a long story why (which i posted about 2 years ago), but unlike what many people seem to claim, the h701 will not hum with a standard (normal) hi-lo.

imho, the clarity, aesthetics, specs & flexibility of the 701 outweighs even most dedicated processors.

hx-d2 is very well specd, but still a standard (but of course relatively good quality) head-unit (cd-receiver). the cd reader in the headunit is good quality, though. also i don't think it has an interface for your steering controls. somehow the TA seems too difficult to really pinpoint... always getting some 'rainbow' effect, as well as depth and definition... i guess its more difficult to tune as compared w the 701, or even the pioneers'... biggest plus of d2: 24bit DA with BB... sweet. but keep in mind this is car audio system, not home audio... so a good processor really helps.

end of the day, its your choice. they each have their respective ups n downs.

my choice was 701 over a headunit change... just my 2cents worth. happy icing!

 

[Playtennis]

Re: E46 FL stock HU with PXA-H701 or Clarion D2, which sounds better?

Hi richlee7,

Thanks Bro for the advise...I will check it out. :laughlik:

Rgds,
Jenn

 

[richlee7]

Re: E46 FL stock HU with PXA-H701 or Clarion D2, which sounds better?

no prob Bro. hope you can have a good setup in your system, and hopefully can hear your system out someday ... btw, i assume u're much into ICE/audiophile type? sori, just curious...

 

[Sir_Ducer]

Re: E46 FL stock HU with PXA-H701 or Clarion D2, which sounds better?

I thought that a clean HU source would tend to have better sound quality?
Probably at this stage, the 701 will have better staging and tweaking capabilities, but a clean HU will produce clean sound?

 

[richlee7]

Re: E46 FL stock HU with PXA-H701 or Clarion D2, which sounds better?

I thought that a clean HU source would tend to have better sound quality?
Probably at this stage, the 701 will have better staging and tweaking capabilities, but a clean HU will produce clean sound?

Hello Sir,

yes, you're definitely right. technically i can't dispute that... clean HU source will have better SQ, but that will be under ideal situation e.g. home audio, where staging is by default much more straight forward & predictable thus controllable.

In-car situation, all depends on taste. if u wanna 'good' sound, both hx-d2 and stock+701 combi will both have its respective trade-off, and under in-car installs, i think the overall effect, stock+701 gives a relatively 'better' overall effect of reproducing the natural recording sound (quality, seperation, depth and staging).

moreover, with our climate, exposure to heat deteriorates our speakers and amps and cables rather quickly, so the need for good processor can help to compensate for the constant deterioration.

but of course for listeners who don't mind (or prefer) full 'surround' effect, the seperation, depth and staging parts are probably irrelevant.

maybe just to dispel some doubts on stock e46 hu, it's an abv average set fm Alpine. amps and filters used internally are equivalent to that of the CD?-984? series... so actually mai-hiam-buay pai... stock sounds horrible mainly due to terribly lousy stock speakers... i believe those who've experimented... just changing the speakers as the 1st upgrade (no change of stock HU, no adding anything else, including cables) makes the biggest leap in quality... everything else after that is incremental, but not as dramatic.

just my 2 cents

 

[richlee7]

Re: E46 FL stock HU with PXA-H701 or Clarion D2, which sounds better?

I thought that a clean HU source would tend to have better sound quality?
Probably at this stage, the 701 will have better staging and tweaking capabilities, but a clean HU will produce clean sound?

Hello Sir,

yes, you're definitely right. technically you can't dispute that: clean source will have better SQ, but that will be under relatively ideal situation e.g. home audio, where staging is by default much more straight forward & predictable, thus controllable.

In-car situation, a lot also depends on taste. if u wanna 'good' sound, both hx-d2 and stock+701 combi will both have its respective trade-off, and under in-car installs, i think the overall effect, stock+701 gives a relatively 'better' overall effect of reproducing the natural recording sound (quality, seperation, depth and staging).

but of course for listeners who don't mind (or prefer) full 'surround' effect, the seperation, depth and staging parts are probably irrelevant.

with our climate, exposure to heat deteriorates our speakers and amps and cables rather quickly, so the need for good processor can help to compensate for the constant deterioration.

maybe just to dispel some doubts on stock e46fl hu, it's an abv average set fm Alpine. amps and filters used internally are equivalent to that of the CD?-984? series... so actually mai-hiam-buay-pai... stock sound is horrible mainly due to terribly lousy stock speakers... i believe those who've experimented... just changing the speakers as the 1st upgrade (no change of stock HU, no adding anything else, including cables) makes the biggest leap in sound quality diff... everything else after that is progressively incremental, but not as dramatic.

just my 2 cents

 

[oneHeadlight]

Re: E46 FL stock HU with PXA-H701 or Clarion D2, which sounds better?

i personally would opt for having a better source, meaning having the D2 instead of the H701 with stock HU. THere is definitely hiss problem, tested and proven to Alpine by very seasoned people.

For the D2, iIt is true that it may be hard to "pinpoint" TA but there are ways to get around it. JUst more tedious.

When u compare a processor with a HU, its actually not comparing apple to apple. A processor is definitely for processing..haha...duh !! (i don't know how else to put it). The H701 is a very able one at that. But the D2 is one heck of a headunit, the specs already mentioned by Rich.

i actually disagree (no offence intended to Rich bro) on the "surround" effect and that a processor produce a more natural sound. I am not technically very inclined so i apologise for not being able to explain why technically.

2 years ago, i would've easily said H701 for all its capabilities....but its HXD2 we are comparing against, so i would easily opt for D2, altho D2 lacks processing power. Is there alot to process in the first place ? is time alignment the most important factor ? DO u have the right person to tune such that the TA is much more pinpoint than the D2 ? These are personal preferences.
.... but i think purely on SQ, the D2 should "win".

its probably irrelevant, but if budget permits, the D2 + H701 is pretty awesome.

 

[richlee7]

Re: E46 FL stock HU with PXA-H701 or Clarion D2, which sounds better?

hi oneheadlight,

of cos no offence la... this is exactly what we're here for... many opinion throw in to confuse someone trying to make a decision... ...

anyway, like i said already, i definitely agree, purely sq: hx-d2.

as for the 701, actuali, i'm so sori ... i forgot about the MOST important factor here... the TUNER!) got a good tuner will make it a good setup w the 701. thanks, oneheadlight for reminding us... well, let's hope Jenn manage to make some sense out of all this, n make his decision

hx-d2 +701... hmmm ... might as well go for the f1..

no decision is wrong, its just the choice/preference taken, and the result thereof!

 

[oneHeadlight]

Re: E46 FL stock HU with PXA-H701 or Clarion D2, which sounds better?

ya ...confusion !! hahaha....

D2 + H701 still cheaper than F1 bro !!

maybe to justify my comments abit, if one stick to stock HU, one got to use a Hi-lo convertor, and then go into the H701, then go into the amps.
This versus HXD2 straight into amps, which is more more simple.
Generally, and i stress generally, the simpler the architecture...the "better". BUT H701 has independent L/R 6 channels (is it ?)... 31 band etc etc ...

So Jenn.... have u been confused already ?
If u haven't, wait for iceman to come in .. he wil probably suggest Alpine HU with H701 hahaha...

 

[Sir_Ducer]

Re: E46 FL stock HU with PXA-H701 or Clarion D2, which sounds better?

Personally, I think for overall sound quality and appreciation, a dedicated HU would be better. But given that you say the Stock HU is decent, then a 701 is also pretty good. The 701 has got a whole lot more flexibility in tuning, time alignment...etc. But as techno-speak, rubbish in = rubbish out.

The 701 will enhance the quality of the source signals going into it and maximising it on the way out. Of course Optical Signals (as in from Alpine HUs) will be better as there is a clean signal.

The HX-D2 is a very decent unit. In the right hands, it can be very melodic and musical with a nice "natural feeling" to the reproduced sound. It might miss out on certain frequency accuracy and tuning, but the Parametric EQs does a very decent job.

Of course HX-D2 + 701 will be magical, but there is no Optical out to the 701, but I heard a tuner has managed to mod a connection for it.

 

[Playtennis]

Re: E46 FL stock HU with PXA-H701 or Clarion D2, which sounds better?

Hi Bros,

Thanks for the kind advise. I am not confuse by youe exchange of ideas. Actually, I am currently on HX-D2 with Seas Lotus Reference (silk dome) Component from and a 10"rainbow sub in the boot. The sound is decent but I miss the a few stuffs from my stock HU..e.g. 'homogeneous look' of the center console with the aircon unit, steering wheel control, speed sensitive volume control and the 6-disc changer. So I want to put the stock HU back and add a 701. By posting the query, I hope some bros out there might have heard the difference between the two setups and 'quantify' the difference before I switch back to stock HU. My guess is that there will be some quality difference but coupled with the road noise, it might be minimal. Hopefully I am right. :nehnehhh: By favourite disc is 'Tian Kong' or Sky by Faye Wong. It's a very old disc but her voice is simply enchanting.

I suspect hissing will be present due to the use of hi-lo converter but will try to quantify and post the result of whether this hissing is tolerable or not.

Have a great weekend guys!!

Cheers!
Jenn

 

[oneHeadlight]

Re: E46 FL stock HU with PXA-H701 or Clarion D2, which sounds better?

Wa....u already have the D2..and u wanna drop it ?!!! I strongly suggest otherwise. I think Dynasty and/or New Generation has the steering wheel control thingy. As for disc changer...just go get one clarion one...not very expensive.

i agree with the rubbish in = rubbish out theory...