Hi Folks,

I cant decide between a Alpine CDA 9851R and a Pioneer DEH-P7700MP. I prefer the look of the pioneer, but Ive heard really good things about the sound quality of alpines.

Any opinions appreciated,

Thanks

Nick

I had a pioneer head unit and it sounded great.

Not had much experience with alphones bit I always thought the older models looks a bit cheesy.

I had a pioneer head unit and it sounded great.

Not had much experience with alphones bit I always thought the older models looks a bit cheesy.

I thought it was the other way round... they seem to have flashier fascias and more coloured lights these days... however that hasn't stopped me trading up to my 4th Alpine unit, the quality is fantastic!

I have an Alpine 9853R, which are around the

I have the DEH7700MP, and do love it.

The sound of the Pioneer is quite warm and easy listening, but the Alpine has quite a "bright" sound, that some may feel a bit harsh.

The Pioneer has understated looks, with the blue OEL display adding a bit of glitz if you feel like it (couple of videos including the famous dolphins). The Pioneer illumination matches Skoda green perfectly, and I love the simple design of the face plate. The menus are a doddle, and love the push in volume control. The Pioneer also comes with a remote control which is dead handy when setting the stereo up, and for when the kids want to play

I was initially disappointed by how the Pioneer stuck out of the dash, but now I have cut a bit of the dash out behind it, and fitted the pull out tray, so it sits a lot flusher now.

The only winning points of the Alpine imo are that the surround is less bevelled, making it look flusher in the dash, and the iPOD interface is better than the frankly poor Pioneer one.

Heres some daylight pics of mine in the dash:

Hope this helps

I have the DEH7700MP' date=' and do love it.

The sound of the Pioneer is quite warm and easy listening, but the Alpine has quite a "bright" sound, that some may feel a bit harsh.

The Pioneer has understated looks, with the blue OEL display adding a bit of glitz if you feel like it (couple of videos including the famous dolphins). The Pioneer illumination matches Skoda green perfectly, and I love the simple design of the face plate. The menus are a doddle, and love the push in volume control. The Pioneer also comes with a remote control which is dead handy when setting the stereo up, and for when the kids want to play

I was initially disappointed by how the Pioneer stuck out of the dash, but now I have cut a bit of the dash out behind it, and fitted the pull out tray, so it sits a lot flusher now.

The only winning points of the Alpine imo are that the surround is less bevelled, making it look flusher in the dash, and the iPOD interface is better than the frankly poor Pioneer one.

Heres some daylight pics of mine in the dash:

[img']http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e98/Tom_vRS/ICE%20install/IMG_0376.jpg[/img]

Hope this helps

Now are you gonna take advice from a man with fluffy dice?

sorry forgot to say. My vote goes for the Alpine.

Me too, even though I love the Pioneer, I'd take the Alpine over it. With the warm sound of the amps and the speakers (genesis & rainbow), the brightness of the Alpine's internal amp wouldn't matter. And the fiddly menus would soon become clear.

After all that, I found a local shop doing a DEH-P6800MP for £140 special offer, so Ive bought one, but Im not sure If im going to regret it or not. Cant decide if I like the looks of it now ive got it home, so when saturday comes I'll either fit it or take it back and order an alpine.

Panic purchases are something i do far too often :s

well I decided to go ahead and fit it! What a bitch it was too, used a VW wiring adapter with the ariel power adapter, then the pioneer had an iso lead with its own connectors on, what a pain in the **** that was getting it all to fit in such a small space!

But, its in now and looks rather cool (but might look at what Tom vRS did with regards to making it flush). Will post some piccies once the sun comes up again!

Nick