I am using an in dash eq with 7v pre outs and 100db S/N ratio .005 THD. I have a lower end JVC hu. My question is this. Will I benefit much by going to a high end hu? I would like to have a nicer hu, but if I'm not going to gain much in sound quality I can't really justify the cost. My eq has one pair of inputs, front and rear pre outs with seperates for sub and also an aux in for my mp3 player, so I don't really need to upgrade for features. Let me know what you think or what experiences you have had.

 

It all depends on the s/n ratio of your current HU, the voltage output, and total harmonic distortion. Sounds like you've got a nice EQ by the specs! I'd love to have 7v. I bought a Sony Xplod deck back when they switched to 4v from 2v, but now they are back to 2v again.

 

ANYTHING IS better THEN stock!!

 

how much lower, is the "lower-end" JVC ?

In addition to Trick's points what is the channel seperation rated at (in dB) ?

Do you primarily use the MP3 for your music (like you dont use the CD much anymore) ? Do you use the HU for anything much than radio ?

Is your indash EQ remote-brained ? (ie do you have to run low voltage preamps from your HU all the way to the back, or only a couple of feet ?) If the run is only a couple of feet, Im not sure that you would gain much by having a HU with Higher pre-amp voltage (higher pre amp voltage helps reject noise / interference from getting into your preamp to amp lines)

If the HU to EQ distance is short and all you use the HU unit for is to listen to the radio and turn on/off the rest of the equipment and adjust the volume... Not sure youll get much bang for your buck swithcing HU's.

eBay has good deals on HUs though, you might browse through Crutchfield see what you like, and then check for same on eBay.

 

Thanks for the replies. My JVC only has 2v pre outs and 70 db S/N ratio under the audio amplifier section. Under the tuner section it has 35db stereo seperation and 98db S/N ratio under cd player section. The eq has 82db/1khz stereo seperation. My eq has a remote wire just like my amps. I have the eq mounted right below the hu, so the outputs don't run but just a foot or so. I only use my mp3 once in a while. I mostly listen to cd's or the tuner. I figured with the eq being rated better I probably wouldn't benefit from a better hu, and my hu only has 2 channel pre out, but the eq makes up for that, so front and rears and sub control wouldn't do me any good since the eq already has them and only has 2 channel inputs.

 

2 volt preouts arent "bad"

In case there was confusion, When I said "remote brain" EQ.... some din sized EQs I have seen have the control panel/interface like a wired remote. The display mounts in the dash, but the "GUTS" (or brain) you mount somewhere else like back by the amps or with other signal processors in the trunk (if you had a vehicle with a trunk) and run a control cable (like a 10 disc changer cable)

You might gain from a new head unit, provided you buy a significantly BETTER class of head unit this time, rather than just a new cheap one. With your EQ doing all the work, a new HU with features like parametric EQ, timealignment and crossover features wont do you any good at all.


Think of it as a chain.... only as strong as its weakest link.

 

So to get better sound quality, what features or specs should I be looking for? Generally I would think higher S/N ratio, lower THD, and higher voltage preouts, but I'm not sure since I have the eq. I think it sounds good now, but I'm always looking for more.

 

In your case...

better channel seperation, better S/N ratio at comparable THD, better ergonomics, higher voltage preouts... *about* in that order given your situation in my opinion.

obviously you dont need a HU with any line-level wattage and again time correction/Xover/parametric eq stuff wont do you any good.

 

BECAUSE SONY XPLOD IS JUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sony, do your loyal fans a favor and bring back the MOBILE ES line.

 

That is what my M650 is.
Very good unit, never had one problem with it since June of 2000, even off road I do not get any skip.

It is the ES line.
Bummer though that it won't do raw MP3s though, to early of a deck.