Does anyone have experience with these head units? I'm having trouble deciding which one, because they both have their different strengths.

Alpine CDA-9831

• Ability to black out display and turn off internal amps for better sound quality
• Ability to search for a MP3 while another is still playing
• 4 band parametric EQ

Clarion DXZ835MP

• Sub control lever directly on faceplate
• Full control over button and display color
• Cheaper

Does anyone know if the Clarion has the ability to browse for another MP3 to play while the current track is still playing, then you hit a button and it starts playing the MP3 you just browsed to? I know the Alpine supports this for sure, but I didn't see this mentioned in the Clarion's manual.

And which would you guys recommend, and why?

i have the 9830 and think its great. plus you can hook up an ipod to the alpine and work it like a changer.

the 9831 can also change the color of ur headunit. as well as u got time ajustments and u can fully ajust EQ on ur comp then upload onto HU

i love it. alot.
on the 9831 u can only change the 4 main buttons like 8 diff colors and the other bottons 2 diff color orange and green. i can change mine 700+ colors.
i have dif setting were i made my own color to match the dash. then the safc. then the orange buttons on the safc. i really like it.
the clarion also has an Aux input.

This post has been edited by x_itchy_b_x: Mar 24, 2005 - 10:50 PM

man that looks sweet in your dash.

by looking at the specs of each HU, id probably take the Alpine... but either would be a good choice...

Weew i got the alpine 9831 I love it, i also didnt have clarion availible to me at the time of purchase, so i cannot really compare them, but i do love my alpine.

hey coomer,

I ´ve got the Alpine CDA 9835 R!Certainly, it´s the greatest headunit I know!Actually, it´s the same as 9831...the only difference is the display!
I´m not experienced with Clarion headunits!Just can give you the advice of buying the 9831...of course, it depends on what you need at all!

Keep it up,
senzay

well I know its not quite what your asking about but i have the DXZ945MP, the qualitys amazing, and ive recieved nothing but good comments about the looks. And lets face it touch screen is hot!



This post has been edited by slipgun: Mar 28, 2005 - 10:37 AM

I have the Clarion DXZ845MC and i love it. It has the ability to store songs off of cd's 250 mins on high quality and 350 mins on long play, but only off regular cd's, not cd-r's or cd-rw's. But the quality is awesome.

I had 2 alpines, not sure of the model #'s but they were in my old jeep wrangler, one got stolen b/c i was stupid and the second one i had in there until i gave it back to my dad and just told him to keep it in there, i was gonna get a new one for the celi. I was looking at the alpine again, but decided going with the clarion for the music catcher feature (its awesome when your on the highway by yourself you dont have to switch cd's if you have the songs recorded into the HU)

I know that's not the one you asked for but i sorta have experience with both, they're both awesome but go with the one that has the features that you will use. (i went with clarion b/c i didn't have an ipod at the time and didn't think i was gonna get one, but even now, i wouldn't go back)

Thats my input and Goodluck with the choice.

~P

This post has been edited by PaulMK: Mar 29, 2005 - 10:08 PM

I would go with the alpine. I would not expect the difference when you blackout the screen and turn the internal amp off to be great, or even noticible at all. I have a similar HU and i like blacking out the screen so its not so bright at night, but i do prefer having my rear stock speakers playing off the internal amp as opposed to turning it off altogether. The mp3 feature is very convenient and easy to use (as are the rest of the controls and features on the HU,) and the sound quality is great.

the HU that Slipgun has, id take it over the 9831 any day... that Clarion HU is absolutely amazing.... in every aspect... id love to have it.. you can find it for around the same price as the 9831.... www.etronics.com has it for pretty cheap... you will have to type in the model because they dont have it listed in the Clarion part for some reason... well they didnt last year... they may now though... and im sure other places have it for decently cheap now... but again that is a Great HU..