Yesterday I went into a stereo shop and ended up buying a new HU to replace my busted 13 year old Alpine. Scott (SCLJA) recommended the Alpine 9805, 11 or 13. They had all 3 of those, plus Eclipse, Kenwood and Pioneer. I was there for a good while comparing units from all except Kenwood. I had one picked out from all the other 3 (all same price). Here's what it came down to. The Eclipse looks clean and uncluttered. It is symmetrical and the face is flat and doesn't protrude. The faces of the Alpine and Pioneer units stick out really far, and overall look pretty busy and glitzy, more at home in a Civic than a Benz. Also, the Alpine has green lighting. The Eclipse has white lighting with 2 small blue rings on each dial.

Here's what it really came down to. The Alpine and Pioneer definitely have more bells and whistles per dollar spent. But Eclipse seems to put more money on quality (per dollar) than glitz. Here is what the Eclipse has over the others in build. It does not have a detachable face, perhaps the reason it does not protrude, but it has an electronic security network (ESN). You put in a "key CD", one you hate, and then you stash it away in your house. Anytime power is disconnected, you have to first insert that CD in for the CD player to work again. After so many failed tries, it locks up and it's useless (then ya gotta send it off with all sorts of documentation to get it activated again). The shop owner told me that Eclipse is the least stolen brand of HU in the US. Other things, it has a brass spindle instead of a plastic one (wears out), it has 2 rollers on each side of the CD instead of one going down the middle (what brings your CD in and out). These are just a few things, I'm sure there are more.

I'm convinced that I got a superior built unit. The owner said that SQ is by far the best. Ya gotta pay more for the bells and whistles of other similarly priced units, but I'll take quality anyday over glitz that I'm rarely ever gonna use.

I don't doubt the reliability of Alpine, but I got a 3 year warranty, and a 1 year theft warranty.

The usual disclaimer.... I have nothing to do with Fujitsu Ten. I just really like my new headunit!! At least give these things a good look if you're shopping for a new HU.

__________________
'86 420SE Euro
904 Midnight Blue, Gray Velour
Dad bought it new, now I own it.

"A Mercedes-Benz is like a fine wine, it only gets better with age."