Eclipse CD5000 vs Panasonic CQ-CB8901U

[NightMare_N.R]

Hey every body I'm new to this BMW forum and got 2 cd headunits to choose from. And my system is I got an OLDER 15" IMMORTAL and a kicker 2500wmono @ 2ohms amp.

And I just want to know what yall know about them wiether the headunits good or bad.
and which one got i flaws and which one got the goods.

I know which one I think im going with and that would be the Eclipse bc there sup. to be the top of the line but i just want to know forsure.

got a couple of links

Panasonic http://www.cardomain.com/item/PANCQCB8901U?vq_id=none

Eclipse http://www.cardomain.com/item/ECLCD5000?vq_id=none

[blaze placid]

i havent had those exact models but ive had both brands,

really I liked the panasonic better. Everyone you ask will say the Eclipse is better ,but I really belive the panasonics are better.

The Ecliopse I had sounded good but not great

The Panasonic was alot better sounding and i think better lookiing

[NightMare_N.R]

thanks for the info.

[el_duderino]

Oh, balderdash.

Panasonic is good mechanically. Their disc transport is probably pretty good.

The DAC in a Pana piece is almost always a low-end 1-bit. They invented the MASH 1-bit so they love it. THe preamp output is weak too. And they're ugly.

The CD5000 - once you turn the glitzy lights off - is a VERY good head unit. The iPod integration is easier to use than the Alpines, and just as fast. The preamp output tested on an o-scope with a odB 1kHz sine wave is really, honestly, truly, 8V. You can get amber lights on it.

I've installed this deck into a couple of cars where this was the only change, and the SQ improvement was obvious.

Now, you probably won't be able to appreciate any of that with that hoopty system you have - a 15" woofer and a huge amp have nothing to do with sound quality, and those Kicker amps are huge POS's in our experience here.

But between the two HU's, there you go.

[blaze placid]

really??? I have done more installs than most,just cuz in my ONE car I have an all out spl system doenst mean i dont know anytihng about SQ

in my Silverado I have some CDT Euros driven by a Zapco.

I just dont like Eclipse,never had good luck with making them sound good ,and yes I also have acces to an O-scope and an RTA

[el_duderino]

really??? I have done more installs than most,

You've done more installs than most of what?

He asked for opinions. You stated one. I stated one. We can either piss on each other about the fact that we disagree, or leave it and let the people reading our posts to judge for themselves.

I'm sure you do have access to tools. I have no idea what you can do with them. Most installers have access to a voltmeter, but that doesn't mean they know how to do squat with that either.

[blaze placid]

i agree with you ,tools dont make installs sound good,

really sound is what you like,just like cars

some people love boomin bass, while some hate the idea of a sub

[el_duderino]

really sound is what you like,just like cars

some people love boomin bass, while some hate the idea of a sub

Well, not exactly.

What people like is what people like. Some people like sensation and value that over fidelity - over accuracy - over musicality.

Good sound to most people means that it sounds like actual music.

Fidelity means "truth". High fidelity means a high degree of truth.

The reason many people don't like the idea of a sub - and I include MANY BMW owners in this statement - is that they equate the idea of a sub with a big wooden box in the trunk, and overpowering bass. They hate this idea, so they are often resistant to ANY sub.

At my shop we do hidden subs all the time - most of the time, 90% of the time, it's a single 10" sub in a fiberglass enclosure.

If you want to make a lifestyle statement, this is not how to do it. You won't "bass" anyone at a stoplight on Saturday night like this.

But it does sound very real when properly set up.

This is America - if you want 2 Kicker 12" in your trunk, you can have them, as long as you don't impinge on MY rights in so doing, which most guys with two 12"s seem to be actively trying to do - but it's not high fidelity sound, it's sensation only.