New Head unit?????

Big Bert · December 30, 2002

Hey everyone this audio stuff is really addictive.

I never thought that I would want to do this (because I like the look of the factory one) but after all of my other audio upgrades (see sig) I think I want to upgrade my head unit. A couple of questions. Do you think it will make much difference over my factory head unit??? Will I still be able to use my factory AUX tape player???? I am leaning towards the Alpine CDA 7897 This one What do you all think

dsmazz · December 31, 2002

I recently installed an Alpine CDA-7892, not quite the unit you are looking at, but still an Alpine. I also swapped out the factory speakers with some Polk Audio units. All I can say is, I wish I did it the day I brought the truck home from the dealer. What a difference a few hundred dollars makes. The install was easy. I got everything from Crutchfield.

Dave

sduquette · December 31, 2002

You can't go wrong with Alpine. I'm not sure if you will notice a big difference on the factory speakers, but the headunit and new speakers will make a world of difference. I just got rid of my 7893, which has most of the same features, very, very nice, I shouldn't have sold it. One thing though, make sure that H/U has a built in amplifier, unless you plan on running external amps, I know some of their higher up ones don't have built in amps so they run cooler.

sduquette · December 31, 2002

Just checked, looks like that has no internal amp, might want a different h/u, or price out a good 4 channel amp, I would stick with Alpine on the amps too

lrymal · December 31, 2002

I have a 2003 Silverado---no Bose. CD option. Has the most mis-matched audio that I have ever heard for a $30,000 vehicle. High-bass is so strong that it wipes out all low-bass. I have adjusted, adjusted, adjusted. Horrible boomy audio.

It is difficult for me to believe the factory speakers are totally responsible, although I want to replace those in the future. I am so amazed that the factory HU can make this awful boomy sound. So, I guess I'm posting this as a result of reading the messages here. Just wanting to confirm, replacing the factory head unit generally solves the problem???

I'm aware of the Ventura Technologies wiring harness via Metra that allows the keeping of the chimes.

oogabooga · January 1, 2003

When you look at Alpine, when it starts with a 78, it has an internal amp. If it starts with a 79, it has no internal amp. I would reccomend to anyone upgrading a stereo to just forget about the internal amp in a cd player because it is crap compared to a real amp (output and quality). The 7897 is one fine cd player, it's a little bit price though. It has a lot of featrures on it, think about if you really need them or not. If you don't the 7995 (which is what I have) or 7894 are really awesome decks as well. The quality is just as good as the 7897, but they just dont have the features. In your case I would reccomend upgrading the deck, you wouldn't be disappointed with the 7897.