Nakamichi or Clarion? Where in GTA is it available

I am new to RFD and was wondering where I could either purchase a Nakamichi CD700 mark 2 or a Clarion DRZ 9255. I am also looking for opinions as to which deck is better. Thanks for any feedback.

Originally Posted by deal_dealer

I am new to RFD and was wondering where I could either purchase a Nakamichi CD700 mark 2 or a Clarion DRZ 9255. I am also looking for opinions as to which deck is better. Thanks for any feedback.

I don't think Clarion plays MP3.
Does Nakamichi CD700 mark 2?

Originally Posted by fooit

I don't think Clarion plays MP3.
Does Nakamichi CD700 mark 2?

No, the Clarion plays MP3 but the Nakamichi CD700 Mark 2 doesnt. Atleast I think so.

Why did you leave Alpine out of the list?

I would get the best unit I can afford with iPod control, MP3, USB, etc...
Nowadays I would rather have a HDD based head unit than CD or even DVD player... It's so much more convenient...

Originally Posted by fooit

Why did you leave Alpine out of the list?

I would get the best unit I can afford with iPod control, MP3, USB, etc...
Nowadays I would rather have a HDD based head unit than CD or even DVD player... It's so much more convenient...

Well, I was looking for exceptional sound quality without the multifunctional options. Just plain and simple, I have heard the alpine F1 series is great.

Originally Posted by deal_dealer

Well, I was looking for exceptional sound quality without the multifunctional options. Just plain and simple, I have heard the alpine F1 series is great.

Sure, I understand the sound quality part but why leave convenience out of the picture?

Originally Posted by deal_dealer

Well, I was looking for exceptional sound quality without the multifunctional options. Just plain and simple, I have heard the alpine F1 series is great.

First off you're asking on the wrong forum. You'll get answers like this:

Originally Posted by fooit

I would get the best unit I can afford with iPod control, MP3, USB, etc...

(No offence fooit. It's just that if someone is looking for a HU like this they probably aren't concerned about MP3s and iPods.) Or people just won't have a clue what you're talking about.

Secondly I was thinking the Clarion could not do MP3 either, you should recheck where you heard/read it can (who uses MP3 CDs now anyway?).

Thirdly it's F#1

Originally Posted by ES_Revenge

First off you're asking on the wrong forum. You'll get answers like this:

(No offence fooit. It's just that if someone is looking for a HU like this they probably aren't concerned about MP3s and iPods.) Or people just won't have a clue what you're talking about.

Secondly I was thinking the Clarion could not do MP3 either, you should recheck where you heard/read it can (who uses MP3 CDs now anyway?).

Thirdly it's F#1

No offence taken...

OP was also looking for opinions and feedback... I guess I am not entitled to express either on RFD

Originally Posted by fooit

I guess I am not entitled to express either on RFD

LOL sure you are, but c'mon someone looking for this unit knows (or should know) what it does and there are certain things that you don't bother telling them because you know it's not important.

Like if someone comes on here asking for where to find a Hummer or a Lamborghini are you going to bother telling them about how the fuel economy sucks and they should be getting something like a hybrid instead? Of course not. If they are trying to buy one of those cars they should definitely know about the fuel consumption ahead of time--it's obvious or expected or intended.

Nakamichi isn't as good as it used to be. I'd go Alpine or Pioneer.

hear is a review of the two decks as well as some others I found on another forum, both units are high end SQ decks so mp3/ipod playback probably wont matter to the OP, anyways hear is the review

EDIT: Link to a Clarion DRZ955 on kijiji http://guelph.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-se...AdIdZ144189496

Head units compared:

Nakamichi Cd-700 Mk II (MSRP $1700, dual multi-bit DACs, rotary pot volume, external regulated power supply, proprietary error-correction-reducing disc transport, analog tone controls bypassed.)

Clarion DRZ9255 (MSRP $1200, dual 24-bit Burr Brown DACs, rotary encoder volume controlling 4V-capable voltage-controlled amplifier output ICs, external regulated power supply, copper chassis, DSP functions turned off in DIRECT mode.)

Sony 605X (MSRP $299, dual 24-bit Burr-Brown DACs, rotary encoder volume knob controlling 4V-capable voltage-controlled amplifier ICs, analog EQ and processing functions turned off)

Sony GT-510 (2007 model - MSRP $160, dual 24-bit Burr-Brown DACs, rotary encoder volume with 2V output, EQ functions flat).

(Yes, I know none of these are street prices. I am simply using MSRPs for comparison).

Reference system:

DLS A3 dual mono 100Wx2 amp, powered by an Exide Orbital battery and a CAE 75A power supply.

Dynaudio System 242 in car-door-type fixtures, playing full range.

Pear Cable Comice RCA cables.

Audison Connection Silver Series speaker wire.

No switching was used - everything was directly connected.

Results

The Nakamichi was the best-sounding - no surprise to me. The Nak is the old-school design, similar in block diagram to the 7909 and the old DRX9255 and the McIntosh - a DAC feeds an amp, which goes through a good old audio potentiometer. No DSP, no voltage-controlled amplifier ICs.

The Nak had better detail in both the highs and the bass notes. In comparison to other players, the bass sounded more real and had more texture to it. It was definitely an obvious improvement.

One of the unique differences - and it's hard to determine exacly what effect this has - is the CD loader mech of the CD-700. The slot is much lower on the face than most CD players, because the loader is taller inside. The idea is that standard CD Audio error correction (part of the spec), when it kicks in enough, causes incremental sonic degradation, whether it's enough to notice as a gross irregularity or not. So the disc transport clamps on top and bottom differently, to minimize the need for automatic error correction kicking in.

I hoped to test this by taking the digital out of the Nak and running it into the digital input of the Clarion - but the Clarion uses a proprietary optical connection and the Nak uses coaxial. No dice.


The Clarion 9255 and the Sony 605 were not bad sounding CD players. The surprise is that the Sony 605 was a hair better sounding than the Clarion! Specifically, the bass detail was better with the Sony, while the top end was a hair more detailed. The Clarion's bottom end was a bit fuzzed and blurry sounding compared to the Nak or the Sony. Now, this performance difference might not happen in a car's variable voltage environment, with amps drawing the voltage down, and the sonic advantage of the Sony will disappear once you want to take advantage of the EQ or crossovers in either unit (I'm confident that the DSP processor sounds better than the analog IC in the 605, which I am not impressed with). Still, this is amazing performance from a mid-level CD player. (Remember when $300 was cheap for a CD player?)

I suspect that the old DRX 9255 would have done better in this test.

The Sony 510 is a new unit, and it lacks 4V, and the 24-bit DACs may or may not be Burr Brown in performance - they don't say. Still, it was not a bad CD player. The bass sounded thinner than the others, and there was no air around the top end... but it wasn't bad. I suspect this HU sounds better than low-end one-bit players.

So if you're doing an SQ system on the cheap, the Sony 605 might be the HU for you - it definitely outperforms its cost. Don't know if it's being continued into 2007 or not...

And if you're doing a no-holds-barred SQ system, I'd get the CD-700 over the 9255. (Then you get to deal with the 1" aluminum nose sticking out of the dash, but anyway...)

I'm always curious the reason people spend so much on car-fi.

Wont road noise totally negate any additional resolution from high quality audio? Road noise, wind noise, distractions whilst driving ... etc.

Or is this specifically designed for competitions where it's not meant for driving-use?

I'm somewhat of a (cheap) audiophile myself ... love sipping a glass of cab. sauv. listening to my tube driven AKGs ... but that's at home where it's completely quiet without any distractions. Just close my eyes and drift away.

Originally Posted by KevC

I'm always curious the reason people spend so much on car-fi.

Wont road noise totally negate any additional resolution from high quality audio? Road noise, wind noise, distractions whilst driving ... etc.

Not unless there's something wrong with your ears. Tell me you've never heard the difference between the radio, cassette, and CD in a car. What about low quality MP3 to high quality MP3 or CD? What about the difference between factory systems and aftermarket gear? If what you were saying were true you might as well just forget about audio in the car altogether becuase it's all going to sound the same, all like a 1950s radio LOL.

Originally Posted by M-e-X-x

Nakamichi isn't as good as it used to be. I'd go Alpine or Pioneer.

Nakamichi is still fantastic, I've had them since Early 90's till now! However, I would consider Eclipse before Either Alpine or Pioneer. Just my piece.

Originally Posted by hyperactiveme

Nakamichi is still fantastic, I've had them since Early 90's till now! However, I would consider Eclipse before Either Alpine or Pioneer. Just my piece.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakamichi

They did make the best cassette players.