I recently purchased my O1 S2OOO, and at first I really wanted to keep it stock, but the factory system is just itching to be thrown out of the window.

I've narrowed my choices down to 2, Alpine CDA-7998 or Nakamichi 45z head units.

I've heard the sound quality from both, And have had a long personal liking with the Alpine because I own a 7897 right now, before that I owned an alpine CDA-7894, then CDA-9813. I like the look better on the Alpine, but the Nakamichi just seems to have more class, simplicity in itself.

I already know what components I want, which is Dynaudio 3-way or boston acoustics pro OR Rainbow (if I can find it), and not sure yet of what amp will be powering them, but I need to decide on that soon, because if I get the Alpine, it will require an amp (no internal amp).

Now my question is, what would be the pros and cons of each head unit, and the bottom line is which one would you choose, prices is not a consideration.

I also have 2 Image Dynamics IDmax 10s coming in the mail soon, also need suggestion for amp to power them.

But really right now I just want to decide on the head unit, I've spent months trying to figure this out already.

 

Wow... nice. Well I start and then I'll edit my post later to add to it but, I would stick to Alpine for a few reasons:

1. You use them now and clearly like them and trust them.
2. You like the look of the Alpine.
3. Nakamichi is nice but from what you've said you actually like the Alpine more.

As for pro's and con's

Pro's
Alpine is well Alpine.. they have what you need and like.
Alpine has Time control and with your setup your gonna need it.
Nakamichi has its nice looks but its nothing to jump up and down about.

Con's

You need to know how to tune the Alpine with an amp... but it sounds like you know how to do that seeing as though you've had them many times before.
Nakamichi cant be tuned the way a HU has to be in an S2000.

Go with the Alpine.

 

I am one of the fews on this board who like the simplicity faceplate of Nakamichi HU. I have model CD400 and I like it a lot. It does not have some fancy features such as Time Control, but the Sound Quality is very good and so far I have no reliablity problem with Nakamichi yet.
Knowing what I knew now, I would choose the Nakamichi HU again without second thought. Most poeple on this board like Alpine for the features, but I just can not stand the dancing digital on the faceplate of most Alpine HU's.

 

Anything but Alpine Everyone has them and they look like dancy pony shows. Try Eclipse, Clarion, Nakamichi and Pioneer Premier. There are more and more people voting with their wallets with tastes like yours. I bought an Eclipse and I love it.

Edit: and with Eclipse and Clarion you lose no features and can go up in sound quality. Until Alpines settle down and cater to people older than 14 I won't buy one for my car. (But in the low $200 range they are king. I bought my g/f one for Xmas -- nothing else comes close for the price).

 

I have not had a chance to test an Eclipse head unit, heard lots of nice things, I'm going to stay away from Pioneer, and Clarion.... well I've had bad experiences.. The reason I l like Alpine not because it's a big name now (I got mine before alot of people actually heard of it) but because I've had success with it.

I was leaning towards the Nakamichi, until I figured out it doesn't play mp3s, I'm not a big fan of switching cds while I'm driving.

 

Two IDMAX subs? I was going to run one, but at 1000wrms that's INSANE in a car this size. I ended up selling it.

 

^ I run 700 watts RMS now and I can go for a little more

 

With the way things are going with alpine, (ipod, glidetouch, ainet) I see no reason to get anything else BUT alpine.

 

I have thought about the factor of having two is too many subs for my little s2k. But I feel that it's better to have two than one just incase. Even if the second one is just going to sit under my bed.

 

Funny, that's the same reason I will stay away. Nothing you mentioned makes the music sound better.