New Head Unit or WS-420?

[Nutter281]

Hi Guys,

Been upgrading the audio system in 2003 X2 little by little (trying to find good deals and stay within budget) and so far I have purchased or installed the following:

- 4X Polk dB6501 interior speakers
- 1X Wetsounds Syn4 Amp (channel 1&2 - tower speakers, channel 3&4 bridged interior speakers at 2-Ohms)
- 2X Wetsounds Rev8 Tower Speakers
- 1X Krypt Marine Equalizer (preorder)

It now seems that the Krypt EQ may be delayed an additional 60 days (per other thread - will confirm Monday) and that is quite near half the summer - unacceptable. If this is the case, I will either cancel the order or, if they refuse, let Visa do the canceling for me.

My existing head unit is the factory Clarion M5675 with driver-side remote but lacking any fashion of AUX input. Really just looking for best sound quality means of allowing me to playback from an ipod while spending the least amount of money.

If I upgrade the head unit (thinking Sony CDXM60UI), I also have to upgrade the remote; making the combined cost quite near a WS-420. Both routes ultimately allow me to play ipod via aux inputs.

IF I had to choose one or the other for this summer, which would provide the best results?

Thanks,
Austin

[JRW160]

I have the same boat with the same head unit. I have a ws420 and just run straight into the aux port on the ws420. I don't even have my head unit wired in anymore.

[swatguy]

I will say this. The guys from WS recommend u run an iPod thru a head unit of some sort to get the best sound. So if you are concerned about that that's the way u want to go according to WS. Obviously if its new head unit or Ws 420 I think its/420 all the way.

You can def run your iPod through the 420. I think adding the 420 will be more worth the sound upgrade capabilities with its features that it would negate the head unit advantage in you case. Its better to have the eq than a better head unit. You can always upgrade the head unit later. The 420 will just give you so much ability to really fine your system that I think it will be more $$ well spent than a new head unit.

[JRW160]

Why do they recommend you run an ipod through a head unit? I've never heard that.

[swatguy]

It has to do with the low voltage output from the ipod. Most of the newer head units with iPod capabilities have some sort of built in amp to boost the aux signal and regulate/filter it before its output a bit is what was explained. It adds to the sq and keeps distortion to a minimum. Where if you plug it directly into to your 420 it doesn't get those extra things. The signal comes straight from the iPod and can distort much more easily. Its also been noted that using the direct iPod harness vs the auxiliary out/ headphone jack on the iPod gives a better sound output.

I can notice a slight difference in sound if I go thru 420 of if I use my head unit and I don't have a professional ear. It is Dec a bit more crisp with my Alpine head unit running the ipod.