Ilx-407 and ILXW650 have some pro tools built into them for tuning. If you are using the internal amp for main speakers, and external amp for sub, you should turn down front and rear outputs in the crossover menu under advanced settings. Select sound, advanced settings, x-over and it starts at front speakers. Turn the level down to -10, then hit channel and it will be select the rears. Turn the rears down to -10. This affects volume scaling so you can get full 4v from your subwoofer preout. Note it is not reducing power from the unit, but simply making it so max volume for the internal amp is closer to 32 instead of 22. Pioneer has some artificial tuning that comes set on by default. Alpine being a sound quality radio, they don’t have those features set on out of the box. Loudness is replaced by MX in the Alpine. Hope this helps.
@@trillneal no, first thing to do is to reset gains. Make sure your tone controls are set at zero. Crossovers are set correctly at the amp. Start with gains at 0. Turn the radio up to ~32. Turn the gains on your amps up until you hear the onset of clipping and then turn them down until clipping goes away. Start with fronts, then rears, then sub. Make sure sub level is turned all the way up on the radio. Hope this helps.
the ilx-w650 has a 9-band parametric EQ. This means you can set each "band" to one of 3 different frequencies. This is the equivalent of having a 27 band EQ (you can't set all 27 at once). For someone like me who is not willing to wire a second amp in the trunk, the KTA-450 Power Pack amp will mount directly to the back of the head unit and provide 50x4RMS. If the factory head unit fuse is 15A or higher, you don't even have to run power from the battery. That said, I wonder if the dmh-1770nex would be as good as yours. Pioneer has sound shaping features enabled by default. Maybe that's why it sounds better. Alpine has something called MX which you would have needed to turn on.
Just got rid out my ILX-F309. The interface was nice, but it was laggy and irritating… Just ordered a DMH-W4660NEX. Hopefully that will be a better unit
I know this is long after the posting, but I’m curious why you chose the 4660NEX? I could be mistaken but I think it’s most the same unit as the 2660NEX , (nearly same size LCD, a very teensy bit smaller) nearly identical features, yet I think it is $200 or $400 more expensive. Last night I (crutchfield) did a 4 HU (all the DMH/NEX models that were extensions or ‘upgraded’ versions of (the one I have) the DMH2660NEX. (The 2600 and 2660, are the same thing, except the useless remote control mine has, it works, but is still useless.) I started with an Alpine model (probably not this POS model) that I didn’t like enough to keep. It sounded good but the UI was not to my liking.
You know I guess I'll just come on here and ask you if you will tell me the model of pioneer that you got and that we watched the video on? Thumbs up on this video other than me being a little miffed at not having that information... it was very helpful. Am hittin the thumbUp! Helped😮 me make my decision pretty easily for sure!
It's literally in the title of the video and in the description: "Why I returned my Alpine iLX-407 and replaced it with a Pioneer DMH-2660NEX". Pioneer DMH-2660NEX. That's the model.
good video. I'm reading on crutchfield and they are saying the Pioneer DMH-W4660NEX has "bad audio quality" - not sure if these are bots or dumbasses or what. I was considering the alpine over the Pioneer but you have me reconsidering.
@@Abel3270 I ended up getting the ilx-507. I don’t have many complaints. There are a couple dumb things like how hard it is to select stuff on the touchscreen when tweaking settings, but overall a good unit and sounds good. I’m using amps all around, haven’t tried the stock amp.
I just placed an order for the W4660NEX over the ILX-507 to replace my outgoing Alpine ILX-F309 Halo9. I will try to update you all and see how the audio quality is.
What’s up man, I have to agree with you. I just installed the 407 with a full system in my tsx and it sounds horrible. I’ve tried everything I could and I narrowed it down to the radio. Highs sound muddy, the sub doesn’t sound right. Only having a 5 band EQ is worthless for fine tuning lol.
I agree. Alpine processors are very slow and the GPS function was defective on both of the double din head units I bought. The $1400 Alpine didn't hold up compared to my $300 Pioneer.
Did I see your review on Crutchfield?? From J, 9/21? lots of the same info... It doesn't look like you ever reviewed the DMH-2660... I am looking at Head units and 2 of my current top 3 are the ILX 407 (382+260 install kit), the DMH-W2770NEX (380+ 140 Install kit) .. maybe you can do a short video on the DMH 2660? Im hoping the 2770 would be slightly improved over the 2660 at this point? and after 2 years you should have a strong opinion on the 2660... 🙂
Yeah that probably was me. I don't really have the time to do another review video but I am still using the 2660. It's been mostly fine, although it does have a tendency to crash/reboot sometimes and carplay often takes as long as 30 seconds to start. Other than that it sounds great and works well. I don't really think about it much. Only disappointment is that there's still no firmware update for it and it's been out for years at this point.
I gave this same 2660. Overall it’s way better than the original alpine (not the same as this guys) as far as sounds and features go. I think I disliked the GUI. This guys EQ is hard to believe is being used in a modern version. Or is the alpine one in the vid an ancient version?
HA! I just joined the Yacht club myself and I'm shopping for a head unit to install. Think I might go with the Pioneer unit for my NC. the other option was a kenwood unit but I cant find that one in stock anywhere. Hope the display does okay with the top down. Thanks for the comparison
@@bakamonogatari1826 Thank you I appreciate the reply! So just to confirm in the lower right hand corner when you hit the AV button do you see the Pandora app icon or if you're in the upper left-hand screen where you can pull the drop-down to change from Spotify Bluetooth AM/FM etc do you see Pandora there at all? That's the deciding factor on if I get this stereo or not lol. I love how it looks your videos very great it showing some of the features!
@@NewShockerGuyNope no Pandora in either of those menus. Odd because the page on Pioneer's site does say Pandora capability but the owners manual makes no mention of it. Maybe it only shows up if you have Pandora installed on your phone. I don't use Pandora so I have no idea how to get it to show up.
@@bakamonogatari1826 I apprecaite you looking! I just found the online manual for the 2660 and you are 100% right, no mention of it at all in the manual. I found a picture of the box and it also has no mention or picture of it :-( I was planning on upgrading my Pioneer DMH-1500 NEX for this one because it looks nice and clean with no exposed front buttons but I use pandora and it's really cool feature. Pioneer stereos are great though. I usually don't even look at any other brand.
I have an ILX-W650. Yes, after installing it and listening to it, immediately I noticed the lack of bass compared to the stereo which comes with my Nissan Sylphy. Like what you've experienced, I have no way in making it (bass) sound right even though my unit has a 9 band parametric equalizer, they seemed to have been filtered out some way. The only way I get to make the bass sounded right is by adding a subwoofer through the RCA connections. Without the sub, you can only hear mid and highs.
Seems fine to me. I use it 90% of the time via USB/Carplay but for short trips I just keep the phone in my pocket and let it connect via bluetooth. Sounds the same to me.
I have the ilx-w650 and that’s funny what you say about the subwoofer sounding not good. My sub hasn’t really sounded good either, it actually sounded better with my Honda stock stereo.
@@brianmcnellis5512 screen is just fine, also he bought some old Alpine double Din because at this time the iLX-W690D was already out I think, it's the one I have and I have zero complaints about it, I have original bose speakers in my old rs3 8p and the 5 band equalizer is just fine, can't blame the headunits equalizer for his crappy car speakers. He is comparing an older Alpine double Din with a newer Pioneer double Din and even than pretty sure the Alpine is better. I always had Alpine, never had any complaints and they are unbreakable.
@@outofmind9222 Probably this one. I'm not an audiophile. I just want to buy something that works and sounds decent and forget about it for years until it's time to upgrade. The Alpine completely sounded like shit. I don't know why. Maybe it was defective? Who knows. I've honestly never heard a head unit that sounds vastly different from another in the same vehicle. Maybe someone with trained ears can pick out minute differences but these weren't minute. I'm just reporting my findings from the perspective of my own ears. While as stated, I'm not an audiophile I am a casual enthusiast and I've installed enough head units since I reached driving age in 1994 to know when something is clearly wrong.
@@bakamonogatari1826 appreciate it though, I used to be real knowledgeable and experienced when I was 16-21 or so but since then I don’t know what the better brands/models are, I’m 35 now so lots of new stuff, just looking for a solid head unit. Might go with Pioneer AVH-4500NXT
@@bakamonogatari1826 Alpines don't sound like shit, I've had a few models, from single dins to doubles...the media expander sort a lot of the sound issues out, and the ilx have advanced eq's and bass engine adjustments. It's all explained in the online manual lol I also had a deh 80prs years ago, which was nice...but i had a few issues with ipods on them which ended up driving me nuts. Sony are ok...sometimes.
Having a map on the HU is not as usable as if it’s on a phone, but maybe a larger screen would help. On my 7” (approx) DMH2660NEX the mapping (Waze) didn’t seem to work, though I have touch screen. But also, it’s not as easily accessible as the phone that’s on a mount that’s better placed.
