Eclipse offering up CD7200 mk II in-dash head unit

Just in case you haven't had your fill of in-car audio news tonight, Eclipse is hitting us up with a brand spankin' new head unit of its own. The CD7200 mk II should slide right into any single-DIN gap, and it comes HD Radio / SAT radio-ready in case you grow tired of listening to those MP3 / WMA discs of yours. Additionally, this unit features a built-in USB port, eight-volt pre-amp, E-iSERV technology, iPod support and SRS Circle Surround to boot. Your guess is as good as ours when it comes to a price and release date, though, but we'd bet this one won't remain in the shadows for too much longer.

[Andrew @ Nov 14th 2007 7:53AM]

Oh lordie, looks like I need to upgrade my eclipse again, USB and 8v pre-outs? Up from the usual 5v, very VERY nice!! My friends will be happy, I usually toss all my old car audio/video stuff their way. It'll be expensive as hell, but as usual with Eclipse, it will be well worth it.

[lejupp @ Nov 14th 2007 8:26AM]

What exactly is the benefit of 8V preout over 5v? 5V should be plenty to saturate any power amp...

[Andrew @ Nov 14th 2007 8:31AM]

it all has to do with line noise. You are ALWAYS going to have line noise, its a pretty consistant amount. It isn't a percentage like people would think. For the sake of simplicity lets call it 1v of noise. Most wallymart specials put out a 2v pre-out. Thats half (read: a cubic fuckton) of noise. 5v is 1/5 and 8v is 1/8. I realize its nowhere that simple, but most audiophiles will tell you less noise is good.

[lejupp @ Nov 15th 2007 7:43AM]

Ok, but that only works if the PA has input attenuators with enough headroom. And going from 5V to 8V only adds about 4dB of noise margin, that is not much. I would rather switch to symmetric wiring...

[lejupp @ Nov 14th 2007 9:01AM]

Ok, but that only works if the PA has input attenuators with enough headroom. And going from 5V to 8V only adds about 4dB of noise margin, that is not much. I would rather switch to symmetric wiring...

[Anton @ Nov 14th 2007 8:03AM]

Damn, that sure is a lot in such a small package.

I like, how much?

[FrankTheCrank @ Nov 14th 2007 9:16AM]

Who the hell has a car with a DIN slot for an aftermarket radio?

My last two cars have both had those custom OEM radio systems....you can't rip them out. Sucks.

Just make sure your radio kicks ass before you drive off the lot, cause if it doesn't, your stuck with it till you get another car.

[muriani @ Nov 14th 2007 10:46AM]

'tis why I stick with older cars. If I buy a new one, the stereo will be a MAJOR factor in the decision.

@lejupp
Balanced audio circuits FTW. I might take that into consideration when I put a stereo/PC in my toy car... when I get one.

[Cash @ Nov 14th 2007 4:17PM]

Or you could wait a little while for the 3rd party market to make a replacement panel with built in single or double din slot for the radio. It usually takes a year or so and the good ones cost around 100 bucks, but most vehicles south of the $60k pricetag will have a custom panel available eventually.

I wouldn't waste your money on this HU though... frankly it's nothing new, and even it's 8 volt preamps can't make up for Eclipse's god awful control scheme and ugly as sin displays on all but their color lcd models.

[JesusM @ Nov 14th 2007 9:49PM]

But you have to love their anti-theft CD-key setup.