Upgrade Worth It?

[Budah93 7]

I currently have this head unit http://www.walmart.com/ip/JVC-KD-S37-USB-CD-Receiver-with-Front-AUX-In/15627186 with 2volt pre outs i believe. I was wondering if i upgraded to this http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_48464_Kenwood-KDC-X696.html with 4volt pre outs if i would notice a difference in the way my system sounded. Higher pre outs are good right??

[Impious 1,476]

Higher preamp output voltage will only make a difference if the noise induced in the signal transfer is high enough to be audible with a lower voltage preamp. If you don't have audible noise in the signal transfer from the headunit to the amplifier, then a higher preamp voltage will make absolutely no audible difference at all**. You won't notice anything different about your system or how it sounds because of the higher preamp voltage.

** With a higher preamp voltage, you MUST readjust the gain. With a properly matched gain, there will be no audible difference assuming the signal-to-noise ratio with the lower preamp voltage was low enough as to not be audible.

The only other case where a higher preamp voltage might make a difference is if the amplifier is noisy with a higher gain setting. But this is really the fault of the amplifier, not a fault of the lower preamp voltage.

That said, there might be other features in a headunit that will allow you to adjust the system in a way that improves the sound. But I honestly haven't clicked either of the links, I was simply responding to the question of preamp voltage.

[Budah93 7]

alright well one is a walmart special and the other is a decent kenwood

[Notorious97200 339]

Upgrade if you find interesting features on the new one, but don't do it only for higher voltage pre-outs. You should not notice anythng, if your amps are not garbage !!!

[OuTLaWeD 110]

the Kenwood you have chosen is a huge upgrade from what you have. it has an EQ, high pass and low pass filters, with a stronger and possibly cleaner signal. when it comes to audio playback Kenwood is one of the top performers IMHO http://www.audiosavings.com/products/In-Dash-Cd-Receiver/Kenwood-KDC-X696-Single-Din-In-Dash-Car-Stereo-CD-Receiver--Android-App-Control/KDC-X696.aspx

[///M5 2,833]

the Kenwood you have chosen is a huge upgrade from what you have. it has an EQ, high pass and low pass filters, with a stronger and possibly cleaner signal. when it comes to audio playback Kenwood is one of the top performers IMHO http://www.audiosavi...l/KDC-X696.aspx

It used to make a difference years ago, but rather dubious these days. I didn't click the link but calling Kenwood anything a top performer is funny.

To clarify. If you do not here thermal noise from your amplifiers in your speakers with your current deck the 4v will buy you nothing. Hell the way they are spec'd it may not even output more than the 2v you have now. 2-4 isn't really a big change. There is a reason that volume knobs have log tapers.