Alpine SPS 171 A

Advantages: Number of features, sound quality, radio reception
Disadvantages: Overkill

...front section which just leaves a blank hole in the facia when you leave the car (no Alpine logo, I'm glad to say). Also Alpine offer a 1 year replacement warranty/insurance on the radio if it is stolen from you car after the dispaly has been removed. Now come the gimmicks. You don't like Alpine's traditional pale blue buttons? Then select the Amber option. How many people are in the car and where are they sitting? Use SPS to automatically alter the fader and balance settings. Don't like the 'level' and radio signal strength indicators? Alter them. The final and completely over the top function has to be the ability to alter the display angle. Find the screen too difficult to read with reflections on it? Tilt it up. If you can keep a straight face while doing this, you must take yourself far too seriously! The worst part of the whole... Read review

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Advantages: Great Sound, Power
Disadvantages: None

...It was last Sunday when I finally took a trip down to my local Autoradio showroom to purchase some new speakers for the rear of my Renault Clio. I thought that the extra volume and bass that new rear speakers would give would truly enhance the sound system in my car (which is important for me because I spend a lot of time driving)Upon asking the manager for his recommendation, he immediately answered "Alpine" So without further a do I requested that these speakers were fitted into my car. I must say that they have made a great difference to not only the bass and the volume (which was why I purchased them) but also to the overall sound quality of the stereo. It sounds now like I also upgraded the stereo too! The tweeters give out superbly sharp treble for tracks such as 'Stan' by Eminem and the speakers themselves really do deliver... Read review

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Advantages: Plenty of bass, very comfortable, go very loud
Disadvantages: Hard to power

...Sennheiser headphones rarely disappoint- it's usually a case of choosing how much you can afford and buying the ones that match that price. The 270s are priced just below the 25SPs, the DJs friend. Just like the 25SPs, if wired up to a decent amp/mixer, they will go very loud before distorting. I have yet to find their limits before concerns for my future hearing have set in. However, they are hard to drive. Plug them into your walkman/MD player/iPod and, in addition to looking a prat, you will be hard-pressed to drown-out loud background noise (say inside an airliner). This is not to discredit the closed-back design which generally attenuates the real world very well. DJs will not have a problem mixing at club sound levels. The long-term listener will also be grateful for the full-cup design that fully envelops the ear, rather than... Read review

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