Clarion Clarion HX-D10 CD Player

Price Paid:  $180.00 from Ebay

Year / Model Reviewed:
 2001

Strengths:
Sound quality, ease of use, looks, durability.

Weaknesses:
Has no internal amplifier. A strength in my book! Does not play MP3's. (Oh well)

Summary:
Wow!! What a difference! I have this Clarion HX-D10 with the DSP module with a U.S. Amps amplifier running my Infinity Kappa components (front and rear) and a Memphis Audio pushing my 2 JL Audio 12W3-V2's. that replaced my newer Alpine 7995 with the same setup.(The little woman got the Alpine now, which upgrades her Pioneer DEH-P630). I was running the same setup with the Alpine. The sound difference is day and night! The Clarion sounds soooo much better!! I beleive it must be the dual Burr Brown 24 bit DAC's. (Digital to Analog Converters.) I disconected the DSP module to see if the Clarion would still sound as good as the Alpine and sure enough... It still sounded better! Quite a bit I might add. Don't get me wrong now.. I'm not a pro Clarion guy. Nor am I hashing on Alpine.. As a matter of fact I LOVE Alpine! But I heard so much about this HX-D10 and went head to head in competition over the years with the old Clarion 9675 I had to try. The HX-D10 is very similar to the 9675. It is better in some ways and not in other. Both of those Clarions still are some of the best out there.Especially for sound quality!! I am very happy with the deal I got on this unit. I purchased it as a refurb and it is still going strong. I have great hookups and can still not find an all around better deal than I got on my unit! It is easily worth twice what I payed. The MSRP is/was $799. You can find it now for less than half of that because it is discontinued. If you are lucky to find one like I was for what I payed..Do not hesitate. It is still worth $225-$300 Ebay bucks as opposed to what else is selling! Better than the Pioneer 850's and so forth! I highly recomend this unit if you can get your hands on it. I have been in the car audio industry for years so I know what I am talking about. See for yourself. Or pay $300 on Ebay for something that does'nt compare.

Similar Products Used:
Alpine, Pioneer, Kenwood and Panasonic