I was convinced I would not put my 10 year old Alpine double din 3DA-W880 in my new 2006 350Z when I pulled it out of my trade in. However, I needed to in order to test some subwoofer solutions. This will be the 3rd! new car this head unit goes into. It was purchased late 1996 for $799 to install into a 1997 Eagle Talon. The Talon passed away in 2003 when I installed it into a 2002 Xterra.

I was surprised how well it works (YES I KNOW I NEED A TRIM RING) after all these years and the HUGE difference in stock, even with the paper cone speakers. The sound quality is night/day.

And my 1995 punch 60x2 was just installed this weekend (hidden in the drivers cubby space) to push 2 10" infinitys.

I guess this really serves as a tribute to how well QUALITY audio equipment can persevere through the years if you pay for it up front. The only casualty from my last system was my XM Commander hardware. I was not convinced to take the time to install this equipment since I figure I will be upgrading to an Eclipse AVN 5435 or better in the next year. I might sell the XM Commander here later for about $80 and my Alpine head unit if I get any interest.

 

they don't make 'em like they used to. I still have my Alpine cda-7949, but the cd mechanism just pooped out on me. I've contemplated getting it repaired, but it's tough to stomach on an 7-8 year old head.

 

Yep. I'm stilling rockin' my 400.4. Love it.

 

the 3 disc in dash mechanism is reliable for what it does, but you are right. For the cost it's probably not worth it. I had this unit refurbed in 1999 when the dealer tried to "repair" themselves. They jammed the mechanism when it was stuck and the gears were absolutly demolished. They sent the unit to NC and it took 3 weeks to get back. Probably cost them around $200 to repair.

I've seen the 90's punch amps on ebay for $$$. They just released "throw back" amps for this year that are modeled after the old ones, but they are $$$$.

 

yeah...i'd just like to use it for nostalgia's sake. what a great sounding unit. Mmmmm....copper chasis, 4v output that really did about 6.5v. No internal power. Yumm.

 

Nice.

That was like a grand back in the day right?

 

Yeah. Luckily I worked at a local shop and got it and an Alpine PXA-H600 for cost right before i quit. I still have it too. It was their first foray into automatic timing/phase adjustment and had a great parametric eq. Hell...the more I talk about it, the more I want to put it all in my car! I wish I had the know-how to fix the cd player myself.

 

I remember Linear Power Amps. I had one for about 10years before I sold it. I should've kept it.

 

The Rockford Punch Series amps were duh bomb and if I could get my hands on one I'd probably use it again.

 

I had a Kenwood unit that did 8V balanced output with no internal amps, loved that headunit, so clean.

 

I think the deceitful marketing department at Rockford Fosgate caught wind of you and everyone else that touts the O.G. punch amps. Their quality has gone to **** since 2000. Check out what is available this year:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-bhQB2Yz...&display=L#Tab

 

Let me drop it on you way back..
Alphasonik! <- Fugly amps, awsome power
Lil ol Punch 45! <- smallest amp that would move a wall of speakers
MTX, although they are still pretty good today. <- old stuff is literaly bulletproof. We tried once hehe.
Precision Power! haha thats a while back.
Remember Cerwin Vega? or the Vega Strokers! mmm head splitting bass.

 

Nice is that a retro of the original punch series, this is the punch i had.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...LD:en%26sa%3DN

Sorry for the small picture

 

Yeah thats it... they have others.. but you know its the same crappy modern amp with an old school shell...

Used to be that the old Punch 45 and 60 you could disassemble the inside and upgrade one transistor or something and double the wattage because it was all the same amp as the punch 100 but dumbed down for production cost.
Of course if you series wired the subs, you would get the same effect.