Stick with the sound quality of the Eclipse unit. I know it looks out of place in the dash but the sound quality can't be beat. There is actually a significant difference between that and the Becker unit that you had. I've heard a Reus system with the Becker unit and it's not nearly as good as other head units. Before I got the Reus system, I did a head unit swap and you would not believe how crappy the Becker was compared to the one I replaced it with. It was night and day. As far as the Alpine, my display is also hard to see in sunlight but it does tilt. I never used the tilt feature because it really didn't help. but that's the price you pay for having a cab. An LCD display would be a good solution but I don't know of any that sound good with the exception of the Nakamichi CD700 but it's $1300 and doesn't have RDS anyways. In fact, it doesn't have MP3 or XM capability either and reliability is questionable. The sound quality is pretty comparable to the Eclipse unit though.

Enjoy the top down driving, enjoy the fine sounds coming from the exhaust, enjoy the terrific sound of the Reus system and forget about the display!

 

Here is a pic showing the display

 

Robert,
Ok, I guess I will stick with the eclipse, for now. I just wrote them a letter with all the complaints. C'mon all the ergonomic problems are easily solved. Shame on them for being so short sighted.

 

Eclipse is made by Fujitsu Ten and they made all of those OEM radios for Toyota back in the 80's. I don't know what the story is but disco lighting and difficult ergonomics seems to be in their history. Really though... you have one of the best sounding head units out there. I wish my Alpine was as good. Alpines are very harsh on the high end and have too much signal processing. I have a eq in it and then there is a separate bass eq and DSP modes. I have all of it turned off except for the eq which is the only way that I can control basic bass and treble. I believe your Eclipse allows you to control bass, treble and midrange. That is the best part of the Eclipse and some of the Nakamichi head units. I would change mine out but it's time to move up to a Turbo cab or 997S cab.

 

Too bad you don't have an 02. I have a neighbor that is shopping for one right now.

Yea the eclipse does have the midrange control. You should change if it is bad. The new radio is only $300 or so and you could sell the alpine. I am sure Rick would hook you up.

 

Ha... If I only had a quarter for every piece of car audio equipment that I have owned. Reasonably satisfied with the current head unit. The next car will probably end up having the stock Porsche nav screen with Reus system.

 

That is part of the reason we got the Reus system. You will move a good portion/all of it when you sell the car, right?

 

Yes and no. Depends on where I go. I talked to Rick a few weeks ago and there isn't a 997 system yet.

 

Yea, not yet as he hasn't had enough demand. The 997 cab might represent more of a challenge to put a sub in the trunk than the 996 based car. The trunk looks a lot different and there is no spare for the sub. I am sure he will figure a way around it.