I am getting ready to upgrade the electronics on the front and console of the boat. I have decided that I want to get either a helix 7 or 9. I am pretty sure I am gonna get a SI on the console and a DI on the front. Here are my questions. Do you think the SIDI combo is the way to go? If not, why? and I am looking at the Helix9 or Helix7. The difference in price is about 600+ from one pair to the other. Do yall think the difference is worth money?

Thanks

The bigger the better for si so 9 would be the way to, and the helix 9 is able to network where as the 7 is not. Which ever one you decide you will be better off doing the transducer upgrade to the hdsi 180

Upgrade? Are the new ones not HD? I was unaware there were more than one type?

The Helix 5,7,9 use the xnt 9 180 si tducer. That is the smaller compact tducer. The larger hdsi tducer is larger and will put out a better image.

The Helix 5 and 7 SI models have 83/200 kHz 2D sonar and 455 kHz Imaging. So they come with the Compact SI transducer XNT 9 SI 180 T.

The Helix 9 comes with the Compact SI transducer and is factory set for 83/200/455 kHz. BUT it does have the 455/800 kHz Imaging capabilty that the HDSI transducer is tuned to. Cheaper out of the box with the less expensive Compact SI transducer.

The Helix 10 and 12 SI units come with the HDSI transducer XHS 9 HDSI 180 T and are factory set to use 83/200/455/800 kHz.

ANY Side Imaging unit regardless of their Imaging frequency capability that comes with the Compact SI transducer, will get sharper images using the HDSI transducer. Just adds more cost.

The reason the images produced are sharper is the HDSI transducer is 2" longer and has longer SI crystals than the Compact SI transducer. Those longer crystals produce a thinner SI pulse, and the thinner SI pulses produce a sharper image. The sharper images are more "HD" than the less sharp Compact SI images. Plus units with 800 kHz using the HDSI will produce even sharper images but with less coverage.

The Helix 5, 7 and 9 have the same screen pixel count so the display HD is less as the screen size increases.
You sort of have to ignore HD in the electronics world, is misused a lot and in a lot of cases has nothing even close to meaning High Definition.

Thanks for the info!

Thank you for the good information!