Alright audiophiles I need your help

What do you guys think about current generation alpine head units? I just found a great deal on this unit:
http://iweb.alpine-usa.com/img/asb/cda-9855.gif

it has most of the bells and whistles, but I am curious what you think of the quality of alpines.

A few key features are:
53x4
ipod ready
mp3, cdr, ect...
xm/sirius ready
remote
3 preouts

I'd appreciate any input.
Jake

What do you guys think about current generation alpine head units? I just found a great deal on this unit:
http://iweb.alpine-usa.com/img/asb/cda-9855.gif

it has most of the bells and whistles, but I am curious what you think of the quality of alpines.

A few key features are:
53x4
ipod ready
mp3, cdr, ect...
xm/sirius ready
remote
3 preouts

I'd appreciate any input.
Jake

It sounds like its got a lot of great features. Personally, I had one Alpine in dash Cd player several years ago. Skipped like crazy. I'm sure the anti skip tech is far advanced now. If you have or plan on having an Ipod that's a huge feature. Adding an Ipod with a direct link can get pricey. I have a Sony mini disc deck that supports video and changers. Love Sony, but again, that Alpine sounds like its loaded. The wifes new truck has XM and she's already hooked. If you're big into sports, particularly NFL I hear Sirius is the way to go.

You might want to ask in the car audio forum as well:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=675


Personally, I always heard Alpines were crap.

alright i have sold and installed many many headunits. and for the most part i would say alpine or pioneer is the way to go. have the fewest problems overall. typically alpine is higher priced than any other brand, so i usually go with the pioneer units myself. but i say if you like the features it is a good brand, go for it.

You might want to ask in the car audio forum as well:

Thanks, it is now posted there also....

Sometimes I forget that there are other forums here besides chevy trucks :biggrin:


So far, we have one for, one neutral, and one against. Lets try to get a couple more opinions, and maybe come to some sort of decorum.

I went with the Alpine 9847 head unit and the kca-420i interface for the iPod. All I can say is.....SWEEEEEEEET!!! This is my second Alpine unit and I love it. The only drawback I've found with them so far is they don't dim with the rheostat. I'm sure there is a way to manually dim em, but I havnt found it yet. Other than that, sound quality is great, I've never, ever had a disc skip (even over big bumps) and having the Ipod onboard is the real icing on the cake. My vote is Alpine :thumbsup:

I have a wierd issue with my new 9847. At 23 volume the sound goes a little flat, regardless of amp gain setting. It happened when I used the head units power and when I used an external amplifier. Weird. I am currently posting in caraudioforums to see whats up with that. A note about glidetouch (alpine 9851 and above) I hear they are pretty hard to navigate while driving. I opted for the standard rotary volume adjustments etc.

I am considering another HU because of the "23" volume issue.

hey what about a kenwood head unit???? I plan on getting that or a jvc head unit that has a built in 3in screen some of the kenwood head units allow to use a external feature called the kenwood music keg its like a 12 disc cd changer and a I pod rolled into one because the music keg is a sepreate unit itself like a disc changer but its hardware for your head unit and dont forget the xm radio and I pod I feel that the kenwood head unit can provide a music world unlike anyother head unit

hey what about a kenwood head unit???? I plan on getting that or a jvc head unit that has a built in 3in screen some of the kenwood head units allow to use a external feature called the kenwood music keg its like a 12 disc cd changer and a I pod rolled into one because the music keg is a sepreate unit itself like a disc changer but its hardware for your head unit and dont forget the xm radio and I pod I feel that the kenwood head unit can provide a music world unlike anyother head unit

well the thing is, I'm getting a hell of a discount on the particular head unit picture above......

I'm just simply wondering if you folks think Alpine is a quality product. I remember when Alpine first rolled around they were way up there, but hit a lull in the mid-late 90's. I have heard some good things recently but am unsure.

Current alpines are TOP notch.....as long as you get one with rotary volume control.....the ones with the up and down buttons for volume tend to stick more.....

late 90's alpines for the most part SUCK.....skip like shit, overheat, blow preouts.....etc,etc...

i have had my alpine (cant remember the model #) through 3 cars, got it in 2001 and still i am pleased with it every day i get in my truck.....

and i can account for the anti skip technology...i rolled my jeep 3 times and the devil went down to ga was still playing.....

I Just bought a Pulse Touch Alpine and its great, every head unit that I've bought has been an Alpine and I've never had any problems with them. Just started using some Alpine Subs, does anyone have any history with Alpine subs, or componets?

I Just bought a Pulse Touch Alpine and its great, every head unit that I've bought has been an Alpine and I've never had any problems with them. Just started using some Alpine Subs, does anyone have any history with Alpine subs, or componets?

I have been using alpine since 1988, but I have my doubts lately. I may have just gotten a bad HU. I feel that Alpine speaker department has gotten alot better. I had some typeR 6x9 that sounded better tan some 10" subs I have heard. I am using a 6channel 3566 to run my entire system. SO I can vouch for their late 1988-92 amps, when they were made in japan. The Amps alpine made back then were second to none.

Anyway here is my issue with the Alpine 9847 HU on another forum if you wanna check it out, maybe you can help:
http://www.caraudioforum.com/vbb3/showthread.php?t=225997

Heres my experiecne as a part time seller/installer. I've had many headunits myself including Pioneer, Alpine, Sony, JVC, Panasonic, etc.

So far, my top 2 favorites are Alpine and Pioneer.
I like the way the Pioneers look, and how easy they are to navigate around in. But to me, the Alpines sound is much much clearer and all around better.

I'm a Sony dealer, and thats what I currently have, but I'm not biased at all when it comes to this. I like the most accurate reproduction of sound I can get. Therefore, I think Alpine is the way to go.
Oh, I also have an Alpine deck (dont know model #'s, its old thouhg) in my old Ford mud truck. We bought it from my friend who had it in his 95 Z71 for 2 years, it was in my sisters explorer for 2 before she wrecked it, and now its in my truck...never skipping a beat.

I've heard that Alpine was now owned by someone else and are no where near as quality as they use to be. I've owned 2 Alpines (both from the mid-late 90's) and a Kenwood. The two Alpines I never had a problem with and loved them both. So I can argue against 99red that they were great. Both were running to subs. When I first got my truck it ran both subs and mid's and highs and were excellent. So I think some people, just like cars, got the shit ones and I lucked out. The only time they ever skipped was the second one i owned and i would have to hit a very very hard bump.

The Kenwood I own now has been in my truck since '01 and problems at all. It was the second generation mp3 that kenwood had. To give you idea of how good it's been I listen to cd's in my car non-stop probably close to 98-99% of the time. So since it's lasted this long that should tell you something.

I'm personally not a fan of Sony Audio. Never have and never will.

anyone know about jvc I was looking into this one


http://cgi.ebay.com/JVC-KD-AVX1-New-DVD-CD-Player-3-Monitor-Sirius-MP3-NR_W0QQitemZ5809986484QQcategoryZ39759QQrdZ1QQcmdZ ViewItem

I do feel ALpine has gone to krap. I mean my first alpine was $499 for a 1bit DAC CD player (1989)
Now you get a NEW Alpine cd player for like $120 on ebay :dunno: . They must be letting monkeys do their labor now :boink: LOL, Because they are not what they used to be. If they were, they would be like $899 (compared to 1989 economy)
But anyway, what is next best to alpine?? Because I am gonna get rid of mine I beleive.
PS My Alpine 3566 amp pwns, as all the early 90's amps did, so I am keeping it. (I just sold a 13 year old 3555 amp for $200 on ebay). IMHO ALPINE has dropped in quality on CD PLayers and AMPS, but their subs and components are picking up in reputation (Which they were crap untill 2-3 years ago I.e. TYPE-S, etc) :dunno:

no they have not gone to crap.....they are reaching all the customers in the world...if you got a car you can afford an alpine cd player...
they still have expensive ones...--my next one--: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7057276&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat52600050007&id=1112808803043

I like my Pioneer...
Great sound, alot of little cool shit to mess with, full color screen...and so on.....
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y19/nigel215/radio1.jpg

no they have not gone to crap.....they are reaching all the customers in the world...if you got a car you can afford an alpine cd player...
they still have expensive ones...--my next one--: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7057276&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat52600050007&id=1112808803043

wow thats alot of money but however very cool

So I think some people, just like cars, got the shit ones and I lucked out.


could be right, although between 99-00 i had 4 different alpines all of them skipped and sucked.....the only reason i got the one i have now is cuz my friend gave it to me as a bday present...best present i have ever gotten imo...

I'm with Nigel...Pioneer all the way. I've had mine for almost 3 years now with no problems, just a couple eye cleanings. Got it off ebay even :icon16: Plan on keepin it another 3 if it'll take it :)

I'm with Nigel...Pioneer all the way. I've had mine for almost 3 years now with no problems, just a couple eye cleanings. Got it off ebay even :icon16: Plan on keepin it another 3 if it'll take it :)


how do you clean the eye???????

its a cd with a little brush on it and when you play it it cleans the laser eye in the cd player.

I think I need one of those

Well eveyone, I appreciate the input. I recieved the HU and have installed it. So far I am happy with it, which is all that really matters.......

Thanks again,
Jake

Well eveyone, I appreciate the input. I recieved the HU and have installed it. So far I am happy with it, which is all that really matters.......

Thanks again,
Jake


may I ask how are you going to go about maintaning the eye????? are you going to use the brush too????

may I ask how are you going to go about maintaning the eye????? are you going to use the brush too????

yeah, I have one of those cd's. You can pick'em up at Bestbuy or other stores that sell CDs and related products.

What do you guys think about current generation alpine head units? I just found a great deal on this unit:
http://iweb.alpine-usa.com/img/asb/cda-9855.gif

it has most of the bells and whistles, but I am curious what you think of the quality of alpines.

A few key features are:
53x4
ipod ready
mp3, cdr, ect...
xm/sirius ready
remote
3 preouts

I'd appreciate any input.
Jake



I just put an alpine unit in my '02 2500HD and love it so far. Of course I had to do this because I had one of the factory speakers go (at least that's the reason I used on my wife). I haven't had any skipping even with torn up streets which create a bumpy ride.