Anyone got one or know if they are any good? Whats the diff from the other headunits (other than no cd player and lcd screen for cover art)

Good idea but lacks the more desirable features you normally get from this great brand.

which are?

Hey, Ive just fitted one to my coupe! Love it, its great,,, I use to be into my audio, subs amps,ps2 etc.... but with the coupe i simply wanted a nice clean digital reciever and it suits it well! The cable sits tidy in my glovebox for my ipod and the interface is good....

Ok so its not the unit you would go for running a pro audio set up but i bought it to suit my ipod, it being a good brand and no i will never be running amps through a car like this!

To add to this on car audio direct they are doing a bundle with the blutooth box aswell which is what mine could do with!

hope that helps a little!

James

Hi Mate

TBH that was the deal I am looking at

I cant see any feature that I would miss out on. I dont want amps and subs in the boot. I do want a good stereo with AAC/WMA/MP3 playback (ideally lossless AAC but you can't have everything!) and bluetooth. Don't really need the CD player but would have liked DAB. Alpine seems to have stopped making a DAB module

The other option I'm thinking about is a Blaupunkt Nashville DAB35 with the USB/Bluetooth module which has almost everything I want but doesnt support AAC as far as I can see (and i would need another external drive to hold my music rather than my iPod)

The features I was referring to are things like:
5 or 7 Band P.EQ
6ch Adjustable Digital Time Correction
HP/LP Digital Crossover
4V PreOut

I can't see these on the Alpine site. Can make a whole lot of difference to the sound!

Love the full iPod display and Bluetooth bundle, just waiting for Alpine to release a high end version. Have been so impressed with my other Alpine kit that I wouldn't consider any other brand.

Don't know about the DAB module but maybe you could try phoning around to track down old stock? I've been lucky before...

These HU's look quite interesting, I kind of see CD's as a bit of a waste of time when you can store so much more on MP3 and not have to waste time and money burning and buying to update your collection.

Have been out of audio for a while myself but..

The HP/LP can make a real world of difference, as it allows you to set cut of frequencies to the components so they don't get a load of stuff that they cannot handle.

I dont know if Alpine still does it, but you used to be able to set up the sound on your PC then burn the config file to a disc and install it onto the HU, that was a cool feature.

The time correction is also a very sublte but big difference to the sound, as it makes all the speakers work together so the sound hits you all at once!

In my experience, VFM wise, a good Alpine Head unit, a 1/2 decent pair of front 17cm components and a puchy 10" sub will have your car sounding, not massivly loud but super sweet

Not really relevant if you have no interest in expanding but hope that helps.

Thanks for the comments.

I think the alpine PC setup thingy is called i-Personalize.

Any other comments or suggestions?

To summarise I'm looking for;
iPod/USB(AAC/MP3/WMA playback)and Bluetooth required
DAB nice to have
I don't want amps and subs etc
Will be upgrading front speakers and MAYBE rears if I can be arsed
Budget about £300 for HU and BT modules etc - I'll add speakers later

Unless you want to fit great speakers and spend a significant amount of time fine-tuning the sound, I think you should stick with the unit you've already picked. I suspect it has one of the best iPod interfaces going...

Wouldn't give a second thought to upgrading the rear speakers, consider a sub instead. Just fitting a good set of components up front will astound you.

Ditto

I'd go for a single 10" vibe and a 1000-1200w kenwood mono amp personally.

Hi

Yeah I don't want to spend a massive amount of money on the upgrade - the cars not a listening room and my ears ain't that good anyway

Was thinking the Alpine should be a definate improvment on the standard Clarion and when I upgrade the speakers that would probably do me. Was thinking of a budget of about £75 for fronts. Recommedations?

Is there a way of putting a sub in the 3/4 pannels where the rears are? The coupe boots already a little small for me as it is so I don't to lose anymore.

Actually there was...on the old forum. I'll see if i can dig it out.

Focal do a very nice set of components if you can afford to go to £90?

I've just got an Alpine for Crimbo and am currently looking at a half decent system build.

Got a link MABR?

Which HU you get too?

I'll be using Mega Watt in Runcorn, Cheshire;

http://www.mega-watt.co.uk/

Steve who runs it seems great and has an excellent rep. Even talked me out of making an expensive mistake - nice one!

I got an Alpine 9883R which is hopefully being fitted in the next week or so. Was going to order it from Steve but due to illness, I had to use Sextons who were great and the unit was here within 48 hours (in the middle of the Crimbo rush )

Focal Website - they're French but don't let that put you off.

http://www.focal.tm.fr/index.php

Well I've gone and ordered one with a bluetooth module along with some infinity component speakers and one of the infinity bass boxes.

Yes I know I said I didn't want one but I thought I would give it a try and see how things pan out.