I have been a faithful Alpine user for longer than I can remember owning any other source units.
Why oh WHY could you not make at least one CDA AI-net Single din to match the RUX-c800 for us users who are not into the double din units!?
Just a simple CDA deck with at least AI-net (or Optical) and Bio-lite display no processing or bells or whistles, to sit in the dash next to the c800 for that streamline look like the older CDA decks and the c700 and c701 Dash Controls?!
I know there are a couple of Alpine employees that frequent this forum rather you respond or not is fine but at least take into consideration to make a AI-Net supported Single Din for your next integration of single din source units!
(Oh! I almost forgot, Gen 3 PDX amplifiers please make all the subwoofer amps and or channels able to be full range! thx)
Signed:
Long time Alpine fan
/Rant off
2012 IASCA West Coast Amateur 1st place SQC
2012 IASCA National Amatuer 2nd place SQC
We've seen a lot of shifting around with regards to EVERY company's products. Really, they make what the market will bear. It's pretty obvious that aftermarket audio is dying, for various reasons. Or, at least shrinking. First, manufacturers are using non-standard sized radios in their vehicles these days. Second, these radios are often tied into the car for much more than providing audio, versus 10-15 years ago when it was simply a single or double-DIN sized stereo whose only job was to provide audio. Third, manufacturers are releasing much more impressive factory stereos these days than they were just a few years ago. Fourth, people that ARE wanting to upgrade stereos require more than just good audio these days. Years ago, when there was just radio plus CD audio, it was easy for a company to make a product that would last many years. Today, how is a company going to sell a product for more than $200 without providing Bluetooth for phone and A2DP audio, Pandora capability, maybe HD radio, USB and AUX inputs, etc? A good friend of mine drives his 2012 Pilot more than his 2003 M5 just because of the convenience features, especially hands-free Bluetooth. Then, even still, technology is advancing so fast because of smartphone integration and wireless 3G/4G internet that who knows what new models you're going to have to release in a few years?
I think it's pretty clear that the various companies have decided to drop fancy multi-color screens from their head units. Provide good features, and sometimes add some audiophile-grade tuning options at an affordable price to a flagship single DIN, and try to capture what little of the market remains (80PRS, CZ702). Based on sales of attempted products of the past 10 years, I think this is obvious to them what they have to do. You are in the vast minority if you want a single-DIN headunit, and then want to add another $250 single-DIN processor controller, using that tiny little screen. For that kind of specialized case, if I were you, I would simply "get into" double-DIN headunits. As one of my old English teachers used to quote, "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall never be bent out of shape."
Having to add features is what turned people off to Alpine. If I have to buy multiple add-ons to get features that a Pioneer, Kenwood, or Clarion already comes with, I'm not going to waste my time. Two years ago, you'd have to buy a CDA-117 or iDA-x305s, and then add multiple modules to the back (Imprint, Bluetooth, etc). As they noticed, that's not gonna fly. New units like the HD138BT is definitely a shift in the right direction, and if I were in the market for a stereo like I was last year, I might pick it up today, over the comparable Kenwood.
We've seen a lot of shifting around with regards to EVERY company's products. Really, they make what the market will bear. It's pretty obvious that aftermarket audio is dying, for various reasons. Or, at least shrinking. First, manufacturers are using non-standard sized radios in their vehicles these days. Second, these radios are often tied into the car for much more than providing audio, versus 10-15 years ago when it was simply a single or double-DIN sized stereo whose only job was to provide audio. Third, manufacturers are releasing much more impressive factory stereos these days than they were just a few years ago. Fourth, people that ARE wanting to upgrade stereos require more than just good audio these days. Years ago, when there was just radio plus CD audio, it was easy for a company to make a product that would last many years. Today, how is a company going to sell a product for more than $200 without providing Bluetooth for phone and A2DP audio, Pandora capability, maybe HD radio, USB and AUX inputs, etc? A good friend of mine drives his 2012 Pilot more than his 2003 M5 just because of the convenience features, especially hands-free Bluetooth. Then, even still, technology is advancing so fast because of smartphone integration and wireless 3G/4G internet that who knows what new models you're going to have to release in a few years?
I think it's pretty clear that the various companies have decided to drop fancy multi-color screens from their head units. Provide good features, and sometimes add some audiophile-grade tuning options at an affordable price to a flagship single DIN, and try to capture what little of the market remains (80PRS, CZ702). Based on sales of attempted products of the past 10 years, I think this is obvious to them what they have to do. You are in the vast minority if you want a single-DIN headunit, and then want to add another $250 single-DIN processor controller, using that tiny little screen. For that kind of specialized case, if I were you, I would simply "get into" double-DIN headunits. As one of my old English teachers used to quote, "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall never be bent out of shape."
Having to add features is what turned people off to Alpine. If I have to buy multiple add-ons to get features that a Pioneer, Kenwood, or Clarion already comes with, I'm not going to waste my time. Two years ago, you'd have to buy a CDA-117 or iDA-x305s, and then add multiple modules to the back (Imprint, Bluetooth, etc). As they noticed, that's not gonna fly. New units like the HD138BT is definitely a shift in the right direction, and if I were in the market for a stereo like I was last year, I might pick it up today, over the comparable Kenwood.
While I can understand the times need to change ect ect. But cutting AI-net out of all Single din units is a pretty big middle finger to the folks who have AI-net changers, H series processors and other AI-net tools.
I understand that having all that stuff built in is ease of having to deal with a bunch of add-ons. That is not what my gripe is about.
Why not make the flagship CDE-HE138BT with AI-Net support so the folks who spent 1200 on the PXA-H800 and RUX-C800 processor/controller can have a choice of a Single Din or a Double Din Source unit instead of being pigeon holed into a Double Din who want to get rid of the CDA-117 or the CDA_9887 ect ect for the new look/built in toy's.
Yes I know you can use pretty much any CDA deck with the H800 I guess maybe I can live with my 117 or 9886 or other units I have laying around.
The look of a CDA-988X next to a RUX-c701 or c700 looks smooth, the RUX-c800 has a totally new look and does not mesh well with the older CDA faceplates.
Is the AI-net port really that much money per unit that they had to remove it to cut costs?
I like you post you have some valid points.
Thanks for sharing.
2012 IASCA West Coast Amateur 1st place SQC
2012 IASCA National Amatuer 2nd place SQC
I'm with you Was about to pull the trigger on the 138bt untill I realized it didn't support Ai-net. Seems like a lost cause. Really makes me where the industry is heading. Guess it is time to start hoarding H701s and the older proven CDA and DVA source units...
My new Pioneer DEH-80PRS mops the floor with any Alpine I've ever owned. Do I feel funny seeing Pioneer in my dash? ABSOLUTELY! Do I get over it quickly? HELL YEAH!
Just swapped my German made MB Quart PCE-164 mid-bass for Alpine SPX-17PRO mid-bass. How do they compare? They don't. The old-school Quart mop the floor with the high-end Alpine.
It was depressing to get back into car-audio, and find-out what happened to Quart. Also depressing to watch what is happening to Alpine. They were my two favorite companies in the EDIT: early 90's.
I'm with you Was about to pull the trigger on the 138bt untill I realized it didn't support Ai-net. Seems like a lost cause. Really makes me where the industry is heading. Guess it is time to start hoarding H701s and the older proven CDA and DVA source units...
I have owned 2 701 units and 1 700 and one 900.
Great processors, I am super excited to try this 800 out the Wolfson DACS are very appealing and the absence of the zipper noise issuse is supposed to be gone in this unit.
2012 IASCA West Coast Amateur 1st place SQC
2012 IASCA National Amatuer 2nd place SQC
I have been a faithful Alpine user for longer than I can remember owning any other source units.
Why oh WHY could you not make at least one CDA AI-net Single din to match the RUX-c800 for us users who are not into the double din units!?
Just a simple CDA deck with at least AI-net (or Optical) and Bio-lite display no processing or bells or whistles, to sit in the dash next to the c800 for that streamline look like the older CDA decks and the c700 and c701 Dash Controls?!
I know there are a couple of Alpine employees that frequent this forum rather you respond or not is fine but at least take into consideration to make a AI-Net supported Single Din for your next integration of single din source units!
(Oh! I almost forgot, Gen 3 PDX amplifiers please make all the subwoofer amps and or channels able to be full range! thx)
Signed:
Long time Alpine fan
/Rant off
Well they do! But......................................... Since we live in North America we are screwed. But I choose to not be screwed over by Alpine USA anymore. Check this out >> Alpine IVA-D800C/E Review Support
I have been a faithful Alpine user for longer than I can remember owning any other source units.
Why oh WHY could you not make at least one CDA AI-net Single din to match the RUX-c800 for us users who are not into the double din units!?
Just a simple CDA deck with at least AI-net (or Optical) and Bio-lite display no processing or bells or whistles, to sit in the dash next to the c800 for that streamline look like the older CDA decks and the c700 and c701 Dash Controls?!
I know there are a couple of Alpine employees that frequent this forum rather you respond or not is fine but at least take into consideration to make a AI-Net supported Single Din for your next integration of single din source units!
(Oh! I almost forgot, Gen 3 PDX amplifiers please make all the subwoofer amps and or channels able to be full range! thx)
Before you flip out about it bing a...well, flip-out, know that during normal use the sub-display will give you enough information to not NEED to open the screen.
Great processors, I am super excited to try this 800 out the Wolfson DACS are very appealing and the absence of the zipper noise issuse is supposed to be gone in this unit.
I haven't run it optically but there's no noise on the Ai-Net inputs. I know it's analog but overall it's a MUCH better sounding unit that the 00 and 701 were.
I haven't run it optically but there's no noise on the Ai-Net inputs. I know it's analog but overall it's a MUCH better sounding unit that the 00 and 701 were.
Thats good to hear. I just got it this Saturday I havent had time to transplant it yet.
Although I am happy with it over all the dash mount kit for the C800 is pretty... Well... Meh.. I might just go back to the single din dash kit and only use the c800 when I need to tune.
2012 IASCA West Coast Amateur 1st place SQC
2012 IASCA National Amatuer 2nd place SQC
My new Pioneer DEH-80PRS mops the floor with any Alpine I've ever owned. Do I feel funny seeing Pioneer in my dash? ABSOLUTELY! Do I get over it quickly? HELL YEAH!
Just swapped my German made MB Quart PCE-164 mid-bass for Alpine SPX-17PRO mid-bass. How do they compare? They don't. The old-school Quart mop the floor with the high-end Alpine.
It was depressing to get back into car-audio, and find-out what happened to Quart. Also depressing to watch what is happening to Alpine. They were my two favorite companies in the EDIT: early 90's.
GermanMAESTRO is the old Quart guys' new company. They even stock replacement parts for ALL of the pre-Maxxsonics Quart gear.
My new Pioneer DEH-80PRS mops the floor with any Alpine I've ever owned. Do I feel funny seeing Pioneer in my dash? ABSOLUTELY! Do I get over it quickly? HELL YEAH!
Just swapped my German made MB Quart PCE-164 mid-bass for Alpine SPX-17PRO mid-bass. How do they compare? They don't. The old-school Quart mop the floor with the high-end Alpine.
It was depressing to get back into car-audio, and find-out what happened to Quart. Also depressing to watch what is happening to Alpine. They were my two favorite companies in the EDIT: early 90's.
My Kenwood x896 mops the floor with my old cda 117. I have been using alpine since 1988, and i just switched over to kenwood and i am very happy. I have a brochure with older alpine units from 2001 and i must say that the features they offer today are a lot less than those units from 2001.
02 4-Runner-Knwd X896-Acntrl Matrix-CDT SQA 4075 on Crssfre Separates-Massive Audio N3 on-2 RE Audio SEx 10s
90 300zx-Knwd X496-Acntrl Matrix-JBL GTO504EZ on Crssfre Separates-JBL GTO751EZ on 2 Kckr CVR 10s Sealed
Just swapped my German made MB Quart PCE-164 mid-bass for Alpine SPX-17PRO mid-bass. How do they compare? They don't. The old-school Quart mop the floor with the high-end Alpine.
It was depressing to get back into car-audio, and find-out what happened to Quart. Also depressing to watch what is happening to Alpine. They were my two favorite companies in the EDIT: early 90's.
Early 90's is when I thought Alpine went into the crapper..... I used their stuff in the 80's and switched to Denon and Eclipse.
Its scary what's happend in the audio industry..... companies who were among the best are now nothing.... then some of the crap companies back in the day make some really solid stuff.....
Same can be said about Honda, Toyota etc.... BIG difference between early 80's Japanese cars (let alone the Korean cars) vs today....... what a world we live in....
Same can be said about Honda, Toyota etc.... BIG difference between early 80's Japanese cars (let alone the Korean cars) vs today....... what a world we live in....
With a little research, one can still score a real Toy/Hon.
Acura TSX is a real Honda Accord.
Scion TC is a real Toyota Celica.
My '05 Tacoma is the best Toyota truck I have ever had. Fourth one.
'91 4x4
'94 4x4
'00 Tundra
'05Tacoma
With a little research, one can still score a real Toy/Hon.
Acura TSX is a real Honda Accord.
Scion TC is a real Toyota Celica.
My '05 Tacoma is the best Toyota truck I have ever had. Fourth one.
'91 4x4
'94 4x4
'00 Tundra
'05Tacoma
Given that Korean cars were complete crap in the early 1980's, I think he means that current Japanese cars are amazing, that all current Hondas are "real Hondas," and that all Toyotas are "real Toyotas."
Although, btw, the tC is a poor successor to the Celica. After the two 1990's generation Celicas with the awesome 3SGTE, and the early millenium generation with the 2ZZ engine that was so good that Lotus used it in the Elise, there is now the tC with the econo-car 2AZ/2AR engine family. Add that to the high CG/high polar moment of the tC, and while the tC is a fun enough street car, I'd be hesitant to call it a "true" successor to a sporty compact.
Given that Korean cars were complete crap in the early 1980's, I think he means that current Japanese cars are amazing, that all current Hondas are "real Hondas," and that all Toyotas are "real Toyotas."
Actually, I think I may have interpreted it correctly.
The American version of the Honda Accord is an American designed, American made car. I think we are one of the few, if not the only country getting that version. The Acura TSX is the Honda Accord in other countries.
Same thing with Toyota trucks. American designed, and American made. The only truck that is more American than the Tundra is the F150. That is SUPER CRAZY!
I always figured the tc was just a way to do a simple step back to the original Celica idea. The nicer cars just didn't sell. Funny you didn't mention the Supra. That was the best Celica. My two earlier Supras were Celica Supras. Loved those cars.
I think the new Scion FR-S/Subaru BRZ are getting back to it though.
Yea.... I was referring to how crappy they were years ago vs today where they are solid cars. Kia, Hyundai etc of 10 or soy ears ago were also junk....... Death traps
Kinda the opposite of the car audio industry..... Sorry for the derailing
I am about to have a first shortly. Thanks to Alpine not having a modern AI net HU or something like the 9887, I am going to be looking into another HU. I used Alpine HUs exclusively since 1999 and prior to that it was the Sony Mobile ES line. It is sad to see what has become of two companies that I used to use exclusively with regards to HUs.
The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
I am about to have a first shortly. Thanks to Alpine not having a modern AI net HU or something like the 9887, I am going to be looking into another HU. I used Alpine HUs exclusively since 1999 and prior to that it was the Sony Mobile ES line. It is sad to see what has become of two companies that I used to use exclusively with regards to HUs.
Please come up with something that will mop the floor with the DEH-80PRS. I'll buy it tomorrow.
Sorry, but I hate Pioneer's cumbersome menu structure and I hate how the display washes out in the sun. Sad thing is that it is not that sunny here right now so I will probably REALLY hate it on a clear day
The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
Please come up with something that will mop the floor with the DEH-80PRS. I'll buy it tomorrow.
Sorry, but I hate Pioneer's cumbersome menu structure and I hate how the display washes out in the sun. Sad thing is that it is not that sunny here right now so I will probably REALLY hate it on a clear day
How well does the auto time alignment work on that unit?
Please come up with something that will mop the floor with the DEH-80PRS. I'll buy it tomorrow.
Sorry, but I hate Pioneer's cumbersome menu structure and I hate how the display washes out in the sun. Sad thing is that it is not that sunny here right now so I will probably REALLY hate it on a clear day
I already did. Source an IVA-D800C. Yes, it's a flip-out. The sub display is good enough that you don't have to have it flipped up all the time. Hell, I had mine closed for almost 2 months straight. If you want an all-in-one that's not a Pioneer there's nothing I can think of since I'm pretty sure the DRZ is discontinued. If you don't mind an outboard processor, D800/H800 combo is the way to go. The you wouldn't even NEED the C800 unless you wanted to tune with that on the fly.
@ Alpine!
The old-school Quart mop the floor with the high-end Alpine.
Linear Mode
