I have the Alpine IVA-W200 with two Ai-NET devices attached, an Alpine TUA-T020XM (XM tuner), and an Alpine CHA-S634 cd-changer. The XM tuner has the ability to pass the Ai-NET cable/bus through to the cd-changer. I hope to buy the Alpine PXA-H701 sound processor soon and was wondering if I was going to have any trouble adding a 3rd device to the Ai-NET. The PXA-H701 seems to have the same pass through capability that my XM tuner does, will I just make this the first device off the W200 and then plug the XM tuner and CD-changer in-line after it?
Also, is the optical connection to the head unit optional, or do I need it as well as the Ai-NET connection? I've looked through the PDF manual, but hoped someone here could put my mind at ease.
The optical connection is optional - but to be frank, you would be a fool not to use it. It makes that big of a difference in my opinon.
The changer you can hook directly to the H701 - it has a dedicated changer port, and there is a third Ai-Net input on the H701 that should take the XM as an input. I'm not 100% sure on it, because I have not tried it.
The Ai-Net on your headunit will have to be switched to be used with an external processor however - not as an input as it's being used now.
I've setup a system with the Terk XM, W200 and H701 and found out that the XM hookup wasn't completely intuitive. Your Alpine-branded tuner may be different, but some info that may be useful to you, nonetheless:
- Originally, I had the XM hooked up to the W200 without the H701. As one would expect, the tuner plugged into the Ai-net port at the back of the W200, leaving an open ai-net input into the XM radio unit for a changer, etc.. (on the Terk, it's actually labeled "changer in" or something like that)
- When I installed the H701, I found out that the Terk XM radio module had to plug into the main input of the H701, NOT the head unit. This is the only way to get sound from the XM tuner to the processor.
- Next, in order to continue to control the processor *and* XM radio, I had to connect the ai-net cable between the "changer in" on the XM unit and the ai-net plug on the W200. That doesn't seem to make sense, but it's the only way it works. Alpine tech support confirmed this to me on the phone.
- Make sure you have the switch on the W200 set to EQ/Div
- Plug your CD changer into the CD changer input on the H701
- x3 on the optical digital connection. Makes the digital sources (DVD, CD, changer) sound immensely better.
If your XM works like the Terk, you're good to go.
yeah, any of those would work. But make sure you select a cable that has a small barrel on it. The toslink connections on the 700 are close together, and the connector on the back of the previous optical alpines I've had are tight too.
Another question re: the optical digital cable... does it replace something or just compliment the system? Does it carry audio signals only, or does it also carry control signals... like to allow the W200 to control the H701? Or does it replace the F/R/S RCAs?
I found a PDF at Alpine that shows connecting the XM tuner to an older processor (510?) and a DVD control headunit that seems to support what John said above...
W200 Ai-NET switch set to EQ/DIV
Ai-NET cable from W200 plugged into XM tuner Ai-NET INPUT
Ai-NET cable from XM tuner Ai-NET OUTPUT to H701 Ai-NET INPUT
CHA-s634 changer plugged into H701 Ai-NET CHANGER input
Does this sound right?
Here's a link to the PDF... I'm looking at the right hand "with processor" side of the document:
Another question re: the optical digital cable... does it replace something or just compliment the system? Does it carry audio signals only, or does it also carry control signals... like to allow the W200 to control the H701? Or does it replace the F/R/S RCAs?
carries soley audio from the CD source of your W200. You will still want to connect the Ai-Net for control of the processor and for your AM/FM/iPod duties. I'm assuming the display wire is not needed - but I don't know as I ahve not had this particular combo before.
I've setup a system with the Terk XM, W200 and H701 and found out that the XM hookup wasn't completely intuitive. Your Alpine-branded tuner may be different, but some info that may be useful to you, nonetheless:
- Originally, I had the XM hooked up to the W200 without the H701. As one would expect, the tuner plugged into the Ai-net port at the back of the W200, leaving an open ai-net input into the XM radio unit for a changer, etc.. (on the Terk, it's actually labeled "changer in" or something like that)
- When I installed the H701, I found out that the Terk XM radio module had to plug into the main input of the H701, NOT the head unit. This is the only way to get sound from the XM tuner to the processor.
- Next, in order to continue to control the processor *and* XM radio, I had to connect the ai-net cable between the "changer in" on the XM unit and the ai-net plug on the W200. That doesn't seem to make sense, but it's the only way it works. Alpine tech support confirmed this to me on the phone.
- Make sure you have the switch on the W200 set to EQ/Div
- Plug your CD changer into the CD changer input on the H701
- x3 on the optical digital connection. Makes the digital sources (DVD, CD, changer) sound immensely better.
If your XM works like the Terk, you're good to go.
Thanks a bunch for this post! I also had the terk XM issue. I picked up on your review of the w200 and the h701 (I own that combo) and then over to your XM issue and finally here
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