Car stereo - Alpine a good choice?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Car stereo - Alpine a good choice?

Posted: 10/18/2004 8:11:18 AM EDT

I'm having my stock radio from my Honda Civic commuter car swapped out and this put in. I've been told Alpine is the shiznit - any of you lads have any experience with their stuff? The speakers are already done, so this should finish it up good (I'm hoping). Alpine CDM9823

Thoughts?

Posted: 10/18/2004 8:12:53 AM EDT

[#1]

Alpine is my fav.

Posted: 10/18/2004 8:13:35 AM EDT

[#2]

Yes! and buck up the $$$ for the sattelite radio...well worth it.

Posted: 10/18/2004 8:14:37 AM EDT

[#3]

Alpine is great stuff, and a great value in my book. Not sure about the unit you show, but make shure it will play MP3's if you use those.

Edited to add. :That looks like an older model. You may want to do some research before committing.

Posted: 10/18/2004 8:19:50 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Alpine is my fav.

It is what I have in my car. Sounds great.

Posted: 10/18/2004 8:20:13 AM EDT

[#5]

Just had my blown MB Quartzs' replaced yesterday with Alpine!!

Alpine is great stuff, checkout Eclipse too.

Posted: 10/18/2004 8:21:37 AM EDT

[#6]

Alpine is easily one of best brands in mobile audio.

Had an Alpine stolen once - replaced it with a Kenwood. It made a sad situation even sadder.

Posted: 10/18/2004 8:23:48 AM EDT

[#7]

+1 for Alpine, I've had good luck with Pioneer too...

Posted: 10/18/2004 8:24:32 AM EDT

[#8]

Alpine is always a great choice. Can't really go wrong there.

Posted: 10/18/2004 8:27:47 AM EDT

[#9]

OK, the guy just called and said it would be ready in 1/2 an hour. I'm psyched! It's a new model, the one I have was manufactured in 7/04. I don't even know what an MP3 is, so I don't need that capability. I'll let you guys know how it sounds!

Posted: 10/18/2004 8:42:54 AM EDT

[#10]

I like alpine, but for the money I fell you can get better,

I really really really (can you tell I like them?) like panasonic audio gear.

For one, it is bulletproof, they outlast you,

second, I think that their gear is real good,

they make the high-end technics stuff as well.

Seriously I have bought nothing but panasonic (except Sony for TVs) for years now.

Posted: 10/18/2004 8:44:04 AM EDT

[#11]

Dang, I thought you guys were talking about me!!

J/K!

Alpine's transducers are pretty good, but their electronics are even better (indeed the shiznit). I've had Alpine head units, amps and crossovers and never had a problem with any of them. Sound quality, ease of use and feature set were tops.

Congratulations on your new rig!

Alpine

Posted: 10/18/2004 8:48:58 AM EDT

[#12]

Pioneer here; both the Alpine head unit and 6 pack cd changer I had caused me nothing but problems. I've never had a piece of Pioneer gear break or wear out. Ditto for Kicker, my solobaric sub and sub amp kick ass.

I bought my current Pioneer set up over 10 years ago, and it's still going strong today.

Posted: 10/18/2004 8:51:12 AM EDT

[#13]

I've got almost the same radio that you have pictured, but mine has XM radio which I highly recommend. Alpine makes great stuff.

Posted: 10/18/2004 10:21:44 AM EDT

[#14]

I'll tell you this.............. I've worked in car stereo for over 6 years and dollar for dollar the Alpine head units sound better and clearer than the others. I've done side by side demos with everthing else being exaclty the same. The Alpine will out do other brands even when some actually cost more than the Alpine. Now the others will have more eye candy for your money but sound quality is more important for me.

Since you have now got it installed...............enjoy it. Only other add-on I would recommend for a basic system is a small powered sub to fill out the bass response.

Posted: 10/18/2004 11:50:59 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
I don't even know what an MP3 is!

C'mon

Posted: 10/18/2004 11:56:38 AM EDT

[#16]

If it don't have flywheel tuning and a real, honest-to-God ANALOG volume control, it ain't a "stereo"...

Posted: 10/18/2004 12:03:58 PM EDT

[#17]

alpine is good enough to be used in a lamborghini

Posted: 10/18/2004 12:04:20 PM EDT

[#18]

Alpine is a very good choice. Unless you are willing to pay high dollar for the high-end stuff like the Denon Z stuff, Alpine F1 status, McIntosh, etc.. the Alpine decks are money well spent. I have had several of the newer versions in my Z06, H2 Hummer, and my C5.

Posted: 10/18/2004 12:08:03 PM EDT

[#19]

I'm not sure what you intend to do with this Alpine, but I'll tell you about my experiences. I built a small competition stereo in my s-10 back in 1999. 6 JL Audio 12w3 subs, 2 PPI 2350 amps, and an Alpine deck, not unlike the one in the picture. Couldn't keep the thing from skipping whenever I had the volume turned up, at all really. Sounded great at low levels, but whenever the volume came up, the Alpine would skip like crazy. Sold it, and bought me a Pioneer HP8000 head unit, never had another skip again. YMMV.

Posted: 10/18/2004 12:12:54 PM EDT

[#20]

I prefer Clarion, McIntosh or Nakamichi let us know how you like your Alpine

Posted: 10/18/2004 12:19:56 PM EDT

[#21]

Alpine is the best at making head units IMO.

Posted: 10/18/2004 2:16:42 PM EDT

[#22]

nothing wrong with alpine head units they are very solid.
I just think their kind of cartoonish in other words "way to many flashing lights and fancy doodads that il never use"

I prefer eclipse myself.

Posted: 10/18/2004 2:19:22 PM EDT

[#23]

Well I went to pick the car up and there was some bad ignition noise coming through the speakers. The kid took the car apart again but couldnt find the problem. The noise (ticking, not alternator whine) is there with both the amp (Clarion APA450) hooked up and removed. He asked to keep the car overnight to better diagnose the problem, so I let him keep it. I'll advise what happens tomorrow. I'm a little pissed to be honest

, but trying to be patient.

Posted: 10/18/2004 2:26:07 PM EDT

[#24]

+1 on Alpine based on my experiences. Had a Clarion Pro Audio system as well that eventually had the membrane switches on the faceplate take a dump and replaced it with an Alpine head unit.

Posted: 10/18/2004 2:38:25 PM EDT

[#25]

Big Alpine fan here

.

Posted: 10/18/2004 2:42:21 PM EDT

[#26]

Alpine SUCKS! A friend of a guy I saw once heard another guy at rehab saying that his sister's babysitter's neighbor had an Alpine in his '82 Lada, and couldn't keep tires on that car.

Just had to post the obligitory ARFcom voice of unrelated and unsubstantiated (indeed, unsubstantiable) dissent.

You're welcome.

Also, all Glocks KB.

Posted: 10/18/2004 2:52:09 PM EDT

[#27]

As a former Pro- competitor, I'd say Eclipse head units are one of the best followed by Alpine. Alpine's customer service is great and they do care what the consumer thinks. The ticking noise is probably coming from a bad ground somewhere. Some cars are notorious for either ticking or engine whine that cannot be corrected.

Here's a website you might check out for more info.
www.crutchfield.com/S-oMVI9qWlbMx/tech/kb348.html

Posted: 10/18/2004 2:56:05 PM EDT

[#28]

Thumbs up here, even though I'm a Pioneer guy.

P9 combo

Posted: 10/18/2004 3:05:13 PM EDT

[#29]

Alpine is good stuff, I have learned to live with factory head units the last few years, but that is just my own taste. If you are somehat discrinating when it comes to your audio Alpine won't do you wrong. I am not such a big fan of thier speakers, but thier head units are great.

Posted: 10/21/2004 2:27:44 PM EDT

[#30]

OK, the installation has had all the kinks worked out. I had to bring it back to the installer, who ultimately removed the Clarion amp to get rid of the ignition noise. They worked on the car for a few hours but couldn't eliminate the ground loop so they had to pull the amp. No ticking noise, no FM interference now. The internal power is working out just fine for my purposes. Kicks ass! There's more than enough power to drive these in the rear

JBL GTO 926 6X9 speakers

...and these up front (with the stock Honda grilles, of course)

Kicker DX60 6.5 speakers

I'm a happy camper. Now to burn some CD's.........

Posted: 10/21/2004 3:28:56 PM EDT

[#31]

I've had my Alpine since 1996. It's been in three vehicles. Not a single problem.

I refuse to buy anything else when it comes to car audio.

Posted: 10/21/2004 4:35:47 PM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:
Yes! and buck up the $$$ for the sattelite radio...well worth it.

Yuppers...I love my ALpine head unit and if you get the factory sattelite tuner you don't have another display hanging off your dash....it all comes through one set of controls...

Get XM Radio...you'll never want to listen to broadcast again.

Posted: 10/21/2004 4:50:52 PM EDT

[#33]

Had an Alpine in my truck but it got stolen.

It came with the truck. I liked it, it sounded good and didn't skip unless I went over kidney-breaking bumps.

I put a Sony back in and IMHO, Sony rocks just as well for less $$.

Especially since the summer weather here eats up electronics.

Posted: 10/21/2004 4:57:46 PM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Yes! and buck up the $$$ for the sattelite radio...well worth it.

Yuppers...I love my ALpine head unit and if you get the factory sattelite tuner you don't have another display hanging off your dash....it all comes through one set of controls...

Get XM Radio...you'll never want to listen to broadcast again.

or SIRIUS...but then you'll have to get a different brand Head unit(Clarion)

Posted: 10/22/2004 12:53:28 AM EDT

[#35]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Yes! and buck up the $$$ for the sattelite radio...well worth it.

Yuppers...I love my ALpine head unit and if you get the factory sattelite tuner you don't have another display hanging off your dash....it all comes through one set of controls...

Get XM Radio...you'll never want to listen to broadcast again.

or SIRIUS...but then you'll have to get a different brand Head unit(Clarion)

Yeah, but having had both, I have to say XM has more and better programming....

Posted: 10/22/2004 12:53:59 AM EDT

[#36]

Quoted:
Alpine SUCKS! A friend of a guy I saw once heard another guy at rehab saying that his sister's babysitter's neighbor had an Alpine in his '82 Lada, and couldn't keep tires on that car.

Just had to post the obligitory ARFcom voice of unrelated and unsubstantiated (indeed, unsubstantiable) dissent.

You're welcome.

Also, all Glocks KB.