New Alpine head unit designed around iPod functionality

[Uncle Rico]

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=iDA-X001

Just unveiled today. Looks like it has the ability to put an end to all of the slow, clunky interfaces on the market currently. Alpine points out that it has a 24 bit DAC. This, and the fact that it displays album art and recognizes podcasts, audiobooks, etc leads me to believe that it reads the music as data files and does all of the decoding at the head unit. All existing solutions treat the iPod essentially like a CD changer and pass along the analog audio signal from the iPod itself. Hopefully the DAC will allow for much better sound quality. I imagine that browsing your library will be just as fast as it is on the iPod, and the click wheel certainly helps. Apple Lossless is supported, thankfully. Now I'm just crossing my fingers that they will make a double-DIN touchscreen unit with similar functionality. Maybe the IVA-W205? Please Alpine?

[bobb-mini]

Very good, I hope it comes with an Apple clickwheel remote, and a tilt-able screen for those consoles that aren't tilted to the drivers side. Affordable too!

[studogvetmed]

I'm more excited about this than the iPhone!

[bobb-mini]

Dang, now I hafda get a new car! :D

[Quezman7]

I can't afford that now, but it's great to know that the technology is improving. Maybe in a few years I'll upgrade.

[TheDevil]

Apple Lossless is supported, thankfully. ......

Is this indeed true? Where did you hear this? If it is, this will be THE in-car ipod solution for the best SQ.


http://www.alpine-usa.com/images/products/images/ida-x001.jpg

[Uncle Rico]

Directly from Alpine's product description page:

Amazing Sound Quality
Your iPod never sounded so good. With crystal-clear digital connection using a 24-Bit DAC and dynamic MediaXpander™ processing, your compact music collection will sound anything BUT compact. The iDA-X001 uses iPod’s USB connection not only for fast music access, but it also receives pure digital music information right from the iPod and sends it through the iDA-X001’s built-in 24-Bit digital sound converter. This ensures you get your music playback in its best sound and purist form. Hear the difference playing iTunes® lossless AAC files.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=iDA-X001

Also, Alpine has pushed the release date back to April. Figures, seems that Alpine does that with their new units every year.

The thing that is really getting me excited about this unit is that it seems to read the files from your iPod and decode them internally with its own dedicated 24 bit DAC. Every solution on the market now, including both variations of Alpine's offering, simply access the XML list on your iPod for selecting a song, then the iPod decodes the file itself and sends out the audio signal over the analog line out pins via dock connector. This head unit really has the potential to provide better sound reproduction than really any other iPod solutions we've seen yet. Only downside is no 4v outputs... I don't know what Alpine was thinking when they started cutting all of their units (save 1 or 2) down to 2v outputs in 2005.

[Spaghetti]

I am trying to decide if I can wait for this deck, and if it will be worth it. I am getting a new Toyota Tacoma and I want to put another Alpine deck in (had one in my old pick up). But I am not too sure I can make it the extra 2 months without my iPod. I am curious to as if it is vastly superior to the other 2006/2007 head units.

[Welshchris]

Has anyone got their hands on one of these yet? - Looks as though it has the potential to be superb.

Chris

[onlycodered]

I'm more excited about this than the iPhone!I'll second that! I've been waiting for a good solution to using FM transmitters, which only work well half of the time. I just can't get over the iPod integration in this unit though. It just amazes me!

[Welshchris]

I'll second that! I've been waiting for a good solution to using FM transmitters, which only work well half of the time. I just can't get over the iPod integration in this unit though. It just amazes me!

Ah yes, but we've all read many spurious pre-launch claims about head units like this in the past, and there has nearly always been a problem (speed / functionality etc.). I'll keep an open mind though, and one thing's for sure - If Alpine really have got this right it'll be a must-have.

Chris

[bobb-mini]

Version 1.0 of ANYTHING won't be smooth as one wishes - Pioneer already has units out of the direct-USB type interface if u kids just look a few posts down.

[PorscheNut]

I am trying to decide if I can wait for this deck, and if it will be worth it. I am getting a new Toyota Tacoma and I want to put another Alpine deck in (had one in my old pick up). But I am not too sure I can make it the extra 2 months without my iPod. I am curious to as if it is vastly superior to the other 2006/2007 head units.

I sure hope so. I have a '57 in my 90 Carrera and the '56 in my 95 Carrera and I dislike the cheaper one so much I drive my newer car less than the older one! The '57 is no prize either. Audio quality is so-so even with an Alpine amp and ADS speake system.

If the reviews are right, I might give it a try but after a year with the 2006 MY Alpine head units.. I'm ready to try just about anything *but* Alpine. I hope they got it right this time.

The biggest frustration for me is the feeling that once you get to the playlist level of navigation you have nowhere to go unless you punch buttons to re-set the search and try it all over again. F-R-U-S-T-R-A-T-I-N-G!!

A month or so hence I saw one in the local store but they did not have an iPod hooked up so I could not see if the nav was better. The lost sale that day. That always amazed me. Selling a head unit the had the iPod as it's biggest feature and you don't have it ready to demo with one!?!??! To quote Dr. House.. "Idiots!"