Alpine 9885 vs Alpine ida-x001 vs Pioneer 690UB

[The Fire Snake]

I am really deciding which one of these three to get. I know most of the specs for these units. I am really looking for the best sound quality and quick searching capability. The x001 is nice, but doesn't have a cd player which could be a problem if I buy a new cd. The Alpine 9885 is nice, has a full speed connection but i don't know if that is the same as a USB 2.0 connection like the x001 has. The pioneer is a USB 2.0 connection but I like the Alpine display more. What are your thoughts?

[pickle311]

x001 is the way to go, I just got it last week and love it. The 9885 full speed connection is slow and plays the music off of the ipod where as the x001 does all the processing at the deck with a Burr Brown 24 bit DAC. It doesn't get any better than Burr Brown converters. As far as the Pioneer, the only word that comes to mind is junk. You will get used to not having a CD player. Why would you go buy a CD anyway if you can get it on iTunes? If you're like me though, there's a lot of music I listen to that's not on itunes. I think we'll be seeing a lot of new radios without cd players in the near future.

[outsider]

I played with all 3 a couple weeks ago-

-the X001 had the best overall SQ when using iPod. you have to love that USB connection that allows you to take advantage of a high quality DAC.

-the 9885 sounded good and didn't seem much slower than the X001 when listening to full albums. I have no idea how well it works for playlists as I don't have any....

-the Pioneer was unimpressive to me. The SQ was decent, but not up to the level of the X001. I was far more impressed with their 7900 (aka 790) for overall SQ. I think that may be because of better internal components. If only it had the USB connection....

at this point in time I am awaiting the Alpine 9887. I'm unsure as to whether or not I will buy one, but it has the potential to be a great unit....


as for why would someone continue buying CDs as opposed to downloading from iTunes:
1) 320kbps (or lossless) sounds a lot better than 128kbps
2) DRM protected files are not compatible with USB which means that with either the Pioneer 690 or the Alpine X001 you're going to have to use the Full Speed connection instead of the USB which in turn means that all D-A conversion will be taking place in the iPod, not the headunit.
3) it's nice to have a hard copy. not to mention album art, etc.

[pickle311]

as for why would someone continue buying CDs as opposed to downloading from iTunes:
1) 320kbps (or lossless) sounds a lot better than 128kbps
2) DRM protected files are not compatible with USB which means that with either the Pioneer 690 or the Alpine X001 you're going to have to use the Full Speed connection instead of the USB which in turn means that all D-A conversion will be taking place in the iPod, not the headunit.
3) it's nice to have a hard copy. not to mention album art, etc.


1) the x001 supports lossless so the SQ is just as good
2) not true at all, all of my downloaded music works fine though the USB connection and the processing takes place in the deck so the SQ is still great
3) i agree

[outsider]

2) not true at all, all of my downloaded music works fine though the USB connection and the processing takes place in the deck so the SQ is still great

then they either "opened" this option up, or initial information was wrong. All of the "fine print" I've read states that the USB connection is not compatible with DRM, but maybe there is an exception for Apple....

[nihon25]

hi all,
newbie here w/some questions.

Does anyone know if the usb connection on x001 will play lossless formats of any kind off a flash/thumb drive? And if it only plays lossless off an ipod, is ALAC the only kind or will it play others like FLAC or WMA lossless?

Does the pioneer 6900 play lossless off of an IPOD?(I know it doesnt off flash drives).


If the USB on x001 wont play protected files then does this mean the only music you
can listen to through that connection are files you've burned from a cd? (I usually dl from the itunes store so I dont have to go out and buy the cd but these are all protected files and it kind of defeats the purpose if the USB doesnt play them).

help is much appreciated:)

[The Fire Snake]

I never heard that before about the 9885, it does the processing on the ipod not on the headunit? Also I am still not clear about this full speed connection, is it a USB 2.0 connection or not? Is it a proprietary connection?

[outsider]

I never heard that before about the 9885, it does the processing on the ipod not on the headunit? Also I am still not clear about this full speed connection, is it a USB 2.0 connection or not? Is it a proprietary connection?

The 9885 uses a Full Speed connection which means that all digital to analog conversion is done in the iPod then sent out to the headunit. This connection is a proprietary connection; each manufacturer uses a different cable.

The only headunits that use a USB 2.0 connection are the Alpine X001 and the Pioneer 6900UB (a.k.a. Premier 690UB).

As far as DRM files are concerned, it states in Pioneer's brochure that the USB connection is not compatible with DRM. I thought I had read the same for Alpine's X001, but after I checked all the info I have for it (which is rather limited), I was unable to find anything stating as to whether or not it is compatible with DRM files. When I get a chance I'll stop by the stereo shop and try out the X001 with some DRM files....

[bobb-mini]

Are u kidding me? The X001 is a brand new revolutionary interface, not to be compared to Alphine's old stuff.... Please! read the entire X001 thread just below.

[The Fire Snake]

Are u kidding me? The X001 is a brand new revolutionary interface, not to be compared to Alphine's old stuff.... Please! read the entire X001 thread just below.

I have read the WHOLE X001 thread. My main problem is that all the headunits I have had are not mp3 compatible, I just use cds. I have a pretty high end system in my car. I am just starting to read more extensively about music encoding and have learned a ton. I have never auditioned mp3s in the car which I am dying to do. If they sound as good as CDs to me I would have no problem springing for the X001, but I just don't know. The X001 has no cd player and if I try Mp3s in the car and I don't like the way they sound, well, I am screwed. SO I am thinking of something that will let me fall back to CDs if I don't like the sound from MP3s.

[bobb-mini]

What's the prob? just get a CD changer then. But comeon, MP3 will sound GREAT specially if u get the x001. Did u understand the mention about TRUE DIGITAL in the x001 thread? Another reason to get the X001 is the much faster user interface. Did u undertand the part when we say DAY&NIGHT? With thousands of songs under your fingertips, user interfacing becomes critical. Mp3 is not new technology.

[gen2tegb16a]

if you import your music at a bitrate of 320 you will lose no quality. There is nothing to worry about.

Most will sacrifice a small to massive bit of sound quality in order to fit more songs on their ipod though. Either route you go, I'm sure the placement of the speakers in your car and the fact that you are a few feet from an engine and have resonating sheet metal and windows encompassing you is going to affect your sound quality alot more than the difference between cds and a lower bitrate mp3. A car is a laundry list of sound quality comprimises. Unless you want to pimp a set of headphones while you ride around(I've thought about it), it's inevitable.

The ease of use and ability to seamlessly file and listen to music while driving makes listening to music through a portable hard drive a no brainer


B