Advice on Alpine kca-420i + deck

[robbiesullivan]

Hello,
I'm looking for comments, opinions on an incar solution.
This weekend I had the chance to see a KCA-420i in action at a store. I was quite impressed. Currently I use an itrip in my car and man is it anoying. I've read all the threads about this interface and issues related to it. I'm a playlist fan so I think i can get aronud it.

I'm wondering if any one uses the CDA-9826 with it. That was deck the sales dude was trying to sell me on cause it was on sale for 269.99$ cnd. I'm wondering if it is worth it get a better deck then this one, and if so wihich desck is recemened.

I'm also wondering if might be worth it to wait for the 2005 decks? If so does any one know when those decks will be available?

Also their price on the KCI-420I was 199$ cnd. This seems really steep considering it is supose to retail for 100$ US.

Thanks for any advice or comments, much appriciated.
Rob Sullivan

[bluntman]

I've heard that the 2005 Alpine decks have better integration with the KCI-420 and the iPod, so I'd wait. Up here, Alpine usually brings out their new line around April or May.

[robbiesullivan]

No idea of price ranges of those newer 2005 decks? cost is a bit of a thing for me, so if the new decks are going to be 200-300$ more expensive for a base model then that iwll be out of my price range.

Any ideas where in Canada I can buy alpine gear online?

[bluntman]

I wouldn't see them going up by that much in price. I have no idea where to buy them online.

[briand805]

I was going to wait for the 05 head units but when i heard they wouldnt be out for a while i bought the 9835 and a 420i.. installed them the other day and am loving it.

http://mazda3forums.com/viewtopic.php?p=145955#145955

[robbiesullivan]

Excelent.... , nice looking install...

I think I've descided, if the installer will give me a better price on the KCA-420i (199$ is ridiculus), then I'll "do-the-do"

What's the biggest diff with the 9835 over the 9826? Is the display much better?

[bluntman]

Brian made a great choice in vehicles :D

There's a huge difference between the two head units, but the most visible one is the display the 35 uses a multi-line display to show more information from the iPod. If I'm not mistaken, they used that deck when they first showcasing the KCI-420 back at CES.

[EricK]

If you have any interest in using an external amp, check out the number of pre-amp outs on the 9826. I just put a 9830 in my car with the iPod adapter, and it's great. Sounds much better than my iTrip did. I'm still getting used to the interface, but it's starting to make sense....... (if money was no object, the 9835 would be the way to go......... )

-Eric

[robbiesullivan]

Thanks for the info... the 2 line display sounds great... preamps not a big deal for me..

Price is definitly an issue ;) . I'vegot my wife sold on the 9826 and she is cool with it, if I tell her its gonna be another 350$ for 2 line display she'll shoot me :D .

So I think I'll definitkly just be happy with what I can get...

thanks again for all the interesting posts..

Rob

[LTRAiN]

im very happy with the 9825 + 420i ... can't see spending double for 1 or 2 more preouts and better display....i have the same power and features...and it sounds GOOD!!

my only complaint is the dial doent flip through selection very quickly, you have to turn that sucker for what seems like forever to get to where you want, compared with 1 or 2 revolutions of the click wheel.

get er'

[iceNine]

I have the 9835 (with iPod interface and Sirius tuner) and there is a lot more to it than more outputs and a better (much better) screen. The internal amp has 26W rms as well as a great many advanced features such as parametric EQ, digital time correction (sounds like a gimmick but is really great if you use it right), iPersonalize, and active crossover (F, R and sub). Not as important, it has two or three hundred lighted button colors to match any interior. My wife has the 9827 which sounds great but the single-line, short line length screen would drive me crazy if I was trying to find songs or playlists on my iPod. (If you want all these features without the fancy screen you can buy the 9833 for less money. They are the same unit, even come with the same manual)

Dale

[THX]

I have heard the firmware on the 2005 Alpines will fully support the iPod. A friend who works at Best Buy says Alpine usually releases their new line anywhere from February to April but he's leaning towards February since that's what he's heard around work.

I think you need at least a 9831 with the AI-Net interface to use the iPod. I'd spring AT LEAST for the 9833 which has a 5-band parametric EQ. This is extremely helpful for tuning the mids. The 4-band seems so limited compared to it.