View Full Version : Alpine Media Expander
heathdwatts
02-16-2005, 08:13 PM
Hi,
I just purchased an Alpine CDA-9851 with the KCA 420i. The system sounds very good. Unfortunately, the salesperson told me that the head unit had Alpine's Media Expander feature, but it does not. Now I need to decide if I want to spend $20 less and get last years model with media expansion or spend $100 more for the CDA-9853 with the feature. I use my iPod in the car about 95% of the time and really want it to sound great. Does media expansion make a big difference with the AAC files? Is it worth $100 more?
Thanks,
Heath
heathdwatts
02-16-2005, 08:25 PM
Hi again,
It appears the 9853 also comes with something called amplifier link. I'm not certain what it does, but that is probably part of the cost too.
Heath
tayhall7
02-16-2005, 08:26 PM
I have the 9830 and the 420i, but i do not use the media expander with the iPod. An Mp3 disc i will use it, but the eq in the ipod and the alpine seem to do a pretty good job. Whenever i use the media expander with the ipod there is to much bass, so i would say that if you'll be using the ipod most of the time i wouldn't worry about it.
tayhall7
02-16-2005, 08:27 PM
the amp link kit is something you can use with alpine external amps to get temperature and other info on the amp. I think that is what it does anyway.
TheBum
02-16-2005, 08:47 PM
Before you give up on the 9851, try some of the BBE modes and the bass and treble shaping features (accessible via the MENU button). My 9851 and 420i have been installed for about 24 hours and I've found that BBE level 3 with the treble center frequency set to 15 KHz and the treble level set to -2 sounds quite nice with my iPod songs and the acoustics in my SUV. I think I still need to reshape the bass end of the spectrum, but the sound quality just keeps getting better and better as I fiddle with the settings.
heathdwatts
02-16-2005, 09:46 PM
OK. I'll keep trying this unit. It doesn't sound like the Media XPander is that neccessary. What about the digital time correction feature? It's supposed to work like a home theater where you can find a "sweet spot", has anyone used this? The 9853 has it and the 9851 does not.
Thanks again,
Heath
The Digital Time correction feature is absolutely amazing. you need to measure the distance of each speaker away from your ear and go onto aplines i- personalize website and plug in the numbers and then download to your hu. you can accomplish this manually by adjusting the time for the speakers that are closest to you. (usually drivers side front and rear), untill you hit the sweet spot. you'll know when you hit it , and if you have good quality speakers you want to leave your car. alpine in my opinion makes the best in car entertainment around and the limitations that people are complaining about are not going to be solved anywhere else. get to know your head unit and everything it is capable of, and you will be glad you choose it.
TheBum
02-19-2005, 10:17 PM
Originally posted by TheBum
My 9851 and 420i have been installed for about 24 hours and I've found that BBE level 3 with the treble center frequency set to 15 KHz and the treble level set to -2 sounds quite nice with my iPod songs and the acoustics in my SUV.
Update: As a result of my continued tweaking, I ditched BBE altogether and made some adjustments to the bass center frequency and bandwidth. I think I've finally found the best equalization for my SUV and can say that I'm absolutely thrilled with the sound quality. I've come to the conclusion that BBE is really only advantageous when you have separate drivers as opposed to coaxial speakers like I have.
ArchieGates
02-20-2005, 05:21 AM
I just ordered the 9851 today, and I'm getting it put in about a week. I considered the 9853, but I couldn't wait until mid-March. As far as the Media Expander thing, I think it's a joke. It's basically a marketing thing that just turns the bass and treble up, from what I could hear. You could accomplish the same thing with the EQ.
The whole thing about improving the quality of MP3's is pretty dumb. They're already compressed. The best thing you can do is to just play them in their natural state. EQ isn't going to remove the sound of compression that's in the file itself.
The time delay thing sounds more interesting, and I'm definitely going to do some research on it now. Although if you're in a average size vehicle, the amount of latency introduced by speaker distance is going to be a non-factor for the most part.
It depends on the vehicle you drive, I drive a honda civic hatchback and the speakers are horribly placed. the driverside is much closer than the passengers, even the sub in the hatch is closer than the passengers. being able to tune them to all hit my ears at the same time is a blessing. even a little difference helps when your in a space that in theory is inhabitable for any kind quality sound reproduction. but like you say the media expander is not necessary, just do some quick changes to your eq and voila.
ArchieGates
02-22-2005, 05:28 AM
Well, m911, now you've got me considering the 9853. The time correction thing does sound like a pretty cool thing. Not sure about the Glide Touch, but maybe I'll wait a couple weeks and compare the 9853 to the 9851.
Anyone know what the difference between 2V and 4V preamp outputs is?
Im not familliar with the glide touch in a hands on way, but in theory it sounds like it will make navigating the different features faster and smoother. i love the click wheel on my ipod, and i love how is easy it is to navigate so i personally will be looking forward to experimenting with it first hand. also to answer your question about the preamp outputs. the higher the voltage, the cleaner the signal is that the amplifier has to work with.