Car Audio, Alpine CDA-9831

[AcemanPB]

Looking for a new head unit becaues my factory one is slowly dying . I really like what Alpine has going on with their iPod interface (KCA-420 I think) so I've been looking at mostly Alpines. So I've done my reasearch and I think I've settled on the Alpine CDA-9831, I just thought I'd ask the AO car audio god's opinions first before I drop some $$$ on this new toy. I plan on getting the HU and the iPod interface together and then adding a sub later on. My factory speakers are ok but they might get replaced later as well (Mustang w/ Mach 460)

[Gitaroo Man]

I have the 33 and its AWESOME...sounds great with stock speakers...i'd go for it.

[pputkowski]

If you are going for it just for the I-pod interface, Stay Away!

The controls are not very smooth at all and after awhile become extremely annoying. Especially trying to go through folders. Plus, alpine's are soooo ugly.

[bornl33t]

If you are going for it just for the I-pod interface, Stay Away!

The controls are not very smooth at all and after awhile become extremely annoying. Especially trying to go through folders. Plus, alpine's are soooo ugly.

But they sound soooo good.

[AcemanPB]

If you are going for it just for the I-pod interface, Stay Away!

The controls are not very smooth at all and after awhile become extremely annoying. Especially trying to go through folders. Plus, alpine's are soooo ugly.

Well there aren't a whole lot of other options... many other companies have promised iPod interfaces but they won't be out until spring of 05 and I don't want to wait. I don't think the Alpines look that ugly, although they do scream "steal me." I'm waiting for Miscue to chime in...

[Gitaroo Man]

i actually thoought they looked really ugle, which they do until you get to the 9831 i think...i got my 9833 and i actually really like the look of it...really clean and they sound sooooooooooooo good like born said

[Miscue]

Well there aren't a whole lot of other options... many other companies have promised iPod interfaces but they won't be out until spring of 05 and I don't want to wait. I don't think the Alpines look that ugly, although they do scream "steal me." I'm waiting for Miscue to chime in...

I haven't kept up lately. But typically Alpine has among the best SQ, but cost more than similar products from other companies. I don't like how they look, but I also don't care. Alpine, Clarion, Pioneer Premier - if you're spending $300+ roughly, it should be pretty good as long as you have all the features you need.

[AcemanPB]

Well I ended up getting the 9833, figured if I'm already spending the cash a little more wouldn't hurt. I'm kind of confused as to how I'm going to hook this up to my car. The 9833 has 60W x 4 channels. I drive a 00' Mustang w/ the Mach 460 system, so my car already has 3 external factory amps the deliever more power than the Alpine HU. So do I run all my speakers off my factory external amps and not use the HU at all to power my speakers?

[Miscue]

Well I ended up getting the 9833, figured if I'm already spending the cash a little more wouldn't hurt. I'm kind of confused as to how I'm going to hook this up to my car. The 9833 has 60W x 4 channels. I drive a 00' Mustang w/ the Mach 460 system, so my car already has 3 external factory amps the deliever more power than the Alpine HU. So do I run all my speakers off my factory external amps and not use the HU at all to power my speakers?

Ideally, your HU should not be powering anything - except maybe your rears, which is perfectly acceptable.

As long as they didn't do something funky with those amps, I'd continue using those until you get replacements.

[bornl33t]

the mach stereo system is great STOCK. The external amps can be a real headache when you are trying to retro fit the headunit. If you have sq problems you can bet it's those amps and you'll have to bypassthen/replace them. The Alpine HU has a decent built in amp. It will power all 6 speakers the mustang has, as long as they are factory speakers. When ppl start messing with the speakers they so often forget that speakers are rated for a certain power input and then wonder why the HU sounds crapy when it's the mismatched speakers that caused the problem.
If it were my mustang I would go ahead and plug up to the factory amps and listen for a few weeks. If you don't have any alternator feedback etc. stay with that setup. Otherwise, I would just bypass the amps. One of the things I think ppl should know is that 60x4 means little to nothing. You need to look at the actuall output ratings RMS (root mean square) Alpine as of a year ago was killing the competition with MUCH higher RMS ratings. Sony was my big headache. It advertised 60x4 watts and kids would wonder why it sounded so crapy. It was because the RMS rating was one of the lowest on the market.

Miscue is right though, idealy you're HU shouldn't power anything. But idealy you have another 1000$ to dump in to just amps and speakers too, and that's not including any type of subwoofer

Enjoy your Alpine!!!

[AcemanPB]

As much as I would like to, I'm not spending anymore money on my car stereo. The Mach 460's stock sound is acceptable and I hope the Alpine HU will hook up with little are no head-aches. The only thing I might look at getting in the near future is a sub, and If I got a sub it would be for the music not for being obnoxiously loud.

So do my external amps hook up in the preamps on my Alpine. I have 3 preamps on the Alpine and 3 amps so I should be good right? Is there anyway to use the Alpine's power + my cars stock power? Is that good for the speakers? Alpine says you have to run a 10-gauge cable from the battery to properly power the HU, is this neccasary if I don't use the Alpine's amp?

Edit - the Alpine HU puts out 26 watts RMS, is that good?

[Amea]

I have a CDA-9810 in my Talon, it's the top of the line, too bad they discontinued it. It's audiophile heaven. 60x4, customizable sound, etc, etc... looks great on top of that

[Miscue]

I have a CDA-9810 in my Talon, it's the top of the line, too bad they discontinued it. It's audiophile heaven. 60x4, customizable sound, etc, etc... looks great on top of that

An audiophile wouldn't be relying on that supposed 60x4, nor would he touch the HU settings to color the sound.

[Miscue]

As much as I would like to, I'm not spending anymore money on my car stereo. The Mach 460's stock sound is acceptable and I hope the Alpine HU will hook up with little are no head-aches. The only thing I might look at getting in the near future is a sub, and If I got a sub it would be for the music not for being obnoxiously loud.

So do my external amps hook up in the preamps on my Alpine. I have 3 preamps on the Alpine and 3 amps so I should be good right? Is there anyway to use the Alpine's power + my cars stock power? Is that good for the speakers? Alpine says you have to run a 10-gauge cable from the battery to properly power the HU, is this neccasary if I don't use the Alpine's amp?

Edit - the Alpine HU puts out 26 watts RMS, is that good?

Ignore the power ratings on HU's - they nearly all bogus, and you're actually getting much less than what it says.

There are 50x2 watt amps that are bigger than your 26x4 watt receiver... food for thought.

Combine power? Sort of. You can power some speakers off your deck, and some off your amps. Don't use your HU if you do not have to.

[AcemanPB]

Ignore the power ratings on HU's - they nearly all bogus, and you're actually getting much less than what it says.

There are 50x2 watt amps that are bigger than your 26x4 watt receiver... food for thought.

Combine power? Sort of. You can power some speakers off your deck, and some off your amps. Don't use your HU if you do not have to.

Alright If my HU isn't powering any speakers to I still need the 10-gauge wire from the postive terminal running to my HU? (trying to make sure I'll have everything I'll need when the HU arrives)