Ralph LoGrasso
07-07-2007, 02:29 PM
Hi guys,
I'm looking for opinions on both of these head units.
My intended use is the seamless control of an iPod through the head unit. I can no longer tolerate using FM transmitters or Cassette adapters and receiving diminished sound quality. Now, I had been planning on buying a new alpine head unit since last year when they introduced the speed cable hook-up that allows an iPod to be controlled directly through the head unit (i.e. using only the buttons on the head unit; the actual iPod can be hidden out of sight). I was originally planning on purchasing the Alpine CDA-9883 (or rather it's now discontinued predecessor) since it was relatively cheap ($199) and allowed use of the aforementioned iPod control (without an interface like most other head units had used).
Alpine CDA-9883:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/h500CDA9883f_d-1.jpeg
However, Alpine has recently introduced the IDA-X001 which is designed to work exclusively with an iPod (there is no CD player). Now, this is $200 more than the 9883, but it's also a much nicer unit. The simulated iPod display screen is a really nice feature, and almost worth the extra $200 in and of itself. The absence of a CD player is somewhat of a drawback for most, but I hardly ever listen to CDs anymore, considering my entire music collection is on my iPod; as such, this is not really a concern for me.
Alpine IDA-X001:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/h500iDAX001f_mt-1.jpeg
However, this is the first unit of its kind and I'm sure many revisions will follow. Does anyone know when its predecessor will be out? I'm guessing sometime around April '08. I’m not too concerned with revisions though, as I could always sell this unit and upgrade for a minor loss in a year or two.
So, does anyone have any experience with either head unit, but more specifically the IDA-X001? Any opinions on the subject from the audio gurus would be much appreciated, as I'm quite the novice. (The head unit will be installed into a ’02 Z06 with factory Bose sound system).
The features of both units are relatively similar, sans the CD player delete on the X001. Additionally, the IDA-X001 controls a fifth generation iPod with a USB cable, so the head unit acts as a simple bridge between them; this is another nice feature.
Specification comparison of CDA-9883 & IDA-X001 (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-wVFuQh6T4aY/cgi-bin/ProdComp.asp?g=300&c=3&s=0&cc=01&pt2=0&compareitems=500CDA9883&compareitems=500IDAX001&x=38&y=4)
I’m 98% certain that I’ll go with the IDA-X001.
Discuss.
I'm looking for opinions on both of these head units.
My intended use is the seamless control of an iPod through the head unit. I can no longer tolerate using FM transmitters or Cassette adapters and receiving diminished sound quality. Now, I had been planning on buying a new alpine head unit since last year when they introduced the speed cable hook-up that allows an iPod to be controlled directly through the head unit (i.e. using only the buttons on the head unit; the actual iPod can be hidden out of sight). I was originally planning on purchasing the Alpine CDA-9883 (or rather it's now discontinued predecessor) since it was relatively cheap ($199) and allowed use of the aforementioned iPod control (without an interface like most other head units had used).
Alpine CDA-9883:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/h500CDA9883f_d-1.jpeg
However, Alpine has recently introduced the IDA-X001 which is designed to work exclusively with an iPod (there is no CD player). Now, this is $200 more than the 9883, but it's also a much nicer unit. The simulated iPod display screen is a really nice feature, and almost worth the extra $200 in and of itself. The absence of a CD player is somewhat of a drawback for most, but I hardly ever listen to CDs anymore, considering my entire music collection is on my iPod; as such, this is not really a concern for me.
Alpine IDA-X001:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2007/07/h500iDAX001f_mt-1.jpeg
However, this is the first unit of its kind and I'm sure many revisions will follow. Does anyone know when its predecessor will be out? I'm guessing sometime around April '08. I’m not too concerned with revisions though, as I could always sell this unit and upgrade for a minor loss in a year or two.
So, does anyone have any experience with either head unit, but more specifically the IDA-X001? Any opinions on the subject from the audio gurus would be much appreciated, as I'm quite the novice. (The head unit will be installed into a ’02 Z06 with factory Bose sound system).
The features of both units are relatively similar, sans the CD player delete on the X001. Additionally, the IDA-X001 controls a fifth generation iPod with a USB cable, so the head unit acts as a simple bridge between them; this is another nice feature.
Specification comparison of CDA-9883 & IDA-X001 (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-wVFuQh6T4aY/cgi-bin/ProdComp.asp?g=300&c=3&s=0&cc=01&pt2=0&compareitems=500CDA9883&compareitems=500IDAX001&x=38&y=4)
I’m 98% certain that I’ll go with the IDA-X001.
Discuss.