Are flip-down faceplates a PITA?

[zero2dash]

The car stereo I was planning on getting has a flip-down faceplate and I'm used to the regular ones where there's a slot to stick the CD in.

I'm just wondering - those of you who have head units with flip-down faceplates...are they a pain or is it no big deal? I don't know if I'm going to pick up that deck or get another one without a flip-down...*sigh*

TIA

[AlpineJay]

The car stereo I was planning on getting has a flip-down faceplate and I'm used to the regular ones where there's a slot to stick the CD in.

I'm just wondering - those of you who have head units with flip-down faceplates...are they a pain or is it no big deal? I don't know if I'm going to pick up that deck or get another one without a flip-down...*sigh*

TIA

Nowadays it's pretty hard to find non-flip-down units if your selection range is anything midgrade and up - the point of a flip-down, other than the debatable "cool factor," of course is that it gives more faceplace real estate for buttons and larger displays. Last I checked, you were getting an MP3 CD unit, and if that's still true, then this should be more or less a non-issue because you'll change CDs a lot less than usual. I own a flipdown unit, and the last time I changed my CD was in December. It gives me more screen to look at - equating to larger and possibly cleaner fonts - and larger dials and buttons.

[zero2dash]

What kind/model unit do you have, Jay?

To answer your question - yeah, the unit I was planning on buying is one of Alpine's new hu for this year...a CDA-9856. The key things I wanted it for (vs some of the others) were:
-power (18x4 vs 16x4)
-HD radio (although *now* I find out it requires an add-on)
-full speed iPod interface (cheaper at $29 vs the older units using the $100 control box that apparently lags if you've got a ton of songs on your iPod)
-XM/Sirius compatible (with add-ons)

The unit I was originally going to buy is now available again at Crutchfield (it appeared they wouldn't get any more in but now they have). Both cost the same though, and the older unit (9847) uses the older slower iPod interface and doesn't have HD radio support BUT it has a cd slot (no flip-face).

They also have another older unit (2005 model I mean), the 9851, which has a dot matrix display screen that is multicolored; it doesn't show "animations" (which I don't want anyway) but displays upper/lowercase characters and symbols which could come in handy with mp3s. But the problem with that one is that it's $250, so I'm having a hard time believing the better screen is worth the $50.

I'll probably wind up getting the flip-face $200 9856 unit unless I talk myself into paying the extra $50 for a better screen and buy the 2005 model 9851.

edit pictures
9847 $199
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2004/500/h500CDA9847-f.jpeg
The first choice

9851 $249
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2004/500/h500CDA9851-f.jpeg
I really like the way this one looks...:love2: very nice and sharp looking
This one's growing on me

9856 $199
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2005/500/h500cda9856-f_DC.jpeg
The one I was going to buy with the 9847 out of stock/discontinued

All of them have similar specs (power, satellite compatible), the only difference is that the 9856 has an iPod hookup for $29 vs the other 2 have the $100 box...but in any case I could always get an RF adapter and be able to use the click wheel anyway (when I get an iPod that is...don't own one yet).

[AlpineJay]

I have the CDA-9815. It was the top of the line model in 2003 that retailed for $500 (but thanks to my employee discount at CC, I wound up getting a nice price break). A comparable model is actually your 9856, although it now only costs $200 - those things came down in price a lot recently with the advent of in-dash DVD/nav units. Mine isn't compatible with the iPod interface (even the slow one) so I'm definitely considering an upgrade OR the Harman/Kardon iPod interface so I couldn't comment on that part.

I believe that mine was XM compatible only, and was one of the very last Alpine HUs that offered a 22Wx4 RMS amp internally (60Wx4 max) before they scrapped the idea. That sounds like it could have been perfect for you. In my experience, the difference between a midrange unit in cost and a higher priced ones are relatively minor things to most people - number of preamp outputs (2 vs 3), output voltage (2.2V to 5V), cooler screens and other mechanical things.

Either sounds fine - obviously depending on your needs you'll make the best call. If you are considering an amp upgrade later on, make sure to get a head unit with 3 preouts and a minimum 4V preout voltage. Much cleaner signal that way.

FYI, my setup is:
Head unit: Alpine CDA-9815
Front/rear speakers: Infinity Kappa Perfect 572.5cf 5x7
Speaker amp: Alpine MRV-F340 (45Wx4 @ 4 ohms)
Subwoofer: Alpine SWR-1242D Type-R 12" DVC with a Q-Logic box (wired in parallel)
Subwoofer amp: MTX Thunder 801D (forget the specs on this one exactly)
and just to be safe, a 1F cap wired to the 801D.

All compliments of the employee discount back when I used to work at CC.

[zero2dash]

If you are considering an amp upgrade later on, make sure to get a head unit with 3 preouts and a minimum 4V preout voltage. Much cleaner signal that way.

Duuurrrr.r...:spock:
All of the head units I've looked at had 3 preouts, 2v minimum.
The only one I just saw with a 4v minimum was $400 (way out of my spending league).

One of the customer reviews (a guy who says he works in MCEP) says that the amp I picked doesn't need a 4v minimum to perform at its peak...hopefully he's right. :bigeyes:

I really like your head unit...that thing is really nice. (I did a Google image search.) That nice big display...makes me want the 9851 even more. :)

[AlpineJay]

Oh OK. I was told by my shop guys and a lot of my friends who were then very good with the car audio stuff to always go for 4V preouts. But they could have been talking about really high-end stuff, too, as we're all idealists. 2.2V should work fine.

[thekidrocks]

I bought this...

http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2004/500/h500CDA9853-f.jpeg

... and it looks like Alpine did away with the silly Glide Touch bar. Overall I am very impressed. Also depite the need for the $100 adapter for an iPod, there is an auxiliary input on the rear (for video, etc) that would do the same thing for the cost of a cheap cable.

[AlpineJay]

but in any case I could always get an RF adapter and be able to use the click wheel anyway (when I get an iPod that is...don't own one yet).

this may be the idealist in me talking, but please please please don't go with an RF solution for your iPod, or any sound source input. It has inferior sound quality, prone to noise and other bandwidth issues, and simply never works as well as advertised. Even if you have to eat the $100 cost to get iPod connected right (via aux input), do it. You won't regret that, I promise.

[zero2dash]

I just got back from Best Buy and looked at the 9851...
I'm sold. :kaching:

That deck is frickin' tight...I love the display, and since it has a motorized flipdown face, it's no big deal at all to me. You hit eject, it pops down, put in the cd and it automatically closes again. (The other decks I had seen did not have a motorized return feature, and you had to manually push it up.) But the display is the big thing...nice, clear, easy to read...I like the fact that there's more than 1 or 2 colors on it...even the sound - it sounds awesome. I tried to listen to it with stuff that was close to what I was getting, but the only Alpine components the deck was hooked up to were all the Type R line, so I basically heard "the best" (above what I'm getting). I don't care though - my old car (89 LeBaron) - I had a CDA-7857 cd deck h/u on with weak speakers and even that sounded really good, so I'm sure with a car full of Type S's and a good sub setup with a sealed box...man oh man I can't wait to get this stuff! :)

I have a bad feeling though within the next 6 months I'm gonna want another sub...heh heh. :heh:
Thanks for all your input everyone (especially you, Jay) - you've been a great help and I really appreciate it. :thumb:

And if/when I get an iPod, I'll just get the line-in adapter which is like $30 I think and just use that with it, that way I can still use the click wheel but I'm not dealing with the RF interference/sound quality issues.

[rockets26]

I've got a Sony CDX-F5710 with my Ipod hooked up to it, but the difference between a CD MP3 and Ipod is drastic. I.e. - When coming through my Ipod, quality sucks. Am I missing something?

[zero2dash]

kidrocks -
get one of these. $15 bucks
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-heQjyvkqFdt/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=500KCA121B
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2002/500/l500kca121b-f.jpeg
Just get the mini-to-RCA adapter for the iPod end and you're set.

Rockets - how is the iPod hooked up?

[rockets26]

I think its using something similar to that cable above. 2 RCA inputs on one end to 1/8" on the other end. The cable is a monster cable. I didn't do it myself, but I rarely use my Ipod in my car because the quality is about as good as FM, which if I wanted that, I would've gotten an itrip...

[thekidrocks]

kidrocks -
get one of these. $15 bucks
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-heQjyvkqFdt/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=500KCA121B
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2002/500/l500kca121b-f.jpeg
Just get the mini-to-RCA adapter for the iPod end and you're set.

Rockets - how is the iPod hooked up?

Exactly! Much better than the fancy module system they offer. Mine has a standard 1/8" 3 conductor auxiliary feed as well for a video source - that would work too.

[thekidrocks]

I just got back from Best Buy and looked at the 9851...
I'm sold. :kaching:
.

One thing I like about your choice is the iPersonalize. I didn't use it until today after I visited the Alpine site and looked at the new models.

If anyone isn't familiar with it, you go to their site and setup time correction, extensive crossover settings and overall system parametric EQ settings and download them as an MP3 file that the head unit understands. Just pop the data disc into the CD slot, put the unit in "download ON" mode, and select which parameter set (file name) you want to apply. Sheeezam - it's set.

Two BIGGIE luxuries to it. It's GREAT working with the computer interface vs. fighting with the sequence of settings on the HU, and second - you may loose those settings when the battery is disconnected.

Don't like what you did? Since you can also print the parameters, just compare the printout to what isn't right, and adjust and do it all over again with a few clicks of the mouse. Incredible.

[zero2dash]

I think its using something similar to that cable above. 2 RCA inputs on one end to 1/8" on the other end. The cable is a monster cable. I didn't do it myself, but I rarely use my Ipod in my car because the quality is about as good as FM, which if I wanted that, I would've gotten an itrip...

You probably have one of these two accessories. (essentially both the same, except the first one lets you still connect a cd changer without losing your other aux input device)
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-IBAK13OVNBJ/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=158XA300
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2001/158/l158xa300-f.jpeg

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-IBAK13OVNBJ/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=634MSC01
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2005/634/l634MSC01-f.jpeg

According to Crutchfield, they have a specific one coming out 2/6 that is made for iPods for your deck...maybe check into one of those if you want?
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-IBAK13OVNBJ/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?i=634MSC02
http://akamaipix.crutchfield.com/products/2005/634/l634MSC02-f_dg.jpeg

How does your h/u play the iPod...is it through the radio or actually an "aux" source?

[AlpineJay]

I think its using something similar to that cable above. 2 RCA inputs on one end to 1/8" on the other end. The cable is a monster cable. I didn't do it myself, but I rarely use my Ipod in my car because the quality is about as good as FM, which if I wanted that, I would've gotten an itrip...

just checking, but is your equalizer turned on the iPod? If it is, try turning it off and putting it on flat. Then play it. See what happens. Equalized sound from the source that is double-equalized from the deck can really mess things up.

[zero2dash]

It could also sound bad if the volume on your iPod is turned up high, which it would then output a high volume to the head unit which could also cause it to sound bad. Back in the day when I had a casette deck and used the tape adapter with portable cd players, I noticed that if the volume on the cd player was above more than 3 or 4, it would sound distorted and crappy.

Check the eq like Jay said and the volume too...those could be the culprit.