Dissapointed in Alpine

**Biohazed** · 07-02-2010

well when I got my GP 3 months ago now I bought a new Head unit for it... seeming I had nothing but awesome experience with Alpine I bought a Alpine CDE-102... I transfered my system from My Blazer also with new 4 guage wiring ... and installed everything System hit but not that loud however it was in the back of a Blazer so I just accounted that to the fact its in a trunk now... so anyway tonight I decided to put my Kenwood Excelon x789 I've had for a few years into my car as I was not happy with the Alpine's random function..and the difference is unreal ... the subs hit so much better its actually scary... Anyway has anyone else out there had any experience with newer Alpine stuff? is it just the CDE-102 that is crap or are all new Alpine stuff lacking?

**I800C0LLECT** · 07-02-2010

I've been questioning my Alpine 9887 but I refuse to deal with their "ipod" decks. My system sounds very good but I'm wondering if there's a difference in voltage out between your CDE-102 and x789 and since your gains weren't adjusted according it just "seems" louder?

I noticed when I had a line driver that my output voltage barely went over 2V on the most intense musical notes.

I'd also like to point out that your CDE-102 isn't even in the same class as the x789. You'd need a 9835, 9855, or 9887 to compete with that kenwood model.

**matt5112** · 07-03-2010

Im almost positive you dont know how to set up your deck.

**I800C0LLECT** · 07-03-2010

x2

**Warbeaver** · 07-03-2010

ive only ever had kenwood headunits and speakers. No complaints here. The kenwood i have now is like 4.5 years old and still works amazing. It's one of the only ones they used to make with the motorized slide down face plate

**clevelandfan** · 07-03-2010

Well I have an alpine head unit, and I love it. mine is an older style unit tho, from back when alpine was serious about their stuff. I love mine, but never dealt much with the newer ones. I still like alpine tho, and would tell people to get one.

**I800C0LLECT** · 07-04-2010

fyi...fell in love with my stereo (CDA-9887) again tonight

**Biohazed** · 07-04-2010

yeah I fell in love with my x789 all over again.. lol I just need to find someone to repair my antenna wire on it

**avelate63** · 07-10-2010

yeah i'm alpine 100%.. idk if maybe you had a wiring prob or maybe just a falty product but i've been most impressed with alpine than anything else

**matt5112** · 07-10-2010

a deck is a deck... the sound quality will all be the same.

Unless you're truly buying garbage.

**I800C0LLECT** · 07-11-2010

Originally Posted by matt5112

a deck is a deck... the sound quality will all be the same.

Unless you're truly buying garbage.

Hrmmm. Source material and opamps aren't always the same

A deck is a deck...? To some extent I'll agree. I'm much more willing to take a deck seriously over essQ amps when it comes to quality. But majority of the time, I'm with you; head Units are mostly the same and the "quality" is more of a mind game.

Let's hope he doesn't find a way to get a bottlehead receiver in there

**matt5112** · 07-11-2010

there is so much background noise in a car its not worth stressing over.

If you're getting the features you want and its from a decent brand, it'll have opamps with enough quality for almost everyone.

**coreygnar** · 07-11-2010

dont **** with matt on audio... he knows his ****

**JarenSTi** · 07-11-2010

cheap and crappy sony headunit ftw!!

**coreygnar** · 07-11-2010

i like my sony

**matt5112** · 07-11-2010

I like my cheap pioneer too.

Gets it done and was cheap.

**I800C0LLECT** · 07-12-2010

Originally Posted by coreygnar

dont **** with matt on audio... he knows his ****

Anybody with confidence can appear to "know his ****!"

Nobody in car audio should be wasting their money on something road noise will ruin. But opinions shouldn't be masked when answering questions. You never know when you're going to run into that trailer queen :>

Pyschoacoustics play a big role in regards to critical listening skills.

Some people really do think their sundowns, tarantula's, hifonics, and other amps are SO much better than say...planet audio or cadence

Just the same, other people won't stop riding the sack of zapco, sinfoni, genesis, arc, etc.

Me and matt just keep each other honest so the reader's aren't blindsided by our opinions

FYI -- I currently have a cold tinny sound to my music and it's pissing me off. Can't wait to swap my mids *wink wink*

**matt5112** · 07-12-2010

I personally wanted to ignore that comment because I know a little, but not a lot.

Audio is a very heavy physics topic and 99.9% of people dont know enough about it and choose to believe that their amp makes a difference when if you were to measure the signal coming out of it.... its exactly the same within the limit of precision of the measurement tool.

But oh well, whatever you feel like spending money on.