Alpine-9885.....

[hemirunner426 10+ year member]

typically they do, however that crossover splits the frequencies for your tweeters and midbass speakers. That is usually the passive crossover between your amp and speakers.

the lowpass/highpass filter in the 9885 splits the frequencies up between your sub and high range speakers. Your sub will typically get anything from 80hz down while your components will get everything 80hz and up. The 80hz and up range your components passive crossover will split up that signal to run to the appropriate driver (aka midbass and tweeters)

the plus side... since the deck has an active crossover network for the sub, it is configurable. for example, with my current deck, i have my crossover frequencies for the sub and componets set at 100hz with a 12db/octive slope since that sounds the best with my setup.

If i were to use my amplifiers low-pass/high-pass crossover i would be stuck at 80hz since my amplifiers are not configurable. Thats why i use my deck to set my crossover frequencies and leave my amps crossovers disabled.

hope the info helps!

I am somewhat new at this too...! anyone who can elaborate better feel free!

 

[Ctminime 10+ year member]

My friend has a 9885 and ive played around with it a little bit... its a good head unit, and although it is one of the new designs, it isnt as cheap looking as some of the other new ones. Its still nothing compared to an older Alpine or anything, but its one of the best of the new models ive seen. It replaces the 9857, which was in my opinion one of Alpines best head units produced. Truthfully, the 9885 isnt quite up to par as far as looks with the 57, but its functionality is nice, and its still a good head unit.

are u smoking crack!!!! that is one of the shittest head units i have ever used. in no way do 06 alpines compare in any way shape or form to 05 and older models... now if you were to say that HUs like the 7998, 9835, 9855 were some of the best headunits produced then i would agree with you... the 9857 however is the most horrid excuse for a high end unit and i think that 06 and newer alpine units are a mockery to alpines awesome reputation for high end stereo.... that is all

/rant

 

[hemirunner426 10+ year member]

are u smoking crack!!!! that is one of the shittest head units i have ever used. in no way do 06 alpines compare in any way shape or form to 05 and older models... now if you were to say that HUs like the 7998, 9835, 9855 were some of the best headunits produced then i would agree with you... the 9857 however is the most horrid excuse for a high end unit and i think that 06 and newer alpine units are a mockery to alpines awesome reputation for high end stereo.... that is all
/rant

i would have to agree... so far i am not impressed with alpine's current line-up... there is just no options to them.

 

[helix66 10+ year member]

I read a lot here to try to learn about the new capabilities of current HUs, mainly to replace my 1995 clarion. I know I could have gotten a better deal elsewhere but I went with crutchfield and got an alpine 9885 (the new model lower than the 9857). http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=CDA-9885

I thought that the ipod control would be a bit better, someone mentioned that the usb HUs are better, I'd be willing to exchange the unit if I can....any suggestions under $350?

 

[packerfan 10+ year member]

Well, i ended up getting the eclipse CD7000. The 9885 isnt anything special from what i could tell, only thing goin for it was the bio lite display which dont mean much in terms of sound. So far im lovin the eclipse, they have never let me down this is my 4th one so far. Thanks for the replys guys.

 

[helix66 10+ year member]

Well, i ended up getting the eclipse CD7000.

How much did you get it for, it looks to be around $500-ish! That's a lot of dough.

 

[JLAudioCavalier 10+ year member]

I will say this.. .anytime someone is looking for a head unit that is within the average Joe's price range, I used to send them to Alpine. Then they phased out the 983X Line... and ever since, I haven't put Alpine at the top of my "bang-for-buck" list of Head Unit manufacturers at all.

Now I gotta say that I am a balls to the wall die hard SQ fan. With that said, the adjustability of Pioneers units in the last couple years has more than out performed anything Alpine has attempted at since the 983X series (Alpines 7XXX series is not being mentioned in this because they are simply in a league of their own among Alpine's line up).

Eclipse has never let me down at all as far as performance. You will always get the kids who care more about screen savers, pretty lights and fancy features that have NOTHING to do with the quality of sound that the head unit produces... witch to me is the NUMBER ONE deciding factor in a head unit.

Over all, If you had walked up to me and said "I want an affordable head unit [$150-350]. I want to get the most features for my money, with my main focus being on the sound and adjustabity and don't care about fancy BS." I would show you some Pioneer's, and some Eclipses.....and then maybe some Alpine's..... it's such a shame realy, because they had SOOOO much going for them... then the 985X series was introduced... then shortly after the 983X series was phased out... and they basicaly went down hill faster than a fat kid on rollerskates //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

 

[helix66 10+ year member]

Over all, If you had walked up to me and said "I want an affordable head unit [$150-350]. I want to get the most features for my money, with my main focus being on the sound and adjustabity and don't care about fancy BS." I would show you some Pioneer's, and some Eclipses.....and then maybe some Alpine's..... it's such a shame realy, because they had SOOOO much going for them... then the 985X series was introduced... then shortly after the 983X series was phased out... and they basicaly went down hill faster than a fat kid on rollerskates //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/frown.gif.a3531fa0534503350665a1e957861287.gif

So take those concerns you listed and add really good ipod control, what would you recommend? I understand what you are saying, I'm not trying to defend anything, just not sure what to consider, and I feel a bit stupid now for buying the alpine unit.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/blackeye.gif.66a1670f5aaf7f406e783a63e3387dc5.gif

 

[packerfan 10+ year member]

Honestly the headunit market is going down the drain. If i honestly could id buy back my eclipse 8062. Everythings going from people that cared about sound quality to blue tooth and ipod controls.

 

[JLAudioCavalier 10+ year member]

don't worry packerfan, we still got Nak and Denon kicking around... but it seems the people driven by iPod features, Bluetooth, USB, SD and low cost are driving the market a lot more than the people concerned with on board EQ and X-Over settings, and clean sound and solid quality. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crying.gif.ec0ebefe590df0251476573bc49e46d8.gif

 

[Ctminime 10+ year member]

So take those concerns you listed and add really good ipod control, what would you recommend? I understand what you are saying, I'm not trying to defend anything, just not sure what to consider, and I feel a bit stupid now for buying the alpine unit.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/blackeye.gif.66a1670f5aaf7f406e783a63e3387dc5.gif

dont feel bad that u got an alpine feel bad that u got a newer alpine... they make a good unit... just not anymore...

 

[JLAudioCavalier 10+ year member]

they make a good unit... just not anymore...

I couldn't say it any better than that! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/2thumbs.gif.fdc3ba010dbb42b61704534b46d02fe4.gif

 

[rdzm50 10+ year member]

well i have a 9855... i think that there are better HUs out there for the money... but it is... ehhh ok.... way to complicated at first for sure though...

 

[helix66 10+ year member]

dont feel bad that u got an alpine feel bad that u got a newer alpine... they make a good unit... just not anymore...

So the other part of my comment was what'd be decent in that price range that has good ipod control and acceptable sound quality?

 

[Bluecamry 10+ year member]

are u smoking crack!!!! that is one of the shittest head units i have ever used. in no way do 06 alpines compare in any way shape or form to 05 and older models... now if you were to say that HUs like the 7998, 9835, 9855 were some of the best headunits produced then i would agree with you... the 9857 however is the most horrid excuse for a high end unit and i think that 06 and newer alpine units are a mockery to alpines awesome reputation for high end stereo.... that is all
/rant

The 9857 was just the 9856 with two lines of text. I think the 56 is a very solid head unit, for a very reasonable price. Ive never used the 57 hands on, so its just an assumption that a two line text of my personal favored HU will be, in my opinion, better. Not for the price though obviously, or id have a 57 sitting in my car. It is a good head unit with an ample amount of features, but I agree, the 57 is a sorry excuse for "high end" head units. The head units you listed are good, and I really dont see a 56 or a 57 as being too far off par of those quality-wise. I hate Alpines new head units a lot, trust me. Im confused as to what generation HU you are talking about, whether we got mixed up. Perhaps...