Alpine iLX-007 in my 2012 Honda CRV LX

[Kai Winters 10+ year member]

Hi all,

I'll start out by saying I have a great wife.

I've been lusting over replacing the factory head unit in the crv since I bought it last March. But money needed to go other places and I really wanted to give the factory system a good try...Well since the last ios upgrade on my iphone 6+ the radio has been wonkier that before...Pandora took over to the point where I had to delete it from the phone to get music, podcasts, audible to work correctly. Bluetooth and hard wire connect never played nice and using bluetooth for audio meant a lower volume level compared to hard wire connect and the interface just didn't play nice at all with the iphone.

I bought an Alpine iLX-007 head unit...uses Car Play... I did a lot of research online, forums, Google searches for problems, reviews, etc. and found few real complaints...some seemed more install problems that device problems.

Head Unit: Alpine iLX-007

Amp: JL Audio HX280/4 four channel amp bridged for the fronts only.

Front Speakers: JL Audio C2-650X Evolution

Parts: BHA1729 harness, PAC SWI-RC Wheel Control Interface & Metra 95-7802CH Dash Kit

It works extremely well. The head unit works as I had hoped it would...basically it is my iphone on steroids... The sound is also great...dynamic range and sound stage are better than I had hoped. I have tweaked the audio settings and want to play with Alpines "Tune It" app but other than having a cool toy to play with it is not really needed.

I like how the phone system works...I can either use Siri, which works great...or use the touch controls to select contacts, etc. I really like being able to send and receive text messages...it is very cool to listen to a text message...funny to hear "blue heart", etc. when my wife texts me.

Nearly all of the steering wheel controls work...I can not set the clock though I have some limited access to the clock setting. I have also lost the neat little compass. The install tech said to bring the car back in tomorrow with the factory radio so he can see if he can restore the clock and compass. I told him to give it a try but not to kill himself. Other than that the little dash display works showing a picture or the gas mileage/range...that is it...

I have a nice little bypass rocker switch on the left side of the shifter box...that little panel on each side...so I can access the advanced/video settings/etc. without having to engage the parking brake...sweet...I have the usb plug next to it...

I don't care about the cord having to be used all the time I'm using Car Play but for what I get it is a small price to pay.

Overall I'm very satisfied and very happy with the system. In the future, possibly end of year, I'm still considering replacing the little amp with a better JL Audio 4 channel bridging the rear channels to my MB Quart 10" sub in a sealed box...I miss that sub, it is very tight and has just enough thump to satisfy my needs. I had it sitting on the floor of the back seat in my Accord.

No pictures yet...hopefully tomorrow.

Thanks for reading this lengthy post.

Happy New Year everyone !

A few pictures:

Click to read more...

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

Tune It is an important part of the head unit. it gives you time alignment which will help center the soundstage. it has a good EQ to account for the aiming and placement of your speakers. certainly, use it and tweak to improve even further.

 

[Kai Winters 10+ year member]

Tune It is an important part of the head unit. it gives you time alignment which will help center the soundstage. it has a good EQ to account for the aiming and placement of your speakers. certainly, use it and tweak to improve even further.

Even paid for the TTS app and still unable to create an account. Tried calling Alpine Tech Support but they are closed, on holiday, until Monday. Oh well.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

Even paid for the TTS app and still unable to create an account. Tried calling Alpine Tech Support but they are closed, on holiday, until Monday. Oh well.

App should have been free. Regardless, same tuning is available in the head unit. The app is only allowing another way to adjust it.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[cfox10 10+ year member]

I bought this unit... unfortunately I'm returning it tomorrow. Feature wise it doesn't have enough for me, and sound wise I run a dsp so it doesn't really matter much for me.

Glad you like it though, the look of it is fantastic.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

I bought this unit... unfortunately I'm returning it tomorrow. Feature wise it doesn't have enough for me, and sound wise I run a dsp so it doesn't really matter much for me.
Glad you like it though, the look of it is fantastic.

if you have a DSP, what features are you looking for in a HU?

 

[cfox10 10+ year member]

if you have a DSP, what features are you looking for in a HU?

Bluetooth, Android compatible, id like full Android device tbh. I knew going into the unit it didn't have these features. My own fault for picking something that wouldn't work for me.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

I'd stick with Alpine, but choose a different unit. Most should be. You chose an Apple unit.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[pickup1 5,000+ posts]

Sounds like he needs a pioneer. ..does alpine support full android?

 

[rkelley71461]

I purchased my wife a 2014 CRV Lx and she loves it, but I want to change the head unit. I noticed on your post that you said you lost the use of the clock and compass, but I was wondering....Did you lose the use of your steering wheel controls? and were you able to use the factory mic for hands free calling? Any info you can give is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Kai Winters 10+ year member]

Hi,

I did not lose "all" my steering wheel controls. I only lost the ability to change the time on the imid clock and lost the digital compass which is part of the factory radio on the 2012 LX model. I did not use the factory mic, instead I used the mic Alpine supplied which is mounted on the ceiling, driver side and is not noticeable and works great.

The Alpine iLX-007 works great...sound quality is typical Alpine...very very good. The Car Play apps also work great...using Siri to make/take calls, texts, etc. works really well..."maps" generally works very well but where I live it is easy to lose cell coverage in the back country but when I get close to a town or village it reconnects...overall Car Play is awesome.

 

[rkelley71461]

Ok, thanks for the quick reply. I was curious if the factory mic could be used with the aftermarket head unit, to keep it looking as factory as possible. I guess I should have been more specific on asking which steering wheel controls still work. I am sure you can still use the volume controls and source button on steering wheel controls (I did an install on my buddies Toyota highlander and the aftermarket interface worked great and I plan to use an interface for my install), but I was curious if you still had function of the answer and hang up buttons on the steering wheel controls with the new aftermarket head unit?

 

[Kai Winters 10+ year member]

The installer that did the work did not feel comfortable, his words, trying to tap into the wiring for the mic and the factory rear camera. He asked if I wanted him to go ahead and try, he would if I wanted him to go ahead, but I decided to go with the supplied Alpine mic and then the Rydeen backup camera both of which connect directly into the head unit. The mic and camera work great and I don't notice the mic up in the corner.

I no longer have the steering wheel controls for the phone...answer, etc...They are Bluetooth controls hence don't work with my head unit as it doesn't have Bluetooth. Rather it uses the iphone via Siri to make and answer calls...making calls is great using Siri...I just say "Siri call wife" and she makes the call. The large touch screen controls on the screen also make it very easy to make/take/end, etc. calls and text messages...I send a text the same way..."Siri send a text message to my wife"...she asks me to say the message and sends it to my wife...also reads text messages to me...I don't miss the steering wheel controls for phone calls at all.

 

[rkelley71461]

So, did you lose the factory back up camera when you installed the new unit (radio)?

 

[Kai Winters 10+ year member]

Hi,

No I did not lose the factory backup camera...It still works fine...but...the head unit has such a nice 7 inch screen and very good backup camera software that I added a Rydeen backup camera along side the factory camera giving me 2 backup cameras...the Rydeen is a better quality camera and using the 7 inch screen is a big improvement.