My Alpine CDA-9815 Review

[Tungsten 10+ year member]

Recieved my new CDA-9815 on Tuesday and installed it in my car that evening. I'm still getting used to some of the features but suffice it to say that the deck sounds GREAT.

MP3 load time is short and quick, exactly like it should be. I can't tell a difference between loading an MP3 track and loading a standard CD-Audio track.

The MX music enhancement is nice and the parametric EQ feature is killer! Have not yet had a chance to play with the time correction tables, but figure I will get into that this weekend when I have more time to play with it.

The Time Correction feature is one of the niftiest things about these newer Alpine head units and the older "high end" Alpines. I sat down with a measuring tape in my car last night and actually plotted out all of the speaker distances. Of course, being the American that I am, I went with inches rather than meters... but that's okay. Alpine's iPersonalize site allows you to do on the fly conversions, so I made use of that resource just to keep things simple.

Fit and finish are superb, much as one would expect from Alpine. The buttons have a firm, positive tactile touch to them. The rotary encoder knob is recessed a little more than on the 7894 and other previous similar units, which is ideal in my opinion. It is just large enough to use easily, but small and recessed enough that you don't find yourself accidentally hitting it when searching for other buttons.

The minor bits of "chrome" on the faceplate are actually more of a brushed chrome. Not near the bling bling ghetto styling of other decks with metallic trim. The gaudy Pioneers come to mind. Ugh.

The display itself is EXCELLENT. If you are considering the CDA-9813 or the CDA-9815, spend the extra $100 and go for the 9815 if for nothing else but the cool dot-matrix display. It is so much easier to read and pleasant to look at than the older LCD calculator-style displays.

And very informative too! The amount of information that you can bring up on this display leaves you playing with the "Display" button for moments on end. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

All in all I am very pleased. Pics have already been posted in my gallery here.

Click to read more...

 

[Bumpin03 10+ year member]

nice review....how much did you pay for the HU?

 

[Randy Savage 5,000+ posts]

Hahahaha Tungsten, just noticed that you quoted me in your sig, thats sweet

PS- Nice review, and saw the pics of it, looks sweet

 

[Tungsten 10+ year member]

$430 shipped.

 

[Tungsten 10+ year member]

Originally posted by snova031 Hahahaha Tungsten, just noticed that you quoted me in your sig, thats sweet

 

PS- Nice review, and saw the pics of it, looks sweet

Heh... that comment cracked me up when you made it. Instant quote material. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

Thanks, this is one of those rare occasions when I can honestly say that I don't regret having spent $400 on a head unit. It's top quality!

 

[sld]

Where did you get it? I'm debating whether I should get it online by unauthorized dealer for like $419 + $11 shipping, or from crutchfield(the only online authorized alpine dealer) for $499 and free shipping.

 

[wrxtsy]

it rules getting mine for $285 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

God bless employee accomidations. You're right Tungsten. This HU is one of the better ones out this year. We put it on display above those god awful new kenwoods, I already sold 4 of the 9815.

-Tim

 

[quiimari 10+ year member]

285... thats a deal...

 

[Tungsten 10+ year member]

$285 is a fantastic price! Do you work for a national chain? If so, perhaps you could PM me with the name of it so that I can maybe get a buddy locally to pick one up. I've got friends at all three of national chains here in town and another 9815 would be great in our Jeep! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[wrxtsy]

I Dont work for Best Buy or Circuit. I really dont want to say anything more. Im picking up my HU today, woot!

-Tim

 

[Tungsten 10+ year member]

That's cool, man. I'm sure you have your reasons for not divulging any more info... and I don't blame you a bit. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[ss3079 5,000+ posts]

Sweet review...I'm an Alpine man myself

- Steve

 

[wrxtsy]

got my 9815 tonight. The HU so far is very nice. Definitely a manual reading night. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif First step of project bump is complete.

-Tim

 

[Lilmofo55 10+ year member]

Sound like an excellent product. I was actually looking at that same head unit about a week ago and just thinking about switching from my Sony mp3 to the Alpine CDA 9815. I hate waiting to wait so long for my mp3 cd's to load and this would be just what i'm lookin for. Thanks for the review man. Yall's know any place to get it any cheaper than $499? I've been lookin around but can't seem to find anywhere. Just wondering if I would need to get my alternator rewound if i got it though. I still have my stock alternator with a Profile BA400 450watt amp. About to get the Profile Clarus 900watt amp. Do you think I would need to get it rewound? Do you know of anyplace around the Jacksonville, FL area that does that?

Lilmofo55

 

[bdsc]

I am in Australia. Do u know whether they ship internationally?? Plz help

 

[nswartley 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by Tungsten Thanks, this is one of those rare occasions when I can honestly say that I don't regret having spent $400 on a head unit. It's top quality!

how often do you spend 400 dollars on a head unit? biotch //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[wrxtsy]

I highly doubt you would need to get your alternator re-wound. Thats not that much power really. Plus its overly expensive to get it rewound. If you're worried about it, just get a 5F cap so the power can be stored so its less strain on the battery/alt.

-Tim

 

[nswartley 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by wrxtsy I highly doubt you would need to get your alternator re-wound. Thats not that much power really. Plus its overly expensive to get it rewound. If you're worried about it, just get a 5F cap so the power can be stored so its less strain on the battery/alt.

 

-Tim

no no no no no no no. caps are BAD, BAD! it would put MORE strain on the battery and alternator! dont start with us!

 

[mattj 5,000+ posts]

Woop. Im an Alpine man myself as well. I talked my buddy into getting the 9815 as well. Im gonna love playing with that deck. He also bought my MOMOs and my Autotek MX-1300. Its gonna sound so sweet.

 

[ss3079 5,000+ posts]

Originally posted by wrxtsy I highly doubt you would need to get your alternator re-wound. Thats not that much power really. Plus its overly expensive to get it rewound. If you're worried about it, just get a 5F cap so the power can be stored so its less strain on the battery/alt.

 

-Tim

Tim,

When you get a moment, do a search sometime on caps There are many threads where various people ( JLaine ) have explained how a cap can actually place more strain on your electrical system.

Caps are sort of like a band-aid...you have a deep wound, and it needs stitches(alternator).

Many shops will rewind your alternator from between $0.75 - $1.00/ampere. If you wanted to purchase a new alternator, that could run you anywhere between $150 - $350+, depending on the size and housing.

- Steve