Not happy with my Alpine CDA-9885

[edison_GTI 10+ year member]

Last week I installed an Alpine CDA-9885, which replaced a Pioneer AVIC-D2 (now in my daily driver). The car is '06 GTI. It didn't come with the factory amp and I replaced the front speakers already with set of Rainbow IQ series (a 3-way system).

Before installing the Alpine, I was enjoying the Rainbows with the Pioneer head unit, very nice sounding set (all my previous components were a/d/s/). Now the same speakers sound dull with the Alpine. The best way to describe the sound system right now is "lacking on warmth", if that makes any sense. The 9885 doesn't have that much tuning capability. The best result I found was by turning off the loudness. With loudness on, the mids are out of control. The question is, should I go ahead and replace he HU before installing amps (Alpine PDX 4.150), or keep it and try with the amps? Seems to me that I will need an EQ for sure to tone down the mids, I was very pleased with the Pioneer sound.

Suggestions for a new HU with iPod controls (or at least aux input)? I think I'm done with Alpine HU. I'm also done with Eclipse.

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[Kevlar 10+ year member]

Maybe try the 9887 when it comes out (August 8th). I was thinking about the 9885, but the 9887 will supposedly feature far better EQ controls and tuning capability. Its $100 more, but I'm sure it'll be worth it.

 

[exige 10+ year member]

i too would go with the 9887....then i would add on the amps. regardless...i have a 9857...aka 9885....and i love it. to each his own.

 

[genxx 10+ year member]

Seems like maybe you need to stick with Pioneer if that the only thing you like. The 9885 is pretty much a basic deck with a remote so I hope you did not expect much. Not 24bit, no decent GEQ, PEQ or x-over.

I have been happy with the Alpine 9860, Pioneer 880PRS and all the Eclipse's my fav unit. So I would go back to Pioneer since you seem not to like the other's at all. Just remeber it depends on how high up the food chain of each brand you go and what you are whiling to spend.

Taking Alpine and Eclipse out of the equation. Only leaves, Clarion, JVC, Pioneer, Kenwood and Ural if you can find one. That I would run.IMO

Might look at Clarion. I have owned the DRZ9255 and still have a new DXZ775USB and old 855MC. Probably my fav deck never had any issues and always liked the sound.

I had the Rainbow Profi Van 3-way and they where sweet. Good choice on the Rainbows.

 

[vvblazers777 10+ year member]

9887 Ftw... Sorry your disappointed bro.

 

[edison_GTI 10+ year member]

Thanks guys, I guess I should wait for the 9887. I was thinking on trying the P880PRS.

The reason I ruled out Eclipse is that I had a CD8443 and I loved it, the best HU (except of a Nak 45z I previously had) with tons of tuning capabilities. I was missing mp3 so I decided to try the CD8455. Well, the CD8455 didn't sound natural at all, and that was with the same setup as the CD8443 (a/d/s/ comps and Crossfire amps). I was disappointed with the CD8455.

My ideal HU would be a Nak CD500 with iPod controls.

 

[genxx 10+ year member]

You might want to check out what I just posted under the general thread about the 9887. Does not look to be what maybe some thought it was going to be or maybe it was. For Alpine I still prefer the 9835 or 9855.

I like my 8455 so I am biased on it sorry you did not. But thats what makes the car audio world go around.LOL

 

[desertheat 10+ year member]

or go old school with the 9835 //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif You bought a basic deck with no processing power. Obviously your old system was tuned the way you like with your old deck and the alpine just does not have the capability...

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

Alpine head units have ALWAYS lacked in the midrange. No warmth. Atleast not without any good external processing.

 

[desertheat 10+ year member]

*LOL* that is funny //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif If a deck sounds warm without any internal processing turned on, then it is a pile of crap. You should not use things such as "warmth" to describe a digital output with flat frequency responce

 

[phantom240 5,000+ posts]

Last week I installed an Alpine CDA-9885, which replaced a Pioneer AVIC-D2 (now in my daily driver). The car is '06 GTI. It didn't come with the factory amp and I replaced the front speakers already with set of Rainbow IQ series (a 3-way system).
Before installing the Alpine, I was enjoying the Rainbows with the Pioneer head unit, very nice sounding set (all my previous components were a/d/s/). Now the same speakers sound dull with the Alpine. The best way to describe the sound system right now is "lacking on warmth", if that makes any sense. The 9885 doesn't have that much tuning capability. The best result I found was by turning off the loudness. With loudness on, the mids are out of control. The question is, should I go ahead and replace he HU before installing amps (Alpine PDX 4.150), or keep it and try with the amps? Seems to me that I will need an EQ for sure to tone down the mids, I was very pleased with the Pioneer sound.

Suggestions for a new HU with iPod controls (or at least aux input)? I think I'm done with Alpine HU. I'm also done with Eclipse.

I could sell you a nifty 11 band EQ to let you tune everything just the way you want it //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif Cheap!

 

[Eugenics 5,000+ posts]

*LOL* that is funny //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif If a deck sounds warm without any internal processing turned on, then it is a pile of crap. You should not use things such as "warmth" to describe a digital output with flat frequency responce

he's a moron.

and i can't believe 9835's are now old school. i remember when they had just came out and we were talking about the 7998s as the old school deck.

 

[desertheat 10+ year member]

haha 7998 is still a sweet peice of gear, and yeah man... it seems like yesterday I was getting in my 9835. Heck seems like yesterday I was getting in my 7949!

I can say though getting back my 9835 has been bliss. Just a stellar deck, if only she had fiber optic outputs on her. May contact and engineer buddy and see what he can do about that.

 

[Towncar 10+ year member]

just pick up a pioneer deck. No need to stray away from what you like..

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

*LOL* that is funny //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif If a deck sounds warm without any internal processing turned on, then it is a pile of crap. You should not use things such as "warmth" to describe a digital output with flat frequency responce

Ok. I'll revoke the word warmth from my description. Alpine decks still lack in the mid range out of the box. And what does a digital output have to do with the way this guy is running his deck.??