Want to stop me from wasting my money?

[arthman]

I'm about to buy the cheapest Alpine head unit of the 2007 range.

Its more expesive than the Pioneer unit I was origionally looking at and has less features.

I'll have to convert the AAC music on iTunes to mp3 because thats all it plays.

I'll have to make do with only one amplifier pre-out in the long run.

I wont be able to connect my ipod to it easily.

It will be more appealing to thieves so I'll be more worried about it.

Will the build quality, sq and appearance make up for these losses?

Click to read more...

 

[shava 10+ year member]

Probably not, I dont like the look of the cheaper models, but everyone is different.

 

[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

welcome to the site, and i also do not like there appereance

 

[Babs 10+ year member]

I'm about to buy the cheapest Alpine head unit of the 2007 range.
Its more expesive than the Pioneer unit I was origionally looking at and has less features.

I'll have to convert the AAC music on iTunes to mp3 because thats all it plays.

I'll have to make do with only one amplifier pre-out in the long run.

I wont be able to connect my ipod to it easily.

It will be more appealing to thieves so I'll be more worried about it.

Will the build quality, sq and appearance make up for these losses?

...Don't use "quality" or "SQ" in the same sentence with "cheapest head unit".

At the bottom rung of any brand, expect maybe a couple years at most of operation before it dies, and don't expect much in terms of sound quality. Not to sound like a caraudiosnob, as I know every low-dollar product does have it's place somewhere, but just understand what you should expect in a less-than $150 head unit.. Not much, unfortunately. And adding an amp to a low-end HU will only make mediocre sound quality louder.

Are you replacing OEM with this head unit or another aftermarket? Reason I ask is, I'd keep OEM over swapping for a low-end HU, anyday... just for reliability reasons if anything.

 

[sdmtnbiker420 10+ year member]

they sell this headunit at walmart if that means anything to you.

 

[WantedIsHere]

doubt it... i never saw an alpine product at walmart in my life

 

[phantom240 5,000+ posts]

Buy a pioneer 390ib or whatever. Its nice for only $130. I got it where I work for $100 flat. Plays wma, aac, mp3, etc... has a 3 band equalizer, subwoofer output control, hp and lp crossovers built in, and has a remote.

My alpine 9856 sounded waaay better though, and was easier to navigate. But the features of pioneer units pwn alpine's... and im an alpine wh0re

 

[krisfnbz 10+ year member]

get the pioneer line from 390ib 490ib or 590ib great head units for cheap. dont buy that alpine trash

 

[phantom240 5,000+ posts]

I love alpine's reliability, style, and clean consistent power... dont get me wrong, but pioneer's new lineup has awesome features.

 

[tbasile1 10+ year member]

get the pioneer line from 390ib 490ib or 590ib great head units for cheap. dont buy that alpine trash

I love my 4900ib, it retails for 179, great audio features, iPod control is sweet and the iPod sounds amazing!

The 3900 is 130, but does not have direct ipod control like the 4900ib and up

but the 3900 is also a great unit, i believe the only difference between the 3900 and 4900 is the direct iPod control

Im a Pioneer *****! but Alpines are good HUs as well