After waiting all summer for this to come out, I finally received it yesterday and installed it today. Installation is fairly simple. It just plugs in to the back for your AI controlled Alpine HU and your Ipod with a dock connector. The box is small enough to fit right behind the AC controls. I just velcro'd it on the floor of the transmission tunnel instead of mounting it with screws. After buying a Belkin Ipod Holder that fits in your cup holder, I realized I didn't really need it. I could've just stuck it into my center cubby hole because the Ipod's screen is diabled when your Ipod is plugged in anyway. My one complaint about it is that my Alpine HU has limited display and you can only see one line of text. Other than that, it works great. I can finally get rid of my FM transmitter and car charger for my Ipod.

 

I just bought the same unit, but haven't installed it yet. How does the sound quality compare to a CD?

 

Well it's not as good as a cd, because they are compressed files, after all. But it sounds alot better than having the Ipod hooked up to an FM transmitter. The sound is comparable to playing an mp3 cd in the alpine system.

 

Great! Thanks!

 

what alpine head unit do you have?

I read that it works with the 9815, which is what I have. I am actually connecting it through my xm radio module, hope that doesn't effect anything.

 

any picture?

 

any picture?

 

I have a 9826. As long is your HU is AI-net, it should work. I was contemplating on getting the new Sirius interface for my alpine, but I don't where to put the antenna since I have a roadster.

 

I had the Alpine 9835 installed with the Alpine 420i interface this week. It replaced the Bose HU and was connected to the Bose speakers and sub.

The 9835 displays 3 lines of text when you are scrolling files or playlists. "MP3's" made with Apple 128 ACC sound fine even when compared to Apple Lossless or original CD source. Hi freq is noticeably better with the Alpine head.

 

just installed it with my alpine 9815, works great.

I actually just plugged it into my Alpine XM radio module which I have mounted on a board in the subwoofer compartment behind the drivers seat.

I can't decide where I want to keep my iPod, but I will probably end up running the cable to the top little compartment behind the passengers seat. It is really easy to take that thing out and it already has grooves in the back of it. I will have to use my dremel tool to make them big enough for the connector to fit through though.

Here is a picture before I mounted the iPod module, I will try to get a current picture sometime soon.

 

Here's a pic of my set up. Originally I had the Ipod on a Belkin Ipod Cupholder. I got tired of having to unplug it and hide it when making quick trips to run errands. Today I rerouted the wire to run into the cubby hole. You still have to remove your Ipod while your car is parked for a long period because the Ipod cannot be exposed to extreme temps for a long period of time. I like it better in this location. Now I can use my cupholder again for coffee.

 

i installed mine a week ago when i got it from crutchfield. the cable was just long enough to run it to the space underneath the glove box. i will mostlikely mount a dock connector in there for easy in and out, but im not sure if it will stay plugged in when i take hard turns and such, but we will see. my only complaint is it takes a bit to get used to how you browse the artists albums and playlist folders, and its slow. almost painfully slow for a large library(I have 30+ gigs). Its no where near the speed of the ipod.

 

gggrrrr mp3s can sound as good or better then CDs....its up to YOU to download or for legal purposes 'back up your cds' quality 192 or higher bit rate files

 

I finally installed it back near my CD changer. It can be removed at anytime for portable use. Sounds awesome with 40 GB of music at a 192 bit rate.

I tried to attach some photos, but now the site won't take even a tiny one. I posted them on 350Z motoring.com

 

I am using 192 bit rate also, why have a CD changer anymore when you can have 500+ CD's at your finger tips?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by zland
I am using 192 bit rate also, why have a CD changer anymore when you can have 500+ CD's at your finger tips? [/QUOTE

I agree. I may just upgrade the CD changer to an Alpine Ai-net DVD changer.

 

How can an mp3 sound better than a CD? The ones that I've heard/made @192kbs or less sounded pretty bad.