Today I went stereo shopping. First time in a LONG time. My old system was an Eclipse head unit, Eclipse amp for the interiors, MTX subs, MTX amp, and MBquart interiors. Overall a decent setup. Clarity was the main concern and that setup did fine.

I stopped in to San Diego car stereo and they had an Alpine 9855 listed for $499. The guy said its last years model and that the one on the show room floor was the last they had. He immideatly said it was on sale for $380, and had only been on display for two weeks. After a bit of talking, he went to his manager or co-worker, or had to go beat off for all I know, but he came back and said they could do it for $360.

We talked about the XM interface etc and it seems to be mainly what I am looking for. IPOD is available if I want to fork out the dough for the cable, but I don't have an IPOD, so I don't care about that. However it is there for the future if I am so inclined.

I already have my two MTX subs from my old system, so if I want to put them in I can. Right now I am just more concerned on a quality head unit.

Any idea's on if I should jump on it or not? Its a reputable store, or at least I haven't heard anything bad about them, and they have been around forever. So if something happens with it I can take it back to them unlike EBAY.

This is the unit...



<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by crutchfield &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Alpine's CDA-9855 represents the next step in the evolution of the in-dash receiver.

Take a close look at CDA-9855's faceplate, and you might find yourself saying in surprise, "Hey — there are no preset buttons!" And you're right — instead, there's only a simple, white, silicon rubber strip. That's Alpine's incredibly innovative GlideTouch™ panel.

Just like the touch pad on a laptop computer, you simply slide your finger over the strip until you've found the function you want (a sound guide helps you out). Read more
Details:
» CD receiver with built-in amplifier (18 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels)
» detachable, fold-down face with GlideTouch controls and BioLite display
» plays audio CDs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs, plus discs burned with MP3 and WMA files
» Bass Engine Pro sound controls with iPersonalize setup options
» MediaXpander (restores clarity and detail to compressed or broadcast audio)
» MaxTune SQ tuner
» 12 FM/6 AM presets
» satellite radio controls (SIRIUS or XM subscription, tuner, and antenna required to receive the satellite radio signal) — service is available only in the lower 48 states, not available in Alaska, Hawaii, or U.S. territories
» CD changer controls for Alpine Ai-NET changers only
» compatible with Alpine's iPod interface adapter
» 4-volt front, rear and subwoofer preamp outputs
» Amplifier Link — can control up to 12 Alpine V12 external amps
» clock
» wireless remote
» CEA-2006 compliant amplifier
» CD frequency response: 5-20,000 Hz
» CD signal-to-noise ratio: 105 dB
» FM sensitivity: 9.3 dBf
» warranty: 1 year
» Want more peace of mind?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thoughts or suggestions?

I'm thinking I might just go back and offer him $500 out the door for the head unit, harness, adapter pocket and XM interface equipment.

 

For that much you can get the Alpine 9857 which is this years model and has the features you are looking for. I never liked the glidetouch on last years model. It is a pain to use and I have had some get stuck for some odd reason. Alpine realized that the design was no good and discontinued it. Also to use an Ipod with that unit requires you to buy the kca-402i which is another 80~100 bucks compared to 25 bucks for the full speed ipod cable that is used with the 9857.

 

The 9857 was the first one I listened to. We put my same CD in both and there was a noticable difference.The 9855 had a cleaner, more distinct sound to it. Both were set to the default settings on the EQ as well. Im not the largest fan of touch panels, but I could get used to it for sure.

I also went to FRY's and looked at some Clarions, but they just seemed to be lacking something. Also no mid control was a major

 

I don't see how they could of sound diffrent. Both of those radios have the same features and identical fq responce. One of those radio must of had one of the many features changed

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wrx-killer-Sti eater &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I don't see how they could of sound diffrent. Both of those radios have the same features and identical fq responce. One of those radio must of had one of the many features changed</TD></TR></TABLE>

Same features and freq response doesn't have anything to do with the components used though. Speaking as in, batch A could have been built better then Batch B.

They may have gone with a lower bidding contract for the MY06 + units, resulting in lower audio clairity. I dunno, but from unit a to unit b, on the same speakers, playing the same song and same amp, there was a noticable difference.

I really wish I could go with Eclipse again. I LOVED my old Eclipse. But I want XM, and they only do SIRIUS. Also, from what I am understanding, now they are nothing more then rebadged Kenwoods. Not that there is anything wrong with Kenwood, but its not what FujitsuTEN once was.

 

as far as I remember alpine does not contract out there work. Sounds like a problem in the headunit. Or suchs. That would be bad quality control. I say go back and manualy reset both headunits, by pushinging in the small button. and listen again. But o well. You will hate that glide touch in about a month. I sold 5 and had them both returned in two weeks. Check out the new pioneer lines

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wrx-killer-Sti eater &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">as far as I remember alpine does not contract out there work. Sounds like a problem in the headunit. Or suchs. That would be bad quality control. I say go back and manualy reset both headunits, by pushinging in the small button. and listen again. But o well. You will hate that glide touch in about a month. I sold 5 and had them both returned in two weeks. Check out the new pioneer lines</TD></TR></TABLE>

Were those out of the bad batch that Alpine acknowledged? Or just because people didn't like them?

 

i love my 9855, the biggest problem is with the ipod interface though if you do decide to incorporate one. You cant search by song and the glide touch is a HUGE HUGE pain in the *** when trying to search for songs, especially when driving. You will try to scroll over it and and it will go 1 or 2 songs or maybe 50 or maybe none at all. Very finicky.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Shakes &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Were those out of the bad batch that Alpine acknowledged? Or just because people didn't like them?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No It was a pain to use. And people returned it. You will see the same thing when you get that one. It was cool to be the first. But hey what do you do when something doesn't sell? You stop making it. Its cool if its for a demo car or show car. But for everyday use it becomes anoying and hard to use while driving.

 

hrmm.. thanks for the info. All the reviews I read about the glyde touch is 50/50 so im not too sure. I stopped in to a local shop by work and played with a 9857. Why no motorized face? I know its just one more thing to break but still. Just seems like they took options away without adding anything.

 

I had the 9855. I traded it in for a Pioneer DEH-P980BT after 6 months, and IMO the Pioneer is a much better unit.

BTW the glide touch does suck.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by integra15 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I had the 9855. I traded it in for a Pioneer DEH-P980BT after 6 months, and IMO the Pioneer is a much better unit.

BTW the glide touch does suck.</TD></TR></TABLE>

That unit is sooooo great. I love it.

 

Alpine's last great hu was the 9835, with eclipse's being the 8455.

Imo 360 is wayyy too much for last year's model. Realistically I wouldn't pay more than 300 out the door for the 9855.

I do know a guy selling a DEHP860MP for cheap though

 

I ended up getting the 9857 for $320. That, the pocket, wiring harness and tax was $387. Not horrible. I think I got an OK deal, I have a stereo shop with a rep to back up the warrenty and he made some quick money. We are all happy.

 

I agree that glide touch bar sucks and makes things harder when they should be simple. I would go with a high-end Pioneer unit, but since you already got that one, hope you enjoy it.