Alpine's iDA-X001 iPod / media receiver forthcoming

iPod car integration has long since gone from being mythic desire to nearly stock feature, but plugging an iPod in via USB and it just running, that's still a pretty fresh experience. Alpine's forthcoming aftermarket iDA-X001 iPod / media-ready receiver promises just that having been "designed and developed with input from Apple." (Perhaps this is what Steve's gonna put in his Mercedes SL55 -- don't ask us how we know that.) Expect this too in the CES timeframe, all you iPod modding car audio mavens.

[mikeyb @ Nov 29th 2006 12:37PM]

Can't Jobs get the SL65 cheap chump, where is that Tesla Roadster for the trendy.

[Joe Talerico @ Nov 29th 2006 12:38PM]

I currently have my Ipod attached to my Alpine headunit, and my headunit can also control the Ipod... I did this about 2 years ago.

Using one of these:
http://car-audio-video.info/blog/alpine-kca-420i.jpg

[Jim @ Nov 29th 2006 1:18PM]

I think that the point of this is that you don't need a controller box anymore. I did the same thing but with a Pioneer head unit and controller box two years ago. I like!

[peej @ Nov 29th 2006 4:10PM]

No, the controller box is gone in my head unit. The point of this is that it actually controls the ipod with an interface similar to the ipods. right now the interface is kinda shitty and it's definitely not as slick as the ipod interface. I'm personally pretty stoked on this because it's such a pain navigating my podcasts with my current alpine head unit.

Heh, head unit. That's a great "your momma" insult...

[Jesse @ Nov 29th 2006 12:47PM]

I'm waiting for a head unit that has a flip down face, with an iPod dock/slot behind it. Then I can just dock my ipod inside the head unit, and control it from the front... why hasn't someone made this yet?!

[Sardonic Bastard @ Nov 29th 2006 12:55PM]

Jesse: the reason that's not really easy is due to the different locations of the dock connector on each generation or style of ipod. It would require a system of adapter plates for it to really work well, if you didn't want the ipod moving around a lot.

I currently have a pioneer stereo with the first gen ipod interface, and it's pretty terrible. Even the newer ones have their limits. I hope that this one delivers.

[Earl @ Nov 29th 2006 12:55PM]

Where's the Zune's version? I mean the "iPod killer."

[Jeff @ Nov 29th 2006 12:58PM]

It's about freakin' time...

http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Album_20Art_20Car_20Stereo

...that was my post, almost a year ago.

[MacGordon @ Nov 29th 2006 1:00PM]

That seems like a good idea. But what would be better is a deck that would take any mp3 player (I know wake up cuz I'm dreaming).

I currently have an Alpine touch-screen lcd dvd player deck and have the ipod integration hookup. It hooks up your ipod via the cd shuttle port. It works ok, but could be better.

Over all, with all the Alpine products I have in my truck (ipod hookup, tv receiver, gps navigation) I'm pleased with their products.

[John @ Nov 29th 2006 1:06PM]

@Joe: Sure Alpine already has some iPod integration, but it's far from responsive and elegant. I chose to just go with a SIK imp over the Alpine integration since it was so clunky and slow

@Jesse: I'd be all over that! I accidentally forgot to stick my iPod in the dashboard one night and someone smashed my passenger window to take it. Out a deductible and an iPod. A hidden solution with a good interface would be awesome. I'd probably even give up CD playing functionality to make room.

[Michael @ Nov 29th 2006 1:26PM]

Does it play CDs at all? I don't see any button that would eject a CD. I love my Alpine and can't wait to see what else they announce.

[Zadillo @ Nov 29th 2006 3:48PM]

I think maybe that button in the lower left hand corner is it....

[Alcaron @ Nov 29th 2006 1:28PM]

I LOVE my Alpine head unit and even though its one of the older ones that requires the external controller I LOVE the ipod integration.

This just looks like one HELL of a step up.

Now please can we all just get along and have a universal MP3 player interface? Please? I know its not the BEST thing for you manufacturers, but gosh, us sh*tty worthless customers sure would get a jolly good laugh from it.

[mlucas2006 @ Nov 29th 2006 2:27PM]

I'm glad to see that Alpine is stepping up their game. I bought an Alpine headunit about 4 years ago which was recently stolen. Now that I'm in the market again, the technology of their headunits hasn't seemed to advance at all. I think I'll be waiting until more headunits like this one come out before I buy anything.

[Andy @ Nov 29th 2006 2:46PM]

Pretty nice looking, but it's undoubtedly going to cost a LOT. I'll stick with my CDA-9857 with an iPod connector. I have an open tray below my head unit that I just ran the cable through the back of and I just sit my iPod in there. It's prefect really.

Take a look: http://www.ajerman.com/car/newhu.jpg

[Dan Smith @ Nov 29th 2006 2:47PM]

Joe Talerico, the difference is that what you see on the head-unit display is what you'd see on the iPod and that the control knob better emulates the scroll wheel. IMHO, while it may make it significantly more user-friendly to find playlists and songs -- using the iPod hierarchy, rather than the clunk "folders/discs" metaphor that Alpine's past units have used, it may be a step backward, as the iPod text may be smaller than the head-unit text.

Jim, as of this year, Alpine has offered head-units which only require a cable to interface with an iPod -- essentially the interface box is built into the head-unit.

Michael, there's what looks like an eject button in the lower left corner.

[James Hare @ Nov 29th 2006 3:17PM]

I've used an Alpine unit with my iPod since the KC-420i first came out--this looks like the first REAL enhancement they've made. Last year it was "faster speed scrolling" and now it looks like cover art will be supported.
That head unit's interesting looking. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing.
I do know I like it.

[kris @ Nov 29th 2006 3:40PM]

wow thats looking pretty cool, they should make the sreen bigger thoe

[BAMF @ Nov 29th 2006 4:01PM]

Ah, I think you may be right. However, if that's the CD eject button, where's the faceplate removal button? Usually it's situated on the left edge...

[BAMF @ Nov 29th 2006 3:57PM]

Why no CD player? I mean, I hardly ever use mine, already having iPod support and Sirius, but c'mon, no CD player??

Also, this thing looks kinda fugly with the huge scroll wheel in the middle. I realize that it is supposed to simulate the iPod experience, but why not move the wheel to the left, double the width of the screen, and then you could display larger album art and still have decent-sized text next to it.

Alpine, I love your stuff, but you're killing me here. Remember the touch strip debacle from the 2005 units? Great idea, but poor execution. Take the new features you've got here (iPod hierarchy menus, album art display, and useful scroll wheel), throw in photo and video support, and put it in a double DIN touchscreen unit. Please?

[Sean Ryan @ Nov 30th 2006 10:34PM]

This is a flip down unit...

[Michael @ Nov 29th 2006 4:26PM]

The lower left button looks like the faceplate eject, like on most Alpines, not a CD eject.

[Tim C @ Nov 29th 2006 8:17PM]

Anybody else think that the control knob is a little close to the display? I'd hate to drop $300 on a head unit, only to find that I can't see the beautiful display...

[Jeramy @ Nov 29th 2006 11:49PM]

yeah i just bought a pioneer head unit over the summer with an ipod in mind. the controls are really intuitive. it has a rotary nob that can also be tilted in 4 directions. pretty spiffy.

i don't have an ipod yet (christmas), but using the system to navigate my mp3 cds' file architecture works like a charm, so i'm assuming the functionality will remain.

[nes @ Nov 30th 2006 1:03AM]

yeah i bet the eject button on the lower left actually flips the front down so you can insert a cd or take the face off manually.

[Digitalosh @ Nov 30th 2006 5:30AM]

So the other day I was at futureshop, just checking out the iPod head unit lineup, and I saw a DVD screen deck with iPod integration by JENSEN of all companies. Anyways, I checked it out rather skeptically, but was dumbstruck when I plugged in my iPod and the DVD screen (which happens to be a touchscreen also) brought up an image of my iPod screen, and I could use it just like a normal iPod, except it was on the screen. Very cool. And there was no additional control box required either!

[Andy @ Dec 1st 2006 12:57PM]

This is a little late for a reply, but I assume it's exactly the same as mine. The button is a flip down, and to remove the faceplate you just grab the entire face and push it to one side and lift it out. Pain to put back in though.

[Frank Weser @ Dec 12th 2006 6:44PM]

Looks pretty cool, but wish the display were bigger. Also, where are the presets for the radio or the fast search?

[dwight @ Dec 14th 2006 3:04PM]

I like the alpine head units. I had one of the first gens (9125) and a newer model (9132, i believe). The -25 version I preferred, since it had the "tilt out" faceplate, that made it much easier to use in the car (96 integra, low mount 1din slot). The new one, the -32, has a better interface, supporting more songs per playlist (vs the 255 song limit on the first gen), and quicker way to navigate long song/artist/album play lists.

If this one comes with this sweet interface, more designed to act like the ipod's own interface, and has a tilt screen, i would upgrade the day it comes out.

dwight.

[Ray @ Jan 15th 2007 6:33PM]

I have had an alpine unit for about 2 years now and i love it, i just broke it and im waiting for this to come out so i can get it

[Jay @ Jan 20th 2007 8:57PM]

Who made this again, Alpine… or Apple?
The missing CD drive is not ok to most people, maybe if you cut the price in half and give it a aux jack in front.
At this price (suggested $450 US) it should not only have a cd drive that plays mp3/wma/etc but be able to rip to the iPod.
What kind of "media receiver" (for the car) doesn’t have an AUX jack and at least a CD player; or by buying this can I only be friends with people in the “iPod network”, which brings me to… will it work with the Apple iPhone?
Want CD, Bluetooth, Sat Radio, HD Radio, or something else, well fork out $200+ extra for each item!
5th Gen iPods’ ONLY unless apple updates firmware for other iPods’; sorry ipod nano majority, you will need to use the analog cable, no fancy screen or album art for you… hold your breath and think about the iPod FM Radio integration.
Then to top it off, although the speed has been improved with digital music transfers, the Alpine controls are still non-intuitive to ipod users (so I read from other CES go’ers reviews), so it seems no improvements in the navigation area either; I guess Alpine R&D doesn’t own an iPod.
Wait for next years iPod/MP3 Player compatible stereos, or at least wait for the price to drop, a lot.