Alpine announces iDA-X200 and X300 iPod-friendly headunits for 2008

Alpine's cutting straight to the chase with its new iDA-X200 and iDA-X300 headunits. Forgoing a CD mechanism entirely, the two systems are designed primarily for use with an iPod, though they do pack a few extra goodies. The X200 works with Alpine's Sound Imprint system for some fancy DSP, while the X300 has USB input for pulling media off of non-iPod sources. No word on price or availability.

[togroovy @ Dec 31st 2007 4:14PM]

I dont care for this design at all, its a trend away from their decks that had a clean and simple design. Looks like they wanted to take after dual with the godawful big nasty buttons.

[Tiptup300 @ Dec 31st 2007 5:31PM]

Actually I like these designs, they make you feel like your in star wars where theres millions of buttons and levers that you have no idea what they do.

[BobTurbo @ Dec 31st 2007 10:06PM]

All I need is a back/forward/up/down button, I have no idea why companies add thousands of buttons to all of their products. I think humans are retards and just can't design things properly?

By the way, do I have to plug a bloody iPod into this thing just for it to work? Where is the 8GB of flash so umm.. I dont need things hanging off my stereo just for it to work?

What is wrong with the world?

(Was that a bit over the top?)

[nikster @ Jan 1st 2008 12:09AM]

I went over the IDA-100 - the first model - in a store and was a bit underwhelmed.
- It was more expensive than the models with CD player AND iPod controls. So why leave out the CD player? Just to have that massive button in the middle?
- It didn't work any better than those others, apart from the LCD screen
- If you are used to the normal iPod interface, the Apine is close but has annoying problems. For example, you can't navigate on an artist and hit play. You have to go down to the songs...

All in all, using an iPod to control the iPod is a much better experience than using the designed for iPod Alpine unit. Which is weird considering that Alpine had 6 years to just copy the iPod interface - you would think they'd be able to make something at least as good. Good idea, lousy execution.

[nikster @ Jan 1st 2008 12:10AM]

Sorry meant to say I went over the XDA-001...

[nikster @ Jan 1st 2008 12:11AM]

I am a retard... it was the iDA-X100.

[craig @ Jan 9th 2008 6:55PM]

"- It was more expensive than the models with CD player AND iPod controls. So why leave out the CD player? Just to have that massive button in the middle?"

Since when does cost determine whether a head unit should have a CD transport in it? What makes you think the CD was sacrificed for the "big button"?

"- It didn't work any better than those others, apart from the LCD screen"

Then you've done something wrong. The iPod integration with that model is far better than any other head unit. Perhaps you used the wrong iPod connector (the unit has two with differing functionality).

"- If you are used to the normal iPod interface, the Apine is close but has annoying problems. For example, you can't navigate on an artist and hit play. You have to go down to the songs..."

Yes, there are some annoying problems with the interface that are well documented already online. Even with those problems, no other head unit comes close. It is the only head unit to integrate album art, it is very fast and responsive, and it transfers all audio over USB, completely bypassing the iPod's DAC.

"All in all, using an iPod to control the iPod is a much better experience than using the designed for iPod Alpine unit."

With the Alpine you can use an Alpine remote or steering wheel integration and you can lock the iPod away so it doesn't rattle around or attract thieves. The Alpine solution allows you to keep your eye on the road. While Alpine has made some questionable UI decisions, to say that using the iPod itself is "a much better experience" is either an exaggeration or an outright falsehood depending on your perspective.

"Which is weird considering that Alpine had 6 years to just copy the iPod interface - you would think they'd be able to make something at least as good. Good idea, lousy execution."

Alpine worked with Apple on the design of the product so perhaps you should blame both. Alpine's greatest mistake isn't anything you've mentioned, it's the assignment of the "search" function (arguably unneeded) where the "select" function should go. From a hardware perspective, the device lacks a digital out which I think is pretty unforgivable at it's pricepoint. I also hear the bluetooth sucks.

[snitch @ Dec 31st 2007 4:27PM]

coming in 2008??? i guess you guys have not been to best buy store lately because they have had them for some time now

[togroovy @ Dec 31st 2007 6:19PM]

*sigh* no they arent, if they don't even have a price why would they be in best buy and why would this be an announcement... you just saw the xda-001.

[ajs @ Dec 31st 2007 4:31PM]

I just hope these are better than the iDA-X100 which was all kinds of disappointing. Check the comments at Crutchfield for examples.

[Corey @ Dec 31st 2007 4:40PM]

I'm a loyal Alpine fan, but those are just plain ugly.

[Dave @ Dec 31st 2007 5:07PM]

Quite a few of the negative comments on the IDA-X001 revolved around the fact that the center button didn't mimic the iPod's control wheel enough (my guess is that's due to Apple's patent on the UI.) Unless Alpine licenses the interface from Apple, these units will likely suffer the same complaints.

I like the IDA-X001; I think it has a rich feature set for the price range.

[H4MM3R @ Dec 31st 2007 4:56PM]

another nail in CD's coffin.

[RIFRAF @ Dec 31st 2007 5:01PM]

What's a cd?

[bossfn @ Dec 31st 2007 5:47PM]

It's that disc that holds 700MB of .mp3s on it...which is why you can't leave them out and expect me to buy your gear.

[Eh @ Dec 31st 2007 5:04PM]

Whats up with the old LED style display? Are the fancy one color pixel displays really too advanced for 2008? You know, the same kind of display my $3 calculator has?

[Arg @ Dec 31st 2007 5:10PM]

Snitch- I think you mean the older iDA-X100 is at Best Buy. The two mentioned here haven't been shipped yet and aren't in the stores.

[roflercopterer @ Dec 31st 2007 6:01PM]

you know we have reply function nao?

[duffiecochran @ Dec 31st 2007 5:12PM]

Alpine is the best, I actually find these units with the brushed black steel and subtle blues/reds very attractive. These head-units would accompany my "carputer" nicely. I'm guessing $349 and $399 respectively.

[Stan Winstone @ Dec 31st 2007 5:25PM]

Icky- give us proper full color LCD displays please. In the 21st Century we are accostomed to actually seeing full track, album and artist information get this- at the same time!

[Skorpius @ Dec 31st 2007 5:33PM]

I wish they would combine the iDA-X100 WITH an in-dash CD player. I like their CDA-9887, but it does not have the same iPod display capabilities, and it does not support the new Nanos or Classics anyway. I do not want to give up the ability to play CDs in the car, especially if I'm out and end up buying something I want to hear right away.

[CapWKidd @ Dec 31st 2007 9:23PM]

Actually, I have a 9887, and a classic 160 connected to it...

Also, finally, the big button is for enter, and not search! Alpine gets a clue!

[nikster @ Jan 1st 2008 7:29PM]

I was thinking the exact same thing. I want the CD player and the high rez LCD screen. Is it so hard?

[nVidiot @ Dec 31st 2007 5:36PM]

Do these decks still have mind-numbingly slow navigation of your iPod?

I much prefer to have my iPod mounted in my car, using a standard aux input, and use the iPod itself to choose/pause songs etc.

[Skorpius @ Dec 31st 2007 5:44PM]

The decks featuring full-speed technology supposedly are just that. They also support lossless and have a 24 bit Burr-Brown DAC.

[SimbaDogg @ Dec 31st 2007 5:58PM]

it'd be nice to have a cd, for that JIC factor. stupid idea if you ask me. and i wonder if alpine has anything w/ HD radio built in yet. i was thinking about buying a unit for my car w/ a good ipod interface years ago, but all the ipods sucked (first gen pioneers, alpines etc) they're gotten a lot better, but now i'm def holding out for HD radio

[Skorpius @ Dec 31st 2007 6:01PM]

The decks I mentioned in my first post are HD ready, but you have to buy an add-on. The same goes for their Bluetooth capability. I think it is was something like $200 for the HD add-on though, which sucks price-wise.

[SimbaDogg @ Dec 31st 2007 7:10PM]

yeah...i'm looking of built in, not ready. i dont think there's a single deck on the market that is buit in yet.

[Eddie @ Dec 31st 2007 6:00PM]

I think what Bill is trying to say is "God wants to know where Alpine's support of non-iPod MP3 players is."

Because God told me the same thing. He even made a reference to it in the Bible, about the wide road vs the narrow road...

Don't respond Bill, I got this. I know, you have trouble with relevant blog posts. Just, don't try so hard next time, k?

[Ben Nelson @ Dec 31st 2007 6:10PM]

I have the xda-001 and i love it. I also bought the sirius and hd-radio add-ons. It is outstanding. There are some control issues but once i got used to it, I have had no problems.

I do wish that it was firmware upgradable though so that my old deck could have better controls. Either way I would recommend these types of decks to anyone.

[Slashy the Clown @ Dec 31st 2007 8:11PM]

Hey! Who stole the cassette deck out of my 1986 Countach?

[Eh @ Dec 31st 2007 8:21PM]

Sorry, not even Jesus could make me buy a stereo with an LED display.

[Tmscott13 @ Dec 31st 2007 8:50PM]

Yeah, these are the two lower end models, the X100 has the high res screen

[michaelscrip @ Dec 31st 2007 10:41PM]

That thing is seriously ugly... and I'm a long time Alpine user. While I hardly use CDs anymore, I would like to know that i could play a CD if I wanted to.

Plus, what up with the display? Only 16 characters? That screen could be 3 times as large, if they reduced the space of all those buttons. This is not a step in the right direction.

[nikster @ Jan 1st 2008 7:32PM]

The most prominent design feature is the large Alpine logo in the middle. Which, unless you are a brand aficionado, is pretty damn useless.
Usability first made the iPod a success - Alpine really doesn't seem to get it here.

[Tank @ Jan 1st 2008 11:49AM]

I think there is a bit of confusion in the post and comments. Last years model was the iDA-X001. Alpine is introducing 3 new models, iDA-X100, iDA-X200, iDA-X300.

The top model is the X100 and the other 2 are lower models as seen here:
http://www.alpine.es/fileadmin/img/com/product_images/08%20products/digitalreceiver_chart.jpg

Also here is the full specs: http://www.alpine.es/index.php?id=ida-x100

I just picked up a iDA-x001 for christmas but am returning it today to wait for these to come out. Anyone have any detailed info one when these will be in US stores, specifically Best Buy?

[OneLove @ Jan 1st 2008 6:23PM]

need that in amber for my benz

[IsLNdbOi @ Jan 1st 2008 10:58PM]

Wow, I got my X001 from Crutchfield around the end of November. Too late to return it now. I like the new X100. They finally changed the big button's function to "enter" instead of search. It looks like it has integrated bluetooth as well. Wonder if it has HD radio built in as well.

[Brian @ Jan 2nd 2008 1:46AM]

C'mon, Apline! If a Ford can "Sync" with a Zune, why can't you?

I'm sure it will work with USB, but I want title information on the display >.>