Alpine's head unit supports iPods, DivX playback and everything else

When you call your product a Mobile Multimedia Solution it had better offer up a pretty robust set of connectivity options; especially when it costs $1,100. In that manner, Alpine's new WXGA touch-screen IVA-W505 doesn't disappoint. The 7-inch DVD/CD/MP3/AAC/WMA/DivX AV head unit offers Bluetooth hands-free connectivity and touch control over all your in-car digital media sources. The list includes HD/Sat radio (with iTunes tagging) and MP3/WMA players like iPods and USB sticks. The double-DIN unit is IMPRINT, acoustic-correction ready and serves as a dock for Alpine's PMD-B200 portable GPS unit. Sweet. Available now through authorized dealers in North America.

[Adam @ Apr 11th 2008 2:25AM]

wait, so does it do GPS? (what does it mean it serves as a dock for ....)

i fell that for 1100 it should.
and if it does, i'd buy that in an instant?

[spook4thecia @ Apr 11th 2008 3:23AM]

The screen folds down and has a "docking bay" for the Blackbird II (PMD-B200)- same as the IVA-W205.

[Joe @ Apr 11th 2008 6:31AM]

Does iPod Touch support indicate iPhone support? Also, is there a frickin way to get to my podcasts instead of picking between Album and Artist- I'd love to buy a new head unit to control my iPhone but since I listen to mostly podcasts, having a control for them is a big deal and I can't seam to find it anywhere.

[teej @ Apr 11th 2008 11:29AM]

$1100 pretty good. i got an IVA-D300, which is similar, but has no ipod support (unless w/ add-on), GPS; paid $1500 for it back in 2005.

[Lupo @ Apr 11th 2008 2:28AM]

now all it needs is the kitchen sink

[paul34 @ Apr 11th 2008 2:30AM]

For that price, shouldn't it have GPS included? A dock for a removable solution? Not very elegant.

It is hard to find these integrated type double din units with a decent UI. While units like the AVIC D3 undoubtedly offer a great value (with GPS included), their UIs look like something out of 1995. Or at least, the crudely draw icons they use do. Terrible!

Aftermarket unit UIs should be able to surpass the interfaces of modern OEM units. But they don't even come close, unfortunately.

[Blakamin @ Apr 11th 2008 4:08AM]

some people use their GPSr outside the car...

[Mat @ Apr 11th 2008 2:33AM]

///////Alpine needs a web 2.0 logo

[JOSE @ Apr 11th 2008 2:50AM]

APLINE is the best acoustically Period.. a consistent product unlike the rest aftermarket out there...

[spook4thecia @ Apr 11th 2008 3:26AM]

Love my Alpine IVA-W205...only wished it supported album art, iPod videos, and had a slightly larger screen... well, here it is. Looks like I'll be selling the W205 to fund my purchase of the W505.

[Valgas @ Apr 11th 2008 3:27AM]

I've seen these things in other people's cars playing home made porno.

[|Geektorious Maximus| @ Apr 11th 2008 3:39AM]

Bet you see all the labias and flabia in the supported 720p format.

[|Geektorious Maximus| @ Apr 11th 2008 3:29AM]

off to crutchfield I go...or does any know any crackhead that recently boosted from a train yard (highly popular where I'm from).

[matthew @ Apr 11th 2008 3:37AM]

I

Need

Removable

Faceplate

In

New

York

City

[Michael LaFramboise @ Apr 11th 2008 4:07AM]

You

Need

To

Have

The

Enter

/

Return

Key

Removed

From

Your

Keyboard

k

tnx

bai

[matthew @ Apr 11th 2008 4:09AM]

THANK

YOU

WILL

TAKE

UNDER

CONCIDERATION

[MattyG @ Apr 11th 2008 7:26AM]

hardest i've laughed in a long time

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Apr 14th 2008 10:43PM]

JVC KW-AVX810... 7" of removable sweetness!

[Jin Kim @ Apr 11th 2008 4:01AM]

One correction: It's not WXGA (that would put it at an incredibly high pixel format of 1280 x 768 or 1280 x 800 or 1366 x 768). It's actually WVGA, which is just 800 x 480. Still pretty good, but not HD class.

[RCL1221 @ Apr 11th 2008 4:04AM]

it's kinda like the vlc player of head units.

[Ian @ Apr 11th 2008 4:08AM]

iphone only works in airplane mode, so no calls while listening to your tunes

[nxtiak @ Apr 11th 2008 4:23AM]

I'd rather take the Pioneer D3.
My brother has one. It's nice.

[gad get @ Apr 11th 2008 4:49AM]

What's that? You're going to take your brother's D3?

[PhatheadWRX @ Apr 11th 2008 7:56AM]

+1 on the Avic D3

GPS, iPod, DivX, and I got mine for less than $700

[Ian @ Apr 11th 2008 8:32AM]

Does the D3 work as a car phone kit AND play videos or music via the ipod lead?

[Raider007 @ Apr 11th 2008 9:26AM]

@ian
yes

[nikster @ Apr 11th 2008 9:46PM]

thx for the tip i will check that out.

[trekkie @ Apr 11th 2008 5:18AM]

That is so going to get your car broken into.

[Alexander @ Apr 11th 2008 6:58AM]

saving this for my 2008 christmas list

[STNC @ Apr 11th 2008 9:36AM]

Alpine Sucks, Pioneer AVIC-D3 all the way!

[donkamero @ Apr 11th 2008 10:31AM]

These double-DIN stereos are simply just never going to be good enough untill the makers wise-up and create them with removable faceplates. With car stereo crime as high as it is, buying one of these just isn't a feasable option!

They look so good a well...

[TRAFFICBLOWS @ Apr 14th 2008 10:45PM]

check out the JVC KW-AVX810

[xB Owner @ Apr 11th 2008 11:18AM]

No integrated GPS? In that case, pay half as much for a Pioneer...

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/Source/AV-Receivers/AVH-P4000DVD

[Relaxasaurus @ Apr 11th 2008 12:48PM]

Tradeoff being the connection to the ipod isn't 100% digital (as it is with the Alpine), meaning you're using the crappy DACs in the ipod vs. the high-class ones in your $500+ head unit. A waste of decent audio.

[Batman @ Apr 11th 2008 12:13PM]

Is there anything else like this that integrates with the iPod and displays album art? Really, that's what I've been looking for.

[Relaxasaurus @ Apr 11th 2008 12:54PM]

Check out the Alpine iDA-X001 or iDA-X100. They are also using a pure digital connection to the ipod so you get to use your 24-bit burr brown DACs within the head unit.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=iDA-X100

Sorry to keep harping on that fact but many of us in the car audio community have been wanting this feature for a while. Kinda worthless to have a $2k+ audio setup with a sub-par audio source.

[Batman @ Apr 11th 2008 4:56PM]

That is AWESOME. Thanks so much.
Anything else out there like that? Options are always good.

[mike @ Apr 11th 2008 3:19PM]

What, exactly, are you paying for?

Bluetooth - Optional
XM/Sirius - Optional
GPS - Optional
HD Radio - Optional
iPod - not included

This stuff kills me ...

[MValpreda @ Apr 11th 2008 7:23PM]

I have this unit in my car. I just got it in to replace a W205. It's so much better. The screen resolution alone is worth the upgrade. I also bought the Imprint setup and will be working on that this weekend. It's pretty amazing!

[MValpreda @ Apr 11th 2008 7:25PM]

Oh, and it comes with a USB cable that connects to iPod video. Plays right through the head unit itself. That is included. So it does include iPod out of the box. Shows album art as well.

UI is easy to use.

[StarkRavingMad @ Apr 11th 2008 8:34PM]

Hmmm... anybody want a used 2 month old IVA W202E? I'm definitely getting this as soon as it hit the streets.. it's everything that i wished the w202e would do and then some!