Alpine intros Pandora-controlling iDA-X305S head unit, INA-W900 in-dash nav system
By Darren Murph 
posted January 7th 2010 12:00AM
posted January 7th 2010 12:00AM
Alpine Electronics – Key Products for 2010
"In-Vehicle Audio" category
Alpine INA-W900 Audio/Video/Navigation System
The INA-W900 is a versatile all-in-one media center that provides effortless touch-screen control over all your in-vehicle digital media sources, built-in navigation and driver assist products. The 7-inch WVGA touch screen has an easy-to-use interface plus logical hard buttons to quickly access the most-used features. The Burr-Brown 24 Bit DAC ensures superior sound quality from any source. Navigation features include turn-by-turn driving instructions, six million unique Points of Interest (POIs) and a Guide View Window display that shows the next driving maneuver within the audio screen, picture-in-picture style.
Alpine iDA-X305S Digital Media Receiver with Pandora Link™
The iDA-X305S is the first Alpine Digital Media Receiver to offer direct control over the iPhone® Pandora App. When the iPhone is connected to the iDA-X305S through the USB connection, the head unit can play Pandora stations from the user's Pandora account in the iPhone app. The user can keep or discard new songs suggested by Pandora, and these songs stay on the user's profile for the next time the account is accessed.
Alpine SWR-T10 & SWR-T12 Type-R Thin Subwoofers
Alpine's new Type-R Thin Subwoofers combine the performance of a high-end subwoofer with the installation flexibility of a shallow-mount subwoofer. With small enclosure requirements and mounting depths of 3.25-inches for the SWR-T10 10-inch sub and 3.5-inches for the SWR-T12 12-inch sub, these subs are perfect for use in tight space applications such as pickup trucks, small cars and door panels. The advanced motor and suspension design allows these subs to produce high x-max (>15mm) for the thin sub category.
Alpine PDX Amplifiers
Alpine's second generation PDX Power Density Digital Amplifiers provide ultimate power and sound quality in a small, efficient and elegant package. The PDX models include two mono amps, the PDX-M12 and PDX-M6, and two 4-channel amps, the PDX-F6 and PDX-F4. The new PDX amps are 20% thinner than the first generation models. Although still stackable, a new stacking system reduces the space between the amps, resulting in a more compact set-up for multi-amp systems. The PDX amps provide incredible sound quality with almost immeasurable distortion levels (less than 0.01%), extremely high damping factors (over 1,000 for mono models and over 500 for the 4-channel models), extremely low noise (greater than 110 dB at full rated power) and extremely wide bandwidth (flat from 5Hz-50kHz for full range models).
Alpine CDA-118M Waterproof 1.8-DIN Marine Head Unit
The CDA-118M is a fully waterproof marine head unit that allows for integration of all digital media sources in the boat through a simple, easy to use interface. It is treated for UV and salt/fog exposure and has a NEMA (National Electronics Manufacturer Association) rating of iPx5 to withstand water intrusion. The multi-zone volume control allows for different volume levels inside versus outside the cabin. Direct source buttons, a large LCD display and a rotary encoder knob allow for easy control of the audio sources, including popular sources for boating like iPod® and satellite radio (additional products and subscription required, sold separately). Its common 1.8-DIN size makes it an easy upgrade from existing marine head units.
"In Vehicle Control/OEM Integration" category
Alpine System Integration Audio Processor
The PXE-H660 audio processor uses Alpine's latest IMPRINT sound tuning technology, which allows aftermarket components to be added to complex OEM head units without altering the functionality of the system. The PXE-H660 accepts the OEM system's input, removes the factory equalization, applies IMPRINT automatic sound tuning, then outputs the RCA signals to the aftermarket audio components. Best of all, the automated sound tuning process only takes five minutes. The result? The opportunity to supply complex OEM systems with customized aftermarket car audio components instead of turning this business away.
I'm curious...with more and more new vehicles adopting highly-contoured, highly-integrated electronics, are the boxy aftermarket head units a dying breed?
@arcasinky I personally dream/hope that with time we will see car manufacturers integrate the touchscreen panels and a sound card/amplifier/speaker system that both can connect via something like USB. That way they could still sell a stock "head unit" and the computer itself can be upgraded with time. There's no reason to ever (usually) upgrade the screen, but the limitations usually seem to be the computer/software packages. Having a modular setup would allow you to have a CarChromeOS or iCar or Windows Mobile Car, etc etc computer that could be upgraded like you would a cell phone. Think about it.... the cell phone networks are getting big on these MiFi/Overdrive things... imagine refreshing your carputer every 2 years with a nicely subsidized on-contract system. Win-Win for everyone.
@arcasinky The issue with these "Stock" car stereos, is they downright suck. I hesitate to even call them sound systems. My 2009 car stock system, a Subaru, came with what they deem a "high-end" stereo. complete with tweeters, a subwoofer (if that's what you call it), a total of 9 speakers. It's ok, if I listened to talk radio. There is an auto-bass leveler (otherwise known as a compressor) built into the head unit, so when you turn up the Bass and turn up the volume it reduces the bass frequencies to the entire system-even the sub (oh what a genius). If i want to blow up my speakers, that should be my own will.
The car manufacture's don't place enough emphasis on stereo's in cars still. It's just like gas mileage, they are not moving forward.
There is no reason, 80/120 gb hard drives with some type of iTunes Op system and a small flat screen shouldn't be installed in cars these days. No one has placed any kind of importance on this technology.
So, in a nutshell, if you really like music and have a large collection of music at home, replace your stock HU with an aftermarket unit, replace those paper speakers and crappy stock "subwoofer" with higher quality products. Remember a 4 x 25w or even a 4 x 50watt quality amplifier will do wonders for the sound in your car. You must double the wattage to double the volume - this only applies to better quality products, not flea market junk.
Engadget, is this all you got? for us car audio junkies? It's Engadget, not Encomputer.
@arcasinky: Nope. Google "dash install kit". They've been around for quite some time.
I'm just wondering if my new (so new it hasn't even arrived in the mail) x305 can receive a firmware upgrade up to the x305s' capabilities.
My car audio setup is much better than the alpine unit. It's an iPhone with the headphone output connected to the auxillary input of my head unit. I have 32gigs of audio, can surf the Internet, find my way with a GPS app and
watch porn. the audio is pumped through after market component speakers and a 12" subwoofer. And my setup is
modular. I just upgrade my iPhone every year.
@memaf
Oh yeah? I do the same, except my music is streamed wirelessly through the bluetooth module to my IXA-w405. No wires, no bullshit. Pandora, 32 gigs of tunes, and if I want to watch video on screen, I can plug it in.
@(Unverified) Wouldn't the sound quality be worse using blue tooth rather then a USB cable?
A lot of people hide them in their glove compartments so you don't see the wire.
This is it? This is all Alpine is unveiling this year? *shakes head* I love you guys, but come on... this is just a big ol' facepalm.
Looks like Alpine must have some sort of time machine at their disposal!
Alpine needs to learn how to do firmware upgrades. This isn't something that people should have to buy a new receiver to get, especially when it looks EXACTLY THE SAME as one of their current products (which I have).
I can already run pandora through my Alpine head unit. Pause the music on the head unit, open Pandora on my iphone and select a station. I am not going to give them more money just so I can select a station on their head unit.
bluetooth's spec. actually compresses audio (in case you cared). so even if you played 24-bit/96kHz .flac from your windows mobile phone and you tried to stream it using BT stacks, it'll downrez it to to .mp3 quality settings.
http://www.bluetooth.com/NR/rdonlyres/1DAE97A5-2CB0-4C9B-BE2A-6CEC0E978248/6539/A2DP_SPEC_V12.pdf
that's why i've reverted back to aux in.
i want an ultimate car headunit that is basically a carputer that also plays SACD/DVD-Audio MLP and Blu-Ray (for when more audio only profile 3.0 discs come out) and 11.1 setup for DPLIIz in the car.
that and HD Radio.
&it must water my plants and take my dogs out for a walk.
I really like everything I've seen about the Alpine systems, but I don't want to have to drop an extra $200 just to get the HD Radio tuner box. The HD Radio thing has been around for 6 or 7 years now, when are we going to get a head unit that can control an iPhone and can listen to HD radio out of the box for under $400?