I'm tired of trying to get something that interfaces with my stock 2005 headunit to get the iPod to play through the stereo. I've decided to just swap out the head unit. Best Buy has the 9856 on sale for $199 including installation (I'd probably skip the installation). I understand from a previous post that to use the dash controls with Modifry's DCI, I'll need to go with the IR version. It looks like the 9857 will have "steering wheel ready" input on the back. It also looks like it offers "bio light." My questions are as follows:

1) Is there a performance differance between IR is wired? (ie. lag, like on my Tivo controlled cable box)

2) What is "bio light" Marketing mumbo jumbo, or useful tech for a convertable?

3) Do all Alpines offer changing display colors? I'd like to have red lights from an asthetic point of view.

4) I've been away from the business for a long time, but it looks like the 9857 has some form of sub woofer control. The specs aren't really out yet, but I'm sure those selling the current product can draw some parallels. Is this a built in sub crossover or just a third set of outputs?

In summary, do we really get anything useful for the extra money if you're not going with a big (extra amps and subs) system? Any opinions welcome.

 

With the 9857 you get the fast ipod direct connection, which is why I am going with the 9857. don't need the extra ipod unit, which is suppose to be pretty slow.

my .02

 

The 9856 is going to accept the Full Speed cable. This one won't need the extra interface box.

 

The BIOLIGHT I think is the ability to change display / backlighting colors. I think the 9856 is an updated version of the 9851. They should both have SUB controls. With this feature, you can up the gain on the sub amp (effectively) by upping the gain on the SUBWOOFER feature on the HU. Its a dedicated SUB output. It communicates to other Alpine amps via amplink. Not sure what this amplink does, but it apparently produces better sound. There is a difference between IR and wired DCI's. IR ones washout in direct sunlight, and sometimes will not work as a result of this in high-light situations (often in a convertible). I think Modifry has a wired DCI for alpine models now, though.

So to sum it up...
1) YES
2) BIOLIGHT I think is alpine's variable backlight selection name.
3) See #2.
4) Third set of outputs with a dedicated gain setting on the HU (which i think varies the signal output, which in turn varies the volume on the sub). If its like the previous models, it will have an EQ to center the gain on a specific frequency, and will allow for adjustment for Q.

John

 

I thought the Biolight is the OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display.

 

This is the bind i was in before i purchased by 9856.The reason i went with the 9856 is that it is about 100 cheaper and i dont really care how it looks since i will have the cd faceplate closed all the time. Plus i dont think that the 9857 comes out till march,just my 02.

 

*** this is my speculation. do not take this as fact ***

I'm a bit cynical the ipod direct connect is going to be speedy. The reason I think this is going to be the case is the amount of data being sent back and forth. A small iPod Nano is 2GB [OK, 1GB as of last week.] That's a lot of data to go back and forth in one cable on a serial/USB type connection. Granted, there are catalog files, etc. which could make some of the process quicker. However, it's safe to say the head unit isn't going to have a lot of built in RAM. There's going to be data shifted back and forth.


I look forward to hearing reviews. I hope I'm wrong...

 

I have the 9856 and love it. The ipod interface is pretty fast. You will never find a better deck than this for around $199.

 

I wonder about this myself. The only way I can think of offhand to be fast is to download and cache the catalog file in the iPod - but that can be huge in some cases - my iPod has over 20GB of stuff on it now. My "iTunes Music Library.xml" is now 6.2 MB, quite hefty. At 19200 baud, it would take 45 minutes to download it.

There's other ways to speed it up, but I need to see it in action to figure out what it's doing. Alpine had 2 years to work on this. I want to see someone do it right.

 

I think you are correct on this one. However, I think the color-changing option is part of the Biolight function. I think its similar to Pioneer's OLED system, which allows for the changing of backlighting.

I would go with the 9856, unless you are a serious audiophile and need the added options. I think the 9856 is for the average audio enthusiast.

As far as the "speed" of the fullspeed connection, I demo'd one at Best Buy (they had one hooked up this past weekend), and its damn near USB speed (plug iPod into your computer, and that is only a tad faster than the fullspeed Alpine connection), or at least this was MY impression.

John