Alpine 9856 or wait for 9857?
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44
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From: Austin, TX
Originally Posted by oatnet,Feb 17 2006, 06:10 PM
Thanks, I just loaded one into my cart. The "full speed" cable has to be purchased seperately, right? Do you have the number of the cable?
-JD
-JD
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,006
Likes: 1
From: Torrance, CA 90509
Originally Posted by vinasity,Feb 12 2006, 10:38 PM
This is the bind i was in before i purchased by 9856.The reason i went with the 9856.
That was my big complaint with the 9835 - I'd have to press mix 6-7 times for it to go into mixed mode - then when I turned the car off it would lose place and start with the first song in my library. Not a big deal for long trips, but darn annoying for errands.
Oh, plus the really difficult time navigating through playlists (I think it only showed the first 255 songs, I have playlists with 3000 songs). And the OLED display died twice - I can barely read my 9835 now.
I am hoping that when I buy this one it will fix these issues - and if not, back to crutchfield!
-JD
Honorary Member
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,121
Likes: 3
From: Indian Land SC
Originally Posted by mkbruce,Feb 13 2006, 03:51 PM
I don't detect a noticible delay with the DCI.
However, one difference is that some of the 'commands' (e.g. skip tracks) rely on a combination of buttons. This causes them to trigger on the release of the buttons as opposed to the depression of the button. The button combinations are give access to function otherwise not possible given the number of buttons available.
My favorite function of the DCI is the speed sensitive volume function. My BMW had this and I didn't think much of it there, but that was a much quieter car. In the S2000, it is truly needed and works very well. I'm no longer constantly adjusting the volume based on car noise at different speeds.
Magnus
However, one difference is that some of the 'commands' (e.g. skip tracks) rely on a combination of buttons. This causes them to trigger on the release of the buttons as opposed to the depression of the button. The button combinations are give access to function otherwise not possible given the number of buttons available.
My favorite function of the DCI is the speed sensitive volume function. My BMW had this and I didn't think much of it there, but that was a much quieter car. In the S2000, it is truly needed and works very well. I'm no longer constantly adjusting the volume based on car noise at different speeds.
Magnus
First off, don't expect the DCI to work just like the stock controls. Since it does twice as much it works a little different. I couldn't count how often I get an email asking "My DCI is broke - the CH button doesn't change tracks".
There is no 'perceptible' delay on the DCI functions, so don't confuse it with other products on the market that do have this problem. Even though the DCI only takes about .02 seconds to figure out what button you pressed and start sending the command, a typical IR code takes anywhere from .07 to .15 seconds to transmit. So depending on HU brand you might not get instantaneous response. I think Sony is slowest. The factory HU didn't use IR so it responded really quick.
The only buttons that work on 'release' are the MODE and CH buttons. The button combinations (like hold CH and press VOL UP) operate as soon as the VOL UP button is pressed. If you continue to hold CH, each time you press VOL UP it will advance to the next track as soon as you hit the button. If you keep VOL UP pressed it will do "track fast forward". The MODE + VOL UP command works similarly, it can do either seek up if you press it once or fast seek if you hold it.
If the 9857 "steering wheel input" works the same as the 9851-55 series then the wired DCI will work with it. If Alpine changes something all bets are off. Personally I don't see why they would change it, it already works great.
One more thing - I'm working on a feature to allow the MODE and CH buttons to be used for Next Track/Seek Up and Next Folder/Next Radio Preset in addition to their regular functions of Source and Band, without using button combinations. Even though it's still in development and not officially released I've shipped a few DCI's with this software and it seems to work OK. There is some info on it here. It doesn't work on all head units yet but Alpine is one that does.
.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 591
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From: Lafayette, LA
Modifry,
As the acknowledged leader in the field, can you give your opinion on whether or not the 9857 with a harwired DCI is worth the near $200 premium over the 9856 with an IR DCI. Obviously ignore the quality and feature difference between the two decks themselves. To put it another way, is hardwired DCI setup $200-worth more user-friendly, reliable and troublefree than IR?
I figure that IR must have had some troubles or else you never would have developed the hardwired version. Is this correct? I usually run top down in lots of direct sunlight. I imagine any functional hiccups with IR would be aggravating, and I will spend the extra money up front if it is necessary to avoid any problems.
Are there any other considerations relevant to the decision-making process? Delays with IR vs hardwired? Anything else? I am very mindful of having the dash controls work well, since I have been without them for a long time now since I put in aftermarket HU and its a PITA.
My old head unit just croaked and I just this weekend bought a 4GB iPod nano. So I need to decide which full-speed iPod Alpine HU to buy so that I can get some tunes back in my ride.
Feel free to PM me if you wish. BTW, you are a genius. I am probably going to get every single gadget on your website at some time or another. You have created some truly useful stuff. Thank you for your help and the tremendous support you have given to everyone on the boards and in the S2K community.
As the acknowledged leader in the field, can you give your opinion on whether or not the 9857 with a harwired DCI is worth the near $200 premium over the 9856 with an IR DCI. Obviously ignore the quality and feature difference between the two decks themselves. To put it another way, is hardwired DCI setup $200-worth more user-friendly, reliable and troublefree than IR?
I figure that IR must have had some troubles or else you never would have developed the hardwired version. Is this correct? I usually run top down in lots of direct sunlight. I imagine any functional hiccups with IR would be aggravating, and I will spend the extra money up front if it is necessary to avoid any problems.
Are there any other considerations relevant to the decision-making process? Delays with IR vs hardwired? Anything else? I am very mindful of having the dash controls work well, since I have been without them for a long time now since I put in aftermarket HU and its a PITA.
My old head unit just croaked and I just this weekend bought a 4GB iPod nano. So I need to decide which full-speed iPod Alpine HU to buy so that I can get some tunes back in my ride.
Feel free to PM me if you wish. BTW, you are a genius. I am probably going to get every single gadget on your website at some time or another. You have created some truly useful stuff. Thank you for your help and the tremendous support you have given to everyone on the boards and in the S2K community.
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