Yesterday, I bought and installed an Alpine CDA-7876. I planned to get my Alpine MRV-T407 installed, but went away from the stereo shop happy and $400 poorer.

http://www.alpine1.com/html/D2_n_1_n_n.html

I just have two door speakers, Kenwood KFC-xr600s. They are pretty efficient and good enough sounding for me. The stock head was fine except for terrible distortion at high volumes.

The CDA-7876 is rated at 60 watts x 4 channels (about 25 watts rms/per channel) and Alpine recommends a direct connection to battery and ground like an amp. So the install was a touch more difficult than just attaching to the wiring harness. We attached a high gauge wire to the battery and went through the grommet that is below the battery and to the left as you look at the firewall. We used a ground to the right of the radio that is exposed by taking off the ovaloid pannel beside the radio.

Here are the things I like, so far.

I can listen to the music with the top down at 80 mph. There is a lot of distortion still if you let to much bass go to the Kenwoods, but if you use the radio to filter some of it out, then there's no troubles. As far as I can tell there are too many choices on the head to achieve this: variable bass control where you can change both the middle of the bass changed and the width and also a high pass filter which is variable.

Although the tone controls are more complicated than I'd like, The "BBE" control makes the sound seem more live. I don't really understand how it works. It sounds to me like it modifies the frequencies like a pre-programmed equalizer setting but that is not how it is explained here. http://www.bbesound.com/home.htm

I've never used a radio with text for stations and cds. This has it and I like it.

The head has a choice of Alpine green or amber colors. I like the green. The amber exactly matches the Honda colors.

I use the angled head angled out one notch from flat. It is easy to read and works well.

The clock is a real clock. I'm one of those S2000 owners who likes a clock on the dash. The clock on the stock radio is a joke. In fact, the whole display on the stock radio is a joke.

The install was much easier than installing the amp and did everything I wanted except maintain the dash controls.

The radio does not play mp3 or even cd-rw. It does play cd-r and I've copied a few of my sister-in-laws cds and added text and that plays fine. Way cool for an old fogie like me.

The radio does not support the Kenwood KCE-865B dash control adapter. I bet we could open it up though and find a lead and make it work. I'm not sure I want to be the first on the block to do it.

The radio has an absolutely great remote, but I can't find a decent place in the S2000 cabin for it. I stashed it away in the storage compartment

Of course now I've got a radio with subwoofer outputs and an amp which would be perfect for a sub, so perhaps later.

I like the display better than the Pioneer DEH P730 although that radio also would have done everything I wanted. This is rated at a touch more wattage.

I like the Kenwood 828 that plays mp3.

I guess part of my decision was based on "highest power without an amp" and part based on Alpine's name. I'm not disappointed.

 

Hey Barry!

Is your PM working? I tried to send you a few PMs...

Thanks!

 

Shaner, it is and I responded.....


You are totally awesome....

I got the second package and all included contests!!!!!!!!!!


Thank you very much.

I will find excellent uses for everything enclosed.

Hey, what do you think about dissecting a CDA-7876 to see if we can add the single lead we're looking for ?????

LOL

Barry