Just installed the Alpine CDE-9850Ri headunit and have been using it about a week.

I went this route because:

1) Wanted to integrate my Ipod Nano (2Gb) into the car
2) Was not willing to go FM route due to sound quality
3) Wanted a powered solution to charge iPod as I sometimes do 8 hour journeys and take the car overseas
4) Dension Ice Link Plus was

 

Nice review

 

You mentioned that you weren't interested in the iPod controls so you tucked it out of sight. Does this solution allow you to use the iPod controls while it is connected? The Alpine KCA-420i doesn't give me that option and all control is via the HU once the iPod is plugged in.

 

Naw, the Nano should be really fast. There's virtually no seek time with the flash memory. The disk in the other iPod models is pretty slow.

So you found no bugs in it? If so, that would be a first.

 

OT, but fyi - while the iPod interface drops out after you plug it into the KCA, you can preselect a playlist from the iPod before plugging it in and it will be preselected in the HU after it syncs up.

 

A stunningly simple solution I never even considered. Thnx!!

 

Wait....I need to know this, as well as many other members....

Does the headunit seek the IPOD as fast as if you were using the IPOD itself?

 

I will try and answer the questions the best I can.

Had a look and I am afraid not The Ipod has an Alpine logo and a pause symbol when connected. As mentioned I have mine tucked away as I am effectively using it as if it's a big CD changer and so hidden for security.

None so far though but I have only had the Alpine in the car for a week. I am running Nano software v1.1 but never noticed the bugs in 1.0 so may not the best judge.

It finds the Ipod as a source as quick as the tuner and disc. It is behind using the ipod's touch sensitive wheel as a regular mp3 player but pulls up songs fast enough for me.

I have put a couple of mpegs of both searches but they are taken with my old digital camera so quality is poor I am afraid.

The first (2.4Mb) is of turning the HU on and going through tuner/disc/ipod as the
source and you can hear the music kick.

Can you please Save As the files.

http://www.apbw47.dsl.pipex.com/poweron.mpg

The second (5.2Mb) is using the search function to choose Artist search and then using the rotary control to go through Artist alphabetically to find David Gray and then play the start off the first song in that category. You can see the rotary control can't match using the nano's wheel for speed (I have only used the nano so can't compare with regular ipod) but trot's along fine. If you have Gbs and Gbs of songs though playlists are the best option.
http://www.apbw47.dsl.pipex.com/artistsearch.mpg