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I just picked up my Alpine CDA-9857 and installed it over the weekend. I love the iPod integration. I just put the iPod in the cargo net on the passenger side of the tranny tunnel. It's easy to get to there if you want to bring it with you, and the cargo net hides all the slack in the cable out of sight.
Of course, there's always bad news as well. I had a 4 channel RF amp that was powering the door separates on front channels and rear channels bridged to subwoofer. At some point it blew my 60 amp fuse. After replacing the fuse, the amp was shooting sparks/flames out of the housing. I opened the case but did not see any obvious burns, shorts, etc. WTF??? Can someone help me with troubleshooting this amp before I spend $$$ replacing it?
Right now I just have the HU's built-in amp driving the door separates. It really sucks to be w/o an amp. I bought the 100W X 4ch 851 and a 250W? X 1ch bd500 from some factory recondition website. I will try the mono amp to see if it will drive the sub, altough I have no confidence it will now.
Originally Posted by snakeeater,Apr 10 2006, 12:04 PM
After replacing the fuse, the amp was shooting sparks/flames out of the housing.
That is NEVER a good sign!
Which fuse blew...the one up by the battery, distribution block, or one that plugs into the amp itself? Unless you seem something really obvious like a large ground wire that came off and is arcing against the casing I would bring to a shop for diagnosis.
Although generally speaking...once an amp shoots flames, it ain't goin back in my car. I might fix it and eBay it though.
On Thursday evening, I installed my Alpine 9857. I also blew a fuse, but no sparks or flames. This was the 30 amp fuse on a PPI Art Series amp.
12 years ago, I used to compete in IASCA soundoffs with the same amps, but an Alpine headunit with 4 volt preouts. The 9857 has 2 volt pre-outs.
On Thursday, I had the pre-outs going through an AudioControl DQXS Digital Eq/Crossover. According to the DQXS manual, I should turn up the headunit 3/4 volume, and adjust the input signal until the input LEDS maximize on the transient peaks. My 9857 can not light the LEDS, even at full volume. AudioControl says that if this happens, you may want to purchase a line driver to boost the signal. They say that many manufacturers have (engineering specs and marketing specs).
So I had my gains up much further than I would have with a 1994 Alpine. I am guessing that I was feeding it a clipped signal.
Instead of purchasing a linedriver and cables, I returned the 9857 on Friday and am expecting my Alpine DVA-9861 on Tuesday.
The 9861 has 4 volt pre-outs, dual 24-bit dacs, and DVD-audio playback.
Good Luck with your 9857, I am sure that my problem was just that I was maximizing the signal a bit too much!!! (overboard)
It was the fuse up by the battery that blew. Seemed like the fuse (an automotive blade type ATC fuse) was loose in the fuse holder (RF with set screws on the blades. The set screws must have backed out cause if you held the fuse holder still and wiggled the fuse, it arced like mad also. But then again, it looked like the arcing was inside the fuse body.
I didn't see the amp's internal fuse when I was inspecting it. I will look again.
No, when I connected my DCI's blue wire, my 9857 would only state "interrupt" on the face plate and would not work until I removed the blue wire. Still, my dashboard controls didn't work. After speaking with Modifry, I believe my 9857's remote jack was defective.
No longer have the 9857, and am awaiting the 9861 in favor of the 4volt preouts, dual 24-bit dacs, and DVD Audio capabilities. It was shipped today from Cali, and will arrive in the Sunshine State tomorrow (overnight delivery). I also ordered the PAC SWI-ALP wired controller kit.
Originally Posted by willcasp,Apr 11 2006, 09:43 AM
Are either of you using the Modifry kit to route the dashboard controls to the stereo through the wired remote jack? Does it work well?
I am looking to add a 9857 to my car, but use the stock speakers and the amp in the head unit.
William
Soldered everything up last night. The DCI works fine (I'm using the alpine wired dci by modifry). The harness for the DCI had some exposed wire so I wrapped that in electrical tape, but the unit itself functions fine.
My only issue is with the 9857, there is no illumination at night with the HU off. I hope that's not normal, I'd rather have a defective HU than know that Alpine actually skipped that feature. (especially since I can simply return the HU and replace it).
Originally Posted by Dave-ROR,Apr 12 2006, 05:35 AM
Soldered everything up last night. The DCI works fine (I'm using the alpine wired dci by modifry). The harness for the DCI had some exposed wire so I wrapped that in electrical tape, but the unit itself functions fine.
My only issue is with the 9857, there is no illumination at night with the HU off. I hope that's not normal, I'd rather have a defective HU than know that Alpine actually skipped that feature. (especially since I can simply return the HU and replace it).
So, for the useless subjective question of the day....
How does it sound? Did you stick with the stock speakers running off the HU amp?
I had a 9855 in my last vehicle. No illumination when the unit was off, not even a clock was displayed. At least Alpine ditched that useless sensor bar input thing.
new CDA-9857 install
