If the stock head unit was replaced for example with a Alpine CDA-9886R.

Does the S2000 CD player door still close?

I beleive the new alpine units do not have a colapsable knob!

What do most people do when listenning to music drive with CD play door open or closed (i know should be listening to the S2000)

 

I have a 9887R and it the door will close with the knob in either retracted or non retracted positions.

My old 9833R fitted easily.

I usually have the door open but not always.

 

CDE - 9882Ri and no probs

 

Are Alpine headunits really that good, compared to other brands?

I have alpine door speakers BTW.

 

Depends what you want really.

You can get better, you can get worse. I personally use an Alpine as a mid level option - I've had Nakamichi and McIntosh as well - those units were absolutely beautiful to listen to, but being honest it's not worth going to the absolute top end in the S2000 - it's too noisy.

Alpine also have great connectivity options for Ipods etc.

I bought my 9855R because the built in crossover allows me to run my system active, which is what I wanted from my system this time around.

If I wanted pure sound quality I'd probably go back to the Nakamichi personally - but thats a way away given that I dont intend selling my car for a while!!

HTH
Brad

 

The Imprint kit that comes with the 9887R (and as an add on for others) is really fantastic, a vast improvement on the sound quality.

 

I also have the 9855r i bought specifically for my ipod. Alpine arent the best on the market, but its quite a good sound, and the step up over original is quite a lot.

 

Alpine, although not on the same level as Bose and Harmon Kardon, is certainly on top of the standard stockpile of Blaupunkt, Pioneer, Kenwood, Sony etc.

In fact, I always get an electronics engineer who wires up cars to fit my ICE, and he told me strictly never to buy a Pioneer!

 

Bose? Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...

 

More money than sense dot com.

Bloody
Overpriced,
Sounds
Empty.