SolaraGuy.com

Hey guys, I don't post here very often but I wanted to share my joy.

Last November, I finally pulled the trigger on a headunit with Ipod control/charging capabilities. I was so tired of using POS fm transmitters.
The Alpine iXA-W407 is a driveless headunit. No internal moving parts or cd player. I haven't touched a CD for about the last 2 years...but I was a little hesistant to totally ditch that technology. I decided to go for it. This Alpine is a touch screen unit, with built-in bluetooth, iPod audio/video, USB, and a couple of RCA inputs for whatever other devices you desire.
Alpine, like many other manufacturers love to have seperate modules for everything. The only module I bought was the HD tuner. It works really good and the sound quality is incredible. It's near CD quality. I've considered buying the GPS mod, but I can't see myself using it much, plus it is way over priced for something that cannot be used portable. There is an in-line power amplifier that I may add on at some point.

I did the install myself using a Metra 95-8512 install kit. I was a little unsure how it was going to match up color-wise with the rest of the silver trim, but this kit is money! Matches near perfect! And it fits like a glove.

I also used the PAC SWI-JACK steering wheel controls interface to save my controls. Works slick. Took me a few trys to get it programed the way I wanted it, but I got it now. Like others have posted in the past, it is a little bit slow/delayed in responding to button pressing. But it isn't bad.

I also used the PAC TR-7 video bypass module so that I don't have to have the car in Park, parking brake on, and all that BS required to watch iPod video. This mod allows you to watch video while driving. I don't really recommend it, but it is pretty damn cool. With the Alpine, you can't just ground out the parking brake wires, it looks for a sequence of power, from the brake lights and parking brake indicator. This little module requires no programming, just wire it in and go.



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Sorry I don't have any install action shots, but it was actually really to install. I had it all done in a few hours after work one night. Enjoy

Looks good especially with that bluetooth dial pad! Can it play mp4 or avi videos?

I'm not sure about no more CD's tough..but I guess it will be useless since you can use your iPod.

Nice...whats your impression of it now that its been a few days?

likes dislikes?

I really like this headunit. Like I said, once I made the leap over to my Ipod, I really haven't kept a CD wallet in my car for quite a while now.

Couple of little complaints. I wish Alpine could improve the method for finding songs on your iPod. If you have one particular song in mind, you gotta scroll forever to find it....very big pain in the butt. I had an old Alpine single din MP3 CD player and it had a scroll wheel that was super fast compared to this thing.

The other thing I don't like is that I can't use the telephone keypad during call, (i.e. voicemail password, numeric menus) ...gotta do it on the phone - kinda defeats the purpose of hands-free.

Once in a great while there's some funky interaction between the Alpine and the iPod, but overall its smooth.

About the MP4 or AVI vids.....I don't think it'll let you play them on a USB thumb drive....Pretty sure the only way you can do it would be to load those vids onto your iPod - which isn't hard to do. I have a few music videos that were mp4 and I now have them in my iPod.

So this has no CD slot at all?

Who really needs CD's? Like he says in the begining. He hasent used CD's for 2 years. Frankly neither have I. This looks like a really great setup. Awsome job!

Pretty slick. I like!

Nice Installation man. I'm using a scosch double din kit and its not totally flush. How does the metra line up on the sides? Where did you order it from?

Your install looks pretty sharp. I like your dash kit better than mine. I bought a scosche, and it doens't fit quite right...

Anywho, a couple of notes for those considering options...

I installed an Eclipse AVN52D (which is exactly the same as the AVN5500). One of the reasons I went with Eclipse is that the factory steering wheel control harness plugs directly into the Eclipse unit with no adapter needed. Steering wheel buttons are fast and smooth. Another nice thing with the Eclipse unit is that there's no messing with adapters to allow video while driving. Simply ground the parking brake wire and you're done!

One drawback, though. The Eclipse iPod Controller doesn't play videos from the iPod. And, like yours, you have to scroll through if you want a specific song. I got around that by using playlists...

I had the factory JBL stereo, so I needed a harness to bypass the factory amp. Not a big deal, but...

Anywho... Just throwing out thoughts...

Actually, I just bought the Metra install kit off e-b@y. Yeah, it fits just like the factory and the color is about as close of a match I can expect.

+1 on playlists. I serioulsy considered buying an eclipse. I can't remember why I didn't, but I've had Alpines in the past and always like their stuff.