Price Difference = quality difference in Ipod adapters?
Price Difference = quality difference in Ipod adapters? Hey guys,
I'm new to car audio as I'm mostly into the performance aspects of the hobby, but I'm thinking of purchasing a new head unit for my car, as I've got the stock Monsoon system and no CD player. I've been using my ipod with an itrip to get by the past couple of months, but the sound leaves a lot to be desired, and I'm really wanting a regular CD player.
I'd also like to be able to play the ipod directly through the new head unit. I've seen things like the auxpod and similar items and would like to use something like that. It seems that most companies now make ipod ready head units, so I figured I would probably just go that route.
My question is -- why the huge price difference between Alpine and Pioneer or Kenwood ipod setups?
The Alpine "Ipod ready" head unit uses a $30 cable to play the Ipod directly through the head unit. Seen here: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-bhZ3KvG...p?i=500KCE422I
Where as the Pioneer "Ipod ready" head units use $120 Ipod interfaces to control the ipods with their head units. Seen here: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-bhZ3KvG...p?i=130CDIB100
Obviously one is just a cable and one is an interface, but from the descrptions it seems they do the exact same thing, except the Pioneer also charges the batter. Is there any sound quality or performance that will be lost by going with the Alpine head unit and cable as opposed to the much more expensive pioneer ipod interface? Or is it just a better bargain to go with the Alpine if purchasing a new head unit? I'm really not wanting to spend an additonal c-note to hook up the ipod. Any thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks for any help,
I'm new to car audio as I'm mostly into the performance aspects of the hobby, but I'm thinking of purchasing a new head unit for my car, as I've got the stock Monsoon system and no CD player. I've been using my ipod with an itrip to get by the past couple of months, but the sound leaves a lot to be desired, and I'm really wanting a regular CD player.
I'd also like to be able to play the ipod directly through the new head unit. I've seen things like the auxpod and similar items and would like to use something like that. It seems that most companies now make ipod ready head units, so I figured I would probably just go that route.
My question is -- why the huge price difference between Alpine and Pioneer or Kenwood ipod setups?
The Alpine "Ipod ready" head unit uses a $30 cable to play the Ipod directly through the head unit. Seen here: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-bhZ3KvG...p?i=500KCE422I
Where as the Pioneer "Ipod ready" head units use $120 Ipod interfaces to control the ipods with their head units. Seen here: http://www.crutchfield.com/S-bhZ3KvG...p?i=130CDIB100
Obviously one is just a cable and one is an interface, but from the descrptions it seems they do the exact same thing, except the Pioneer also charges the batter. Is there any sound quality or performance that will be lost by going with the Alpine head unit and cable as opposed to the much more expensive pioneer ipod interface? Or is it just a better bargain to go with the Alpine if purchasing a new head unit? I'm really not wanting to spend an additonal c-note to hook up the ipod. Any thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks for any help,
I have something simular to the first
I have the ////Aline9847 head unit. 3 pre outs, and a AUX in. The HU was on sale at BB for 189.99. I bought a 25 dollar wire that goes from the ////Alpine's Aux In, and the other end of that wire is two RCA's ( red and white wires ) Then i went form the two RCA's to a single headphone jack..
Look at my thread to see the cleanness of the install, and the ease of use... You can also pull extra wire out of the ashtray * you don't use your ashtray right
* and tuch it between your E brake and your shifter. But this gets to be a problem when parking, you have the E brake up, your ipod slids to the passanger floor board...
I have the ////Aline9847 head unit. 3 pre outs, and a AUX in. The HU was on sale at BB for 189.99. I bought a 25 dollar wire that goes from the ////Alpine's Aux In, and the other end of that wire is two RCA's ( red and white wires ) Then i went form the two RCA's to a single headphone jack..
Look at my thread to see the cleanness of the install, and the ease of use... You can also pull extra wire out of the ashtray * you don't use your ashtray right
* and tuch it between your E brake and your shifter. But this gets to be a problem when parking, you have the E brake up, your ipod slids to the passanger floor board... I saw your install, looked great; I'm going to do something similar. After reading up, it seems the new 2006 Alpine HU's don't require anything but the speed cable for the ipod, so no interfaces or anything. It's pretty much identical to your install, minus the headphone jack setup. Just the $25 cable into the back of the HU and the ipod.
Thanks,
Thanks,
i've got the Alpine 9847 as well, but have the iPod Interface. It charges the iPod, and I can control it from the deck! Also, I get all of the song's information scrolling through the Alpine's text display. The iPod interface for Alpine can be had for <$90 shipped!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPINE-KCA-420I-...QQcmdZViewItem
In my opinion, the interface is the way to go. when I originally bought my setup, I paid over $200 for the interface!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPINE-KCA-420I-...QQcmdZViewItem
In my opinion, the interface is the way to go. when I originally bought my setup, I paid over $200 for the interface!
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2005
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ls1_2nv or anyone else that uses the ipod adapter, can you still use the scroll wheel on the ipod to scroll through songs, or does the screen like lock up and force you to use the headunit? I'm thinking of ditching the stock head unit and going this route, but I still want to use the scroll wheel on the ipod as it will be mounted next to the head unit.
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you can't use the ipod controls at all. you search using the alpine head unit. it's not too bad, not as good as the ipod clickwheel. but, if your songs are all titled correctly, it's not a pain!
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or I was just thinking of running a line out from the bottom of the ipod to rcas and then into the aux of the head unit. That way you can use hte ipod to control the songs. it just kind of deletes the purpose of mounting the ipod next to the head unit if it is just going to have some silly screen on it. show some love on my head unit post NV
Originally Posted by LS1_2NV
i've got the Alpine 9847 as well, but have the iPod Interface. It charges the iPod, and I can control it from the deck! Also, I get all of the song's information scrolling through the Alpine's text display. The iPod interface for Alpine can be had for <$90 shipped!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPINE-KCA-420I-...QQcmdZViewItem
In my opinion, the interface is the way to go. when I originally bought my setup, I paid over $200 for the interface!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPINE-KCA-420I-...QQcmdZViewItem
In my opinion, the interface is the way to go. when I originally bought my setup, I paid over $200 for the interface!
Basically the speed cable now does everything the interface does (sans charging) but cheaper, and with no box to hide.