Has to be Ipod???
Has to be Ipod??? Hi guys. I have the Alpine 9856 H/U and it is one that is Ipod ready, I just have to buy the little interface cable. But I was wondering, do you have to use and Ipod- can you use a different MP3 player?? Here's what I am considering because I found one locally for a really good price: MP3 Player
If you are talking about using the KCA420 interface, then yes that only hooks up to an IPod. I have a 9851 and the KCA420. Its nice because you can control everything from your head unit, so you can store you iPOD out of site like in your glove box or center console. I plan on getting a PAC SWI interface, so then I can do it all from my steering wheel too.
I you're not talking about the KCA420 interface, but rather just a 1/8 inch jack (headphone jack) to RCA adapter, then any MP3 player could connect to that, but you have to manually change the tracks on the iPOD.
I you're not talking about the KCA420 interface, but rather just a 1/8 inch jack (headphone jack) to RCA adapter, then any MP3 player could connect to that, but you have to manually change the tracks on the iPOD.
With that head unit, I'd get the ipod and the KCA 420. I am an iPOD hater, I prefer the Creative units (bought my wife and daughter each a Muvo), but it is so bitchen to plug it in and forget about it.
I picked up my KCA420 for $45 shipped on ebay. Here's one for a similar price:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPINE-KCA-420-I...temZ9729528227
You can also pick up ipods pretty cheap. You can even pick one up with a bad display, load 10, 15, 20, 30 or 40 GB of music on it and forget about it.
Check out the price of these iPODs:
http://search.ebay.com/search/search...&so=Show+Items
I picked up my KCA420 for $45 shipped on ebay. Here's one for a similar price:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ALPINE-KCA-420-I...temZ9729528227
You can also pick up ipods pretty cheap. You can even pick one up with a bad display, load 10, 15, 20, 30 or 40 GB of music on it and forget about it.
Check out the price of these iPODs:
http://search.ebay.com/search/search...&so=Show+Items
Teching In
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 44
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dont get the 420 with that head unit, only the older alpine head units require you to buy that, the 9856 is a 2006 model, all you need is the 422i (30 dollar cable, that transfers information alot faster)
Edit: Also to answer your question you can get adaptors to make auxilary inputs for the headunit (rca cables) to use with any mp3 player, although you wouldnt be able to controll your mp3 player via the head unit. Also if you do it this way you will loose sound quality (shouldnt be too much) if you use the headphone jack on any mp3 player and split it to rcas.
Edit: Also to answer your question you can get adaptors to make auxilary inputs for the headunit (rca cables) to use with any mp3 player, although you wouldnt be able to controll your mp3 player via the head unit. Also if you do it this way you will loose sound quality (shouldnt be too much) if you use the headphone jack on any mp3 player and split it to rcas.
Thanks for all the info guys. I think I'm just gonna pick up an ipod off of ebay. They have good deals on new and used, and I'll eventually scratch it up or something so I guess there really isn't anything wrong with used.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 722
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by dan23467
dont get the 420 with that head unit, only the older alpine head units require you to buy that, the 9856 is a 2006 model, all you need is the 422i (30 dollar cable, that transfers information alot faster)
Edit: Also to answer your question you can get adaptors to make auxilary inputs for the headunit (rca cables) to use with any mp3 player, although you wouldnt be able to controll your mp3 player via the head unit. Also if you do it this way you will loose sound quality (shouldnt be too much) if you use the headphone jack on any mp3 player and split it to rcas.
Edit: Also to answer your question you can get adaptors to make auxilary inputs for the headunit (rca cables) to use with any mp3 player, although you wouldnt be able to controll your mp3 player via the head unit. Also if you do it this way you will loose sound quality (shouldnt be too much) if you use the headphone jack on any mp3 player and split it to rcas.
