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What lead me to this unit:
Basically i thought it was time for an upgrade as the 8454 (still a fantastic unit) was getting a bit long in the tooth. The contenders for the new head unit came down to the Alpine 9887 and the Eclipse 7100 for the reason that they are the only two brands of head unit that were what i was looking for in regards to features, quality, reputation and after sales service. Clarions HX-D2 and Pioneer's P80 didnt come into it as price and availability really didnt help their cause.
I was after something that could basically match the 8454 in terms of features. A good SQ head unit with all the features i could ever need - on board. Both the 9887 and 7100 were on the money here with crossovers, PEQ, Time alignment, etc. So then it came down to useability. Many people have criticized Eclipse units for their useability or lack there of, having owned 2 Eclipse units previously i still found the 7100 hard to navigate. I was able to play with both units on a demo board and the 7100 in a car too, but didnt like the knob with the buttons in the middle. This was a major factor that lead me to the 9887.
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The Face
This is one sexy head unit. I guess you would call it gunmetal in colour with Alpines trade mark rotary knob and 6 coloured buttons on the left hand side of the unit. The right hand side of the unit is dominated by the Biolite screen. The appearance (display and lighting) can be adjusted to the users desire with 5 different back grounds and also 5 different lighting combinations.
As usual the face itself is detachable and you are provided with a protective case so you can carry the face with you without damaging it. Alpine have gone with a flip down face and an eject button found behind the face over the motorized face found on previous models which some people may think is cheap and nasty, but in reality uses less moving parts and that means that less can go wrong. All in all i really think Alpine have got this one right, in terms of looks and functionality.
The Menu
At first i found the menu setup to be a bit daunting, which going from one brand to another can only be expected. Having had a few weeks to get myself acquainted with the head unit i now find it very simple and logical to find what i am looking for quickly. Pushing the rotary volume knob gives you access to the most basic controls (Sub level, balance, fading and defeat on/off) which for making the simplests adjustments on the go could not be easier. Under the volume knob, next to the phone button you will find the the a.sel button for all you tuning needs (crossovers, time correction, parametric eq, etc). To adjust general things like appearance and time the function/setup button is what you are after, named for what it does.
All menus are logical, with different functions being put in sections that you would expect to find them.
The rear end
I found that everything that you need to wire the head unit up was as it should be, with the iPod and antenna jacks being on leads. something that tripped me up initially was the layout of the RCA pre outs. The logical order would be front, rear, sub however i remember it being a little mixed up. Im sure if you take your time and use the installation manual that is provided, this would not be an issue.
SQ Feautres
I must say that this is a great sounding unit. Being the cream of the crop it has all the fruit that you would expect with the top model. It has 3, 4 volt preouts (front, rear, sub) which isnt huge, but still handy. Via a switch underneath the head unit you can select 2way or 3way crossovers. You get 6 channels of time correction and 7 bands of graphic or 5 bands of parametric EQ. The 9887 also has a 24 bit Burr Brown D/A converter. What more could you ask for from such a reasonably priced head unit?
General Features
The 9887 comes with normal features such as a clock, detachable face and adjustable illumination, but for me the Full Speed iPod is a God send. Using the KCE-422i gives you the ability to access all musical aspects of your iPod. You can search through playlists, browse by artists or songs, or use the preset buttons for a percentage search. As i said earlier the lack of a motorised face may not be attractive for many people, however i find the flip down face and eject button just as easy to use. For those without an iPod you are able to play all your burnt or downloaded music because the 9887 is compatible with WMA, AAC and MP3.
You are also provided with a wireless remote and batteries.
The Verdict
I cant say enough about how much this unit has impressed me, both in terms of sound and features. Its easy to use, well laid out, looks good and gives you plenty of features to keep you busy for some time.
I dare say that it will be something else when the KTX-100EQ MultEQ Calibration Kit becomes available, sooner rather than later i hope.
Links:
Alpine 9887: <a href="http://www.alpine.com.au/products/product.asp?modelID=291" target="_blank">http://www.alpine.com.au/products/product.asp?modelID=291</a>
KTX-100EQ: <a href="http://www.alpine.com.au/products/product....#features_specs" target="_blank">http://www.alpine.com.au/products/product....#features_specs</a>
Remember this is my review, based on my experiences with this head unit and some others. Some information such as model numbers, pictures and features were taken from the Alpine Australia Website (www.alpine.com.au). I know there are many other members with the 9887 and i encourage you to share your thoughts.
To my knowledge the CDA 9887 retails for $599 and the KTX-100EQ is set to retail for $299
Riley Schultz
Edited by Marc, 03 February 2009 - 03:37 PM.
