Hey guys,

Quick question.

I have a Alpine CDA-7949 at the moment (getting serviced) and will be getting a PXA-H700/1 at some stage.

Would I be able to run the 700 successfully with a CDA-9835/9855? Or would I lose some features on the PXA unit?

I would really like to get a new headunit and sell off the 7949.

Chris

my 7998r can only act as a master volume control for the h701 processor, it can not set x-over points & eqs

so basically unless you have one of those screens that interfaces with the h701 (refer to manual which screen that would be) then you have to get the rux-700 or rux-701 controller unit.

maybe some of the new units can totally control the h701 processor but i can not see that in the specs for any 98xx series.

heres a list of units that can control the 701 processor

IVA-D310
IVA-D300

might be more but thats all i could find today, best to email alpine or go to a alpine dealer

Ok well as discussed in another thread.

I am going to run a CDA-9855, CHA-S624, PXA-H700/701.

edy

once you hook up the processor, you lose all tuning capabilities of the deck and it becomes a 'signal' device for your cd's/mp3's/tuner/etc..
all the tuning will be done by the processor, and if you get the H701 you need the controller face to go with it..

jas, the H700 comes with the controller face already..
you only need the rux-701 if you plan on running the PXA-H701 on its own, like i will be doing.

Yeah I realise that, that's what I am going to get that stacker, because it has the digital out.

I realise I could have gone for a much cheaper deck, but where is the fun in that

edy

the yet-to-be-released DVD HUs will have 'processor control' like the D300/310 when teams with the H701. the H700 does not have the firmware to be 'processor control' compatible.

*DVA-9965: price unknown, but is high-end and probably $2000
*DVA-9860E RRP$999; digital output, perfect for teaming with H701; stripped down version of 9965 from what i can tell (ie: without the inbuilt processing features of the 9965.....which obviously become superfluous when you add an H701)

i would love a 9965.


http://www.alpine-europe.com/content/engli...--WMA-TUNER.htm


http://www.alpine-europe.com/content/engli...MA-RECEIVER.htm

no idea on release dates though.

Damn the top one is sexy.

I have already bought myself a 9855, now looking for a cha-s624, not having a whole deal of luck.

Still gotta get the processor too!!!!

ALL BY NEXT SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!

edy

i know this is a useless comment, but you could have gone for any of the secondhand 7998 HUs in the forums and had digital output!

in recent months there's been at least 2 S624 stackers for sale. they probably still are. i'm pretty sure it was JohnL and daniel selling them. do a search.

Yeah John L sold his and I have PM'ed Daniel.

I realise I could have gone a 7998. Hell I have a 7949 sitting here in my room. However I have never bought a new headunit before and I thought it was about time.

This one should last me years and a stacker is really good too.

Which stackers have the digital out? Is it only the 624 or are there older models? What about a 12 stacker with digital out??

edy

the 624 is your best bet. none of the 12 stackers featured digital output, and you have to start looking at really old ones before finding another 6 stacker one.

alternatively the DVD stacker DHA-S680E RRP$2499.

Yeah I was actually looking at the DVD stackers, I can get a US model from someone I know second hand for $600, but it will only play Region 1 so its a sacrifice.

edy

although it should play all CDs fine. you wouldn't play DVDs would you?

but poor resale value i suppose unless you had alpine mod it (which i believe they can/would).

Its something to consider, but I dont know if I can justify the price.

Does not look like I will have a processor by Saturday anyway, so I will just run my active crossovers with the Alpine headunit for my first comp.

At least I'll get an idea of what areas I need to focus on.

edy

Someone on here was selling a S60E ex demo for $1k.

I've got a 624, but its not in the best condition cosmetically (got it that way... didnt really have much choice as they are hard to get)

Shiny, the new alpine decks should be out in the next 1-4 months (different decks getting released at different times during that period) Well thats according to the Alpine reps who were @ Autosalon.

Edit - The S680E's can also be regioned free, someone on here had one a while ago and was selling it.

When I do get this gear, how do I hook it up?

Will I run AI-Net from headunit to stacker? Then Digitial signal from stacker to processor? Where do I get the digital cable from?

Also, the processor will need an accessories wire to it, do I need to run that from the front or can I use the remote wire off of my relay?

edy

In terms of my setup, ive got a CDA-7969R, PXA-H700, and CHA-S624 (using ai-net for the deck and stacker atm tho, because i haven't got round to buying 2 optical cables )

Ai-net cable runs from deck to processor "brains" unit, then another ai-net cable runs from the processor "brains" unit to the stacker. The processor then also has its own cable that runs from the face unit to the brains unit.

In terms of the optical cable, im assuming any optical cable will do? If not, alpine sells one that comes in a 5M length.

Damn there is gonna be heaps of cabling, oh well.

So what do you mean any optical cable? Where can I get one from?

edy

I'm not sure what optical cable to use as ive never had one, im assuming any brand cable can be used. Maybe Shiny can explain better?

As for cabling, take a look below....

The cable in the middle of the processor brains unit is for the control face part, the one below is for an ai-net headunit. The empty space between there has 3 inputs for optical
http://homepages.ihug.com.au/~sgarrett/ste...p_in_situ_1.jpg

Ok then thanks, so you willing to sell your stacker?

edy

Also, the only cables I will need to buy will be 2 optical cables?

All the AI-Net cables should come with the gear???

edy

welcome to my world!

as outlined:
*Ai-NET cable from HU to PXA: on the HU, there is a switch for 'norm' and 'EQ/div' underneath (very small switch); you must set it to 'EQ/div' which makes the Ai-NET socket and 'output' as opposed to an 'input' for a stacker
*separate Ai-NET between stacker and PXA
*Toslink (name given to the shape of the terminal = most common type for all fibre optic digital audio AV connections incl home theatre) fibre optic cable between HU/stacker and PXA
*the plugs (ends of the fibre optic cables that you 'grip' to insert/remove them) need to be SMALL, smaller than the size of regular RCA terminals; this is cos alpine insist on making the connections on the stacker (HU too i think) 'tucked away' so that a normal size one does not reach in far enough; note that some regular cables are simply a small-ended plug with a bigger plug moulded over the top; this means you can cut/Dremel the outer plug off to leave only the smaller terminal behind; you obviously have to inspect the cable you buy to determine that this is possible without damaging the actual fibre-optic cable; few 'off the shelf' cables have the small plug unfortunately when you inspect the stacker terminal you will understand what i mean
*stacker also has a small switch (inside the 'door' of the S624) to select between 'analogue' (setting 1) and 'digital' (setting 2) output; you obviously have to change to '2' when using the fibreoptic output (i think i got them around the right way :tony: )

the PXA does not require a 'remote' wire connected up to it in your situation. the Ai-NET cable takes care of this; when you turn the HU on, it automatically turns the PXA on via the Ai-NET cable (which has a remote lead built into it).

Well thanks for that Shiny, thats great help there.

No doubt I will need to ask you some questions when setting up.

Just quickly though, when you said 'fibre optic cable between HU/stacker and PXA' do you mean one fibre optic from headunit to processor and one from changer to processor?

Where would you suggest I try and find these Toslink cables? I'll need two right?

If I cant get them, are they expensive from Alpine?

edy

yes, one cable per component. so you'd need 2 for a HU and stacker to connect up to the PXA.



the alpine ones aren't super cheap nor readily available. i think a 5m one will cost ~$80? could be way off there. and you look at it and think: why's this cost $80?! :roll:

just like RCAs, a fibre-optic cable is a fibre-optic cable. more expense buys bettern build quality; this includes ones that won't be damaged as easily if bent too hard, or won't develop tiny fractures through it with even gentle bends. i think some have more glass content in them instead of plastic, etc.

BUT, you are not going to hear a benefit from a $300 cable compared with a $30 IMHO. merely handle them with care and don't force them through tight bends.

any hifi/audiovisual store will sell fibreoptic cables with toslink ends. again, it's just a matter of finding one with a small surrounding plug on them instead of the regular RCA size. look as this jaycar one:



the black 'end' is the toslink terminal. the tiny silvery-white bit sticking out is the end of the fibreoptic cable in the centre. it's the big silver plug bit that surrounds all of this that is bulky and won't fit into the area used for the connection on alpine HUs/stackers. you probably can't easily shave/cut down the size of the jaycar one but it could be possible; it's only the protective plug that needs cutting down so it won't affect performance. but you may find some cables where the outer plug comes off more easily.

now this is an alpine one:



note it still has the toslink end, but the entire plug is a much smaller, squarer profile.

shop around and see what you find: JB hifi, harvey norman, dicksmith, jaycar, specialist hifi stores, etc.

Thanks again Shiny, I will go and try and find the cables today cause I want to get my headunit installed and then dont want to have to take it out again.

edy

Ok, another question sorry.

You have outlined that I will need an Optical cable in between the HU and the processor and one in between stacker and processor.

The stacker is fine, but the the headunit does not have digital out, hence me using the stacker so how am I suppose to run a cable between the two?

edy

you dont need to, the analog signal from your head unit will travel through the ai-net cable

so why not stick with the 7949 with optical out

this unit also has ai-net so it would also be used as a mater volume control

btw a great feature of the pxa-h700 is that it has variable subsonic filter, from 20hz upwards with 6db to 30db, how cool is that!!!!

hey edy, i'm also using the 7949, but i haven't bought the optic cables yet.

another alpine cd changer with optical out is the cha s609. it's got 4 d/a converters and 20bit resolution.

i have the pxa-h701+rux-c701

here's what i did....

7949 rca out going to h701 and
7949 ainet out going to h701;
7949 still set to normal (not eq/div)
s609 ainet to h701

the 7949 as stated by jas acts as your volume control, balance, fader and subwoofer level.

you will need the c701 to control xover,ta,peq,geq.



guys, what are the d/a converters found inside the h701? are they really much better than those inside the stacker?

hi zak, i thought this was the case at first, but no sound was coming out. turns out that it's either you feed an analog signal via rca out or you really need a hu with optical output. or i probably did something wrong?

oh and another 'concern', if this matters, would be the aesthetical matching of the ruxc701 controller and the 7949. the faceplates are entirely different and look a bit off when placed one on top of the other, which is probably also why edy considered getting a new hu.

i'll probably hide the controller in the arm rest

"7949 rca out going to h701 and
7949 ainet out going to h701;
7949 still set to normal (not eq/div)"

why???

you just can use the ai-net cable to controll everything.

ai-net will send the analogue audio signals to the processor, turn on the processor and make the 7949 the master voltume control

why did you set the 7949 to normal and use rcas output???

or does it sound better this way???

jas, i was also asking that myself. it was the first thing i did but no sound came out.

7949 ainet out going to h701
7949 set to eq/div

no sound.

so i tried doing what i mentioned above. and it worked.

perhaps edy should try it with his 7949 and see if the results are same. dunno if i did something wrong or i may have overlooked something, but i checked and re-checked.

what do you think went wrong?

since the 701 is a set and forget item you dont even need to install the rux-c701/700 controller. Thus it doesnt matter if it matches the other deck at all

we should have had a CAA rux-c701 controller to borrow just for tuning then we would NOT have had to pay that extra $400 for something that will be very very very rarely used

ok ive just played around with my setup

ok set deck to optical on...then turn off deck and processor..this is like a reboot

then ai-net will only send radio down it, the cd will not work unless there is an optical cable plugged into the processor.

then set deck to optical off. Reboot. Then cd and radio will be sent down ai-net cable

hopefully this is the same as the 7949 since it uses the same ai-net that my deck has (7998r)

Well I have just gone and bought an Optical cable.

I was lucky enough to find a generic one that fits the Alpine beautifully with no cutting required.

I will have an Optical cable between stacker and processor, then AI-Net between HU and processor and one between stacker and processor.

Hopefully get a chance to try it on Friday.

edy

when i switch to eq/div, do you mean to switch it while the deck is on?

will try this tonight and see what happens

tks!

The way I understand it you should do it once the deck is off then reset the deck so it recognises the change.

I could be wrong though.

edy

my deck is already set on the back to eq/div

i believe that if its set to normal the ai-net will accept a stacker into the unit (input mode for the deck)

where as set to eq/div it outputs a signal to a processor (output mode for the deck)

the rebooting is for the processor/deck to accept the changes to the optical setting (on/off on deck). Tried it today and it was the only way to get the ai-net to work on cd when i unplugged the optical cable.

guys i've finally figured it out! it seems the first time the 7949 was hooked up with the 701, it wasn't too sure if the 701 is his friend, so he needed a master reset... that button found when you remove the face. after doing such, all settings are now as how jas and the others described it! i don't need the rca anymore. thanks to all!