Alpine CDA- 9887

[Logic]

finally got my new deck replacing the old 9855 i usually replace the deck at least once a year but the replacement of the 9855 the year after was the 9857 which didnt have half the stuff as the 9855 so i held on it another year. the new 9887 has most everything as the 9855 plus some bonus's. as the 9855 it has the parmetric and graphic eq, built in crossovers which you can have @ 6, 12,18,24 db slope 3-way or 2-way , ipod, multi eq, and also gives you multi color illumination. the thing i like also about it ,it has 4 volt preouts . i noticed the sub sounding louder from the get go . i had to turn the gains down a bit to compensate for it. it also has the hd radio capabilities, bluetooth and sat options also by adding the tuners to it. i had sirius on my and again with the new lay out the screen will show the full title and song as the older 9855 would cut off part of the word since there were like only 15 slots for letters .Experience the music the way the artist intended. The CDA-9887 is equipped with the amazing capabilities of IMPRINT. IMPRINT improves your in-car listening experience, creating unprecedented sound quality with full musical detail. i would give this deck a 8 out of 10 based on features.

[benzonline]

I just googled this IMPRINT feature on Alpine....so it would turn a stock stereo into a music hall?

[Logic]

no not a stock stereo. the imprint is in the alpine head unit our shop isn't set up with the mike and software for the imprint yet but soon i'll be able to set it up here.

[Cru328prod]

I WANNA HEAR A CAR WITH IMPRINT SOUND!!!!!!!!!!

Im still waiting for a HU that holds information on every car for stock speakers location, custom locations, and holds information on every speaker. All you would have to do is select from a list which

[Logic]

actually i have a head unit a clarion 9575rz with the 7500z processor in my van that has something similar too that . its a older deck that has a pro mode that you can tell the deck if you have a sedan, van, etc it shows the type of car on screen and also you can set up speaker size in certain location adjust q etc etc. even has a pink noise generator in it. it is also the first deck with a motorized tilt face and multi color screen and the knob also changes colors when the music plays. its about 7 years old and still plays great but then again its not a basic system in there either it also has 4 10 inch infinty perfect subs , bd1000 rockford, 600.4 rockford 4 channel , boston pro 6.5 in doors boston 57 in dash, and infinty 6x9 in rear it also has a changer 2 farad cap and all installed by me hehehe. system is about 7 years old too:cool:

[unHookt]

are you using the bluetooth? I want to hear about how Alpine's new bluetooth (300BT) add-on works. The first gen (100BT) was apparently pretty crappy.

Can you dial out now?
Does the phone book transfer?
Is audio quality improved?

[Logic]

no i m not but have installed a few in some cars ...haven't really gotten any feed backs yet but if i do ill post it

[unHookt]

Anybody else using the new version of the Alpine BT module? It's gotten some negative reviews on the Crutchfield site (http://www.crutchfield.com/S-yf3laSYwyxr/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=280050&tab=review&i=500KCE300B#Tab)

[Logic]

since i haven't installed a bluetooth device for the alpine deck in a while they may not be that great, but knowing them they'll proubly improve on it and come out with something better...they usually do.

[kameraguy]

What a coincidence as I just got the 9887 as well. I also have the BT, iPod, and USB module.

The BT module (300) is good, but has it's flaws. Pairing is easy enough and considering the small screen of the 9887, it's easy enough to navigate your contacts. But that's if your phone is supported. My Samsung Crapjack wasn't so the contacts weren't transferred over. But fortunately my iPhone works fine with it.

I think the BT module works well enough, but the microphone isn't very sensitive. You usually sound very distant when talking to people through it. But it's not a deal breaker, it still works.

You can dial-out with the HU using the phone's contact list. But only if your phone is supported. Alpine has a list of supported phones on their website.

Can't comment if it sounds better as I haven't heard the model 100, but it sounds fine to me in terms of a phone call. Sounds like a speakerphone in your car.

The 9887 is an amazing HU from what I read, so i bought it especially for the Imprint tuning capability. Problem is my audio shop still hasn't received their Imprint calibration kit so I haven't had mine tuned yet. But the tests and reviews I read said it's a breakthrough in acoustic technology. We'll see.

The one thing about the 9887 which puzzles me is why Alpine didn't elect to use the main control knob as "enter". It would be far more intuitive to be able to rotate the knob and press-in to select. But instead they separate "enter" to an adjacent button. Kind of a hassle!

The big disappointment for me was the USB module. There's a whole bunch of problems with it and the reviews you read online are spot on. It technically DOES work, but you don't have any control over the music in terms of repeat, shuffle, playlists. What's really retarded is that when you turn the unit off and back on, instead of continuing where you left off on the USB drive, it starts from the very first song. And the kicker is your folders don't mean anything. It reads all the music files and creates one global list. So all your songs get put together in one large pool. I'm surprised Alpine would release this with so many limitations (flaws?) Sucks.

I'm really happy with the setup though. And can't wait to hear how much better once it has been tuned with the Imprint module.

[unHookt]

Awesome review. Can you talk about how you installed it? Did you get a line out converter? Do you have the Bose system? I'm thinking about getting this unit but where the hell is all of the stuff (converter, ipod adapter, bluetooth unit, etc.) going to go??

[kameraguy]

Originally posted by benzonline
I just googled this IMPRINT feature on Alpine....so it would turn a stock stereo into a music hall?

From my understanding Imprint is able to take multiple acoustic measurements in the interior and "see" where the frequency response dips and peaks. Then it can calculate the appropriate delay and compensation/reduction to certain frequencies to allow a flatter frequency response throughout the vehicle. I'm sure i'm WAY over-simplifying what it can do, but that's what i got out of the technical documents.

Bottom line is it's supposed to provide a consistent and flat frequency response in all seating positions which "should" equate to clean music for all occupants. This can be realized as a more "realistic" musical experience as they like to place it.

This is something I can't wait to see if it delivers.

[kameraguy]

Originally posted by unHookt
Awesome review. Can you talk about how you installed it? Did you get a line out converter? Do you have the Bose system? I'm thinking about getting this unit but where the hell is all of the stuff (converter, ipod adapter, bluetooth unit, etc.) going to go??

Sorry to say, I am an audio enthusiast, but not an installer. So I elected to have my local shop install it.

They basically removed all my Bose speakers and I had them replaced with Focals all around.

I had them keep the Bose AMP intact, but I re-used my Alpine 5 channel amp and had a JL sub installed in the trunk.

The BT and USB modules are pretty small and were able to be placed behind my dash.

The iPod adapter is simply a cable that plugs direct into the HU so no real problem there.

[Logic]

being a mobile installer here i find it easy to blow threw most bose systems as long as the bose system doesnt have a DIN type plug behind the deck. if it doesn't all you have to do is locate the amp turn on wire which in most cases is white , sometime blue... some draw backs is the volume can get loud quick in some cases. there are modules out there and all they do is convert your speaker out to a low level signal. so if you decide to wire the deck via vw harness , wire it as if there wasn't a amp in there meaning color for color (speaker wires) but make sure you switch the red and yellow wires since the harness's used are designed for vw and the constant and acc are switched in those cars. i would be refering to METRAS wiring harness.