Re: Alpine Headunits Owners - Look Here !!!
Hey guys,
I though I better give you guys a head-up on this adaptor's compatibility.... The thing to be very careful about is,
Do double check that your HU really has a 'remote jack' at the back. (it should look like a normal walkman earphone hole/jack for the steering controls to interface with the HU.
Here's my long story if you guys want the details:
I've just got this adaptor abt 2 months ago thru my friend in UK... cost around 50pounds (incld VAT)... I used to have a CDA-9835 and installed with my ice early this year. I bought the 9835 then thinking that it should have a remote jack as stated in the US .pdf manual from their website. My installer (Autotrend) reaffirmed that it shouldn't be a prob, and can help me get the adaptor also... Just sweet words... 8 mths already... nutin!) After DIY dismantling the dash and pulling out the HU, to my horror there's no jack!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: seems like our 'asian' 9835 model not similar to the US version...
Damn!!! :furious: I went to check with my installer, who offered no help at all.... avoided me like I'm a ghost... his only offer was "to trade-in my 9835 at $100!!! and get a 9855 at $680!!!"... Can you believe it? $100 for a 6mths old 9835 bought at $750...!?! I even offered to buy in their 2nd hand 9855, but was refused saying that they are 'display sets', not 2nd hand....
yeah rite!! So F*** it, i decided to DIY everything myself now on and avoid this shop in Toa Payoh....
So I went to SL Sq, luckily the newer model 9855 has the remote jack. Bought it at $630? (can't recall) and sold off my 9835 at $500 thru other forums.
The adaptor is rather easy to install. I would recommend dismantling the whole HU bracket (i.e. the whole dash from the gear stick and up, incld the air-con controls) to better access and arrange your cables and stuff. Much easier than trying to stuff cables + adaptor all over. The connectors are straight forward and coded.
Now, the steering mute and volume controls works fine. But here are some things I still not satisfied:
1. In Radio mode, pressing up/down on the steering control results in the HU scanning for the next freq.... :ehhh: instead of skipping to the next preset station.
2. When playing a CD/MP3 track, pressing and holding-on to the Up/down steering control results in a continuous skipping to the next/prev track(s) instead of FF/RW on the time of the track.
I guess the prob lies within the adaptor's or HU's programming. I'm a 1st time user of Alpine and frankly now, I'm not so impressed with their product. Although Alpine might have a good EQ setup and time correction stuff, I prefer Sony product's easy and friendly user interface and design. I would switch back to Sony if given the choice.... I also noticed that all Sony HUs have that remote jack since very very long time ago.... and Alpine cut budget for asian 9835 model by not giving a small little remote jack?!?
Here's a pic of wat the adaptor should look like and the plug (circled red) for the remote control jack.
Thanks for listening to my sorrows....
Cheers,
Derek...
