Opinions on new HU

[Blackbirdws6]

Well after 10 years, either my Alpine HU or cd changer is acting up. For some reason, if I play a CD from the changer, I get sound only from the passenger side speakers. If I play from the HU itself (cd or changer), then everything works great. Troubleshooting is pretty much impossible since the connection between the cd changer and HU is via one cable (Ai Net). The wire and connection looks fine so I dunno.

Anyway, I have a couple options.

I'm thinking about a new HU and can either go with a CD receiver with all the bells and whistles or with a media receiver that does a bit more. The catch is, the cd receiver will not connect with the cd changer but the media receiver model will.

Here are the two models.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500HD137BT/Alpine-CDE-HD137BT.html?tp=5684#details-tab

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500IDA305S/Alpine-iDA-X305S.html?tp=5684
Thoughts?

[qwikz28]

I actually own the second one you listed (and am selling it actually to replace with an in-dash nav unit, PM me if you are interested or would like to see it in action) and whole-heartedly recommend it. I actually bought it in the Summer to replace the previous version (which I actually also still have in my garage) as the new version adds Pandora. If you have an iPhone, it is a no brainer. The features it has and its abilities are unbelieable. This unit was developed in conjunction with Apple for flawless integration. The iPod navigation is superb. The Pandora feature (I love Pandora, most of my music listening is on Pandora) will be impossible to live without once you have it. The only drawback I have found with this unit is its inability to play CDs.

I have to ask though, are you still using CD's? If you have an iPod, rip them all on there and ditch the changer altogether. Regardless, feel free to ask any more questions you may have.

[Blackbirdws6]

I actually own the second one you listed (and am selling it actually to replace with an in-dash nav unit, PM me if you are interested or would like to see it in action) and whole-heartedly recommend it. I actually bought it in the Summer to replace the previous version (which I actually also still have in my garage) as the new version adds Pandora. If you have an iPhone, it is a no brainer. The features it has and its abilities are unbelieable. This unit was developed in conjunction with Apple for flawless integration. The iPod navigation is superb. The Pandora feature (I love Pandora, most of my music listening is on Pandora) will be impossible to live without once you have it. The only drawback I have found with this unit is its inability to play CDs.

I have to ask though, are you still using CD's? If you have an iPod, rip them all on there and ditch the changer altogether. Regardless, feel free to ask any more questions you may have.

Thanks for the feedback. I have an iTouch so I assume it would have no problem working with that correct? I wish it was android compatible since that's what I have a bionic which I love.

I use CDs but they are all burned anyway so using the iPod or thumb would save me having to make them. If I'm ditching the changer anyway, it comes down to spending the extra coin on the higher dollar HU. I will PM you about the unit.

[qwikz28]

I replied to your PM. I actually recently switched over to Android too so the only way I can get Pandora is to tether wifi from my Galaxy S2 on to my iTouch. Kinda annoying, but doable if you need it. Actually I never tried this, but hypothetically, it should still work. You just need to download the Alpine Pandoralink App on your iTouch.

Nonetheless, if you have an iTouch, forget CDs. Rip em all on there, and be disc free forever.

[sweetbmxrider]

#2.

[3rdGenHardtop]

Sounds like you had a bad AI-Net cable from your changer, or a loose plug.

Hope you found a replacement, but if not, let me know, I might have a spare AI-Net plug around here somewhere.

[Blackbirdws6]

Sounds like you had a bad AI-Net cable from your changer, or a loose plug.

Hope you found a replacement, but if not, let me know, I might have a spare AI-Net plug around here somewhere.

Changer is bad unfortunately. I checked the Ai-Net wire and the connection and saw no obvious issues. Can they just go bad sitting there?

[3rdGenHardtop]

When one channel is out, I'd immediately guess the changer cable. I've seen it once or twice before...

[Blackbirdws6]

When one channel is out, I'd immediately guess the changer cable. I've seen it once or twice before...

What would you want for the cable?

[3rdGenHardtop]

$20? You could try it first before you buy it...