burstaneurysm

So I'm looking at snagging a new headunit. iPod integration is most important on my list.

So what are your opinions on either of these?

DEH-P590IB

http://www.abtelectronics.com/product/27397.html

iDA-X001

http://www.abtelectronics.com/product/28303.html

I have the Scion iPod deck now, and my biggest gripe is that I have to crank the **** forever to get to the end of the alphabet. Since the Scion one is made by Pioneer, I'm not sure if that's the case with the DEH... The Alpine scrolls way fast, but there's no CD. The price is within 50 bucks (Alpine's pricier).

Xiro

I'd go with the alpine. Color screen makes it look good, and with an ipod you dont really need a CD, just rip songs to itunes and load up your 'pod...

dmpsk8

i say save a couple hundred more and get a double din. I'm really happy I waited for mine.

burstaneurysm

There are a couple reasons I don't wanna do that.

Since the box doesn't have a nice cover over the HU like the tC, I don't want something too flashy.

I have a standalone nav unit, so I don't need in dash.

Plus, if I really wanted a double, I'd get a Z2, but I don't wanna save 2K.

dugzilla

Ian, get the alpine, you won't be disappointed.

exige

also look at a 9885....different style of ipod setup than the IDA-X001.....but it still is better than the Pio.....i have a few gripes about the IDA...i personally would go with the 9885....or the 9887 if you can pony up the money (same cost as IDA, much more tuning options).

burstaneurysm

^ What gripes about the IDA?

tanakasan

Yeah, what a headache. A little OT but...

I have the 880PRS and same deal. A workaround I read about (and did) was to rename the genre to the first letter of the artist. Then you can search by genre (max 13 clicks) because you can search A-Z or reverse lookup Z-A, and then drill down to the artist you want.

I do not search by genre so this was a great solution for me. YMMV.

burstaneurysm

Oh, good to know... I was looking at the PRS too.

So I'd assume all of the Pioneers have a similar method of scrolling.

Can anyone with Alpine chime in? Looking at the 9885 too now.

exige

i have a 9857....essentially a 9885 without 4v preouts. i had a 9800bt that i tried to use after i had gotten used to my 9857.....i returned it a day later because of the ipod interface. pio's ipod interface is just a hassle. with alpine...you get full control of your ipod...it sets up exactly as it would when controlling your ipod. so playlists, artists, tracks, genres...etc....its all right there. you click one of those...say artists.....and you have all your artists right in front of you....just as they'd be on your ipod. here's where i love alpine...instead of pio where you just scroll through manually (or as previous poster did....renamed genres...a hassle)....you simply click on one of the 1-6 buttons. this will advance through your library 16% at a time...alphabetically. from there you simply choose your artist using the volume ****. if you need to go back, there's a button to go back. i personally have no regrets with mine...i love it to death. way easier than pioneer.

dmpsk8

its ur call bro. some in dash units look almost stock in the xB. my (nav-less) DD cost me 500 and i love it.

burstaneurysm

Okay, so I was doing some research... the CDA-9884 is essentially the same as the 9887, but it doesn't have the built in sound processing. However, that is an addon that will be available Q1 2008.

exige

no the 9884 does not have the BioLite display.....that is essential to getting the iPod interface at its best. It gives you 3 lines versus 2, and is much harder to wash out than the 9884's LCD display. Though it might be the only difference between the 9985 and 9884.....it is a huge one at that. The 9885 is the unit that's exactly the same as the 9887 minus the sound processing.

burstaneurysm

The 9886 is the one with the biolite and the sound processing addon.

The 9885 has biolite but doesn't offer the addon.

So the price difference between the 84 and 86 is 100 bucks.

Is Biolite that much better?

I'm gonna go check these things out tonight...

exige

yeah, biolite is that much better. trust me...if you want ipod and your serious about it...dont even think about the 9884. 85 and 86 are much much better. the display makes all the difference in the world. you're talking to someone who's installed both the 9856 (9884) and the 9857 (9885). I've seen both and messed around with both of them. You want biolite...plain and simple.