ALPINE CDA-W550 CD/Cassette/DSP Receiver (In-Dash Car Stereo)
Written: Jan 26 '01 (Updated Feb 04 '01)
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Pros: State of the art auto music machine!
Cons: A little too Star-War-sy.
The Bottom Line: You have one life to live; live it with an Alpine unit.
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| Ed.Williamson's Full Review: Alpine CDA-7839 |
OK, this is about a CDA-W550 rather than about a CDA-7839. I couldn't find a category for the CDA-W550, so I hope epinions doesn't bump this review, but here goes.
I wanted a unit that was high quality, so I went with Alpine.
I wanted a unit with an AM/FM radio, and a cassette player, and a CD player.
The guys at the auto sound store call this kind of unit a "Double Din". I don't know what that means, but I guess you could say since the car stereos in the "ground-shaker-cars" that cruise the 7-11 in my neighborhood create a real "din" of sound, maybe that has something to do with it.
Anyway, I splurged when I got this unit but I am glad I got it. In addition to the multisource (radio, cassette, CD) ability, it does a couple of other things nicely.
First, you can manipulate the music to sound like it is coming from all kinds of environments...stadiums, concert halls, churches, and that sort of thing. You went to the big Raging Twinkies concert in Newport back last summer with that hot lady from Marketing? Now you can close your eyes and bring it all back as the Twinkies blast you just like they did when you were with the lady that special night. You heard Charlotte Church singing in a cathedral with all those echoes sounding through the stone pillars and aurulets? You can hear all that too now. That is really very kewl.
Second, you can title your stations, tapes, and CDs. For example, if you have LOVE SONGS by Elton John on a CD, you can type in ELTON: Love Songs on the little screen and whenever you play that CD it will show you the title beneath the juke-box-like lightshow display. That too, is very kewl.
You get a remote with it. I still can't quite understand the purpose of remote in a car, since normally you can reach the buttons on the unit just by reaching forward about 6 inches or so and putting your fingers on the buttons and pushing (not exactly a Herculean task.) Maybe remotes are made for backseat lovers, hmm??? Anyway, interesting idea. Somebody tell me why they make these little remotes, though, please? Maybe only short people with short arms need apply or something.
My only real gripe? I didn't see any bass or treble control, nor front/back sound. From what I gather, these things are old-hat and are not very important now that we are in the 21st century. I beg to differ, but that's ok.
The normal sound quality is wonderful. Really. (So is the abnormal sound quality too. Really. After all, it's an Alpine, right?)
You're gonna be happy with it a long, long time.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 800.00
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Epinions.com ID:
Ed.Williamson
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Member: Ed Williamson
Location: Way Out West, USA
Reviews written: 607
Trusted by: 315 members
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Fight 'em till Hell freezes over, then fight 'em on the ice!
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