Whatt to choose: Alpine IXA-W407 or Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD

[zanvetto]

Hello.
I'm going to buy a Multimedia Unit for my car in the next few days and I'm between this two units:

Alpine IXA-W407 or Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD

I'm not going to use the navigation feature or any additional feature (at least at the beginning).

I really want help because I read many reviews and I have not decide yet.

Thank you.

[drozzy]

+1, i would like to read some feedback from forum users who have experience with both models.

[CarAudioCentre]

Hey there zanvetto & drozzy,

Its a good thing we have both in stock and have tested them both out to give a decent verdict.

Well, firstly, the obvious thing is that the Alpine is more expensive as it is a much newer model, about £90 difference.

That is also why the Alpine unit has more functions than the Pioneer, except for no DVD/CD mechanism...which I personally do not like. However, they both have the same number of pre-outs and ease of use although Pioneer's is a little more sluggish and less user-friendly when compared to the Alpine unit.

An additional useful feature on the Alpine model is that it comes with Bluetooth unlike Pioneer's, a big plus since the add-on module for Pioneer to enable Bluetooth would cost around £120+ which would put it over Alpine's price bracket.

There has been reportly issues of the Pioneer version 3.1 not working with iPhones properly, so...try to get a version that is upto 3.0 only. Also, the Pioneer is slow reading and displaying files off a memory stick or your iPod/iPhone, whilst when compared to Alpine's, it is just like your home computer, dang fast!

The real question for the buyer(s) out there is, do you use Bluetooth/eventually will/already got something in the car, and whether the missing DVD/CD is important as I would go for the Alpine one as it is a dedicated media unit albeit missing the CD/DVD feature. Watching DVD movies would not be possible with the Alpine but if you have the time uploading them onto your iPod or memory stick (if large enough) then yeah, an excellent head unit.

David.
Car Audio Centre Staff.

[drozzy]

Dave, let's talk.

Originally Posted by CarAudioCentre That is also why the Alpine unit has more functions than the Pioneer, except for no DVD/CD mechanism...which I personally do not like.

Theeeeere it is, you go personal right from the get go. We know you're biaised from the start.

I like DVDs on a 7" touch screen myself.

Originally Posted by CarAudioCentre However, they both have the same number of pre-outs and ease of use although Pioneer's is a little more sluggish and less user-friendly when compared to the Alpine unit.

Sluggish. Care to put it in other words? Alright, let's do it. Let's find interesting specs.

- EQ's: Alpine's got a 5-band graphic, Pioneer's is a 3-band parametric. I'm sorry, but parametric ftw, especially in an SQ oriented system.
- X-overs: Alpine's got a HPF (3 'blocking' pts) w/ no slopes (!) and some kind of center freq based subbass induced curve (4 'curving' pts)along the line but no real crossover. In fact, and I quote, "Crossover: Crossover Ready (PXA-H100 Required)". Pioneer has both high-pass & subwoofer crossovers, 50/63/80/100/125Hz and -12dB/Oct & -18dB/Oct slopes, respectively.
- Preouts: 2V vs 4V. Come on.
- Power: 18w per chan for the Alpine, 22w per chan for the Pioneer. But no big deal.
- Same DAC sampling (24 bit) & THD lvl (0.008% @ 1 kHz).

Interesting, isn't it?

Originally Posted by CarAudioCentre An additional useful feature on the Alpine model is that it comes with Bluetooth unlike Pioneer's, a big plus since the add-on module for Pioneer to enable Bluetooth would cost around £120+ which would put it over Alpine's price bracket.

Whooooooo-ooooooooooo! Excuse my language, but fvck Bluetooth. I don't use it and never will have the need to.

Originally Posted by CarAudioCentre There has been reportly issues of the Pioneer version 3.1 not working with iPhones properly, so...try to get a version that is upto 3.0 only.

Whooooooo-ooooooooooo! Excuse my language, but fvck iPhones. I don't use one and never will have the need for one either.

Originally Posted by CarAudioCentre Also, the Pioneer is slow reading and displaying files off a memory stick or your iPod/iPhone, whilst when compared to Alpine's, it is just like your home computer, dang fast!

Funny how two identical USB 2.0 protocols can act different huh?!?

Or are you implying that the Pioneer's processor performance is well below the Alpine's? If so, I suggest you explain yourself in a more technical manner than "dang fast".

Originally Posted by CarAudioCentre Watching DVD movies would not be possible with the Alpine but if you have the time uploading them onto your iPod or memory stick (if large enough) then yeah, an excellent head unit.

BOOM!

You just lost it. Again, go to Alpine's page on the IXA-W407.

Look for things like "supports .avi and DivX formats using proper CODECs"... let me know if you find any.

You'll be watching music videos in whatever format Apple has for that, and probably .mpeg's too. Otherwise jack sh1t.

That Alpine product is not a "dedicated media unit" if it can't play movies. I'm sorry.


...welcome to CAF.

[pelletier44]

Originally Posted by drozzy Dave, let's talk. Theeeeere it is, you go personal right from the get go. We know you're biaised from the start. I like DVDs on a 7" touch screen myself. Sluggish. Care to put it in other words? Alright, let's do it. Let's find interesting specs. - EQ's: Alpine's got a 5-band graphic, Pioneer's is a 3-band parametric. I'm sorry, but parametric ftw, especially in an SQ oriented system. - X-overs: Alpine's got a HPF (3 'blocking' pts) w/ no slopes (!) and some kind of center freq based subbass induced curve (4 'curving' pts)along the line but no real crossover. In fact, and I quote, "Crossover: Crossover Ready (PXA-H100 Required)". Pioneer has both high-pass & subwoofer crossovers, 50/63/80/100/125Hz and -12dB/Oct & -18dB/Oct slopes, respectively. - Preouts: 2V vs 4V. Come on. - Power: 18w per chan for the Alpine, 22w per chan for the Pioneer. But no big deal. - Same DAC sampling (24 bit) & THD lvl (0.008% @ 1 kHz). Interesting, isn't it? Whooooooo-ooooooooooo! Excuse my language, but fvck Bluetooth. I don't use it and never will have the need to. Whooooooo-ooooooooooo! Excuse my language, but fvck iPhones. I don't use one and never will have the need for one either. Funny how two identical USB 2.0 protocols can act different huh?!? Or are you implying that the Pioneer's processor performance is well below the Alpine's? If so, I suggest you explain yourself in a more technical manner than "dang fast". BOOM! You just lost it. Again, go to Alpine's page on the IXA-W407. Look for things like "supports .avi and DivX formats using proper CODECs"... let me know if you find any. You'll be watching music videos in whatever format Apple has for that, and probably .mpeg's too. Otherwise jack sh1t. That Alpine product is not a "dedicated media unit" if it can't play movies. I'm sorry. ...welcome to CAF.

sooooooo intense, GREEN 4 U... loved the energy
edit: gahhhhh, must spread reputation before giving it to drozzy again .. sorry man.. i loved your thread about noobs.. and i loved this

[sub-standard]

I haven't used the Alpine model, but I do have a Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD AVH-p6000DVD. The 4100 is for sell and has literally been turned off & back on two times. I had some problems with the power wire/fuses in the car and ended up having to run a new power wire. I took the 4100 out of the box just to see if it would work so that I would know if the problem was with my H/U or an electrical problem. It has plastic, box, manuals, USB cord,..... everything it comes with is still in the box. Let me know if you are interested.

[drozzy]

Originally Posted by sub-standard but I do have a Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD

Me too. But I tried to remain objective in 'the making of' the post above.

http://www.caraudioforum.com/showthr...29#post2627629