The Alpine CDE-9841 CD player: "... adjust the bass and let the Alpine blast ...*"
Written: Sep 10 '05 (Updated Dec 19 '05)
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Pros: Easy to use, great CD quality, and affordable.
Cons: Really poor radio reception.
The Bottom Line: The Alpine CDE-9841 is a really good in-dash CD player. It would be great if I could tune in a radio station too!
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| christian921's Full Review: Alpine CDE-9841 Car CD/ MP3 Player |
I recently was charged with the task of outfitting a few of our semi trucks with sound systems. Previously void of audio equipment the canvas was clean and many ideas were running through my head of which direction to go. Due to the large investment in new trucks the check book was not unlimited though. I needed to find a quality CD head unit that was easy to use, durable and affordable. I have had good luck in the past with Alpines. The Alpine CDE-9841 was the first one to catch my eye.
The Basics
Alpine has been making high end aftermarket stereos for the automotive arena for a long time. Personally I have owned two. For me when it came time to pick an in-dash CD player for our first new truck it was pretty easy. Our needs list was short. We just needed an easy to use radio that would stand up to the abusive environment of the truck. We also wanted to keep the over all cost down as much as possible so when I came across the CDE-9841 from Alpine for $129 it seemed like the perfect fit.
The CDE-9841 comes in the DIN size 1. This is the most common size for a radio head unit which means it will fit nearly all cars or in my case, trucks. Along with the head unit Alpine includes the obligatory wiring harness that you will need to splice for installation, chassis, manual that includes a tech support number, and warranty registration card. The Alpine CDE-9841 does not have a remote but the faceplate is removable to deter theft.
Installation itself is a breeze. The included manual has black and white pictures describing the needed steps as well a very well written text to reference to. The Alpine people are just a phone call away to answer any questions too. You will find their number in the manual. The most complicated part of the install is connecting the wires to the adapter. The adapter is what you will need to splice your vehicle’s wires to the Alpine’s harness. The harness and the antenna lead simply plug into the back of the unit. The CDE-9841 has a retaining clip to secure the connection to the back of the unit. This is where I had my one and only glitch during the installation. My harness connection was slightly too large to fit easily into the connection and I was forced to take 100 grit sandpaper to it.
Powered on the Alpine CDE-9841 comes to life with an electronic green display. This is that special green that we find nowhere else in nature. With the black background of the LCD display the green stands out well in all but direct sunlight. When you first look at the face of the radio you are automatically drawn to the left where the volume control buttons are located. The volume is controlled by a simple up and down button set up. To the left of the volume controls you will find four green backlit buttons. Of those, the top two control menu and the source input. These are the buttons you would use to change the sound settings such as fade, balance and bass as well as to select whether you want to listen to the radio or a CD. Below these two are another pair of buttons that control either the tuning of radio stations or the CD tracks. Below the four green buttons are a pair of two black ones that control the integrated amp controls. Aside from these you have a row of 6 radio presets controls that double as CD functions and your standard power, eject and face detachment controls.
There are some important facts for you to consider with the Alpine CDE-9841. A big one for some buyers is that the CDE-9841 does not have satellite controls or a remote control. This Alpine does support disks burned from home as it plays CD’s, CD-R’s, and CD-RW’s. The CDE-9841 carries only one set of pre-amp outputs. That might be a turn off for some though it was not an issue for me.
Personal Impressions
When picking this Alpine cost was a factor. The CDE-9841 is on the lower end of Alpine’s lineup. That does not mean however, that this is a sub par performer. This Alpine is better than many factory systems that come standard in most cars and trucks. For me though, it performed poorly in an area that was not on my radar screen prior to purchase. FM reception is really poor with the Alpine CDE-9841.
The CDE-9841 carries 2 sets of 6 FM presets and one set of 6 AM presets. This is not important when you roll even a few miles outside a metropolitan area where radio signals begin to weaken. The CDE-9841 simply looses signal too quickly. I was forced to by an FM signal power booster to salvage my purchase. Tack another $29 on the price of the Alpine for the booster.
Aside from the radio signal short comings the Alpine performs very well in all other areas. A 1-bit DAC CD signal assures solid CD quality scans and sound. I have yet to get the player to skip while playing a CD. Alpine also includes their trademarked Bass Engine for pumping out the low end tones. The Alpine puts out 16 watts RMS of power on four channels. It maxes out at 45 watts during peak performance. This has proved adequate for the Kicker DS60’s that the Alpine is powering. A big bonus for me is that the controls are not only easy to find but they are also very easy to use.
As for meeting the list of needs I had the Alpine CDE-9841 has met them all very well. It performs both in sound and function very well even in the abusive environment of the semi truck. I just wish it could grab the radio stations when the truck gets out of town. I would only recommend this in-dash CD player for those who do not find that radio signal strength is important to them.
Stats on the Alpine CDE-9841 CD Player:
DIN Size: 1
FM sensitivity: 9.3 dBf
CD signal-to-noise ratio: 105 dB
Power Output: 16 watts RMS/45 peak x 4 channels
CD Formats Supported: CD/CD-R/CD-RW
Warranty: 1-Year Manufacturer's Warranty
MSRP: $129.99
Street: $105-$129.99
Other On-The-Go electronics reviews:
JVC Arsenal AR260 in-dash CD player
Zen Touch 40GB MP3 player
Eclipse CD5405 in dash CD player
Thanks for reading,
© Christian921 2005
* The title of this review contains lyrics from DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince’s song Summertime from the album Homebase. Please don't sue me!
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 129
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christian921
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Member: Christian Stanley
Location: A country mile north of Omaha, NE USA
Reviews written: 117
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