benny223's Full Review: Alpine CDA-9805 Car CD/ MP3 Player
I've had this unit for about a year.
I like the Bass-Engine feature (selectable Bass and Treble Frequencies, Subwoofer control, etc...), the CD player sounds fine (nothing wrong with it, but nothing spectacular either).
Since manufacturing has gone to China, quality seems to have gone downhill a bit.
The source select button (upper-left of the cluster of 4 green buttons on the right-side) isn't level with the other three buttons anymore; it still works fine, but it may be a sign that it's starting to wear out. The letters are wearing off of that button as well.
The AM reception seem a little bit odd, I'm in Northern California and can pick up a station in Salt Lake City, UT (3 states away + different time-zone) very clearly at night but San Francisco (90 miles away) gets iffy depending where I am in town (it tends to get drowned-out by static). I don't know if it's due to the particular sample I got or if it's Chinese manufacturing in general (I've had 8 Alpines in the past, none made in China).
As with other Alpine decks, the ergonomics are ok; you still have to take your eyes off the road to hit the right preset, the display washes out like a politicians campaign promise, the display is too bright at night (only one level of illumination).
The price/ features ratio is great.
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