Alpine Electronics Ships iDA-X001 Full iPod Integration Head Unit

Apr. 11, 2007 – Alpine Electronics of America, Inc., the industry-leading manufacturer of automotive mobile media solutions, just announced that the company’s revolutionary iDA-X001 digital media head unit has started shipping. The iDA-X001 is the first aftermarket head unit designed to deliver a fully integrated iPod experience in the car using USB and iPod dock connections.

As a “Made for iPod” program member, Alpine designed the iDA-X001 to have a pure digital USB connection, and to allow users to naturally and easily navigate through all of the digital content on their iPod via the head unit. The result is the highest possible iPod sound quality and most iPod-like experience in the car.

The iDA-X001 has already garnered industry accolades, winning both the 2007 CES Innovations Award in the Mobile Audio category and 2007 iLounge Best of Show Award at Macworld.

“We set out to revolutionize the in-vehicle iPod user experience,” said Stephen Witt, vice president, Marketing, Alpine Electronics. “The iDA-X001 not only provides consumers with a user interface that feels the most like an iPod in the car, but also offers Alpine’s renowned sound quality that no one else can offer.”

The digital media head unit is designed with the same screen ratio as the iPod itself and includes a color 320 x 240 pixel TFT screen. The screen displays artist, album and track information, and even album art from the iPod. The unit offers three screen-view options: album art plus song name and track information; larger album art display and song name only; or clock and calendar information.

Fifth-generation iPods with the latest firmware are able to link directly to the iDA-X001 via a direct high-speed USB connection. In comparison to previous solutions, which relied on an analog cable or adapter box, the iDA-X001’s pure digital USB connection provides fast data transfer, quick command response and superior iPod sound. It provides full digital audio using a 24-bit Burr Brown DAC and has a built-in 18 Watt x 4 amplifier (at CEA-2006 power ratings) and 3 pre-outs. The iPod data access speed is approximately 25 thousand times faster than Alpine’s Full Speed™ Connection for iPod cable (Full Speed cable transfer rate: 19.2 kBps; USB transfer rate: 480 mBps).

The iDA-X001 was built with the first fully digital iPod connection, creating the highest fidelity iPod experience in the car. The iDA-X001 has sound-tuning features such as bass and treble with center frequency and Q adjustability, and three pairs of RCAs for system expandability. When playing music from fifth-generation iPods, the iDA-X001 has a signal-to-noise ratio that rivals CD-quality.

For earlier-generation iPods, the iDA-X001 retains Alpine’s Full Speed for iPod Connection capabilities through the KCE-422i (sold separately, $30 suggested retail index). The Full Speed cable gives access to expanded iPod search options: playlist, artist, album, song, genre, podcasts and composers (except video playlists and audiobooks).

The iDA-X001 can support both a USB iPod and another iPod connected via the Full Speed cable at the same time. The iDA-X001’s self-return dial is designed to quickly and efficiently search through multiple files. Its unique design allows users to access the files by varying speeds, depending on the position of the dial. The centered jog dial scrolls through files and incorporates Alpine’s Quick Search™ feature, searching by playlist, artist, album, song, genre, podcast, audio book or composer. The dial turns 35 degrees to the left or right, to set the volume or browse in the Quick Search mode. When the dial is moved 11-34 degrees, it moves one line forward or backward on the search list. When turned to the 35th degree, the search speed increases for faster scrolling. The jog dial and button portion of the faceplate can be removed for anti-theft purposes.

The iDA-X001 is built on Alpine’s proprietary Ai-NET BUS platform, which allows it to connect to a variety of digital media sources and formats, including XM® or SIRIUS® Satellite Radio, HD Radio™ and USB-based MP3 players. The unit is also Bluetooth ready and has a “phone” button which allows access to the user’s address book, missed, dialed and received calls. A Bluetooth indicator notifies the user when the Bluetooth module recognizes the phone and is ready for operation (separate interface adapters and service subscriptions required).

The unit comes with the iPod dock/USB adapter and a 2-meter (maximum length) USB cable. The provided USB cable must be used to connect the iPod, as other alternative cables are not compatible. The supplied USB cable includes a locking mechanism that secures it to the back of the head unit for anti-theft purposes. When the iPod is connected and the car is running, the head unit also charges the iPod battery.

Pricing and Availability
The iDA-X001 is available now at authorized Alpine dealers for $450 (SRI)

SOURCE Alpine Electronics