I've installed quite a few of these units, some with Imprint, some without.
Generally a decent piece of equipment, except for the display.
I can't find any mention in the owner's manual of a "blackout-display" mode.
Alpine has had this feature on countless units in the past.
Is anyone here familiar with the presence (or absence) of this feature on the
CDA-117E?

 

I'll play around with it at work today and see what I can do.

 

"blackout-display" as in the front will go black but the buttons will still light up?

 

The idea is that it is turning off non-essential circuits within the deck (aka display, etc.) so any power being drawn is being output directly and with maximum efficiency (why these head units are supposed to be able to output 2 watts rms more than the competition ). Alpine also claims higher sound quality. I had been led to believe by an Alpine rep that the blackout mode reduces the noise floor. It just hit me that I've never tested them to see if there is an audible difference... Hmmm... Maybe a new project

 

I can tell you I don't hear any diffeence with it on or off...still sounds great both ways. I have a cda-9833 with tons of features, so if it made a difference, it should be noticeable in a fully loaded deck like this one.

 

As far as I'm concerned, if a manufacturer is putting together a product that is either introducing that much noise into the system or has components doing the same (or both, for that matter), they aren't worth much... Alpine is a great manufacturer, but other than BS marketing, I see no tangible reason to have a blackout feature. I mean, if companies are going to list head unit power @ 52 watts as a feature/selling point, it just goes to show that some things are pure

 

Ever drive a semi truck?

Blackout is the BEST thing for a trucker to have at night. This will usually sell itself to a trucker.

I also actually use mine on my CDA-9833. Again, I don't care to have the retarded display brightening up the cabin.

 

yeah I'm sure it's a nice feature for those that don't want the light distracting them, but sonically I don't think it does anything. As far as the v-power amp...it's cea2006 rated for 26 watts rms/ch @ 14.4 volts with under 1% thd+n using a separate 10 awg power wire direct to the battery...so the power claims are as legit as any other cea rated amp. i can say from personal experience that the internal amp seemed to drive my components better than any other internal amp I've used before..it didn't distort nearly as much and seemed to drive the speakers more easily. Anyway deck amps are hardly worthy of a discussion...the deck is great and has fantastic features. I've never needed the blackout feature, but I can see how it would useful on long trips in a truck as I drove trucks for a few years and after 800 miles your mind, eyes and senses do get a little sensitive.

 

Will you jackasses just answer the guy's question. Luke, get to fiddling with your deck. I don't run an alpine otherwise I would help.lol

 

try this and see if it works.



push the slide touch bar down till it clicks and hold it for a three seconds. if the screen turns on voila... if not then try the reset button on the face and hope it works when it powers back up