This just gets better & better, to do the imprint thing, (I was at the dealer because my Compustar remote starter died after replacing the truck battery & they installed that too) I'm told that they do not rent the imprint gear, you have to buy it. It's about $250 for the gear & $30 for the software. I don,t even get to keep the setup on my own notebook computer. It's a four hour setup @ $65 hr. Nice!!

 

Lol, sell the deck and get the Eclipse CD5030. You are getting screwed over buddy...

 

I've just purchased an IDA-X305 and I'm a little nervous about relying so heavily on Apple for my car stereo music. I have never liked apple, the seem to do what ever they can to leave there customers with no other option than what they deem necessary (at an outrageous cost of usually outdated hardware). Ever thought about how over priced $1 a song is when there's no physical media to produce and distribute, let alone the fact that it was only 128kps and would only play on one machine. Sorry for the Apple bashing. Some people love Apple and that's fine, they do have some pretty scoocum fetures and between their Losses ALAC and navigation through 1000 plus songs they won me over for a "mass storage jukebox"

Back to Alpine and their extras. The 9885 was week on its own with only a HPF and bass/treble frequency adjustments. However I bought the IDA-X305 with the idea that I'll be adding a PXA-H100 asap for an extra $150. So in the end if that combo preforms as well as I hope, I think it will be a fair price at $450 total cost. Bluetooth is another feature I'm unsure about especially since that will add another $200.

 

I guess things are a little different in Winterpeg. In the GTA there are a number of dealers that charge a small set up fee (50.00-100.00) and they use their own imprint software and gear. Your shop didn't help you find what's right for you, advise you of costs involved, and seem to be in business just to get their customer's money, and do little or nothing for them, not to mention their install skills may need some work as well based on the alarm problem...sounds like you need a new place to shop.

 

True, I owned the 9885 for a few years and it was a mistake buying it, no EQ on it...It sounded very bad .

 

Yeah, the shop should have done a better job. I'm sure there are some very helpful dealers around but to depend on them when making a purchase is a bit crazy.

Crutchfield Canada sells those units at full price and encourage the customer to use it then return it. From what I've read they've always had great service. Check out their web site, they seem honest and up front. I think they will charge a restocking fee so your cost might be $50 in the end (give or take shipping).

 

Thumbs up on the apple bashing, my iphone would be completly useless if it wasn't jailbroken, I have the 9886 and love it. don't want bluetooth or any of the extras and the charging adapter I got for 40 bux at future shop open box. I also think that alot of people are to EQ happy. I don't change anything on that deck and it sounds pretty damn good. then again I haven't been to an sq comp before

 

x2 Im happy with mine
I compared against the 9887, from what it sounds like your not getting everything out of the radio so switching to something with all you need included will be the best route. Keep in mind the 9887 has a great resale value and you will come out cheaper getting a new deck to get everything your looking for.

 

I love my 60 gig ipod and alpine set up...60 gigs of wav, lossless, 320 kbps, 256 kbps, and a few lower quality tracks as well...it's a great way to carry 4000 tracks where ever i go, and i'm almost guaranteed that there will be some one that has compatible chargers, itunes software, or cables to hook it up if i need to. I've had my ipod for 4 years with absolutely no problems. My Alpine 9833 with ipod adapter has worked perfectly since i've had it, so i have no complaints at all.

 

I have the 9887, it works good. I miss the slidetouch and the motorized faceplate of my old 9855, but like the other features. I run 2 CD changers and the HD Radio tuner.

Now I need handsfree bluetooth adaptor. I read about problems with the 350bt (2008) but read about happy people with the KCE-400BT (2009 model). But then i need an adaptor cable to make it work with the 9887.
Does anybody know it these bluetooth phone things really work? My wife wants to buy me one for Christmas.

P.S. I had a local dealer run the imprint for 100 bux cash. Took him hours, because he didn't know how to run it. I should have bought one, there have been lots of people looking for someone who knows how to run it.