Alpine IVA-W200 DVD/CD/MP3 Player W/6.5" LCD

Alpine's First Video Double Din Unit

Strengths: Expandability, Picture, WMA/MP3 Support

Weaknesses: Lacking ability to fine-tune sound

Summary: 2006-06-12 13:34:58

I've had this unit installed in my Subaru Impreza WRX for over a month. The IVA-W200 was a great candidate since I wanted to avoid flip-out screens and fill the Double DIN opening. This unit will fit any Japanese car with a 2-din opening. Note that on my 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX the screen part that flips down to insert discs stick out about 1/2" when closed. It is not very noticeable though. Also, there is no dimming wire off the harness. This unit adjusts the brightness of the screen based on the level of light in your car. I was worried about it being too bright at night but it is also not a problem, just one less wire to worry about. :)

Touch screen with pulse touch works great, even when interacting with DVD menus. The layout of on screen controls are well thought and easy to learn.

This unit includes 3 sets of 2 volt preouts, one for subs. Ai-Net, Optical Digital Output, Rear Camera Input, NAV Input, Aux Video with Audio and I-Pod support (just buy a $30 cable!)

Until the Alpine KCA-620M USB adapter becomes available, I have burned a 4.6GB DVD full of my MP3s. The IVA-W200 reads the disc in a reasonable amount of time and the Quick Browsing Folder Menu comes in handy. MP3 and WMA playback works flawlessly. Other options I plan to integrate in a few months are the Alpine KCA-100BT

Bluetooth interface adapter for phones and Sirius Satellite Radio.

My only disappointment is the sound adjustment features. Although there is no equalizer built in on this unit, the treble, bass and sub controls are livable. There are also built in controls for Base Center Frequency Base Band Width and Treble Center Frequency. With the optional PXA-H701 I would also have MexiaXpander and the ability to adjust 31 bands for the front and rear; 10 bands for the sub.

This head unit is a great starting point for any Alpine setup, especially for I-Pod owners.

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Awesome Double Din Multimedia Head Unit...uh...hold on...

Strengths: Good picture i-Pod connection is fast and accessible Many A/V options

Weaknesses: No equalizer...seriously...no equalizer

Summary: I installed my stereo system in my Subaru WRX last month, and choose the Alpine IVA-W200 as the crowning jewel. Before I purchased the IVA-W200, I was bragging about it to my friends ...the i-Pod control, A/V inputs/outputs, and the many features of this premium double din LCD head unit. Alpine’s website had me sold.

After the install, I found the A/V functions to be more than ample, and the picture was great. Next came the sound adjustment. The owner’s manual showed the adjustment of a 31 band equalizer. Wow! Now comes some serious sound tweaking. Only, I could not seem to find the 31 band equalizer in any of the menus on the IVA-W200. The anxiety began to rise, and in a moment of disbelief, I found out that there is no wide band graphic equalizer. Only treble (with some limited crossover adjustments), bass (again, with some limited crossover tweaks), and subwoofer level control. In order to finely adjust the sound levels of the audio coming from the IVA-W200, I would have to spend several hundred dollars to purchase and install an additional sound processing unit. My sound system, already over budget, would have to suffer the disappointment of very limited sound adjustment. Fortunately, however, my $400 i-Pod has 22 eq presets to choose from! No, this is not really a good solution. My friends have older, less expensive, single din Alpine head units with wide band equalizer adjustment. Where did it go?

Overall, I found the performance of the IVA-W200 quite satisfactory. The i-Pod integration is fast and accessible. The LCD screen is sharp and has more resolution than I thought possible for its size. If fine control over your sound is not a concern, than it will make a great multimedia head unit for your double din dash.

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• Watch out!! This was going to be the perfect solution for me. B...
• The unit has an equalizer. You must go to Alpine's website and cu...

IVA-W200 IS GREAT!! IF YOU HAVE $$$

Strengths: AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF CUSTOMAZATION!

Weaknesses: YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR EVERY LITTLE BIT OF IT!

Summary: OH YES! THE IVA-W200 CAN DO EVERYTHING! IT HAS SO MANY INPUTS AND OUT PUTS AND IPOD CONNECTION AND THIS AND THAT....I LOVE MINE BUT THE NAV SYSTEM IS SEPERATE AND IT COSTS $1,200. THE HD RADIO IS SEPERATE AND IS COST$?, THE SAT. RADIO IS SEPERATE IT COST$?, THE 6 DSC CHNGR IS SEPERATE AND IT COST$?, THE EQUALIZER IS SEPERAT SOFTWARE AND IT COST?. WELL FOR WHAT YOU ARE GETTING THINKING YOUR GETTING A LOT...ITS REALLY NOT. YES IT "CAN" DO ALL OF THIS IF YOU BUY EVERYTHING FOR IT...NONE THE LESS IF YOU HAVE EVERYTHING FOR IT, ALL THE RECIEVERS WONT FIT IN YOUR DASH BEHIND THE UNIT. OVERALL, GREAT BUY!! ALPINE OUT DID THEM SELVES ON THIS ONE. I LOVE MINE AND IT FLUSHE'S PERFECTLY IN MY STI!

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Spectacular unit! But two units stolen!

Strengths: The unit is superb in everyway. Just seams others want it more then yourself.

Weaknesses: It is top of the hit list for stolen items.

Summary: I would recommend a good alarm but then again they ripped out the horns when they individuals stole the second replacement unit. The Alpine definitely holds to the name and recommend this unit to those serious about sound systems.

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