Alpine KCA-420i Ipod Control Interface Receiver Add-ons

When I first heard about the possiblity of control ...

Strengths: Great sound quality. Ability to connect AND control iPod through one interface. Small design (fits in my glove box with room to spare). Easy installation.

Weaknesses: Unfamiliar user interface. SLOW scrolling through artists, albums, and playlists.

Summary: When I first heard about the possiblity of controling my iPod directly through my head unit I was more than excited. I back ordered mine straight from Crutchfield so I could have it asap.

Once I recieved the KCA-420i in the mail, I had it installed in my 2002 Chevy 1500 in about 20 minutes. The hardest part was drilling holes in my glove box to run the wires through (FYI: You don't have to drill the holes, this was my choice and you can install equipment without drilling holes). The setup was easy and any novice can install this.

Once I had it all plugged in I thought that I would be able to figure out how to control the ipod, but unfortunately I did have to take out the manual and read it.

The sound is excellent on this, much better than any tape deck accessory or fm transmitter. It has the same quality as if you plugged the ipod in as an auxillary input, but the bonus feature of this is the fact you can have your ipod hidden (in my glovebox) and still have access to my 12 gigs of music - instead of having to control the music directly from the ipod.

The one thing that I would recommend, and one thing that I dislike about this product is the actual searching function of the head unit. The scrolling is deathly slow and somwhat annoying to get to an artist whos name starts with the letter "M". (it is in the middle of any type of search). So my recommendation would be making playlists which are much quicker and easier to find - unless you start having hundreds of playlists - then you are in the same boat.

Overall I think this is an amazing piece of technology - unlike my counterpart reviewer. Granted there are some flaws, but overall who can gripe - this is the FIRST of its kind (besides BMW) that can control your ipod through your head unit. If you are thinking about getting this - or if you have an fm transmitter or tape deck thing - lose it and shell out the $100 bucks to buy this - you won't regret it.

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First off, let me say that I've been using Alpine ...

Strengths: allows iPod to be used in car and remain out of sight

Weaknesses: too many to list

Summary: First off, let me say that I've been using Alpine products for over 20 years in custom mobile installations and recommend them hands down to any other brand. . .however the KCA-420i doesn't deserve the Alpine name. Want some weaknesses? Let's roll. 1) SLOW response- as already stated in other reviews, scrolling is tedious and takes forever, especially compared to Apple's wonderful iPod interface. It can take a full minute or TWO to get to a song in the middle of your collection 2) limited display on head unit- unable to read the entire name of artist, song or album. For example, Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" only displays "Wonderful" on my headunit. If I have other songs that begin with "Wonderful", I have no way of telling which one I'm selecting 3) search always starts at beginning of list. Let me explain, if you have 155 Pink Floyd tunes and select one, then decide you want to hear a different tune, your search starts at the beginning of the alphabet, and you have to slowly scroll through every letter until you get to "P" again. With 15,000 songs in your iPod, this could take 2 or 3 full minutes- NOT a safe task while driving. Compare this to finding the same song on your iPod and it would take only 10-15 seconds maximum.

My overall feeling is that this product was rushed to market, and was not user tested to any degree approaching Alpine standard. I'm sending mine back and will use an external input jack- so I can use the iPod directly.

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I couldn't wait to get this unit. I had read all a ...

Strengths: Direct connects the ipod to your alpine head unit. Sound is great

Weaknesses: The implementation sucks. This unit is terribly slow and has some bad quirks.

Summary: I couldn't wait to get this unit. I had read all about how well the iPod was integrated with the unit. Right from alpine's web site:

"You can quickly search and listen to your iPod tracks directly from your head unit, and even use a remote control."

This unit is about as fast as a lawn tractor at the Indy 500. Don't plan on using your remote control to operate any searching the ipod. You can only perform mundane functions like volume up or down, track next or previous. Anyone that has used a 40gb iPod knows that speed is essential in finding artists, albums or songs.

If you use the Mix mode to randomly play songs, don't turn off the ignition because you will have to set it again. And what ever you do don't try and search in Mix mode, ain't going to happen.

You could grow old or have an accident in your car trying to find something you want to listen to. I wish I hadn't purchased this turd.

Don't waste your money. This has the makings of a class action law suit.

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This thing is just worthles.. ALpine obviously rel ...

Strengths: Connects the iPod to alpine units with only 1 wire... charges, etc.

Weaknesses: HORRIBLE. Allows only 255 artists... If you have more... TOUGH! It is just a piece! All it does is trick your head unit into thinking the iPOD is a cd changer! F- DO NOT BUY

Summary: This thing is just worthles.. ALpine obviously released it way too early. ONLY 255 artists allowed? WHAT? I have over 1200?! I mean do they really think people with a 40GB iPOD have only 255 artists? Then there is the controls.. You have to remember all this certain stuff, because all the 420i does is trick your head unit into thinking that the iPOD is a cd changer... This thing just sucks. I was so excited I bought it right away and even paid overnight shipping. At this point I would rather drive around with my iPOD in my hand and some head phones on rather than deal with the HORRIBLE "full integration" that Alpine claims to have over the iPOD!

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