CES 2009: Alpine Debuts Head Unit, Mech-Less Receiver

By Staff -- TWICE, January 8, 2009

LAS VEGAS — Alpine will unveil the CDE-102 receiver here at International CES, in the LVCC North Hall, room N101.

The CDE-102 head unit features a front-panel USB port that can accommodate memory sticks and portable hard drives, as well as a front-panel auxiliary input. The company is positioning it as ideal for consumers looking for an integrated solution for music playback from a memory stick, portable hard drive or portable music player.

The device is compatible with Apple's iPod and iPhone through a separately sold KCE-433iV cable.

It offers access to music files from the head unit and has an onscreen display of song information. Its Percentage Search feature divides music libraries into six sections that can be accessed via six preset buttons on the head unit.

When used with the separately sold KCE-400BT Bluetooth interface module (also new for CES), the head unit allows for hands-free mobile phone uses with full phonebook access as well as calling information displayed on the head unit screen. A built-in "phone" button on the head unit allows one-touch access to a paired Bluetooth phone. Users can also stream music from a Bluetooth device equipped with A2DP or AVRCP protocol.

The CDE-102's pricing was unavailable at press time; pricing for the KCE-400BT was also unavailable.

Also new at CES will be the Alpine iDA-X305 digital media receiver, which the company said represents its third generation of mech-less digital media receivers.

It has "Made for iPod" and "Works with iPhone" connectivity and has a dedicated USB input for "optimal iPod/iPhone connection," according to Alpine.

The receiver has a 2.2-inch color TFT screen to display artist, album and song information along with album art.

Its double-action encoder knob is said to allow the user to search an iPod or iPhone by playlist, artist, album, song, genre, podcast, audiobook and composer. It also offers Quick Search and Alphabet Search functions.

The device is built on Alpine's proprietary Ai-NET platform, enabling it to connect to a variety of digital entertainment options including Bluetooth, HD Radio with iTunes tagging, and multicasting and satellite radio with the proper separately sold tuners, adapters, subscriptions and cables in place.

The iDA-x305 features a built-in 18W RMS x 4 amplifier, three pairs of pre-outs and a 24-bit DAC. Users can choose blue or red illumination. Pricing was unavailable at press time.