Alpines iPod Experience

Alpine Electronics UK has released details of its new iDA-X001 head unit to the trade this week.
Designed for those who seldom travel without their iPod, the iDA-X001 is a standard-size head unit with an AM/FM tuner and extensive iPod integration; there’s no CD/DVD slot nor an auxiliary input jack. Instead, the iDA-X001 features extensive iPod integration, with a 320×240 pixel TFT display and large dial for controlling the iPod.

The iDA-X001 features a dedicated USB iPod dock connector cable in the rear of the unit, designed with the glove compartment in mind so that users can keep their iPod tucked away and charged while also enjoying an all-digital audio connection.

The iDA-X001’s display duplicates the iPod’s menu system (Artists, Albums, Podcasts, Genres, Composers, etc.) and can display the currently playing track’s information or just the artwork. .

The iDA-X001 uses iPod’s USB connection not only for fast music access, but it also receives pure digital music information right from the iPod and sends it through the iDA-X001’s built-in 24-Bit Burr Brown digital sound converter. This ensures you get your music playback in its best sound and purist form. Hear the difference playing iTunes lossless AAC files.
At present, only the fifth-generation iPod is fully supported with the USB connection, but Alpine expects the iPod nano to be supported in the near future with a firmware update from Apple. Other iPods will be supported with Alpine’s Full Seed iPod cable, sold separately for about £20, although that connection is not digital.
The iDA-X001 will be available in the UK this spring for around £300