CDA-9887
Alpine's CDA-9887 ($450) offers an impressive array of features. As the company's top CD player, the single-DIN head unit uses a 24-bit Burr-Brown D/A converter and other leading technologies. It's also the company's first head unit equipped with the IMPRINT system.
The CDA-9887 supports MP3, WMA and AAC playback and is also Satrad, Bluetooth and iPod ready. Its detachable faceplate features a Biolite display and that familiar Alpine look. Volume is controlled through a rotary knob while buttons flanking it and the display handle the remaining functions. Users can also use the supplied remote to access basic functions.
The built-in DSP also allows a huge amount of control. If you like to tweak your sound, you'll like this unit. It gives you six channels of time correction, 3-way or 2-way crossover, seven-band graphic EQ or five-band parametric EQ and MediaXpander. Power is specified as 50 watts by 4, but if you are looking for a full-feature unit like this, you'll probably be more interested in its three 4-volt preamp outputs.
Preparations
To access IMPRINT in the CDA-9887, either become buddies with your Alpine retailer or expect to shell out another $250. The extra deuce-fifty will buy you the optional KTX-100EQ IMPRINT Sound Manager. This includes both the hardware go-between, a CD-ROM with tuning software for a PC and the Measurement Microphone.
Once the software has been loaded, it's go time. Drop the faceplate, shift it to the left and remove-here users will find the IMPRINT access port on the head unit. A cable connects this port and the interface box, while a USB cable connects the interface box to the PC. Plug in the microphone and position it according to the area selection-All, Front Left, Front Right, Front or Rear. With the microphone in position, click "Measure." A series of "whoop" sounds will burst from each speaker individually-a process that takes about 4 to 5 minutes per area-for all positions, expect to spend 40 minutes total. That's all the time it takes for the MultEQ function of IMPRINT to fully analyze the acoustics of the vehicle. Once finished, click the "Result" button to view the Frequency and Time Response graphs. You can then select from three target curves for MultEQ to adjust its filter. Now the corrections can be saved to the CDA-9887. I ran through these steps twice with different mic positions. This provided two User Settings to select between and compare to the default settings.
Perfecting Sound
Once satisfied with the MultEQ setting, I sat down for a detailed listen. Straight away I noted a big improvement over the unadulterated signal. Easily notable was how much more linear the frequency response was over the entire range. Gone were the mild resonances of the low midrange and the highs were quelled to a tolerable level. But beyond the easily detectable items, the system was markedly more precise. Snares were sharper and cymbals crisper. The soundstage was fuller with less clumping of the instruments-a very welcome improvement.