Alpine CDA-7894 pros and cons?

chevale · 10-15-2006, 11:47 AM

Found used Alpine CDA-7894 for a very attractive price, Just wonder what are pros and cons?
So far looks like a decent deck, the only thing which concerns me is that according to Crutchfield I'll need to run separate power wire from the battery. Is it so important or I can just hook the deck up to the existing power lead from original (OEM) deck?
TIA

**Mystikal** · 10-15-2006, 07:29 PM

I just removed that deck for a DVD player, and it was a difficult thing to do.

Great sound quality, and the lighting perfectly matches - all amber. Cons are basically due to the age of the unit: the MP3 file name recognition is spotty, there is no WMA support, parametric EQ is only 2 bands, and the menu system takes a bit of getting used to.

I'd buy another one in a second though.

***Gamite*** · 10-15-2006, 10:40 PM

I had the deck too, awesome deck. The only bad side for me was that when you scroll through MP3's using the file search, its slow. I think that's what Jay is refering to with the name recognition.

BlitzSix · 10-15-2006, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chevale

Found used Alpine CDA-7894 for a very attractive price, Just wonder what are pros and cons?
So far looks like a decent deck, the only thing which concerns me is that according to Crutchfield I'll need to run separate power wire from the battery. Is it so important or I can just hook the deck up to the existing power lead from original (OEM) deck?
TIA

You can run it from the harness...it's fine usually. However on my car I did that and when I bumped it too loud the deck would turn off because it wasn't getting enough power. I ran it right from the battery and it was fine. But this was on the 240 on a BM it shoudl be ok.

chevale · 10-16-2006, 09:45 AM

Thanks for replies! I am still thinking if I should get it, as I understand, production for this model was ceased in 2002...
I mean 4 years could be a long life for a deck.

**Mystikal** · 10-16-2006, 11:10 PM

Julian, yeah, I didn't even mention that actually. I meant the ID3 tags and stuff, it's really outdated. But yeah, scrolling through folders sucks too.

I never had a problem with my deck at all. More glitches with new JVC decks I had.

BMW03 · 10-23-2006, 05:25 PM

Its a good deck, with good sound, but I am used to pioneer decks. Which I have always bought, and they are a lot diff. from Alpine, with a lot of diff. features. I really like the illumination on Alpine, and they style. I think it would be a good buy if you are just looking for a new deck, but if you want something with a lot of good features and eq's and what not, then something else may be better.

***Gamite*** · 10-24-2006, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mystikal

Julian, yeah, I didn't even mention that actually. I meant the ID3 tags and stuff, it's really outdated. But yeah, scrolling through folders sucks too.

I never had a problem with my deck at all. More glitches with new JVC decks I had.

ID3 tags were fine on mine, all you had to do was press title and it would read the tag instead of the file name.

**Mystikal** · 10-25-2006, 07:32 PM

It only worked 50% of the time for me. The same CD's read the titles perfectly on my new deck.

***Gamite*** · 10-26-2006, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mystikal

It only worked 50% of the time for me. The same CD's read the titles perfectly on my new deck.

maybe you have crappy MP3's

chevale · 11-11-2006, 11:02 PM

Well, after considering 7894 and screwed by seller over 9857 (still waiting for claim resolution with PayPal), got today 9851 for my wife's '95 Toyota Corolla wagon.
I hate to cut throw OEM wires, prefer just to make a correct adapter.
Currently got adapter for Nissan Maxima with the deck, so I assume Toyota's one might be available somewhere.