Alpine iDA-X001 - Good choice?

**JLemieux** · 12-09-2007, 07:38 PM

I am updating the stock head unit in my 2000 Jeep Wrangler to intigrate with my car pc. Anyone know of any reason the iDA-X001 would not be a good choice? I will not be running any external amplifiers, just the head unit.

**boomintrac** · 12-09-2007, 10:07 PM

I think it will work great for you, you will still have ipod control and be able to use the ainet input for the pc.
Aron

**JLemieux** · 12-10-2007, 10:42 AM

I don't really understand how everything functions together, but I will be running StreetDeck as my front end. If I plug in an IPod to the head unit will Streetdeck see it and put the music info on the PC display or should I plug the IPod into the PC instead? I am considering using an IPod as a removable hard drive instead of keeping all my music on the PC hard drive. That will make my music easily portable. Any thoughts on this?

**DarquePervert** · 12-10-2007, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by JLemieux

I don't really understand how everything functions together, but I will be running StreetDeck as my front end. If I plug in an IPod to the head unit will Streetdeck see it and put the music info on the PC display or should I plug the IPod into the PC instead?

The only connection the PC will have to the headunit is an audio signal.
Using that logic, how could the PC display any information about the iPod? It can't, since the iPOd isn't connected to the PC at all.

In order to see anything from the iPod on your PC, the iPod needs to be connected to the PC.

That said, if you have a PC with lots of music loaded up on it, why would you need/want the iPod?

I am considering using an IPod as a removable hard drive instead of keeping all my music on the PC hard drive. That will make my music easily portable. Any thoughts on this?

Well, that answers that question.

It will work OK, but if you have a single USB issue at any point, you're going to end up being without music.

Personally, I think the better scenario would be to have your music saved on the PC's HDD and then add what you want to the iPod whenever you want.

**JLemieux** · 12-10-2007, 01:13 PM

This Alpine head unit has an lcd display on it. I thought maybe there was some way to (easliy) output it to the pc. No big deal if it can't. I saw an interface called Car2pc. Would that help me?

As far as having the IPod, I guess just having the transportability of all my music apealed to me. Also, since this pc is in a Jeep, I think someday I will damage the hard drive with all the bumps and banging around it gets. At that point I could just plug the IPod back into the head unit and still have music for the long drive home.

Maybe I am over thinking this whole issue.

**DarquePervert** · 12-10-2007, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by JLemieux

This Alpine head unit has an lcd display on it. I thought maybe there was some way to (easliy) output it to the pc. No big deal if it can't. I saw an interface called Car2pc. Would that help me?

All it will do is allow you to send commands to the PC for the purpose of controlling the PC.

As far as having the IPod, I guess just having the transportability of all my music apealed to me. Also, since this pc is in a Jeep, I think someday I will damage the hard drive with all the bumps and banging around it gets. At that point I could just plug the IPod back into the head unit and still have music for the long drive home.

Maybe I am over thinking this whole issue.

I think you're over-thinking.
The question of hard drive durability has beeen hashed and rehashed here for years and there is no foregone conclusion about it.
One member used the same HDD in two vehicles, both in accidents that incurred frame damage. The HDD still works... (Right TruckinMP3?

)

I understand the appeal of music portability.
As I said.. It will work for you, certainly.
I guess I see the PC in the car as a means of having access to as much music as I want and an iPod (or similar device) as a means of taking a portion of that music with me when I leave the vehicle.

Just because I see things differently than you doesn't mean your ideas are better or worse than mine. they're just... well... different.

**JLemieux** · 12-10-2007, 06:09 PM

I appreciate the feed back. For now I'll put the music on the hard drive and enjoy the cool features of Street Deck. Thanks.

One last question while I'm here. I, have the beginner pc from MP3Car. It has an audio out jack and RCA outputs. Which is best to output audio to the head unit? Or does it matter? Thanks again for the help.