Alpine CDA 7863 CD Receiver

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.50 of 5, 8.00 votes

Price Paid:  $125.00 from Buy and Sell

Year / Model Reviewed:
2003 Alpine CDA-7863 Head Unit

Summary:
This Head unit never ceases to amaze me! I'm always able to tweak the settings to really bring the best out of my system. Among the most useful features are the High Pass and Low Pass crossovers and Subwoofer control, you can really keep all of your sound stages completely separate! I'm running my four stock interior speakers off the units built in amplifier on the High pass to filter out the bass and now they scream out mids and Highs with no distortion! I run the front pre-amps to a Kenwood 7251 amplifier powering 2 Pioneer 6x9's mounted on the rear deck and 2 Bose tweeters mounted up front to completely fill the interior with the most crisp, clear and screaming loud mids/highs. I have the Subwoofer Pre-amps running to a Concept CCD-1200 D-class Amp to 2 Audiobahn AW1000Q 10" Subs running at 1ohm for 623w RMS each (Tested @ 13.9v). This head unit keeps everything in check without needing a processor or passive EQ and the sound Quality is AMAZING even running through the Onboard Amplifier! This Unit is an awesome addition to any car audio system and can be had at reasonable prices.

Strengths:
ALPINE Quality and Reliability! Complete control over Sub levels, High and Low frequencies, Bass Bandwith, Trebble center, BBE processor Cleans up the Sound by eliminating Phase distortions, you name it this deck has it!

Weaknesses:
Remote is wide and kind of ugly, but that is IT!

Similar Products Used:
Clarion and Pioneer comparable Head units but alpine has them with respect to quality and clarity of the sound!

Price Paid:  $475.00 from KING'S GREAT BUYS PL

Year / Model Reviewed:
2000 CDA-7863

Summary:
This unit isn't a quality piece. After reading other summaries, I've come to the conclusion...I'm not alone. In the beginning, I felt my problem was a result of poor installation. Unit set-up could be difficult for some people--it does take a bit of time even when familiar with the product. I suggest buying a different unit with less moving parts.

Strengths:
Strong, crisp, sound. Multiple frequency selections. Remote control.

Weaknesses:
Loose wire connection somewhere on the faceplate which causes the unit to shut down completely and makes different lights blink at any given time. Bottom of unit must be shimmed to keep this from happening but makes changing cd's difficult. I blame the poor unit construction and the installation from King's because the rear deck strap wasn't connected. Their reply was 99% of the vehicles don't get these installed even if the vehicle is a 3/4 ton, 4x4 suburban with 35" tires. Since then, no work has been made to the unit and King's won't accept responsibility. I own a P.O.S. Alpine indash.

Price Paid:  $220.00 from Ebay Store: Tip-Top

Year / Model Reviewed:
2003 Alpine CDA-7863

Summary:
Great Display, Looks better then the pioneer with the screen savers. Makes even the crappy dodge 4X10 sound good. Very Pleased.

Strengths:
Powerful, Colorful, Angle option is awesome.

Weaknesses:
Faceplate scratches easy

Similar Products Used:
pioneer 4100 clarion 6675 jvc 9350

Price Paid:  $0.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 alpine cda-7863

Summary:
everything went off, the display and the buttons are off, I cannot see anithing. the sound is grate but I don't see anything

Price Paid:  $150.00 from n/a

Year / Model Reviewed:
 cda-7863

Summary:
Great cd play, it plays most all my cd's even if they are scratched, more than i can say than some of my friends cds, i am givin a lot of cds casue i can play them and they cannot. the bbe is good, and i like playing with teh high and low pass filters, sub-level control comes in very useful with my 4-MA 12's, it does skip and stuff when i het big bumps and i have to pop it out of teh dash at sound compititions cause my bass makes it skip. warillion@yahoo is my address if you have a system , mail me!

Strengths:
good sound, alpine has awsome quality in its music. but i am wandering what volt the RCA-preouts are on it.if you know, mail me and let me know. the bbe and the sub level is great, the pass filters are good. it is a powerful unit, 60w x 4 is huge, bigger than anything else. around 35 RMS i do believe to the other gut who did not know

Weaknesses:
it skips a lil when i hit bumps and turn my system up. other than that its awsome, but it is almost 4 years old so what can u say.

Similar Products Used:
i have used pioneers, 2 of them really, and this one has a better quility to the music, it sounds like i replaced my door speakers the difference is so big. i have pioneer 6 1/2 in teh doors and 6x9 i