Alpine CDM-9803

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $0.00 from Free with car

Year / Model Reviewed:
1997 Grand Am GT

Strengths:
everything

Weaknesses:
getting old

Summary:
I bought my car in early January and it is now mid July, and i have to day, i am VERY glad the previous owner forgot to take it out before he sold the vehicle to me. It has great sound, hardly any skipping although im shure its from the cd when there is, no distracting lights and it has a nice green glow to it at night. In all.. great system for under $200

Similar Products Used:
kenwood, rockford fosgate, stock, sony

Price Paid:  $70.00 from From a friend w/ wre

Year / Model Reviewed:
2003 CDA 9803

Strengths:
everything

Weaknesses:
nothing so far

Summary:
I just purchased this deck from a friend and he has had it for three years now. I was amazed at the shape it was in and how great the sound was. I had a sony deck in mine but this alpine just makes all the sound balance out. I love the MP3 feature w/the text and all and I love the track and folder scrolling feature... it's great w/ mp3 and so easy to use. This has been, by far, the best deck I've ever had. I've had a pioneer before and a sony and some stupid generic brand, but with this alpine... let me say... "OH MY GOSH"... even my husband liked it... I was never so interested in stereo systems until now...

Similar Products Used:
sony
Pioneer

Price Paid:  $180.00 from Crutchfield

Strengths:
Great sound, reliable performance, Alpine quality, clean no-nonsense styling, no swirling graphics.

Weaknesses:
Haven't found any

Summary:
I was looking for a solid CD/Receiver that sounds good, has user-friendly controls, and doesn't have all that "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" stuff going on with the display. This Alpine has turned out to be a great choice. The sound is smooth and very musical, the BBE processing adds nice realism to radio or CD's, and the basically parametric eq is a great touch. Alpine's reputation for quality and longevity is well known, so if you're looking for an under-$200 CD/receiver that sounds great and has very useful features, this should be at the top of your list. Plus, you don't have to pay for all those whirling, strobing graphics displays.

Similar Products Used:
Stock Toyota stereo, Kenwood, Sony, Clarion

Price Paid:  $179.00 from Circuit City

Year / Model Reviewed:
 Alpine CDM-9803

Strengths:
1. Ease of use 2. Good all around sound 3. No skipping

Weaknesses:
1. 2 band equalizer 2. 1 pre-amp output

Summary:
Pretty good for its price. It has a nice equlizer nad have had no problem with it skipping. I am a BIG fan of alpine but i will be trading this one in for the Alpine CDA-9813. If you just want a decent cd-player for playing some cds and using your four speaker i would say go with this one. If you are planning on building a really nice system i would suggest going with some of alpines better systems.

Similar Products Used:
sears no name brand cd-player.