Great video! Having mine installed this AM. Currently have the Stinger HEIGH10, but I'm gonna pass that down to my daughter for her Jeep. Has anything changed over the past year with any of the issues you brought up? Has Alpine made any improvements that you're aware of? Thanks!
Do you believe Alpine will refresh the screen on the i509 with the ilx-f509? I have the Stingeroffroad and I’m thinking of swamping it out for the Alpine equivalent but I don’t want to be stuck with another headache I rather wait until a refresh.
Great question. I have a feeling they'll keep this model for at least another 2 years. I could be wrong, but just basing that off the cycle with all their previous Jeep X009 - X409 models. This is the fifth iteration with the 1st generation released back in 2015. I don't know why they didn't use the same style screen as the iLX-F509 other than it maybe needing to be weather resistant perhaps.
Great review! Do you know why Alpine cannot integrate the Mics from Jeep? I find it hard to pay $2,500 and then still need to add a clip-on Mic. It takes away from a clean look.
Thanks Joshua! Great question. I don't know why they don't try to do that. I'm guessing cost feasibility. There are a lot of aftermarket Apple CarPlay/Android Auto add-on kits that we install in BMW's, Audi's, Porsche, Mercedes, etc. that utilize the OEM mic so I'm sure it can be done. I'm guessing because it streamlines their production. The i509-WRA brain is essentially the same exact chassis as what's found in the iLX-507, iLX-F509 and iLX-F511 so I assume from a production standpoint it was simply for more cost effective to use the same mic without making a major change to the chassis just for this model.
@@carstereochick I got this from Alpine..."OEM microphones are only designed to work with the one specific head unit in the vehicle. Aftermarket head units need their own dedicated microphone that it ships with." It doesn't really explain Why, just says it won't work. I'd think you could splice the connector from the Alpine head unit into the wires for the Jeep Mic. But could be resistance or impedance issues, so still might not work. Probably more work than it's worth.
It's definitely related to resistances and impedances, sorry I should have mentioned that. I'm just saying that it was probably cost prohibitive for them to figure out away to adapt to it. I was just answering your literal question on why (cost). We once had a client have a weird situation where the BMW mic was missing. The car must have been in an accident previously and we're assuming when they repaired it, they ordered the wrong overhead trim as it was simply not there, but the wire was there for a mic. And BMW didn't sell the mic by itself for this particular model/trim, you had to buy all the other electronics that came with the overhead trim it was mounted in. It was stupid expensive so we went through our spare parts bin and cut and spliced a few different mic's and tried them until we found one that worked well. You could probably measure the factory mic and then check it against the Alpine to see how far it's off.
Ok so I have guidelines. Factory guidelines in fact. Is this something new because ever since I installed mine it has worked. Another crazy thing. I read and heard in the video you would loose XM Guardian remote start. I don’t know if you guys tried it but mine works perfectly from the app. I however did loose the 911 and assist buttons in the Jeep. This was already gone when I moved from the 7” to an 8.4 OEM display prior to the Alpine. Do you guys loose that as well?
Hi Noel, thanks so much for the comment! I really appreciate your feedback. I did later recall that we had guidance lines on a previous install and later spoke to someone else at Alpine who confirmed, YES, there should be park guidance lines retained. I have no idea what the miscommunication with tech support was about. I had very clearly stated, hey we installed this and we have no park guidance lines, aren't those usually retained? They put me on hold, checked and said no, I guess we don't retain them and I was really surprised, but took them at their word. It's possible they didn't work in this particular Jeep because of an error on the CAN bus network that needed to be cleared. The car had just had the OEM radio replaced so anything is possible. We didn't check for or try and clear any stored error code prior to installing. I had been told that the SiriusXM Guardian services would not be retained. Perhaps Alpine was just covering their bases and said that broadly without getting specific. I'm pretty sure that includes the 911 & assist buttons. Did not realize the remote start app would be retained! I will say the client I had that did upgrade to the Compustar Drone Mobile has been very happy because it's much faster than the OEM remote start, more consistent as far as coverage area/responsiveness and longer run time. Great to know the remote start app still works.
I definitely noticed that with the X409-WRA-JL, I think they did a better job retaining it with the i509, but it's still not as clear as the factory screen.
this feels like…the stinger heigh10 may be a better unit. there seems to be an issue with the carplay volume though with the stinger. so…not sure what to do.
We are loving ours now that we're using the toslink out. Are you doing this with aftermarket speakers and amps? Or head unit upgrade only? The other thing I have seen that can cause CarPlay volume issues with any head unit is Apple Sound Check. Mine got turned on during an update a few months back and it threw off all of the audio testing I was doing. It's a ridiculous difference in volume/output if you have a large library with a wide variety of recording qualities.
i have some questions 1-does the center console USB still working ? 2-can you adjust the factory subwoofer bass and normal bass speakers separately with plug and play harness ? 3-does the Tazer Mini still working after installation ? 4-does it ready or notify you when new text message received ? 5-do you need PAC Audio AP4-CH41R2 for installing this head unit ? 6-do you need to remove the factory amp from the wrangler with Premium speakers or you still need to use it with the alpine head unit ? 7-how is the sound quality compared to factory 8.4 ? 8-how many watt this unit give for each speaker ?
Whoa, that's a lot of questions. 1.Yes, USB in center console still charges only. 2. I don't know if you can adjust the factory subwoofer because we've never actually installed one of these in a cars where we retained the stock Alpine system. We've always done these as part of a total system upgrade where we're already using aftermarket amps and speakers. Looking at how the stock amp is retained in the install guide, it looks like it's done thru data so doubtful unless there's a separate menu under the Maestro settings specifically for audio settings. Install guide shows Maestro features are amp turn on, digital fader (so you can still fade from front to rear), DSP settings (maybe there's a sub adjustment in here?) and gain adjustment (or maybe they stick it in here). 3. I don't see why it wouldn't, but can't confirm that as I can't recall working on this particular vehicle and having a client with one in there. The only thing you have to worry about is if the two devices are both trying to communicate at the same time if that would cause an issue. In a case like that, we would set the Maestro module to communicate only when needed (vs all the time). 4. Yes, all CarPlay/Android Auto radios can notify you (notification tone/text banner) and read your messages to you. 5. If you do this head unit upgrade, you will not need the AP4-CH41R2. Many of our clients start with that pre-amp adapter, do the full audio system upgrade and then come back in 6 months or a year for the head unit swap. So if you want to do the upgrade in phases, the pre-amp adapter with upgraded speakers and amps is a great place to start. 6. Do not remove the amp, it needs to stay in line for the network in the car. If you do end up doing aftermarket speakers and amps, PAC makes a handy bypass harness so you can catch all your speaker wires (APH-CH03) or you can just run your own lines, but leave the amp connected in the car. 7. I can't really answer this as I have not ever done this alone as an upgrade, it's always been with aftermarket speakers and amps. I have heard reports from other end users on forums that they were not happy with the sound quality of the head unit alone - especially when installed in a vehicle with the stock Alpine amp (you need an adapter too KCX-F200INT). I can tell you the sound quality against the AP4-CH41R2 is pretty significant simply because the PAC module is just a nice clean pre-amp adapter, but you're still limited to simple adjustments on the factory head unit Bass, Mid, Treble. The Alpine is a full fledged receiver with tons of audio control such as the parametric EQ, built in crossovers, digital time alignment, etc. So you have a lot more tools available to truly dial it in and fine tune it. But then it also depends on how you're going to use the pre-amp adapter. You can technically keep the signal digital with the APH-CH41R2 along with the APA-TOS1 and go into a high end digital aftermarket DSP amp like a Helix P Six Ultimate or V Eight DSP and in that case you can achieve superior sound quality over the Alpine as you are keeping the signal digital and using a separate DSP to fine tune. Lots of variables!!! 8. On its own, this receiver does not have a powerful amp built in - 18 watts RMS x 4. This is truly meant to be part of a total system upgrade - separate amps, upgraded full sized speakers, upgraded sub(s). I hope that helps!
So what is a good head unit with apple car play for a wrangler jl? I am struggling to find the right OEM replacement for the 5" screen. It is for my daughter who doesnt really care about the offroad stuff.
There's really not a lot of options on the market for these vehicles. I later realized this unit does support dynamic park guidance lines on the camera. We did one prior to this install back in June and I just forgot the guidance lines worked until I looked at some pics of it. So there was some miscommunication when I called and talked to tech support. That feature should have worked and there was probably an error on the CAN bus system in this particular car due to the OEM radio having some hiccups and having recently been replaced by the dealer. We do have the Stinger HEIGH10 in our 2019 and I did make a couple videos on that model. I did gripe and still gripe about a few things, but we have since utilized the optical output feature to our Helix DSP V EIGHT amplifier and now I'm back in love with it, the SQ is amazing. Alpine doesn't have optical out, Stinger does, but not everyone is going to use that feature. The other option I have done for some clients is the OEM upgrade, but keep in mind, the OEM radios aren't perfect either. The Jeep in this video had just had his 8.4" replaced under warranty. But if you want to do the factory upgrade, we've sourced both the OEM 7" and 8.4" upgrade from a company called Infotainment. It's plug and play and then you just have to do a sleep cycle or 2 for the vehicle to learn the new radio. What's the biggest concern? Just adding Apple CarPlay? Is budget a factor? If she's got to have wireless CarPlay, this is really the best solution on the market at the moment and does the best job of retaining all the OEM features. If you go with the Stinger HEIGH10, there are wireless CarPlay adapters you can add, but those adapters do degrade sound quality.
@@carstereochick Thank you and I appreciate your response. I think I will go with the HEIGH10 and sacrifice the wireless. Really like your reviews, thanks!
Just to make sure I understand your question, you mean like changing the function of the factory AUX switches below the radio from like accessory to constant or something like that? If that was originally accessible in the factory radio under vehicle settings, it should still be accessible in the i509-WRA-JL vehicle settings menu of the Maestro, but I can't say that I recall seeing that. I would recommend reaching out to iDatalink to confirm 100%.
No, that is one of the drawbacks. The previous model, the X409-WRA-JL had GPS built in and off road maps. This model does not have any sat based GPS navigation - just Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. There will be an optional GPS available add-on available at a later date (which has been delayed). Hopefully by summer 2023, but I do not believe that will support off road maps or at least right now I don't think there are plans for that.
@carstereochick that's a huge letdown... it's a shame that a company as renowned as Alpine would sell you a "premium" aftermarket problem in some cases to replace the stock alpine unit. With the whole thought to upgrade and add features. But yet they take features away... and even outside the consideration of the factory's abilities. You lose features between the 2 units they made
I agree I think they did a disservice to clients by not including it. Perhaps they should have offered 2 versions. I believe they are targeting Jeep owners with the 5" and 7" radios, but in my experience the only clients I've sold it to had the 8.4" and they were looking for wireless CarPlay and better sound quality with their full aftermarket audio system.
@@carstereochick I greatly appreciate your help and input but I'm going to not spend the money on the alpine now. Bought a Motorola MA1 to add android auto wireless to the oem head unit
I want to know what you think about the high10 for the ram I just put one in my 2028 ram and all speakers are kicker dash and all doors and a single 10 kicker is it a good enough head unit with the kickers
We are pretty happy with our Stinger HEIGH10 now that we're using the optical out to our Helix amplifiers. It is not a bad head unit at all, we sell quite a few of them. They can be quirky. Our reverse camera gets confused sometimes after we've used the HDMI input. Are you using a separate amp to power the Kicker interior speakers? If you are and you feel like you're not getting as much output out of the amp as you expected, you may want to consider a line driver. That was something we added when we were running our amps through the RCA cables. There is not a ton of voltage on the pre-amp on the HEIGH10 so that's one of my biggest gripes with it.
That's totally a personal preference and it sort of depends on what you're going to be using it for. John and I have the Stinger HEIGH10 in our Jeep and we're happy with the sound quality only because we're using the toslink out. That is huge is you're using a high end DSP amp that accepts toslink. If you're doing a traditional audio set up with analog RCA amps, the Alpine will sound better because of the higher voltage pre-amp. I also find the touch screen to be more vibrant and the fit and finish of the buttons to be more esthetically pleasing/like factory in appearance. Quirks - they both have quirks, I don't know why. I think part of that could just be the inherent quirkiness of the Uconnect system and all the data flowing through the car and thus through the head unit. We've sold a few of the i509-WRA-JL and JK. The JK clients don't have any quirks, it's only the JL. And of all my JL clients I would say the ones that got it specifically for the audio upgrade, are very happy with it. They did it as part of a total system upgrade with speakers, amps and subs and the audio upgrade was the main reason. They all previously had the PAC Amp pro pre-amp adapter and got this as an upgrade over the stock head unit/pre-amp adapter. However, I have one client who got this mainly because they wanted wireless CarPlay and they're also very happy with the sound quality (we did also do speakers and amp upgrade, but that wasn't the main focus). So I guess what I'm saying is if sound quality as part of a total system upgrade is your main focus, then I guess you put up with the quirks because it sounds great. That's how we are with our Stinger. Our reverse camera gets confused sometimes when we use the HDMI input, but it sounds amazing with our Helix DSP amp so we put up with it.
I think this has everything to do with the sharp rise in raw component costs we saw with supply chain issues and the chip shortage. I remember someone in the industry telling me these aftermarket radios can be made up of multiple chips and prior to 2020, these components would cost anywhere from a few cents to .25 and costs rose so sharply that individual chips were going for $5 or sometimes even $25 a piece. So the raw cost to produce these electronics rose very steep, very fast. GPS navigation, for whatever reason, seems to be one area that has really been effected by this. I think that's largely why they decided to make the GPS optional or they simply wouldn't have any radios to sell. We're seeing the same thing in the automotive industry. Newer cars are costing more money, but are often equipped with less features. It is shrinkflation. I blame limited raw component availability, which created a dramatic increase in the cost of components which lead to a scale back in features/increase in cost. I will say the screen quality/vibrancy and camera image quality is much improved over the previous version.
Hey there, I asked Alpine about this a month ago and was told not at this time. They are working on it. Guessing that will be an additional part/accessory and possibly software update, but no word on when or how much.
Any word if the i509 supports the factory front camera and features like quick toggle front/rear? I know the OEM rear is supported and an aftermarket front, but not sure if there's additional pieces required (e.g. Alpine SGS-CH01) to make both front and rear cameras work. Thanks for the great video!
Oh, great question Kyle. I'm pretty sure it does retain it, I don't recall if you need any additional parts. I will have to double check my notes though. I may not have an answer for you until Monday, but I'll follow up. Thanks for watching and thank you for the great question!
Hi Kyle - Alpine does NOT support the factory front camera at this time. They are working on it. I'm assuming that means an additional part/accessory and possibly software update will be required, but no word on when or how much.
Unlike uconnect head units which has a SIM card built in, the alpine does not which is so dumb considering one of the features of Sirius 360L requires WiFi for streaming. Of course you can use your phone as a hotspot every time you get in the car😢
I have this unit in my 2019 JL. I am not impressed with the “glitchiness” of it and the lack of retained OEM features. I do have guidelines on the backup camera, but the camera it’s self is terrible. It’s so blurry I can hardly see and the warning message at the top blocks part of the view. I do like the wireless CarPlay feature, but it does not read my incoming texts or allow me to respond hands free. Also the lack of the SXM tuner is disappointing. The SXM goes through CarPlay unless a separate tuner is added. This is an expensive unit and I expected everything would me included. I find the screen to be unresponsive at times which is also annoying. One last thing to note…you cannot go into the set up menu unless the emergency break is on, so even if the passenger wanted to change the EQ settings while in motion they can’t. You have to be completely stopped and the e brake on. Also there is no casting with HDMI while in motion, so if you are looking for an entertainment system for the kids while traveling this will not work. Over all I am not happy with this unit and I’m seriously thinking about returning it and finding a different option.
That's hard to say because I never do just this as a stand alone upgrade in these vehicles because really everything needs to be addressed to improve the sound quality. Does this sound better than the PAC AP4-CH41R2 going RCA out to aftermarket amps and speakers? Yes - it's more detailed, smoother top end and overall cleaner sound quality. Does this sound better than the PAC AP4-CH41R2 going toslink out to a compatible amp like a Helix V Eight DSP? No, the toslink connection with the higher end Helix amp sounds much cleaner, more detailed, vibrant, natural and live. If all you did was change this radio and kept the stock speakers, would it sound better? I haven't done that because we're always addressing everything in these vehicles: upgrading the speakers to proper size, adding an amp(s) and sub(s). I think if all you did was upgrade the head unit and nothing else, it probably wouldn't be a substantial upgrade. You might actually realize how bad the stock speakers are once you put a clean signal through them honestly. Sometimes when the signal is muddy (like from a stock stereo) it's hard to tell if it's a signal quality issue or speaker quality issue and then when you clean up the signal, you end up hearing hear how bad the stock speakers really are. These vehicles need a total system overhaul so if it's a budgeting issue where you're like, well I could afford to do the head unit, but nothing else right now, I actually advise clients to put that chunk of change towards higher quality speakers, amp, sub using the PAC pre-amp adapter with RCA. You can always upgrade the head unit later. It just depends on what your overall goal for the system is, what your upgrade budget is and what's more important to you - head unit features or overall sound quality. I hope that helps!
@@carstereochick So sounds like you're saying, if you want the "best" sound quality in a 2023 JL.... keep factory 8.4 Uconnect and use Pac with optical output into a dsp or amp with built-in dsp? Then you don't loose remote vehicle control apps (Uconnect or Jeep), maintain HD camera displayed image front & rear (Alpine doesn't retain factory HD camera display, uses RCA inputs), maintain GPS and Off-road maps, however you will loose front/rear faded control if using optical output from Pac unit.And the whole wireless CarPlay issue...you do loose audio quality by not connecting by wire/cord. Would you agree with that? Plus, if you must go wireless, won't you maintain better sound quality if you connect bluetooth to dsp (Helix or Mosconi) vs. bluetooth to head-unit? And those dsp's will play hi-rez audio.
When long up a maestro compatible vehicle on the website, you notice under radio brand you first have to select "all radios" or "most compatible radios"? That's because Kenwood is THE MOST COMPATIBLE and offers the most features with maestro. One of those features being DYNAMIC PARKING LINES. Alpine does not support it because they choose not to be as compatible, or don't pay enough to idata link, something like that! Kenwood will do the lines, among other additional things. Sony is in the same boat as Alpine in this instance
Hi Brian, thanks so much for the comment! I actually talked to Alpine about this and had actually totally forgot when we did another Jeep months ago that the dynamic guidance lines DID work. So they officially say they support it which makes sense because I did see the option in the Maestro settings/menu on the head unit. I think the person I talked to at tech support either misunderstood my question or didn't really look into it that deeply for me. After the video was released an Alpine representative said they suspect that this car didn't support it due to a CAN bus issue which is entirely possible because the factory 8.4" had been recently replaced, but was still glitching out. I might have been able to get it to work by doing a sleep cycle or checking the car for error codes and clearing them, but we didn't think to do it based on the info we were given at the time. I agree that Kenwood usually does provide the greatest Maestro features/retention for most applications. After all, they were the first to partner with iDatalink so that seems about right.
@@carstereochick I love your content by the way. Very good and informative for consumers. Great work!! There's not a lot of good mobile electronics reviewers out there, so thank you. I've considered doing it myself for my store, but just haven't pulled the trigger. Also I have no idea how to edit videos 😂🤣
Aw, thank you so much! I will tell you it is great for business so I would highly encourage you to just do it! Just be prepared to spend some time on it or pay someone else to do it for you. Between shooting, editing, researching keywords, thumbnails, etc. I usually spend anywhere from 10-30 hours on each video, but I also enjoy doing it and have no problem working long days to cram it all in. There are some great books on learning best practices. I've learned a lot from "How to Shoot Videos that Don't Suck" by Steve Stockman and "UA-cam Secrets" by Sean Cannell & Benji Travis. Currently reading thru "Hook Point" by Brendan Kane. Give it a try! You might be pleasantly surprised with the results.
having to disconnect and reconnect your phone every time you wish to use hdmi is so inconvenient. surely they can develop software to overcome this flaw. also so many problems you have found with this system. great video though.
Thanks for watching! It's a bit quirky, but that EQ control is great. Since that's actually an Apple issue, it's possible they may eventually address it in a software update for the phone. I've run into this with other Apple CarPlay radios trying to use HDMI input (same with Android).
This expensive garbage is not only full of software bugs, the form factor doesn’t fit the vehicle and the UI is about a decade old, and at that there is no common standard carried across functions, making the interface look hodge-podge. Why would anyone spend over $2000 on this is beyond me. Temu product quality at its best!
My 8.4 does does fine... even weather alert maps is awaome... this crap is just a tiny bit larger and trying to be fancy... dont waste your hard earned money on this junk.
what gauges will display? oil temp, oil pressure, trans temp, coolant temp volts, etc?
Great video! Having mine installed this AM. Currently have the Stinger HEIGH10, but I'm gonna pass that down to my daughter for her Jeep. Has anything changed over the past year with any of the issues you brought up? Has Alpine made any improvements that you're aware of? Thanks!
Do you believe Alpine will refresh the screen on the i509 with the ilx-f509? I have the Stingeroffroad and I’m thinking of swamping it out for the Alpine equivalent but I don’t want to be stuck with another headache I rather wait until a refresh.
Great question. I have a feeling they'll keep this model for at least another 2 years. I could be wrong, but just basing that off the cycle with all their previous Jeep X009 - X409 models. This is the fifth iteration with the 1st generation released back in 2015. I don't know why they didn't use the same style screen as the iLX-F509 other than it maybe needing to be weather resistant perhaps.
Great review! Do you know why Alpine cannot integrate the Mics from Jeep? I find it hard to pay $2,500 and then still need to add a clip-on Mic. It takes away from a clean look.
Thanks Joshua! Great question. I don't know why they don't try to do that. I'm guessing cost feasibility. There are a lot of aftermarket Apple CarPlay/Android Auto add-on kits that we install in BMW's, Audi's, Porsche, Mercedes, etc. that utilize the OEM mic so I'm sure it can be done. I'm guessing because it streamlines their production. The i509-WRA brain is essentially the same exact chassis as what's found in the iLX-507, iLX-F509 and iLX-F511 so I assume from a production standpoint it was simply for more cost effective to use the same mic without making a major change to the chassis just for this model.
@@carstereochick I got this from Alpine..."OEM microphones are only designed to work with the one specific head unit in the vehicle. Aftermarket head units need their own dedicated microphone that it ships with." It doesn't really explain Why, just says it won't work. I'd think you could splice the connector from the Alpine head unit into the wires for the Jeep Mic. But could be resistance or impedance issues, so still might not work. Probably more work than it's worth.
It's definitely related to resistances and impedances, sorry I should have mentioned that. I'm just saying that it was probably cost prohibitive for them to figure out away to adapt to it. I was just answering your literal question on why (cost). We once had a client have a weird situation where the BMW mic was missing. The car must have been in an accident previously and we're assuming when they repaired it, they ordered the wrong overhead trim as it was simply not there, but the wire was there for a mic. And BMW didn't sell the mic by itself for this particular model/trim, you had to buy all the other electronics that came with the overhead trim it was mounted in. It was stupid expensive so we went through our spare parts bin and cut and spliced a few different mic's and tried them until we found one that worked well. You could probably measure the factory mic and then check it against the Alpine to see how far it's off.
Ok so I have guidelines. Factory guidelines in fact. Is this something new because ever since I installed mine it has worked.
Another crazy thing. I read and heard in the video you would loose XM Guardian remote start. I don’t know if you guys tried it but mine works perfectly from the app. I however did loose the 911 and assist buttons in the Jeep. This was already gone when I moved from the 7” to an 8.4 OEM display prior to the Alpine. Do you guys loose that as well?
Hi Noel, thanks so much for the comment! I really appreciate your feedback. I did later recall that we had guidance lines on a previous install and later spoke to someone else at Alpine who confirmed, YES, there should be park guidance lines retained. I have no idea what the miscommunication with tech support was about. I had very clearly stated, hey we installed this and we have no park guidance lines, aren't those usually retained? They put me on hold, checked and said no, I guess we don't retain them and I was really surprised, but took them at their word. It's possible they didn't work in this particular Jeep because of an error on the CAN bus network that needed to be cleared. The car had just had the OEM radio replaced so anything is possible. We didn't check for or try and clear any stored error code prior to installing.
I had been told that the SiriusXM Guardian services would not be retained. Perhaps Alpine was just covering their bases and said that broadly without getting specific. I'm pretty sure that includes the 911 & assist buttons. Did not realize the remote start app would be retained! I will say the client I had that did upgrade to the Compustar Drone Mobile has been very happy because it's much faster than the OEM remote start, more consistent as far as coverage area/responsiveness and longer run time. Great to know the remote start app still works.
Did you notice the picture quality of the backup camera to be clearer with factory over the i509?
I definitely noticed that with the X409-WRA-JL, I think they did a better job retaining it with the i509, but it's still not as clear as the factory screen.
this feels like…the stinger heigh10 may be a better unit. there seems to be an issue with the carplay volume though with the stinger.
so…not sure what to do.
We are loving ours now that we're using the toslink out. Are you doing this with aftermarket speakers and amps? Or head unit upgrade only? The other thing I have seen that can cause CarPlay volume issues with any head unit is Apple Sound Check. Mine got turned on during an update a few months back and it threw off all of the audio testing I was doing. It's a ridiculous difference in volume/output if you have a large library with a wide variety of recording qualities.
i have some questions
1-does the center console USB still working ?
2-can you adjust the factory subwoofer bass and normal bass speakers separately with plug and play harness ?
3-does the Tazer Mini still working after installation ?
4-does it ready or notify you when new text message received ?
5-do you need PAC Audio AP4-CH41R2 for installing this head unit ?
6-do you need to remove the factory amp from the wrangler with Premium speakers or you still need to use it with the alpine head unit ?
7-how is the sound quality compared to factory 8.4 ?
8-how many watt this unit give for each speaker ?
Whoa, that's a lot of questions.
1.Yes, USB in center console still charges only.
2. I don't know if you can adjust the factory subwoofer because we've never actually installed one of these in a cars where we retained the stock Alpine system. We've always done these as part of a total system upgrade where we're already using aftermarket amps and speakers. Looking at how the stock amp is retained in the install guide, it looks like it's done thru data so doubtful unless there's a separate menu under the Maestro settings specifically for audio settings. Install guide shows Maestro features are amp turn on, digital fader (so you can still fade from front to rear), DSP settings (maybe there's a sub adjustment in here?) and gain adjustment (or maybe they stick it in here).
3. I don't see why it wouldn't, but can't confirm that as I can't recall working on this particular vehicle and having a client with one in there. The only thing you have to worry about is if the two devices are both trying to communicate at the same time if that would cause an issue. In a case like that, we would set the Maestro module to communicate only when needed (vs all the time).
4. Yes, all CarPlay/Android Auto radios can notify you (notification tone/text banner) and read your messages to you.
5. If you do this head unit upgrade, you will not need the AP4-CH41R2. Many of our clients start with that pre-amp adapter, do the full audio system upgrade and then come back in 6 months or a year for the head unit swap. So if you want to do the upgrade in phases, the pre-amp adapter with upgraded speakers and amps is a great place to start.
6. Do not remove the amp, it needs to stay in line for the network in the car. If you do end up doing aftermarket speakers and amps, PAC makes a handy bypass harness so you can catch all your speaker wires (APH-CH03) or you can just run your own lines, but leave the amp connected in the car.
7. I can't really answer this as I have not ever done this alone as an upgrade, it's always been with aftermarket speakers and amps. I have heard reports from other end users on forums that they were not happy with the sound quality of the head unit alone - especially when installed in a vehicle with the stock Alpine amp (you need an adapter too KCX-F200INT). I can tell you the sound quality against the AP4-CH41R2 is pretty significant simply because the PAC module is just a nice clean pre-amp adapter, but you're still limited to simple adjustments on the factory head unit Bass, Mid, Treble. The Alpine is a full fledged receiver with tons of audio control such as the parametric EQ, built in crossovers, digital time alignment, etc. So you have a lot more tools available to truly dial it in and fine tune it. But then it also depends on how you're going to use the pre-amp adapter. You can technically keep the signal digital with the APH-CH41R2 along with the APA-TOS1 and go into a high end digital aftermarket DSP amp like a Helix P Six Ultimate or V Eight DSP and in that case you can achieve superior sound quality over the Alpine as you are keeping the signal digital and using a separate DSP to fine tune. Lots of variables!!!
8. On its own, this receiver does not have a powerful amp built in - 18 watts RMS x 4. This is truly meant to be part of a total system upgrade - separate amps, upgraded full sized speakers, upgraded sub(s).
I hope that helps!
Thank you so much for your reply
So what is a good head unit with apple car play for a wrangler jl? I am struggling to find the right OEM replacement for the 5" screen. It is for my daughter who doesnt really care about the offroad stuff.
There's really not a lot of options on the market for these vehicles. I later realized this unit does support dynamic park guidance lines on the camera. We did one prior to this install back in June and I just forgot the guidance lines worked until I looked at some pics of it. So there was some miscommunication when I called and talked to tech support. That feature should have worked and there was probably an error on the CAN bus system in this particular car due to the OEM radio having some hiccups and having recently been replaced by the dealer.
We do have the Stinger HEIGH10 in our 2019 and I did make a couple videos on that model. I did gripe and still gripe about a few things, but we have since utilized the optical output feature to our Helix DSP V EIGHT amplifier and now I'm back in love with it, the SQ is amazing. Alpine doesn't have optical out, Stinger does, but not everyone is going to use that feature.
The other option I have done for some clients is the OEM upgrade, but keep in mind, the OEM radios aren't perfect either. The Jeep in this video had just had his 8.4" replaced under warranty. But if you want to do the factory upgrade, we've sourced both the OEM 7" and 8.4" upgrade from a company called Infotainment. It's plug and play and then you just have to do a sleep cycle or 2 for the vehicle to learn the new radio.
What's the biggest concern? Just adding Apple CarPlay? Is budget a factor? If she's got to have wireless CarPlay, this is really the best solution on the market at the moment and does the best job of retaining all the OEM features. If you go with the Stinger HEIGH10, there are wireless CarPlay adapters you can add, but those adapters do degrade sound quality.
@@carstereochick Thank you and I appreciate your response. I think I will go with the HEIGH10 and sacrifice the wireless. Really like your reviews, thanks!
Does this model have the controls to change settings for the optional AUX switches on the Rubicon?
Just to make sure I understand your question, you mean like changing the function of the factory AUX switches below the radio from like accessory to constant or something like that? If that was originally accessible in the factory radio under vehicle settings, it should still be accessible in the i509-WRA-JL vehicle settings menu of the Maestro, but I can't say that I recall seeing that. I would recommend reaching out to iDatalink to confirm 100%.
@@carstereochick yes that’s what I meant, thank you I will reach out just to be sure
@@mikegarza7513 Were you able to figure this out? I am curious as well.
Does it support the factory "offroad" pages from the 8.4 inch Uconnect for Rubicon models?
No, that is one of the drawbacks. The previous model, the X409-WRA-JL had GPS built in and off road maps. This model does not have any sat based GPS navigation - just Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. There will be an optional GPS available add-on available at a later date (which has been delayed). Hopefully by summer 2023, but I do not believe that will support off road maps or at least right now I don't think there are plans for that.
@carstereochick that's a huge letdown... it's a shame that a company as renowned as Alpine would sell you a "premium" aftermarket problem in some cases to replace the stock alpine unit. With the whole thought to upgrade and add features. But yet they take features away... and even outside the consideration of the factory's abilities. You lose features between the 2 units they made
I agree I think they did a disservice to clients by not including it. Perhaps they should have offered 2 versions. I believe they are targeting Jeep owners with the 5" and 7" radios, but in my experience the only clients I've sold it to had the 8.4" and they were looking for wireless CarPlay and better sound quality with their full aftermarket audio system.
@@carstereochick I greatly appreciate your help and input but I'm going to not spend the money on the alpine now. Bought a Motorola MA1 to add android auto wireless to the oem head unit
Can you mirror screen from phone to head unit.
Yes, through HDMI input which you can see at 6:29 but you have to disable wireless CarPlay/Android Auto use the feature.
Thank you for answering a question no one thought to answer. I don't want to lose the XM Guardian services so it's not worth it yet
My pleasure! I'm so happy you found this review helpful ;)
I want to know what you think about the high10 for the ram I just put one in my 2028 ram and all speakers are kicker dash and all doors and a single 10 kicker is it a good enough head unit with the kickers
We are pretty happy with our Stinger HEIGH10 now that we're using the optical out to our Helix amplifiers. It is not a bad head unit at all, we sell quite a few of them. They can be quirky. Our reverse camera gets confused sometimes after we've used the HDMI input.
Are you using a separate amp to power the Kicker interior speakers? If you are and you feel like you're not getting as much output out of the amp as you expected, you may want to consider a line driver. That was something we added when we were running our amps through the RCA cables. There is not a ton of voltage on the pre-amp on the HEIGH10 so that's one of my biggest gripes with it.
Any recent reviews on this unit? I'm looking at pulling the trigger but I can't find too many reviews. Is it worth the price tag?
That's totally a personal preference and it sort of depends on what you're going to be using it for. John and I have the Stinger HEIGH10 in our Jeep and we're happy with the sound quality only because we're using the toslink out. That is huge is you're using a high end DSP amp that accepts toslink.
If you're doing a traditional audio set up with analog RCA amps, the Alpine will sound better because of the higher voltage pre-amp. I also find the touch screen to be more vibrant and the fit and finish of the buttons to be more esthetically pleasing/like factory in appearance.
Quirks - they both have quirks, I don't know why. I think part of that could just be the inherent quirkiness of the Uconnect system and all the data flowing through the car and thus through the head unit. We've sold a few of the i509-WRA-JL and JK. The JK clients don't have any quirks, it's only the JL. And of all my JL clients I would say the ones that got it specifically for the audio upgrade, are very happy with it. They did it as part of a total system upgrade with speakers, amps and subs and the audio upgrade was the main reason. They all previously had the PAC Amp pro pre-amp adapter and got this as an upgrade over the stock head unit/pre-amp adapter.
However, I have one client who got this mainly because they wanted wireless CarPlay and they're also very happy with the sound quality (we did also do speakers and amp upgrade, but that wasn't the main focus). So I guess what I'm saying is if sound quality as part of a total system upgrade is your main focus, then I guess you put up with the quirks because it sounds great. That's how we are with our Stinger. Our reverse camera gets confused sometimes when we use the HDMI input, but it sounds amazing with our Helix DSP amp so we put up with it.
Why release a new model to replace an old one... but leave out a bunch of important features that were there before??
I think this has everything to do with the sharp rise in raw component costs we saw with supply chain issues and the chip shortage. I remember someone in the industry telling me these aftermarket radios can be made up of multiple chips and prior to 2020, these components would cost anywhere from a few cents to .25 and costs rose so sharply that individual chips were going for $5 or sometimes even $25 a piece. So the raw cost to produce these electronics rose very steep, very fast.
GPS navigation, for whatever reason, seems to be one area that has really been effected by this. I think that's largely why they decided to make the GPS optional or they simply wouldn't have any radios to sell. We're seeing the same thing in the automotive industry. Newer cars are costing more money, but are often equipped with less features. It is shrinkflation.
I blame limited raw component availability, which created a dramatic increase in the cost of components which lead to a scale back in features/increase in cost. I will say the screen quality/vibrancy and camera image quality is much improved over the previous version.
Anyone know if I can use the stock front camera?
Hey there, I asked Alpine about this a month ago and was told not at this time. They are working on it. Guessing that will be an additional part/accessory and possibly software update, but no word on when or how much.
@@carstereochick thank you
Any word if the i509 supports the factory front camera and features like quick toggle front/rear? I know the OEM rear is supported and an aftermarket front, but not sure if there's additional pieces required (e.g. Alpine SGS-CH01) to make both front and rear cameras work. Thanks for the great video!
Oh, great question Kyle. I'm pretty sure it does retain it, I don't recall if you need any additional parts. I will have to double check my notes though. I may not have an answer for you until Monday, but I'll follow up. Thanks for watching and thank you for the great question!
Hi Kyle - Alpine does NOT support the factory front camera at this time. They are working on it. I'm assuming that means an additional part/accessory and possibly software update will be required, but no word on when or how much.
Thanks!
you must work for Alpine becuse this is the answer they have for everything. like gps and all the glitches. @@carstereochick
Any update on front factory camera integration on the i509?
Thanks love your videos!!
Unlike uconnect head units which has a SIM card built in, the alpine does not which is so dumb considering one of the features of Sirius 360L requires WiFi for streaming. Of course you can use your phone as a hotspot every time you get in the car😢
I have this unit in my 2019 JL. I am not impressed with the “glitchiness” of it and the lack of retained OEM features. I do have guidelines on the backup camera, but the camera it’s self is terrible. It’s so blurry I can hardly see and the warning message at the top blocks part of the view.
I do like the wireless CarPlay feature, but it does not read my incoming texts or allow me to respond hands free. Also the lack of the SXM tuner is disappointing. The SXM goes through CarPlay unless a separate tuner is added. This is an expensive unit and I expected everything would me included.
I find the screen to be unresponsive at times which is also annoying.
One last thing to note…you cannot go into the set up menu unless the emergency break is on, so even if the passenger wanted to change the EQ settings while in motion they can’t. You have to be completely stopped and the e brake on. Also there is no casting with HDMI while in motion, so if you are looking for an entertainment system for the kids while traveling this will not work.
Over all I am not happy with this unit and I’m seriously thinking about returning it and finding a different option.
Does it sound better than the uconnect?
That's hard to say because I never do just this as a stand alone upgrade in these vehicles because really everything needs to be addressed to improve the sound quality.
Does this sound better than the PAC AP4-CH41R2 going RCA out to aftermarket amps and speakers? Yes - it's more detailed, smoother top end and overall cleaner sound quality.
Does this sound better than the PAC AP4-CH41R2 going toslink out to a compatible amp like a Helix V Eight DSP? No, the toslink connection with the higher end Helix amp sounds much cleaner, more detailed, vibrant, natural and live.
If all you did was change this radio and kept the stock speakers, would it sound better? I haven't done that because we're always addressing everything in these vehicles: upgrading the speakers to proper size, adding an amp(s) and sub(s). I think if all you did was upgrade the head unit and nothing else, it probably wouldn't be a substantial upgrade. You might actually realize how bad the stock speakers are once you put a clean signal through them honestly. Sometimes when the signal is muddy (like from a stock stereo) it's hard to tell if it's a signal quality issue or speaker quality issue and then when you clean up the signal, you end up hearing hear how bad the stock speakers really are.
These vehicles need a total system overhaul so if it's a budgeting issue where you're like, well I could afford to do the head unit, but nothing else right now, I actually advise clients to put that chunk of change towards higher quality speakers, amp, sub using the PAC pre-amp adapter with RCA. You can always upgrade the head unit later. It just depends on what your overall goal for the system is, what your upgrade budget is and what's more important to you - head unit features or overall sound quality. I hope that helps!
@@carstereochick I have the ap4 now
Cool - then yes it will sound better if you're going RCA out from your AP4, but no if you're currently running toslink :)
@@carstereochick So sounds like you're saying, if you want the "best" sound quality in a 2023 JL.... keep factory 8.4 Uconnect and use Pac with optical output into a dsp or amp with built-in dsp? Then you don't loose remote vehicle control apps (Uconnect or Jeep), maintain HD camera displayed image front & rear (Alpine doesn't retain factory HD camera display, uses RCA inputs), maintain GPS and Off-road maps, however you will loose front/rear faded control if using optical output from Pac unit.And the whole wireless CarPlay issue...you do loose audio quality by not connecting by wire/cord.
Would you agree with that?
Plus, if you must go wireless, won't you maintain better sound quality if you connect bluetooth to dsp (Helix or Mosconi) vs. bluetooth to head-unit? And those dsp's will play hi-rez audio.
When long up a maestro compatible vehicle on the website, you notice under radio brand you first have to select "all radios" or "most compatible radios"? That's because Kenwood is THE MOST COMPATIBLE and offers the most features with maestro. One of those features being DYNAMIC PARKING LINES. Alpine does not support it because they choose not to be as compatible, or don't pay enough to idata link, something like that! Kenwood will do the lines, among other additional things. Sony is in the same boat as Alpine in this instance
Hi Brian, thanks so much for the comment! I actually talked to Alpine about this and had actually totally forgot when we did another Jeep months ago that the dynamic guidance lines DID work. So they officially say they support it which makes sense because I did see the option in the Maestro settings/menu on the head unit. I think the person I talked to at tech support either misunderstood my question or didn't really look into it that deeply for me. After the video was released an Alpine representative said they suspect that this car didn't support it due to a CAN bus issue which is entirely possible because the factory 8.4" had been recently replaced, but was still glitching out. I might have been able to get it to work by doing a sleep cycle or checking the car for error codes and clearing them, but we didn't think to do it based on the info we were given at the time. I agree that Kenwood usually does provide the greatest Maestro features/retention for most applications. After all, they were the first to partner with iDatalink so that seems about right.
@@carstereochick I love your content by the way. Very good and informative for consumers. Great work!! There's not a lot of good mobile electronics reviewers out there, so thank you. I've considered doing it myself for my store, but just haven't pulled the trigger. Also I have no idea how to edit videos 😂🤣
Aw, thank you so much! I will tell you it is great for business so I would highly encourage you to just do it! Just be prepared to spend some time on it or pay someone else to do it for you. Between shooting, editing, researching keywords, thumbnails, etc. I usually spend anywhere from 10-30 hours on each video, but I also enjoy doing it and have no problem working long days to cram it all in. There are some great books on learning best practices. I've learned a lot from "How to Shoot Videos that Don't Suck" by Steve Stockman and "UA-cam Secrets" by Sean Cannell & Benji Travis. Currently reading thru "Hook Point" by Brendan Kane. Give it a try! You might be pleasantly surprised with the results.
having to disconnect and reconnect your phone every time you wish to use hdmi is so inconvenient. surely they can develop software to overcome this flaw. also so many problems you have found with this system. great video though.
Thanks for watching! It's a bit quirky, but that EQ control is great. Since that's actually an Apple issue, it's possible they may eventually address it in a software update for the phone. I've run into this with other Apple CarPlay radios trying to use HDMI input (same with Android).
This expensive garbage is not only full of software bugs, the form factor doesn’t fit the vehicle and the UI is about a decade old, and at that there is no common standard carried across functions, making the interface look hodge-podge. Why would anyone spend over $2000 on this is beyond me. Temu product quality at its best!
👍👀👍
🙏 Thank you my friend!
My 8.4 does does fine... even weather alert maps is awaome... this crap is just a tiny bit larger and trying to be fancy... dont waste your hard earned money on this junk.