Customer Reviews

Alpine CDE-103BT - Radio / CD / MP3 player / USB flash player - Full-DIN - in-dash - 50 Watts x 4

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

UPDATE: Crutchfield had Alpine provide me with another unit with updated firmware (Version 310, I think) and I haven't had a problem since. Crutchfield told me they were having Alpine replace all the units they had in stock with the updated version.

I love the unit and recommend you' get it from Crutchfield so you get the updated firmware.

ORIGINAL: I'm having the same issue as Buyer Beware, the internal amp often shuts off when the ignition is turned off as well as the Bluetooth.

But I like the unit so much I still give it 4 stars.

If Alpine would issue a software update and resolve the issue I would give it 5 stars.

I have documented the bug on youtube, just search for CDE-103BT Software Bug.

After deciding not to sell my car and keeping it a bit longer - I felt that I needed to upgrade the original Acura Stereo head unit. It stopped reading burnt CD, couldn't read MP3s and had no USB option.

So this is what I set out to find.
I narrowed down my search to this unit, a Kenwood and a Sony. I have had a JVC unit in the past and it did well, I just couldn't find a decent looking JVC unit.

I was looking for under $200 with Bluetooth, Front USB Aux, Front Aux for MP3 player, nice looking face, detachable face(not a must but i am not sure if they are made that way anymore), ability to read MP3 CDs, front text and a nice easy to use layout.

I took me about a week to settle on this one and find a good price. Although much cheaper than C-Field, C-field gives you the install instructions as well as the install kit...so in actuality it would have cost the same to buy from C-field.

Got it and had to install it myself and reminded me of the old days being a kid and working on my stereo (and no...I don't have a "system")
ran to BB to buy the install kit and harness. Wired up and installed the kit and worked great.
Took some time to figure out the menus but if you actually read the manual they make it clear (imagine that!)

Pros:
Bluetooth works great. However, I can't figure out how to have more than one phone connected at once. I have a Blackberry and a LG. They both connect but can't be connected at the same time (meaning I can't have both able to connect to the head unit in case it rings in).
Can have all speakers, front or other pattern to hear your call. I felt like I was shouting at first and people told me to speak normally. HU shows who is calling and you can upload address books. Audio automatically mutes during call. microphone was included and gives you a great cord length to run it so it is hidden.

Front USB - best feature. Buy a few 4-8 gb thumb drives(fast ones) and you'll be very happy and never need a CD again. Gets hung up occasionally on certain songs or larger sized files. Best to arrange it on the thumb drive yourself with folders and subfolders. I have not used any programs to sync or organize but i am sure things like media monkey or some other program would help. will play file name on the screen

Front aux input - great...haven't used it for my mp3 player...sure it works and i don't have an iPod so i don't have to buy the extra cord. Can't comment and how great this is...guess I will have to try this week.

Display/Layout - Kinda wanted a more LED based display but the Predator looking display works fine (remember when the Predator self destructs on his arm?). Decent to read. I like that I can change the color ...the green looks great and is calm/soothing. But if you have different makes/interiors you can try to match. Colors are Red/Blue, Red/Red, Green/Blue and Amber/Red....i think...look at the manual to be sure. Alpine hasn't changed the layout much. Knob for volume, tuning, menu scrolling,etc. all buttons are easy to press and don't feel flimsy.

CD - Works fine but my old failing Acura HU works a bit better at reading CD then this unit. I haven't tried with MP3 cds yet...not worth it with click and save USB.

Sound- excellent, great fine tuning, bass and treble is great and I can hear much richer undertones and instruments you don't typically hear. should be expected from Alpine though. I have Polk 6x9s in the rear and they sound great...I have other speakers for the front but I never put them in...yet.


Install wasn't bad if you buy the harness and install kit. Depends on the car though.

Cons:
As mentioned before - CD reading is ok/decent. Display could be better but I knew what I was getting when I bought it and the other Alpine unit with the better display got worse reviews overall.

Bluetooth not syncing with multiple devices at once...has 4 slots but won't allow me to have 2 phones at once.

Everything about this radio appeared to be excellent. However, myself and many other owners have been bitten by what is obviously a design problem. Frequently when turning off the car engine, the radio defaults to External Amp and turns bluetooth off. Of course, the problem appears when turning the engine on again - No audio output from internal amp and bluetooth is off. This requires you to go back into setup to change these settings. If you're running an external amp, I guess this problem would only be half as bad. You would still have to deal with the Blue Tooth issue. This problem is well documented in audio forums. A sample can be found at the following links

[...]

and

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I contacted my vendor who informed me they are still waiting for a fix/solution from Alpine. They authorized a return.

Too bad really, as the combination of features and price were perfect for a non-audiophile wanting to upgrade his stock truck radio to something desirable for his teenagers without spending a fortune.

Buyer Beware

This is a great radio for the price! Worked as advertised. Plays MP3's off my flash
drive, or MP3 Cd's....or from my iPhone! It also has blue tooth so it will answer my
iPhone through the radio for hands free driving. Displays the name of the caller on
the front of the radio's faceplate. The only issue is that I noticed that this radio
would not plug in exactly using the old Alpine connector that was still in place from
the 3 year older Alpine Radio I was replacing. Alpine changed the connector slightly
so I had to cut the old connector off and solder the new cable that was provided in
the box into the harness. This took me about 45 min. otherwise it would have only
taken 20 min. to swap out. Still the radio fit physically perfectly. There is a bit
of a learning curve setting it up and getting it into the right modes but after about
a week I have it down now. Also a nice feature allows you to change the LED color
of the buttons. Red/blue, Blue/Green, Aqua/Red? I like the Blue/Green the best.

*Note that you should also buy the Alpine KCE 433iV - iPhone/iPod charging/data
cable Dock connector that is $27.00 extra in order to use it with your iphone or ipod.

Bought this unit for my 03 chevy silverado and it's awesome--i've owned other head units in the past but always come back to alpine--so to save myself some time and money--i just go alpine now first time and it's done. The built in blue tooth works great--i listen to my music kinda loud--loud enough that when my phone would ring i would miss the call because i didn't hear it ring--well that problem is solved--now when i'm crusing and have it loud--the music cut off and the phone rings--push a button on the unit and i talk hands free and when i'm done with the call--it picks the song up right where it left--so that was the main reason i got this one--all of my past alpine's have all played great. If i had any thing bad to say about it--and its not really bad-it just has so many ways you can adjust the settings--you can fine tune everything on this unit--so a few days of playing with it--its done and the sound will knock your socks off. I bought the I-Phone cord along with it and it is worth the price--i can control my music, charge the phone all from the head unit with out ever having to look at my phone. So to sum all this up --it's one great and flexable unit and worth every penny. The shipping was great also--came 3 days ahead of due date with no damage to shipping box or contents.

Just had this installed professionally in my 9 year old Camry. Electronics have come a long way. Features present: single Cd-player plays commercial, home made audio, and home made mp3 (data CD) cds flawlessly, sound is crystal clear, don't know why anybody would complain about this aspect of the unit. Alpine tonal quality outstanding even in the absence of DSP adjustments which other models/brands have, guess you don't need that stuff when you build a quality unit! Front USB and stereo mini (1/8") inputs. Outstanding, I can hook up my Sony mp3 player or my smart-phone to the mini and get great sound. I can take a 32gb flash drive and plug it right into the unit (USB)and the head unit's built in mp3 player takes over and handles playback beautifully! Blue-tooth: This is super, easy and immediate pairing, volume adjustments for transmit (in the setup menu I use 4 on a scale of 7) and receive (units volume knob I use 20 on a scale of 35); very good audio quality, automatically mutes the music source upon answering and seamlessly resumes music right where you left off after hangup. I cannot say enough about this unit. Final note: don't know anything about techie complaints related to software, I have firmware 360 and everything operates flawlessly.

Well let's not blow things out of proportion. I really like Alpine. Going back to the 60*4 days and only a few of you will know about that (wish they'd bring it back). After I got my old Alpine stereo stolen I began looking for a new/modern headset. I found the Sony BT3800U which supported AD2P and 52*4 amps. WOW I decided change was inevitable and to my dismay I was left broken hearten. Anyways I picked up this baby for a buck more and have had nothing but smiles. The headset has not only meet, but exceeded my expectations. Starting with number 1. Sound Quality, oh my bama. It takes the cake. Eat it over and over again til I get sick. Better than my old deck and far better than my Sony. Number 2, I have access to contacts, received, missed and dialed calls from the deck. AUX and MP3 capabilities of course. Ladies and Gentlemen meet your match. Check out my youtube review, search oceansidecreations.

Had this head unit installed by my local shop about 3 months ago. I've had to return the unit to Alpine for repair in which they replaced some of the 'chips' within the radio. Two days after getting it back I experienced the same issues with the PowerIC and Bluetooth turning off. Interestingly I think that they actually down-graded the firmware at the factory. Contacted my shop today and this time Alpine has authorized an 'advanced replacement' so I get a brand new unit without having to ship it to CA for repair.

I hope this takes care of the issues this time otherwise I'm going to lobby to get either an upgraded HU from Alpine or a switch to a different brand altogether.

My shop has been great throughout this entire process so I have no complaints other than with Alpine. My guess is that they need to completely rewrite the firmware for the unit but what do I know?

This radio is worth every cent. I had recently purchased the Pioneer DEH-6200BT for my Jeep and after a week replaced it with the Alpine. First, the Alpine comes with a full sized manual so you can acually read it. The Pioneer's manual print is so small, I was forced to print it off my PC to read it. The Alpine's controls are easy to use and easy to get at while driving. The sound is very clear and full on the satellite radio, aux inputs, and ipod/iphone inputs. As for the Bluetooth, my callers say it is clear but not perfect (though a Jeep is very noisy). I also bought the iPod/iPhone full control accessory cable, and yes the cable does charge the iPhone (which was counter to what the folks who installed the radio told me). You cannot beat this radio for the price and looks.

It appears the bluetooth bug has been solved, my unit reports firmware version 360. I'm sure it didn't hurt to have it professionally installed. Sound is great, we upgraded from a factory stereo in a 2007 Dodge Caliber. Both from the radio and from the connected cell phone. Setup was a breeze, 15 minutes and done. It has just enough options to be able to fine tune your sound, but not so many as to be tedious. You can store up to five bluetooth devices, but you can only use one at a time. The last connected device automatically connects upon power up, you never have to pick your phone. The audio automatically mutes when a call comes in, you can decline the call and return to the audio or accept and be automatically switch to the call through the speakers. You can dial numbers in your phonebook, recent calls, missed calls, etc from the head unit. It just works! A great unit and a happy better half! You just can't beat it for the price, even paying for installation!