Alpine HALO9

Before anyone wastes their time and money like I did, read this:

I was really excited about this unit, but it really falls short.

Installation took about four hours. The only hiccup was programming the Maestro interface. You have to enter the serial number of the head unit, but for some reason on the Alpine, you only enter a portion of the serial number. The only way to know this is to call iDatalink. Pain in the ass.

The problems I have with the unit are as follows:
- The screen resolution is not good at all. It's no better than the stock unit.
- Apple Carplay only works when the phone is actually plugged in (I hate plugging the phone in, because I hate cables).
- You lose the dash display for turn by turn navigation.
- Low level of street detail in nav mode.
- Back up camera resolution (with the factory camera) is atrocious.
- Not having a volume knob blows.
- The unit might as well have a neon "STEAL ME" sign on it.

Some of this stuff I knew going in, but I thought the awesomeness of the new unit would compensate for it, but the HALO9 doesn't really have any awesomeness.

The unit is nicely constructed and feels like a quality piece, but for all it lacks, it is definitely not worth the high price tag. By the time you order everything you need, you're in way over a grand.

 

Agree!
Even if the unit wouldn’t offer the latest or most features nice hi resolution screen is must in 2018!!!!

 

The resolution of this screen is comical. What's the point of a big screen if the resolution sucks.

 

It is unacceptable in 2018!

 

Thanks for the post. I love Alpine and have not had one in a few years. Now with the size of the Tundra entertainment center, I started looking at these. Looks like I'll be opening up the books on new head unit choices.

 

yeah, LED or LCD screens cost nothing nowadays. they should pump up the specs on that display.

 

I really thought about this one....once I saw some videos of the screen.....pass.

I'm still tempted to try my hand at bodywork and see if I can fit an iPad or some kind of tablet in place of the head unit.

 

Unit says it’s wireless car play tho? What iPhone are u trying to use?

 

It's definitely not wireless Carplay. I talked directly to Alpine about that.

 

Wtf that’s some bull then!!! That’s one of the main focuses wireless android and car play. Good thing I didn’t get it

 

I'll buy another when they:

- Make it work with the factory nav in the center display
- Improve screen resolution
- Give it wireless carplay

Until all that happens, the factory HU is just fine.

 

It's rather upsetting that as electronics get better and better (e.g. tablets, phones, smart devices) it seems like the mobile audio companies have totally given up. I used to install professionally at a large shop from 2007-2008. Back then, companies like Pioneer, Alpine and Kenwood were coming out with double DIN Nav receivers with better features for 1/3 of the price as the car manufacturers. Stuff like iPod integration, back up cameras, bluetooth and touch screens were on the cutting edge. Now, here we are 10 years later and nothing much has changed. The exception being OEM radios are getting better and better, while aftermarket radios get glitchier and laggier. I got to experience wireless Car Play in my bud's 2018 Ram the other day. It was magical how well it worked. I really wish aftermarket radios were actually worth what you paid for them. Add to that WTF was Toyota thinking with Entune??? It's absolute garbage. Sorry, rant over.

 

wireless car play can only be found on very few units right now (pioneer and maybe one Kenwood). I'm expecting 2019 releases to be fully wireless now that Apple lets 3rd party GPS app work in CarPLay.

 

I have no need for wireless CarPlay. Plug in my iPhone, stick it on my mount via case magnet, enjoy CarPlay and my phone charges to boot.

 

The few things that I’m looking for are not difficult to do. It’s like the purposely don’t want to build it.

Our customers ask for stuff and we make it, all the time. I’m not sure why electronic companies are such dicks.

 

I've had the Halo9 in my truck for a few months now and am very happy with it. Yes the resolution for the camera is not great but i think the problem is the camera not the screen. I have a front camera installed and the picture quality is much better than the factory rear camera. I added an HDMI and can now mirror my phone. I can also watch live tv via the Dish Anywhere App and let me tell you the picture quality is unbelievably clear. I rarely use Car Play so that really doesn't bother me but i guess to each his own. I use my Halo9 for my music which it does an amazing job at playing and gives every possible adjustment I need to fine tune sounds. With the HDMI my kids are able to play their PS4 and Xbox and again the picture quality is very impressive. I believe with a good camera you can get the resolution you're looking for.