Alpine FantomFace XL

[Chaotic]

Anyone know much about these Alpine MP3 decks?

The one im looking at is the "CDA-7998R Bass Engine PRO CD/MP3 Player/Tuner (http://www.alpine.com.au/product_pages/fantomface_page_new.htm) " comes under the FantomFace XL but im kinda guessing its gonna come with a price tag of $1k+ which is a bit of a bummer.

dont suppose any of you guys would have any idea on the price of this unit or else i'll just wait till tomorow and call around after work.

and has anyone heard good/bad reports on the unit

and also how hard is changing over decks? simply getting back behind the console area and a few screws or more to it then that?

[exa18]

Hey man, I have an Alpine 7978R (I think that's what the model number is, cant b bothered walking out to the car), it is almost identical to the one you're looking at, but without the MP3 capabilities. It is an awesome unit, one of the best head decks round methinks, 4V preout, 3 rca outs, 4 x 60w, remote, etc, etc, I'd only ever buy Alpine after buying this one, thinking of upgrading to the MP3 one soon......

[Chaotic]

well thats definately good to hear. i definately want an mp3 deck. be better having 1 or 2 cds in the car instead of like 30 or so.... only thing thats gonna bother me a bit is the price tag of it.

[Master Yoda]

its a nice looking HU, ill do some research and see if i can dig up a price for u

-Mike

[WhitePulsar]

for $399 at A&B sound in canada you can buy an Alpine MP3 deck that looks exactly the same except it's not a fantom face. just a regular single din deck, all the same buttons on that one, but a pop off face plate.

[Chaotic]

pop off face is good but that slide away face thing im not sure of. cant people just break in and unscrew the lot and have your hole deck? and when it says it puts itself away when you exit the car i guess that its hooked up to the ignition or something and locks its self when the keys are taken out or something....

[Master Yoda]

The way it works is that the becomes just a black piece of plastic when the engine is off. ie the back of the HU's face, by flipping the face over to just a plain bit of plastic the size of a HU

Sony and JVC have already released a similar theoried HU, Sony ABP Series (Active Black Panel), and the JVC Kameleon Series,

I also think that they come with Security screws so that u need a special type of screwdriver to get them out, and if they dont come with them u can actually but them from any hardware store.

-Mike

[Chaotic]

dont suppose if anyone found out a price range on this unit. i got stuck late at work and by the time i got home was to late to ring around...

[Master Yoda]

Havent found out a cost yet Chaos, but im still waiting for some ppl to get back to me,

will let u know what i find out

-Mike

[Chaotic]

Thanks for this yoda!

[baz]

[Chaotic]

What i've been told is these decks haven't been released yet? which is wierd considering they're getting advertised. guy i spoke to at car stereo city said probally May. and they wont have any idea of prices until about a week before the release. so im guessing new stocks gonna be real costly.

[WhitePulsar]

that deck is here
http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/caraudio/product.asp?sku=12095
for $600 (US i assume)
i would get these if it were my car. I like my deck i have better (it's the tilting face one)

http://www.alpine.com.au/active_pages/headunits_page.asp
http://www.alpine.com.au/product_images/CDA-7878R.gif


http://www.alpine.com.au/active_pages/changer_page.asp
http://www.alpine.com.au/product_images/CHA-S634.gif

or

panasonic
http://www.prodcat.panasonic.com/assets/product_images/16680.jpg
http://www.prodcat.panasonic.com/assets/product_images/17029.jpg

[Sickfest]

the price.. isn't looking good

$1699 AUD

not a h/u for most f us at that!!

go check out www.alpine.com.au and dload there new summer catalogue


$icKfe$t

[Chaotic]

cant even get past the front page of the alpine site now. dunno if its just my computer but its annoying.

im still running the pioneer deck but owners said he wants it back within a month so i gotta find a replacement, im still interested in this alpine deck, anyone know if its still $1700 like sickfest quoted? or has anyone seen/heard it in action...

any help still greatly appreciated as i'll have to get something to replace whats in the car soonish....