THE LAMBORGHINI OF CAR AUDIO. Review on Alpine TDA-7563E

I'm a big Pioneer Fan, so much so, to compliment a system from a another company, really shows how good the system is. Let me first admit the fact that I did not buy the system but it came as original equipment in my Honda VTEC.

First of all, Alpine is the original equipment to Lamborghini, so it speaks volumes for the brand (not that anyone's gonna listen to music rather than that V12 roar). Secondly even David Beckham has an Alpine in his car.(Man U fans better buy what their idol buys)

In the looks department, Alpine has fallen way behind behind competitors such as Pioneer, Kenwood and Clarion . (The new Pioneer systems with their amazing faceplate looks really good). Alpine has retained its traditional transparent buttons for this one. (Nothing like the simplistic design of a Nakamichi). The remote is a slim ( not the card type like Pioneer)and quality piece with all the essential controls, does comes to use when using the system from the back seat rather than have my driver fiddle with the head unit.

Love the way the buttons make a CLICK sound whenever any adjustments have to be made. Real Quality stuff. Don't feel the way the new Pioneer systems have ( that cheap Malaysia build quality). The system has normal features with tape and CD controls. Normal bass, treble, fade and balance controls. No equalizer though. The ergonomics on this system is perfect, that is, the system can be adjustment while on the move (try doing that with a Kenwood - u'll have a good Kenwood system and NO car ). Don't know how the tape sounds cause I don't have any (tapes I e ) and with the radio rocking who needs tapes anyway. Alpine CD players are more pricier than the competition. If your going for a system now, buy one with an in-built cd player or just the controls to a Multi-cd player, forget the tape player, cause u might never use it. Also do be carefull and find out whether the CD player plays CD RW's, most of them play CD R's, but they don't play CD RW's. Alpine's just comeout with an Multi CD player that plays MP3 CD's (not too great because all the companies have one now).

Most important of all is the sound with which the Alpine unit does not fail to impress. Good quality highs and lows with good punch. Infact among all the systems availible in the price range, Alpine systems have the best frequency rates ofcourse you need compatible speakers to fully exploit their potential. An amplify with subwoofer would be an overkill, but so far i've not decided to buy one.

The final reason why anyone should buy an Alpine rather than a Pioneer would be that incase of trouble, Alpine provides warranty. Like my faceplate had a problem with the remote, so they changed my whole faceplate. If that happens to your Pioneer you can frame that faceplate cause no distributor will exchange that for you. Alpine units always are a bit on the pricier side but that's the premium you pay for quality sound.