Features
CD Changer Controls

Features

CEA-2006 Compliant: The specifications given by Alpine for the built-in amplifier comply with the CEA-2006 mobile amplifier power testing and measurement standards from the CEA (Consumer Electronics Association). All manufacturers who comply with the standard can display the CEA-2006 logo on their product.

Satellite Radio Ready: There are several options for connecting an optional XM or Sirius Satellite Radio receiver to the CDA-9855. To receive XM Satellite Radio, you can connect the optional Terk XMD1000 Universal tuner (209XMD1000) and the Terk XM Direct Smart Digital Adapter for Alpine (209XMDALP1). To receive Sirius Satellite Radio, you can connect the optional Sirius tuner for Alpine (item # 607SIRALP1) directly to the head unit. A portable satellite radio receiver, such as the Delphi SkyFi or Sirius Sportster, can be connected to the head unit via an auxiliary input adapter. A compatible antenna and a subscription are also required to receive satellite radio programming from Sirius or XM.

SwingFace Mechanism: The CDA-9855's SwingFace mechanism provides an extra large multi-colored display area for ease of viewing. The motorized faceplate not only slides down to let you insert or eject CDs, but gives you a choice of three viewing angles or fully closed.

BioLite Display: The high-quality display uses biochemical luminescence technology that provides outstanding visibility even in daylight. In addition, it has a much wider viewing angle than conventional displays.

Motion Displays and Fonts: You can choose between three types of animation displays: Type 1 (expanding water droplets), Type 2 (speeding automobile), or Type 3 (moving line patterns). You can also turn off the animation display if desired. You can also select between two types of fonts for the text displays.

Blackout Display Mode: When the Blackout mode is activated, the display turns off to reduce power consumption. The additional power made available by turning off the display helps enhance sound quality. If a button is pressed during the Blackout mode, the display will illuminate for 5 seconds before blacking out again.

Variable Button Color: The illumination of the 4 square buttons can be adjusted to any of 512 colors. The following color presets are stored in memory: Blue, Green, Amber, and Red. In addition, you can store custom colors under the 6 User's preset. The custom color can be selected by turning the rotary encoder and cycling though all 512 colors. In addition, you can choose green or amber as the color of the remaining buttons.

GlideTouch Bar: The receiver features the easy-to-use GlideTouch interface for scanning through and selecting menu options, radio frequencies, and track/file titles. The GlideTouch bar has six positions, and the items or lists in the display change as you slide your finger up or down the bar. When the desired option is highlighted, a press of the bar makes the selection. You can also hold your finger on one end or the other for at least 3 seconds to scroll through the selections in either direction.

Dimmer: This unit is equipped with an illumination dimmer lead. When the unit's dimmer mode has been set to "Auto" and the illumination lead has been connected to your vehicle's headlight circuit, the display and button illumination will dim to a fixed, preset level whenever the headlights are turned on. If preferred, you may choose the "Manual" dimmer mode setting, so the display and button illumination is dim at all times.

Bass Engine Pro: Bass Engine Pro functions provide control over your system, so you can tailor the sound to your personal tastes. Bass Engine Pro includes the following functions:

• 6-Channel Digital Time Correction: The time correction feature allows you to create virtual speaker positions by delaying the signals being sent to the speakers closest to you. When the correct delay times have been entered for the front right, front left, rear right, rear left, subwoofer left, and subwoofer right speakers, all sounds reach your ears at the same time, providing optimized imaging and frequency response. You can set and recall up to 6 crossover settings in memory.
• 6-Position Digital Crossover with Adjustable Slope: The digital crossover allows you to choose from the following modes:
  • 2-way Mode: A continuously variable 20-200Hz low-pass filter is available for the subwoofer outputs, and a continuously variable 20-200Hz high-pass filter is available for the front and rear preamp outputs. The slope for each filter can be set to 6, 12, 18, or 24dB/octave, or Flat. The level for each filter can be adjusted from 0 to -12dB.
  • 3-way Mode: A continuously variable 20-200Hz low-pass filter is available for the subwoofer outputs, and a continuously variable 1-20kHz high-pass filter is available for the high-range speakers. The midrange speakers have a continuously variable 20Hz-20kHz low-pass filter and a continuously variable 20-200Hz high-pass filter. The slope for each filter can be set to 6, 12, 18, or 24dB/octave, or Flat. The level for each filter can be adjusted from 0 to -12dB.
• EQ: You can choose between a 5-band digital parametric EQ or a 7-band graphic EQ:
  • 5-band Digital Parametric EQ: The 5-band parametric EQ lets you select a center frequency, then adjust its output level and even the "width" of the boost or cut for precise system tuning. You can select a frequency for each of the following bands in 1/3-octave increments: Band 1 (20Hz-160Hz), Band 2 (50Hz-400Hz), Band 3 (125Hz-1kHz), Band 4 (315Hz-8kHz), and Band 5 (800Hz-20kHz). Once a frequency is selected, you can adjust its level from -6dB to +6dB in 1dB increments. The Q for each frequency can be set to 1, 1.5, or 3. In addition to the user-adjustable EQ (User's 1-6), tone presets are stored into memory, allowing you to recall the best setting for different types of music. You may choose from the following tone presets: Rock, Pops, Jazz, Electric/Dance, Hip Hop, or Flat.
  • 7-band Graphic EQ: You can adjust each of 7 audio bands from -6dB to +6dB. You can set up to six user memories.
• Subwoofer Level Control: The level of the subwoofer preamp outputs can be adjusted from 00 to 15 to balance the output of your subwoofer with that of your other speakers.
• Subwoofer Phase Selector: The phase of the subwoofer outputs may be set to normal (0 degrees) or reverse (180 degrees); this function allows you to minimize phase cancellation of bass frequencies, for stronger bass response.

• MX (MediaXpander): The MediaXpander function makes vocals or instruments sound distinct by restoring sound quality typically lost during recording or transmission; this function helps restore audio information that becomes obscured when audio is compressed. The MX function can be applied to all sources, except AM radio. There are three expansion modes for each internal source (CD, FM, Compression sources), and each source can have its own setting. There are only one or two expansion modes available for external sources.

i-Personalize: i-Personalize is an innovative way to customize select Alpine receivers to fit your specific listening needs. You log on to Alpine's website and download user preferences (based on vehicle and system type) for time correction, crossover, Parametric or Graphic EQ, opening display profile and a calendar message. After selecting your settings, you can burn them onto a CD-R, and upload them to the head unit.

Subwoofer Output: In addition to front and rear preamp outputs, the CDA-9855 features a dedicated subwoofer preamp output. The subwoofer output has an independent volume control and phase control, and can be turned on or off.

Interrupt Feature: When a device having the interrupt feature (such as a cellular telephone) is connected to the receiver, the audio signal will be automatically muted whenever the interrupt signal is received from the device. The supplied wiring harness contains a pink Interrupt lead that needs to be connected to the device's interrupt signal connection.

MP3/WMA Playback: This unit can play CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW discs containing MP3/WMA files recorded using the ISO 9660 Level 1 or Level 2 formats. MP3 files with constant and variable bit rates from 8 kbps to 320 kbps and WMA files with constant and variable bit rates from 48 kbps to 192 kbps are supported. The unit is compatible with discs containing up to 510 files/folders, with a maximum of 255 folders. ID3 tags v1 and v2, and WMA tags are supported; track title, artist name and album name ID3 tag data can be displayed.

Disc and Station Titling: Titles of up to 8 characters in length may be entered for up to 18 radio stations and 18 CDs.

Text/File/Folder Search: When you're playing a disc with CD Text, or MP3 tags, you can easily search for a track or file by its title. Once you have activated the search mode, you can slide your finger up/down the GlideTouch bar to quickly scan through the titles to locate the desired track, and select it by pressing the GuideTouch bar.

Frequency Search: In the tuner mode, you can easily and quickly tune to a desired station by performing a frequency search. When Frequency Search is activated, you can locate the desired frequency using the GlideTouch bar.

Power IC Off: When an external amplifier is connected and the built-in amplifier is not used, removing power from the built-in amplifier will improve the sound quality.

Remote Control: The receiver comes with the RUE-4202 wireless remote control. The remote can control volume, source selection, tuner and disc functions, as well as CD changer controls.

Steering Wheel Remote Compatibility: The CDA-9855 has a "steering remote control" input on the back panel. When used with the optional SWI-ALP interface (item #127SWIALP), you can retain the use of your factory steering wheel and/or rear seat radio controls when replacing the factory head unit in select vehicles. The SWI-ALP is compatible with over 95% of the vehicles made from 1986 to the present. Compatible vehicles include many Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Oldsmobile, Plymouth, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Suzuki, Toyota, and Volkswagen vehicles and Harley Davidson motorcycles. Please consult "What Fits My Car" to see if your vehicle is compatible.

Amplifier Link: The CDA-9855 has a connection for the optional Alpine Amplifier Link, which allows you to adjust settings for up to 8 compatible Alpine amplifiers from the head unit. With the KCE-511M Amplifier Link adapter, you can also display on the head unit the amplifier's voltage, operating temperature, fan status, input level, and crossover settings.

CD Changer Controls

Ai-NET Compatible: An optional Ai-NET-compatible 6- or 12-disc CD changer (including MP3 Changers) may be connected to, and controlled by, the CDA-9855. With the KCA-410c Versatile Link Terminal (item # 500KCA410C), you can control multiple changers with this unit.

iPod-Ready: An iPod or iPod Mini can be controlled from this unit when connected via the KCA-420i Alpine Interface Adapter for iPod (item # 500KCA420i). While connected to the head unit, the iPod's battery is charged, and the artist/song title information is displayed on the face of the head unit. The unit's Quick Search feature allows you to search by playlist, album name, artist name, or song title. Random and repeat play functions are also available.

Optional Auxiliary Input: With the optional KCA-121B Ai-NET/RCA interface cable or KCA-410C Versatile Link Terminal, you can input audio from an auxiliary source unit, such as a TV, VCR or portable unit.