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Alpine KCA-801B

Audio Input Adapter for Ai-Net System

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Item# 500KCA801B offer details

Item# 500KCA801B

Review Sumary

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Alpine

Our take on the Alpine KCA-801B

Alpine Authorized Online Dealer

The KCA-801B Versatile-Link™ adapter allows you to use the changer input on your Alpine Ai-NET stereo to add an Alpine Ai-NET changer and an auxiliary input. (The adapter will not work without a changer connected.) It's compatible with any 2001 and up Alpine Ai-NET model stereo. Dimensions: 2-1/2"W x 1-3/8"H x 1-3/4"D. 1-year warranty.

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What’s in the box? | In-depth notes

Product Research

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What's in the box?

Download owner's manual

  • KCA-801B Aux input adapter with attached 7" trigger wire (trigger wire terminated with a female bullet connector)
  • One 6.25' Ai bus cable
  • 2 Stickers (one says "black" and the other says "gray" - stickers not needed for installation)
  • Instruction sheet

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Features
Inputs and Outputs

Features

General Overview: The KCA-801B Aux-In adapter accepts input from an Alpine Ai series CD changer and an additional auxiliary audio source (DVD player, video game, portable CD, MD, tape or MP3 player). The adapter must be used with an Ai-NET capable head unit, and it will not operate without an Alpine Ai changer connected. 12 Volts must be applied to the trigger wire to pass audio from the external source to your head unit; an optional toggle switch (sold separately) should be connected to turn the trigger voltage on/off.

AUX Input Connections: The input for the auxiliary source is a set of female RCA jacks mounted directly to the Aux-In Selector module. A stereo RCA patch cord should be connected to the AUX IN jacks on the module and run to where the auxiliary source will be located. If the aux source has a mini-jack output, a stereo mini-jack to dual male RCA cable will be needed instead of a standard RCA patch cable.

Inputs and Outputs

Front of Unit:

  • Aux Input: 1 pair of RCA type inputs (left and right). 

Sides of Unit:

  • Output: Ai output connector (to Alpine Ai changer controller head unit)
  • Input: Ai input (to connect Alpine Ai CD changer)
  • Trigger: 12 volt trigger input (allows audio from aux source to be passed to head unit when connected to 12 volts)
 

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1-5 of 5 items Sort Results By: Date Reviewed | Rating | Helpfulness
 
5 out of 5

Great iPOD and XM match!

Written By brad, Dothan, AL on Friday, February 08, 2008
 
I just installed this device into my 2003 Maxima. I have an Alpine CDA-9853 along with the Alpine XM satellite adapter and tuner. I had lots of trouble getting my iPOD and XM radio connected to my receiver at the same time. I tried the Versatile Link, but it wouldn't pick up my XM radio. I finally ran across this little baby and it works great! I purchased a rocker switch and installed it on my dash for my trigger. Now I have XM radio and with a flip of a switch I can listen to my iPOD. I really recommend this unit if you need the same setup.
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5 out of 5

Input adapter

Written By Shawn, magnolia, DE on Monday, February 04, 2008
 
The input adapter is great! All-in-all easy to install, had a little trouble though. The instructions do not tell you, you need a toggle switch to active the input. Without the toggle switch you have no sound with the cd changer. On the other hand, I thought it was just a little to pricy. I'd highly recommand this product to any one that has an AI-net hookup on their head unit.
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5 out of 5

Installed with a Alpine CDA-9820XM head unit And Changer

Written By Jim, Long Branch, NJ on Saturday, June 09, 2007
 
I installed this device into my 00 TransAm with an Alpine CDA-9820XM headunit so that I could use my Dell AXIM X50V PDA as an MP3 Player/Navigation System in the car. So far I am VERY happy with the unit as I can switch from Opie and Anthony on FM radio, to Opie and Anthony on XM Radio, to the in dash CD, to the 6 CD changer, and now to my MP3 player. On long trips I'm finding that being able to listen to my MP3s over the car radio and be able to hear the navigation system (also through the car radio) is great. For power, I tapped the switch into the yellow wire coming off of the head unit wire harness. For the light, I used the black wire coming off of the head unit wire harness. Your setup may or may not use the same color wires so check with a meter. I drilled a hole in the plastic surrounding the head unit and put the switch right next to the "source" button. I then drilled a second hold and put a male/male adapter into it so that I use a patch cable from the PDA and plug into a port in the dash. Looks clean/professional. The no auto-pause on the changer is slightly annoying but I just let it keep playing, no big deal.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful
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3 out of 5

Alpine designers could have done a bit better

Written By brucek, Orange County , CA. on Friday, June 08, 2007
 
I hooked up this unit to the cda-9885. As soon as i plugged it in and tested it, I knew something is missing. When you hook this device to your changer + the Aux, when you switch to Aux (your mp3 player) after applying +12V to the blue wire on this device, the CD changer keeps playing even though you are listening to the mp3. How the heck could they forget to send a pause signal to the CD changer. This is a Ai-Net device so sending a pause could have easily be programmed by their designers. The CD changer keeps playing but no sound comes out until you turn off the switch (don't apply 12V to the blue wire). Pioneer has one unit that does all this + built in bluetooth, reason i ended up keeping the alpine head unit was that i could not return it. Other than the pause on the cd changer, the sound on the MP3 player is amazing. I was using a FM modulator before and it was terrible. With this device you gotta pause your cd changer when your mp3 player is playing. If you don't care about your cd changer playing while the mp3 player is playing, then this device is for you. If you still want to buy this device, you just gotta pause the cd changer when you turn on the power to this device.

B
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5 out of 5

Great - 4 Audio Sources

Written By Me Cee, Elk Grove, CA on Thursday, November 09, 2006
 
This product is great once you get it hooked up! I purchased a push-on, push-off switch and hooked it up in-line on the blue/white 12V lead, as suggested, otherwise, you won't hear the audio from your changer when the head unit is set to CHANGER mode. Suddenly I had four sources of audio to listen to in my Ride. I have an Alpine CDA-9831 and a CHA-624 changer and they both work great, especially with this new addition. Now I can listen to: In-dash CD, 6-disc changer, MP3 Player or Tuner (radio).

Highly recommeded if you want to keep your changer. I almost decided to purchase the KCA 121B ($15.99) which is the simple cable that replaces your changer for the MP3 player, but am glad I decided to go with this instead.
Talk about flexibility on those long road trips.
9 out of 11 people found this helpful
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1-5 of 5 items

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Visit our Learning Center to learn more about Auxiliary Input Adapters

For a more in-depth review and enhanced detailed information on the Alpine KCA-801B, please visit the Crutchfield website product page (/ISEO-rccbcspd/p_500KCA801B/Alpine-KCA-801B.html ).

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Alpine KCA-801B