This is my setup:
Receiver: Alpine IDA-X001
HD Tuner: Alpine TUA-T500HD
iPod Cable: Supplied USB cable

All right so I bought this Alpine HD module because I wanted to clean up my radio receptions and I wanted to see if I can catch some of those extra HD2 radio channels, this is were the problem begins.

Alpine should of made the consumers and loyal fans aware that those extra channels you will not get with this Alpine TUA-T500HD module.

Other than this adapter module those what it says it does and that's about it.

I bought the HD Tuner to clean up my reception. Did not know much about HD radio until I checked out the HD radio web site. It was very informative and would recommend you visit the site before purchasing. Moreover, I was able to find out what stations and programming was available in my area. I am very pleased with the result and I have had no problems with reception. Radio now sounds just like I was playing a CD. Read the other reviews and it seems the people were upset because they could not maximize the tuner because it was not compatible with their head unit. I have an Alpine CDA-9883 and it was just plug and play. Terrific!! Highly recommend.

When you are in a fringe HD reception area the radio is unlistenable on AM and in some cases on FM.

THERE IS NO WAY TO SWITCH OFF THE HD FUNCTION! HELP!

On AM, the audio mutes for about 4 seconds while trying to reaquire the HD signal. It will switch back and forth trying to re-aquire the HD stream until it finally goes mute. This happens at night in even strong AM signal areas. Evidently the HD digital stream is extremely prone to interference by co-channel stations hundreds of miles away. HD (IBOC) on AM was a BAD idea!

On FM, if the stations analog program is not in sync with its HD1 program, (a problem with some radio stations) The constant switching back and forth between HD and analog will drive you crazy.

PLEASE ALPINE... FIX THIS PROBLEM!

Otherwise, I love my Alpine. And Crutchfield is the best. I've been a satisfied customer for over 20 years now!

This HD tuner works very well ... Both on FM and AM ... It has great sensitivity and selectivity on both analog and digital broadcasts ... It performs better than ANY other HD tuner I've tested inclusive of home units. I have it paired with a CDA-9885 head unit ... which I also like. It's a great unit except for the illumination options! It's an excellent setup and you will NOT be disappointed ... Multi cast opens the floodgates to extra music selection on FM with all the extra "info" if the broadcaster is transmitting it. My ONLY gripes:
1. The Data cable is too long to use in the dashboard (which I couldn't possibly find a spare inch for in dash on my Grand Marquis) WAY TOO SHORT for trunk mount! ONLY 10 FEET ... A real pain! ... Under the seats was not an option in my situation either. 2. The unit does not supply analog RDS on FM ... something I require and had with my FORD OEM. 3. Digital/Analog reception is not manually switchable, which can be troublesome in some situations. All in all if you desire HD this is the best I've tested so far of Kenwood, Panasonic, JVC, Boston Accoustics (home), Sangean (home).

This is an excellent setup:
Head Unit:CDA-9883,
HD Tuner:TUA-T500HD
iPod Cable:KCE-422i

HD Radio:
I used to have a Kenwood radio that had the RDS capability (Unit displays station/Artist/Song/etc.) and missed that feature with the factory radio. I found that RDS is hard to come by now, disappointed I looked into HD radio and all those features are available through HD radio stations. I was also impresses with the amount of HD sations in my area and the multiple HD channels on the same frequency. It is a bit bulky but installation under the passenger seat was a cinch.
Overall: This setup works great.

I'm forced to chime in since some reviews indicate HD2 (sub-channel) reception is not possible. The shortcoming is not in this HD Radio tuner, but in the head units. If you research the product manuals on Alpine's web site, you will find there are currently (at the time I researched it for my system) 6 or so units that will support listening to HD Radio AND receiving multicast channels. I have this unit hooked up to my CDA 9885 and I get multicast stations and love it.

Although this tuner is oversized, it is also very good. Transitions between analog and digital are completely seamless, and are noticable only because the sound quality goes way up. Almost like more instruments have joined the orchestra. And the integration is seamless as well, I only had to connect the tuner and the unit immediatly recognized the tuner and changed from displaying TUNER when I selected radio to HD Radio. The rest is done automatically. You'll have to check with your specific head unit's manual on how to select the different station/multicasts. Also each multicast can be selected as a preset.

I purchased this unit along with the CDA-9883 unit. I was surprised at the sound quality of HD having never heard it before. I didn't realize how many stations there were in my area that were actually available. After listening to radio in HD it will be very difficult to listen to regular radio again. I will be purchasing another HD unit for my wife's vehicle as she is impressed with the clarity as well.

My only real complaint about this unit is the size. I don't understand why it requires such a large chassis for something as simple as "radio". The unit does supply all the neccesary extention cables needed for remote install though so I suppose Alpine already had that covered.

The sound quality makes up for petty things like chassis size though. The combination of this unit with the CDA-9883 is a great setup.

I love my Alpine 9856 head unit. It is the best head unit I have ever owned. However, when I finally got my HD Tuner to go along with it things were shaky at best. Some of my friends that own JVC's KD HDR1 had fewer problems with reception than I did, (picking up HD signals.) Not to mention they are able to tune into simulcast or multicast signals as well. I originally paid $250 for this unit back in June of 2006. For this price Alpine could have included simulcast or multicast support on their HD Radio ready recievers.

Another problem with this unit is that when the TUA T500 HD fails to function ALL radio functions except for CD cease to work. You cannot find any radio signals at all. And to get them back you have to completely uninstall the unit from your head unit to get basic radio working again. This is a major inconvenience.

Also, my TUA T500HD went out on me this past month and I gave up and bought the KD HDR1 from JVC. For lack of multicast reception in MOST of the Alpine HD radio lineup and the rediculous price, I give it two stars. Very unsatisfactory when compared to the competition. I don't want to go back to basic radio at all, so I opted to purchase the JVC KD HDR1 unit with built in HD Radio and can tune into simulcast for less than the TUA T500HD by itself.

The TUA-T500HD is compatible with 2006 head units and AV head units: DVA-9861, CDA-9857, CDA-9856, IVA-W200, IVA-D100.


**Multicasting is only available with the following head units: CDA-9883, CDA-9885, CDA-9887, iDA-X001, IVA-D105, IVA-W205.

THe Alpine site states that ONLY the above mentioned 6 models support MULTICASTING. Maybe this is why many people are having problems.

I've been holding off on a HD Alpine too due to the lack of multicasting. (HD1, HD2, etc.)

I was browsing the specs on the new 2007 Alpine CDA-9885 head unit and they say that, "In order to activate the digital radio functions described below, an optional HD Radio Tuner module must be connected through the Ai-NET bus." Multicasting is available on this unit. As a matter of fact, it supports up to 8 HD multicasting channels! (Never knew that there were more than two).

Right now I'm using a JVC which has multicasting. It's a decent radio for the money, but I miss my Alpine. The Multicasting was a must.

This is the wording right out of the manual. Bottom of page 9).

"Multicasting is the Ability to broadcast multiple program streams over a single FM frequency. This increases the amount and diversity of content choices. A maximum of eight multicast station channels can be selected on this unit."

WOOHOO! I'm ordering mine now!