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Alpine CDE-123

CD receiver

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Item# 500CDE123 offer details

Item# 500CDE123

Review Summary

 
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Alpine

Why replace your factory radio?

Two good reasons - sound quality and cool features. A new car stereo offers power that's superior to most factory radios, along with more sophisticated tone controls. And most car stereos offer built-in or optional features that add safety and fun to life in your car, including inputs for your iPod or MP3 player, Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free cell phone calls, satellite radio or HD Radio reception, and connections for building an audio system in your car.

Our take on the Alpine CDE-123

by Zak Billmeier

Do you love PANDORA® Internet radio? You're not alone — millions of people enjoy creating their own stations and discovering new music with PANDORA®. Alpine makes it easy for you to take your stations on the road with the CDE-123 CD receiver. Just download a free app, connect your iPhone®, and you can dial in PANDORA® right from your dash. Dedicated "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" buttons let you rate songs on the fly so PANDORA® knows what songs to play for you. You can even create a new station right from the CDE-123 while something you like is playing.

Two USB inputs for maximum flexibility
Alpine gives you USB inputs on the front and rear of the CDE-123. That gives you all kinds of playback options — you could dedicate the rear output to your iPod, while leaving the front slot free for a thumb drive loaded with digital files. Or your friend can connect his iPod to the front input while yours remains attached to the rear input, then you can use the CDE-123 to cycle between players. With two inputs, you won't need to disconnect your iPod when someone else wants to play a song for you.

Add satellite radio
Put the endless entertainment of SiriusXM Satellite Radio at your fingertips with the low-profile SXV200 XM tuner. You can pause and rewind live broadcasts, and get a heads up when your favorite artists or teams are playing on another channel. And with an iPod connected, you can tag songs for purchasing later in the iTunes™ store.

Boost your power and add on to your system
Three sets of preamp outputs provide convenient connections for your amps and subs, and you can use the subwoofer level control to dial in the right amount of bass. Then dial in the right sound using the 3-band parametric EQ, or choose from one of the six preset options. One more cool feature — this receiver works with Alpine's Power Pack, a compact box that hooks up easily to your receiver, boosting its power from 18 watts up to a serious 45 watts RMS per channel.

Want to keep your steering wheel controls?
In most vehicles, you can use an adapter to connect your vehicle's steering wheel controls to this Alpine stereo. Connect a few wires, then program the adapter for your particular car and the Alpine, and you'll retain the convenience of your steering wheel controls. Check the "Accessories" tab for compatible adapters.

Note: If you're going to use your iPod with this receiver, be sure to check "Details" for specific iPod model compatibility with this receiver or its optional iPod adapter.


Check out our video demo:

Highlights:

    General features:
    • CD receiver with AM/FM tuner
    • built-in amplifier (18 watts RMS CEA-2006/50 peak x 4 channels)
    • plays CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RW discs, including discs loaded with MP3, WMA, and AAC music files
    • works with PANDORA® (iPhone and free app required)
    • detachable face with 1-line display
    • wireless remote-ready
    Audio features:
    • 3-band parametric EQ
    • ten preset tone curves, plus one user curve
    Expandability:
    • works with SiriusXM XM satellite radio tuner, Bluetooth® adapter
    • inputs: front and rear USB inputs, front auxiliary input
    • outputs: 6-channel (4-volt front, rear, sub)
    Other features and specs:
    Shop all Alpine Car Receivers
       

      Hands-on research from the Crutchfield Labs (what are the Labs?)

      Features and Specs

      Features and Specs
      General
      CEA-2006 Compliant
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      Yes
      RMS Power Output
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      18 watts
      Peak Output
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      50 watts
      RMS Power Bandwidth
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      20-20kHz
      Preamp Outputs
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      6-channel
      Sub Preamp Outputs
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      Yes
      Switchable Rear Preamp Outputs
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      No
      Preamp Voltage
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      4 volts
      Display Color
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      White
      Key Button Color
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      Blue
      EQ Bands
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      3
      Wireless Remote
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      Optional
      Steering Wheel Control Compatible
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      Adapter required
      Parts Warranty
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      1 Year
      Labor Warranty
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      1 Year
      Expandability
      AUX Input
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      Front
      USB Input
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      Front/Rear
      Memory Card Slot
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      USB memory
      Bluetooth Compatible
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      Optional
      Satellite Radio Ready
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      SiriusXM
      HD Radio
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      No
      Navigation
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      No
      iPod Compatibility
      Full size
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      Classic/5Gen
      Nano
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      Nano6/Nano5/Nano4/Nano3/Nano2/
      Touch
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      Touch4/Touch3/Touch2/Touch1
      Mini
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      No
      iPhone
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      Phone4S/Phone4/Phone3GS/Phone3
      Tuner
      FM Sensitivity
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      9.3 dBf
      European Tuning
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      No
      Seek/Scan
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      Seek
      Radio Data System
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      No

      Product Research

      Product Research
      What's in the box?

      Download owner's manual

      • AM/FM CD receiver (with 10A ATC fuse inserted in chassis)
      • Sleeve (installed)
      • Trim ring (installed)
      • Face (attached)
      • Hard plastic face case
      • Wiring harness
      • 6.5' USB cable (with a male USB type-A connector on one end and a female USB type-A connector on other end)
      • 8" iPod connector cable (with an iPod dock connector on one end and a male USB type-A connector on other end)
      • USB connector clamp (two-piece)
      • 4 Flat-head ISO-DIN screws (M5 x 8mm)
      • Face fixing screw
      • 2 Radio removal tools
      • Owner's Manual CD-ROM
      • Quick Reference Guide (Eng/Fre/Spa)
      • System Requirements (for CD-ROM)
      • Customer Care Registration card

      Our Product Research Team

      At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team — they open the box, verify contents, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

      USB/iPod/Aux Connectivity
      Radio Functions
      Audio Section
      Disc Playback
      Display Features
      Bluetooth/Remote Control (optional)

      USB/iPod/Aux Connectivity

      Dual USB Ports: The Alpine CDE-123 features a front-panel and rear-panel USB (type-A) port, so you may connect two USB memory devices to this head unit - such as your USB thumbdrive, portable MP3 player, or mobile phone. A 6.5' USB extension cable is provided for the rear-panel USB port. You can connect two USB devices simultaneously and switch between the front and rear USB input. Only one connected device can be used at a time (music libraries are not combined). Your connected USB memory device may contain MP3 (8-320 kbps), WMA (48-192 kbps), or AAC (16-320 kbps) music files formatted in FAT 12/16/32. ID3 tags (v1, v2) and WMA tags are supported; track title, artist name, and album name ID3/WMA tag data can be displayed. The unit off the following USB playback controls.

      • Bank Function: This unit has a "Bank" function that automatically divides every 1,000 songs stored on a USB memory device into individual banks to make searching and playing back a song easier. A maximum of 1,000 songs/100 folders for one bank can be stored according to the order stored in the USB memory device. A maximum of 20 banks (20,000 songs) can be recognized.
      • File/Folder Search: You can search each stored "Bank" by file (tag info)/folder name or number.
      • Category Search: You can also search each stored "Bank" of music by Playlist, Artist, Album, Song, Genre, or Composer.
      • ABC Search: You search the contents in the above categories alphabetically (A-Z).
      • USB Skip: You can skip forward/backward 1, 10, 20, 50, or 100 files/folders at one time within a stored "Bank".
      • Repeat/Random: In addition, the head unit offers Repeat (File/Folder/Category) and Random (Folder/Category/All) playback modes for your USB memory device's stored music.

      Note: You can only play back non-copy protected MP3/WMA/AAC files.

      iPod/iPhone Direct Connection: You can connect your iPod or iPhone to the head unit's front-panel or rear-panel USB port using the included iPod dock-connector cable to get access to all of your iPod/iPhone's stored music, right from the head unit. You can also use the cable that came with your iPod/iPhone. Using either cable allows audio playback, music navigation, information display, and charging of select iPod/iPhone models from the CDE-123. You can connect two iPods/iPhones at once and switch between the front and rear USB ports. Only one connected iPod/iPhone can be used at a time (music libraries are not combined).

      iPod/iPhone Audio Playback (with DAC bypass): The Alpine CDE-123 supports audio playback of music, podcast, and audiobook files stored on your iPod or iPhone. The USB connection allows your iPod/iPhone's large music libraries to be loaded instantly to the Alpine head unit and sound quality to be maximized through the head unit's 1-bit D/A converter (bypassing iPod/iPhone DAC), allowing for a Signal to Noise ratio up to 105dB.

      iPod/iPhone Control: Once your iPod/iPhone is connected, you get convenient control of your iPod/iPhone from the head unit. You can also choose to control your iPod/iPhone or from its clickwheel or touchscreen.

      • Music Browsing: The Alpine CDE-123 lets you navigate your iPod/iPhone by Playlist, Artist, Album, Song, Genre, Composer, Podcast, or Audiobook. You can then search these categories alphabetically. For especially big music libraries, the Percentage Search function uses the preset buttons for quick jumps to specific parts of the list (Preset 1: 0% to 16%, Preset 2: 17% to 32%, Preset 3: 33% to 49%, Preset 4: 50% to 66%, Preset 5: 67% to 82%, Preset 6: 83% to 100% of the song library).
      • Shuffle: The head unit offers three Shuffle (Random) playback functions.
        • Shuffle Albums: songs in each album are played back in proper order; upon completion of all the songs in the album, the next album is selected randomly
        • Shuffle Songs: randomly plays back songs within a selected category (playlist, artist, album, song, genre, composer.)
        • Shuffle All: plays all songs on your iPod/iPhone randomly
      • Repeat: A single song can be repeatedly played back.

      iPod/iPhone Display: The Alpine CDE-123 will display your iPod/iPhone's music file information when you are controlling your iPod or iPhone from the Alpine head unit. The head unit will display Track number, Elapsed playing time, Artist name, Song title, and Album label.

      Pandora App: The Pandora App (free) lets you play music from the Pandora music service through the Alpine CDE-123 using your connected Apple iPhone, via the included cable or your iPhone's iPod dock-connector cable. The Alpine CDE-123 provides control over the Pandora music service and displays Artist, Album, and Song information (your iPhone's touchscreen will be locked). You can select Pandora stations from your station list, and skip song tracks within a station. You can also create QuickMix playlists based on two or more of your Pandora stations. You can even give songs a thumbs up/down and bookmark songs/artists. In addition, you can create a new station based on a currently playing song or artist. To access Pandora you must have an Apple iPhone (iOS3 or later) with the latest version of the Pandora application from Apple's iTunes App Store. Your iPhone will need an active Data Plan account with connection to the Internet via 3G, EDGE, or WiFi. You will also need a Pandora music service account.

      Note: Access to the Pandora service will depend on the availability of a cellular and/or WiFi network for purposes of allowing your iPhone to connect to the Internet. Pandora is not supported in Canada and only available in the United States.

      iPod/iPhone Charging: While connected and the ignition switch is set to ACC or ON, the head unit's USB connection will power and charge your iPod/iPhone.

      Note: If your iPod/iPhone has no initial battery charge, then the unit will not recognize it.

      iPod/iPhone Compatibility Chart: The Alpine CDE-123 is "Made for iPod/iPhone" compatible and supports the following iPod/iPhone model features (as of November 2011):

      iPod/iPhone Model Generation Tested Version Media Type Control Type Display Type AirPlay Charge
      Audio Video Head Unit iPod/iPhone Song/Artist Text Track Info
      dock connector 3rd N/A N N N N N N N N
      clickwheel
      color
      4th N/A N N N N N N N N
      mini 1st N/A N N N N N N N N
      2nd N/A N N N N N N N N
      video 5th 1.3 Y N Y N Y Y N Y
      classic 80GB 1.1.2 Y N Y Y Y Y N Y
      120GB 2.0.1 Y N Y Y Y Y N Y
      160GB 2.0.4 Y N Y Y Y Y N Y
      nano 1st 1.3.1 Y N Y N Y Y N Y
      2nd 1.1.3 Y N Y Y Y Y N Y
      3rd 1.1.3 Y N Y Y Y Y N Y
      4th 1.0.4 Y N Y Y Y Y N Y
      5th 1.0.2 Y N Y Y Y Y N Y
      6th 1.1 PC Y N Y Y Y Y N Y
      touch 1st 2.2.1 Y N Y Y Y Y N Y
      2nd 4.2.1 Y N Y Y Y Y N Y
      3rd 5.0.1 Y N Y Y Y Y N Y
      4th 5.0.1 Y N Y Y Y Y N Y
      iPhone 2G 3.1.3 Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y
      3G 4.2.1 Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y
      3GS 4.3.5 Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y
      4 5.0.1 Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y
      4S 5.0.1 Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y

      Note: Apple iPod/iPhone software updates may change functionality results. If you download a newer software version, you may need to reset the head unit and your iPod/iPhone to regain functionality. If this doesn't work, you may need to revert to the older software version or wait until a newer software update is available.

      Auxiliary Input: The unit is equipped with a front-panel minijack (3.5mm) auxiliary input. You can input audio from a auxiliary source unit - such as a portable MP3 player. You can change the name on the display to match the type of device connected to the front panel input; Auxiliary, TV, DVD, Portable, or Game. You can adjust the unit's auxiliary input gain level (Low/High) to match the relative volume output of your other connected sources.

      Radio Functions

      AM/FM Tuner: The Alpine CDE-123 features a built-in AM/FM tuner with manual, seek, and preset tuning.

      Preset Tuning: The built-in tuner provides 12 FM and 6 AM preset stations. Stations can be preset manually or automatically.

      Local/Distance Tuning: Local seek tuning lets you tune in only those radio stations with sufficiently strong signals for good reception. Distance seek tuning allows both strong and weak stations to be tuned.

      SiriusXM Ready: The Alpine CDE-123 comes ready for SiriusXM programming with access to XM and Sirius Satellite Radio stations. Thanks to its proprietary SiriusXM Connect port, you can add the optional SXV200V1 SiriusXM Connect tuner and receive more than 150 channels of exclusive programming directly from SiriusXM, via the "SiriusXM All Access" package (subscription required). Visit SiriusXM.com for a complete list of subscription options and channel guide. Additional features of the SXV200 SiriusXM Connect tuner include:

      • iTunes Tagging for your connected iPod or iPhone
      • Game Alert to notify when your favorite team is playing;
      • Song Alert to notify you when your favorite song is playing (feature available in June 2011)
      • Replay so you can pause, fast-forward, or rewind up to 30 minutes of live content

      Note: SiriusXM Satellite Radio operates on XM Network. If you already have a Sirius Satellite Radio subscription, this radio can not be added as a discounted second unit. If you have an existing XM Satellite Radio subscription, you can add this unit as a discounted second unit.

      Audio Section

      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.

      • CEA-2006 Power Rating: 18 watts x 4 channels (at 4 ohms, 20-20kHz, 1% THD)
      • Max Power Output: 50 watts x 4 channels

      Preset EQ: You can select from 10 different EQ presets to get the best sound from all your sources. You can choose from Flat, Pops, Rock, News, Jazz, Electric Dance, Hip-Hop, Easy Listening, Country, or Classical.

      3-Band Parametric Equalizer: If the Equalizer presets aren't enough for your listening taste, there's a 3-Band Parametric Equalizer you can adjust for a better sound response curve. Bass, Mid, & Treble can be adjusted in the 3-Band Parametric mode.

      • Treble Control:
        • Center Frequency: 7.5kHz, 10kHz (default), 12.5kHz, or 15kHz
        • Width Q: Wide 0.75 or Narrow 1.25
        • Level: -7 to +7 (+/-14dB in 2dB steps)
      • Midrange Control:
        • Center Frequency: 500Hz, 1.0kHz, 1.5kHz, or 2.5kHz
        • Width Q: Wide 0.75, Medium 1.0, Medium 1.25, or Narrow 1.5
        • Level: -7 to +7 (+/-14dB in 2dB steps)
      • Bass Control:
        • Center Frequency: 60Hz, 80Hz (default), 100Hz, or 120Hz
        • Width Q: Wide 0.5, Medium 1.0, Medium 1.5, or Narrow. 2.0
        • Level: -7 to +7 (+/-14dB in 2dB steps)

      Loudness: Loudness introduces a special low and high frequency emphasis at low listening levels to compensate for the ear's decreased sensitivity to bass and treble sound at low volume. There are three loudness settings (1, 2, & Off).

      4V/6CH Pre-out: The CDE-123 has 3-sets (Front/Rear/Sub) of 4-Volt RCA pre-outs for connection of external amplifiers. The unit's front and rear preamp output can be faded (front/rear), while the subwoofer preamp output is non-fading.

      Note: When an external amplifier is connected sound quality can be improved by stopping the power supply of the built-in amplifier.

      Subwoofer Control: You can adjust the subwoofer preamp output's volume and low-pass filter.

      • Volume: There are two volume (system) modes for the unit's subwoofer preamp output.
        • System 1: Subwoofer level changes according to the main volume setting.
        • System 2: Subwoofer level change is different from the main volume setting (0-15); even at low volume settings, the subwoofer is still audible.
      • Low Pass Filter: The unit's subwoofer output low-pass filter can be set to 60Hz, 80Hz, 120Hz, 160Hz, or Off (through).

      High Pass Filter: The Alpine head unit is equipped with a high-pass filter for its speaker-level outputs and front/rear preamp outputs. You can set the unit's high-pass filter to 60Hz, 80Hz, 120Hz, 160Hz, or Off (through).

      Audio Mute: Activating the Audio Mute function will instantly lower the volume level by 20 dB.

      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/black Interrupt lead that needs to be connected to the device's interrupt signal connection.

      Disc Playback

      Disc Compatibility: The unit features a single disc player that will playback CD-Audio, CD-Text, and finalized CD-R/CD-RW audio discs.

      MP3/WMA/AAC Playback: This unit can play CD-R and CD-RW discs containing MP3, WMA, and AAC files recorded using the ISO 9660 Level 1 or Level 2 formats. MP3 files with bit rates from 8-320 kbps, WMA files with bit rates from 48-192 kbps, and AAC files with bit rates from 16-320 kbps are supported. Variable bit rates are also compatible. Up to a maximum of 255 folders and a maximum 510 files can be read from one disc. ID3 tags (v1, v2) and WMA tags are supported; track title, artist name, and album name ID3/WMA tag data can be displayed.

      Text/File/Folder Quick Search: When you are playing a disc with CD Text, ID3, or WMA tags, you can easily search for a track, file, or folder by its title. Once you have activated the search mode, you can use the rotary encoder to quickly scan through the titles to locate the desired track. For discs without CD Text, ID3 or WMA tags, searches are made using the track numbers associated with each song.

      Playback Modes: The Alpine CDA-123 offers Repeat and Random playback modes.

      • Repeat: Repeat Play (repeats playback of current track/file), Folder Repeat (repeats only files in current folder).
      • Random: Random Play (all tracks/files on disc are played in random order), Folder Random (only files in current folder are played back in random order).

      Off Insert/Eject: A CD disc can be inserted or ejected with the power off. When a disc is inserted with the power off, the unit will automatically power up and begin playback.

      Auto Reload: When a CD is ejected and left sticking out of the CD slot for 20 seconds, the unit automatically reloads the CD to protect if from damage.

      Angle Mounting: For proper CD playback, Alpine recommends mounting the CDE-123 no more that 35° above horizontal.

      Display Features

      Detachable Face: The unit features a single front loading CD face that detaches from the chassis to deter theft. The CD player comes supplied with a hard plastic face case to protect the detachable face when you have it off the chassis. A face-fixing screw is supplied for making the face non-detachable, if desired.

      Note: An optional soft face case (142DFC1X, sold separately) can also be purchased for this unit.

      1-Line LCD Display: This unit is equipped with a 1-Line white-backlit LCD, so you can easily view AM/FM stations, CD-Text, and ID-3/WMA tag information.

      Text Display: Text information, such as the disc name and the track name, will be displayed if playing a CD text compatible disc. It is also possible to display the folder name, the file name, and the tag information, while playing a MP3/WMA/AAC disc.

      Text Scroll: This unit can scroll the disc and track names recorded on CD-Text disc, as well as the text information of MP3/WMA/AAC files, folder names, and tags. There are two Text Scroll settings.

      • Auto: The CD text information, the information of folder and file names, and the tags are scrolled automatically.
      • Manual: The display is scrolled when a disc is loaded or when a track is changed.

      Favorite Button: You can set a favorite source to the head unit's front-panel "FAV" button. Once your favorite source has been set, you can switch to that favorite source directly be pressing the "FAV" button. You can select between one of the following sources as your Favorite - Pandora, FM1, FM2, AM, AUX, Disc, or USB.

      Dimmer: This unit is equipped with an orange/white illumination lead. When the unit's dimmer mode is set to Auto and the illumination lead is 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.

      Bluetooth/Remote Control (optional)

      Bluetooth Interface Ready: This unit is Bluetooth ready so you can add the optional Alpine KCE-400BT Bluetooth adapter (500KCE400B, sold separately) to pair up your cell phone with the head unit. Now, you can make and take phone calls conveniently, hands-free. You will be able to view caller information including caller ID, missed, dialed, and received calls right from the head unit's display. You will use the microphone supplied with the optional KCE-400BT to speak, and then listen through your car's speakers. You can even set up your cell phone/head unit to automatically answer your calls. With select compatible phones with streaming audio capability, you can listen to music stored on your phone and have it stream through your Alpine system.

      Steering Wheel Remote Compatibility: The unit also features an OEM steering wheel remote control input on the rear of the unit that lets you keep your vehicle's factory radio steering wheel remote controls when used with the optional PAC SWI-JACK Steering Wheel Control Interface Adapter (127SWIJACK, sold separately); or the optional Metra ASWC Steering Wheel Control Interface Adapter (120ASWC, sold separately).

      Note: Please consult the Crutchfield Car Selector to see if your vehicle is compatible.

      Optional Wireless Remote: The Alpine CDE-123 is wireless remote control ready. Simply add on the Alpine RUE-4202 IR remote (500RUE4202, sold separately) to make it even easier to control the head unit's functions.

       

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      5 out of 5

      I love this radio

      Written By Angelbane, Frisco, Tx on Monday, October 08, 2012
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      I love this radio... this is the first non factory head unit I have had in over 15 years. At the time it was the only unit i could find with REAR usb/iPhone on the back which to me was the key selling point because of how I mount my phone.
      Pros:
      REAR USB
      Cons:
      Pandora integration takes control from phone which makes it unusable for me.
      Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
      "Coolness Factor"
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      5 out of 5

      iPhone 5 Compatible

      Written By Ryan C, San Luis Obispo, CA on Tuesday, October 02, 2012
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      Just an update if anyone is wondering, the iPhone 5 is fully compatible with the CDE-123 using the Lightning cable. I have not been able to test the dock connector adapter, but with the Lightning cable, you still have full control, tagging, song display and browsing. I also use this with the Sirius XM SXV200 and it works wonderfully. Sound is much, much better than stock.
      Pros:
      Rear USB port, Sirius XM, iPod & iPhone control, even the new iPhone 5. Controls are fine too.
      Cons:
      Wish Sirius XM alerts would make a sound or something, very bright at night, the dimming doesn't dim it too much.
      Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
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      5 out of 5

      Alpine CDE-123

      Written By Melvyn, Wichita, KS on Sunday, June 24, 2012
      Installed in a 2006 Ford Focus ZX4
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      I had wanted to play my iPod and phone in my Focus without needing adapters. This Alpine was one of the few stereos (and only Alpine) in my budget with a rear USB port. I wanted to treat my iPod Classic like an old-school cd-changer, were it's hidden away and controlled with the head unit without extra wires everywhere, and it completely fulfills that requirement. Installation was easy with the dash kit and wiring harness supplied, although I took the extra time to solder and heat-shrink the wires. When the harness was complete, it only took a few minutes to swap stereos.

      Sound wise, it's like night and day compared to the factory CD player. The built-in EQ allowed me to increase the 100Hz range (using a narrow Q setting) to give more kick to drums without overly boosting sub-bass and overwhelming the factory speakers. The extra power over the factory radio really makes the sound come alive, and I think a speaker upgrade would really make the music shine. Adding a sub should be easy using the built-in sub crossover and dedicated output.
      Pros:
      3-band EQ even makes factory speakers sound good Searching and selecting music from an 80GB iPod is easy.
      Cons:
      Discontinued. :-( Wanted to get another one to put in my truck. Blue illumination is bright, even dimmed.
      1 out of 1 people found this helpful
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      "Coolness Factor"
      Build Quality
      Ease of Use
      Sound Quality
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      5 out of 5

      Alpine CDE-123

      Written By Rp, Tn on Sunday, June 17, 2012
      Installed in a 2007 Nissan Frontier
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      Nice stereo, especially for the price. I love my ipod again. Pauses song when shut off and even starts up where I left off after unplugging ipod.Only wish clock displayed when off, scroll wheel function was faster and it had quicker off switch.
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      "Coolness Factor"
      Build Quality
      Ease of Use
      Sound Quality
      Value
       
      5 out of 5

      Suzuki radio

      Written By Gator, Milwaukee, WI on Thursday, June 07, 2012
      Installed in a 2006 Suzuki Aerio SX
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      I bought this because it was an Alpine and came with a front side USB that is compatible for the Itouch. I also bought it for the compatibility with the steering wheel controls. Unfortunately I purchased the wrong adapter and the new one is on the way.
      Pros:
      Easy install instructions. Love the front side usb.
      Cons:
      Finding songs on Itouch and requires a seperate adapter to work with steering wheel controls.
      Was this review helpful?    Yes | No
      "Coolness Factor"
      Build Quality
      Ease of Use
      Sound Quality
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      5 out of 5

      Alpine CDE-123

      Written By Anonymous, nh on Friday, June 01, 2012
      Installed in a 1985 Ford Mustang
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      installed it in my mustang. looks great and sounds great.
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      "Coolness Factor"
      Build Quality
      Ease of Use
      Sound Quality
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      5 out of 5

      Very Good!!!!!!

      Written By Al, florence on Monday, May 21, 2012
      Installed in a 1999 Cadillac Seville
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      Very pleased!
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      "Coolness Factor"
      Build Quality
      Ease of Use
      Sound Quality
      Value
       
      5 out of 5

      2001 F-150 and Alpine CDE-123

      Written By Newmonic, South Eastern, Ohio on Monday, May 21, 2012
      Installed in a 2001 Ford F-150
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      ***** Install was easy. Fit and finish is nice. Great improvement over factory CD player. I decided on this because its and Alpine, it has FRONT and REAR USB, 4 Volt preamp sub outputs.

      I have two 10" Kicker CVRs and a Sony X-plod 500W amp with this Alpine head unit in my 2001 F-150 regular cab. Sounds pretty good. I like the sub woofer control on this Alpine in combination with the Bass, Mid, high I can tune my music as I like it.

      I gave it over 5 stars, but the coolness factor only 4....the one color (blue) display sucks, but it is what it is.....
      Pros:
      Front and Rear USB.
      Cons:
      blue display only.......but it is hard to beat an Alpine.
      1 out of 1 people found this helpful
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      "Coolness Factor"
      Build Quality
      Ease of Use
      Sound Quality
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      5 out of 5

      Gotta Love Alpine!

      Written By Shugduff, Tacoma, WA on Saturday, May 12, 2012
      Installed in a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      I have owned several Alpine head units over the years and they continue to impress. I purchased the CDE-123 after comparing against similar models in price and thus far I am not disappointed to say the least. Great sound quality, ease of use and functionality. If Alpine is good enough for Ferrari they're good enough for my old truck.
      Pros:
      Build quality, options, connectivity, sound quality and ease of use.
      Cons:
      Nuttin!
      2 out of 2 people found this helpful
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      "Coolness Factor"
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      4 out of 5

      Very nice unit

      Written By Ray C, Santa Maria, CA on Sunday, May 06, 2012
      Installed in a 2005 BMW 3 Series
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      This unit was a great replacement for the factory Alpine unit in my '05 BMW 330ci with a few exceptions. The sound was an upgrade from the factory Premium Sound. The iPod control worked very well, and being able to switch to iPod Direct control was a great added bonus. Everything was easy to access once you knew where it was. Even the SAT radio sounded great, and it was nice that it used the brand new Sirius XM tuner which is much more compact for install. My only complaints were more asthetic than anything else. The blue display is the only color available and is very bright, which 1) doens't match my factory BMW orange illumination and 2) actually can be distracting during night driving, especially for driving over an hour. Also, the fact that it's only a single line of text is less than desirable especially if using the SAT radio, since you can't display the station number, the station name, the artist or the song simultaneously. But the sound quality was amazing which is the reason I have decided to stick with this unit over the other three that I tried. I highly recommend this unit, especially at this price point (and if you get it on sale, you can't beat it).
      Pros:
      Sound quality, ease of use, features, and rear USB input to be able to keep your iPod connected when you exit the vehicle without it showing.
      Cons:
      Display color and only one line of information.
      2 out of 2 people found this helpful
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      "Coolness Factor"
      Build Quality
      Ease of Use
      Sound Quality
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      1 out of 5

      mrk

      Written By mrk, delmar, Md on Sunday, May 06, 2012
      Installed in a 2000 Nissan Sentra
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      Not impressed!
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      "Coolness Factor"
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      Ease of Use
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      5 out of 5

      Solid performer

      Written By BobT, Copperas Cove, TX on Thursday, April 26, 2012
      Installed in a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      I have had the component for almost two weeks. It has been a pleasure to use from the beginning. Everything works well, though the configuration could prove confusing to some. Coupled with 4 kickers I also purchased from Crutchfield the sound quality is great. Next needed is a sub-woofer to push up the bass and fill the sound out. The SiriusXM functions great with the adapter purchased through Crutchfield. Great service and fast.
      Pros:
      ease of install good quality all in one mp3, cd, pandora, siriusXM and 2 USB ports
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      "Coolness Factor"
      Build Quality
      Ease of Use
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      5 out of 5

      CDE- ALPINE-123

      Written By Sir Chaz, Pearland, TX on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
      Installed in a 2004 Toyota 4Runner
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      Worth waiting forfront
      Pros:
      front usb and aux inputs
      Cons:
      none
      2 out of 2 people found this helpful
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      "Coolness Factor"
      Build Quality
      Ease of Use
      Sound Quality
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      5 out of 5

      Great radio

      Written By TC, Springfield, MA on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
      Installed in a 2003 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      The CDE 123 is a great radio. Easy to use. The scroll is easy to figure out and the extra USB port in the back is a plus for the wife. The only thing that took me and the person who installed a little bit to figure was how to switch between front and back USB ports. It's the band button. Crutch field is awesome
      Pros:
      2 USB ports, easy to use. Ready for additional features like Bluetooth, or sirius
      Cons:
      None
      2 out of 2 people found this helpful
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      "Coolness Factor"
      Build Quality
      Ease of Use
      Sound Quality
      Value
       
      5 out of 5

      Alpine CDE-123

      Written By Gordon M., Jacksonville,Fl. on Sunday, April 22, 2012
      Installed in a 1997 Jeep Wrangler
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      Perfect! The CDE-123 is Great & I love the front & Rear USB Ports allows Me to hook My iPod to the Rear USB & Leave it in the Glove Box & Use My iPhone & Pandora through the Front USB,I also installed The XM Adapter so I have access to tons of Music,Sounds Great in My Jeep Wrangler & was a real bargian for the Price!
      Pros:
      Dual USB Ports,Easy to add XM
      Cons:
      None
      3 out of 3 people found this helpful
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      "Coolness Factor"
      Build Quality
      Ease of Use
      Sound Quality
      Value
       
      5 out of 5

      Huge bang for the buck

      Written By Roady, Central PA on Thursday, March 01, 2012
      Installed in a 2007 Ford Focus ZX4
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      Superior deck, lots of features, almost too many. Extremely good value. Typical Alpine quality. You can really go all out with this receiver and add all sorts of add ons. Xm and bluetooth interfaces, multiple amplifiers...front, rear, and sub preouts, remote control ready, several aux imputs, wow. I installed this in my '07 Focus and really brought the factory speakers to life. Sounds great. I cant wait to get my Boston Acoustic's put in too.
      Pros:
      Excellent value, TONS of features, Alpine looks and quality,
      Cons:
      BRIGHT blue illumination, turn it down guys...or make it adjustable, no choice in color either, a little complicated to figure out all the features,
      3 out of 3 people found this helpful
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      "Coolness Factor"
      Build Quality
      Ease of Use
      Sound Quality
      Value
       
      4 out of 5

      CDE-123

      Written By Karlos, California on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
      Installed in a 2004 Honda Accord LX
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      Great Deck A lot Of Feature's Right Out Of The Box. The Usb Cable Is Very Long. Sound's Great With My Alpine SPS-610C (2 Pair's) I'am Sure Though These Will Sound Even Better Amped ! The Real Reason I Got The CDE-123 Over The 124 Is The Rear Usb The 124 Is Cool But i Rather Not See The Usb In The Front Plus The 2 Additional Set's Of Preout's , Aux Rear , and The Buletooth Rear.Pandora & My Ipod Work's Excellent Both Easy To Use. The Only Thing I Have'nt Tryed is the "SiriusXm" Just Order That. And The Bluetooth (Still Not Sure about That A Bit Expensive If You Ask Me Idk Later ) I Would Strongly Recommend This Unit Or The Alpine CDE-124 It's A No Brainer!
      Pros:
      Easy To Use, Build Quality ,Lot's Of Stuff
      Cons:
      The Dim Feature Is Hardly Notice Able The "SORUCE,FAV,|<<,>>|,BAND,TUNE.Button's Are Way Too Bright At Night But During The Day No Problem To Read.
      3 out of 4 people found this helpful
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      "Coolness Factor"
      Build Quality
      Ease of Use
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      4 out of 5

      Love this unit

      Written By Richard B, Silver Spring, MD on Friday, February 17, 2012
      Installed in a 2005 Honda Pilot
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      I installed this head unit in my 2005 Honda Pilot and did it all in less than 20 mins, I did have to connect the wires on the wiring harness I got from Crutchfield but putting it into the car took very little time, their instructions made it easy. I also installed an alpine amp and replaced my sub and the car stereo came with instructions on how to remove the subwoofer so that was helpful. My sound quality has improve 80% and I still have alot of room for adjusting the sound. It takes sometime to get the settings right but once you learn to navigate it you do get what you want. Looking forward to many long road trips listening to great music. Oh the ability to use my iphone with Pandora is a huge plus, I always have music I like at my fingertips without having to fight with CD's or even sort through tracks.
      Pros:
      Ease of installation, great appearance, incredible sound quality and real value for money.
      Cons:
      Takes some time to get used to the settings but worth the time and effort all the way.
      2 out of 2 people found this helpful
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      "Coolness Factor"
      Build Quality
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      5 out of 5

      CDE-123 in H2

      Written By A-Bomb, Nashville TN on Saturday, February 11, 2012
      Installed in a 2003 Hummer H2
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      Just replaced my head unit with the CDE-123 along with the Sirius Tuner, power pack and the required interfaces for steering wheel controls and on-star/chimes. I originally replaced in order to get the new sirius tuner with pause rewind (awesome by the way). This head unit is great. I don't mind the brightness, but wish you could change colors (rest of dash is green). Not quite as intuitive to use, but once you get used to it, it is very easy. had to pay extra for this one (over cde-124 with sirius - cheaper) because it has all of the pre am outlets for the on-star interface, but bonus was the rear usb input for my iPhone. I didn't listen to it without power pack, so can't comment on "stock" output, but even with stock speakers, this is far superior to stock head unit. I love it.
      Pros:
      access to new Sirius tuner with pause/rewind two usb inputs + aux sound quality using the optional power pack price - can't believe how inexpensive this high quality unit is
      Cons:
      stuck with one color so many settings, it takes studying the manual more than you think
      3 out of 3 people found this helpful
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      "Coolness Factor"
      Build Quality
      Ease of Use
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      5 out of 5

      As Expected

      Written By Phil, Corrales, NM on Saturday, February 11, 2012
      Installed in a 2005 Toyota Tacoma
      Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
       
      My main reason for wanting to replace the factory unit in my Tacoma 2005 truck was to have a front aux connector for my Garmin Nuvi GPS audio. I'm not on the road much but when I am I usually listen to one of 2 AM stations or audio from Nuvi. The Nuvi 785 has an internal MP3 player with a memory card where i'm using an 8GB version loaded with my music. The Nuvi's internal FM transmitter provided the connection to my factory unit and the quality wasn't the best. The Alpine CDE-123 had everything I needed plus many extras. It takes getting use to the smaller front panel controls as my old factory unit had huge buttions and switches that you could operate wearing mittens. For the Alpine I was able to program the Favorite button to switch to the font aux and then pressing the Source button selected the AM radio. This allowed me to switch back and forth without too much driving distraction. The 6 programmable front panel tuner memory switches also provides an easy way to switch between channels. The audio from the Alpine was 1000 times better that the factory unit. I was amazed at that. no need to change out the factory speakes. It doesn't booming bass but there's enough there to notice. As a final note it worked well with my iPod although I haven't used it much. The rear aux and USB will come in handy later on. Installation was breeze although I'm not a fan of plastic parts especially plastic mounting structures. What ever happened to metal.
      Pros:
      Front and Rear USB and AUX connectors. Dedicated front panel radio program switches. Easy front panel user interface. Sound quality.
      Cons:
      Panel lights not variable. They only slightly dimmed when the headlights switch on. Several buttons are colored blue with white lettering and this is hard to read. The panel lights seemed too bright. Would have like more options in panel lighting otherwise I'm completely satisfied.
      2 out of 2 people found this helpful
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      1-20 of 63 >>

      Accessories

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      SquareTrade Warranty 3 Year Warranty
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      In business since 1999, SquareTrade is the largest independent warranty provider in the U.S.

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