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Installation
Like most DVD receivers, the IVA-D300 system consists of two separate units. The first is the DIN unit containing the screen and DVD player that installs in the dash; the second is a "hideaway" module that includes most of the guts of the system ? tuner, amplifier, inputs, and outputs.
I knew where to put the in-dash part, but the more pressing decision was where to install the hideaway module. After failing to find a space large enough in the dash area, I ended up placing the box under my driver's seat, the location of my previously installed Alpine XM tuner. Because of the tight fit and multiple wiring connections, I found it easier to remove the seat during installation to provide better access to the components.
Having plenty of experience installing standard CD receivers, I was surprised by the number of extra connections needed for proper installation of a DVD receiver. The hideaway required three separate connections: an AM/FM antenna connection, a control cable connecting the hideaway box to the in-dash monitor, and the main power harness.
In addition, separate wires needed to be run to the parking brake switch and the brake pedal switch. These wires are for the safety "lock-out" system Alpine uses to prevent access to deep-level menus or on-screen video (it is illegal in most states to view video while driving). To gain access to these menus/DVD features, you must first push the foot brake, then engage the parking brake, then while continuing to push the foot brake, release and re-engage the parking brake. This sounds more confusing than it actually is — after you've done it a couple of times it's easy to get the rhythm. It's just a quick pedal push, handbrake up, handbrake down, then up again. Certainly easier for most people than learning to drive a 5-speed!
If you plan on adding a back-up camera to your system (as I did), you'll also need to connect the supplied wire to the reverse light.
iPersonalize
Upon finishing the installation, I performed a manual-unassisted functional analysis of the basic operation modes of the unit (i.e. I played with it, in a technical fashion). I tuned to XM 22 as No Doubt's "Hella Good" began (Gwen, you go girl!) and was duly impressed. The IVA-D300 is rated at 18 watts x 4 channels RMS using the CEA-2006 amplifier power rating standard, (Alpine is one of the first to embrace this new standard). The sound was big and full in my component speakers, front and rear. Thank you Alpine, for including an excellent internal amp.
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Though it sounded great out of the box, I logged onto www.alpine.com to access the website's iPersonalize section. Here you can choose the model of Alpine head-unit you own and view custom set-up information in an easy-to-use, graphics-based interface. I measured and tweaked the time alignment, adjusted the crossover settings, and kept the 3-band EQ almost as is. Once set, you can either print out the settings, or burn the info to a CD that can be read by the IVA-D300. With the graphics capabilities of this receiver, it would be great to see a graphics-based set-up built into the radio, instead of having to retrieve and transfer the info from the web. I printed and adjusted the settings, improving the already impressive sound.
