Alpine Unveils New Line Up of In-Dash Digital Head Units for 2004

TORRANCE, Calif., Jan. 8, 2004 -- Alpine Electronics of America, Inc. today introduced its new family of CD receivers with advanced technologies and features to deliver industry-leading digital media performance and outstanding user control. Alpine's 2004 SwingFace(TM) designs offer the ultimate in personalized sound and system control -- with Bass Engine(TM) sound tuning and "match your dash" color selection of the front panel lighting. The 2004 Classic line introduces built-in MP3/WMA playback at $230 and includes the industry's first CD receiver with a built-in XM Satellite Radio tuner. All Alpine 2004 head unit power ratings are compliant to the CEA-2006 power specification.

Alpine's top-of-the-line SwingFace CD receivers, the CDA-9835, CDA-9833 and CDA-9831, take user personalization to the max with Alpine's exclusive iPersonalize(TM) button. With iPersonalize, users can customize the head unit's Bass Engine sound tuning, RGB lighting, amplifier control and other set up features -- all through one button on the receiver's face.

In a design breakthrough, iPersonalize enables drivers to select from 512 color options for the LED illumination, allowing them to match their head unit lighting to the dash or even to their mood. The CDA-9835, CDA-9833 and CDA-9831 receivers can also utilize Alpine's iPersonalize data download service available on www.alpine-usa.com . The iPersonalize service is a sophisticated toolbox of online controls for customizing in-vehicle sound tuning based on the system set up and installation. Digital time correction, digital crossover, digital parametric EQ, and the power-on screen settings can be selected online, burned to a CD-R and then uploaded to the head unit.

These three models feature Alpine's exclusive Amplifier Link(TM) technology, which enables drivers to monitor and make system adjustments to as many as eight V12 AccuClass-D(TM) subwoofer amplifiers directly through the head unit's display. Everything from managing digital crossover and phase control to digital time correction and one-band parametric EQ, as well as viewing real-time temperature, voltage and current readings, can be done right from the head unit.

Alpine's MP3/WMA head units feature a 32-bit processor-driven transport to ensure highest quality playback of files recorded on today's ultra-fast computers and a 500Mhz sound processor called Media Xpander(TM) that restores the original audio detail to compressed digital media formats for truer, more lifelike sound inside the car.

To make navigating through large MP3/WMA libraries easier, Alpine's head units feature a simplified user interface called Quick Search(TM) that enables people to find music by genre, artist, album, song or playlist using a button on the front panel. Alpine's Ai-Net head units are also Versatile Link(TM) ready, allowing people to connect auxiliary devices like portable MP3 players to their head unit to enjoy full system sound quality.

SwingFace head units feature a detachable front panel that swings down for access to the CD loading slot and can be positioned at one of three viewing angles. The CDA-9835 has a stylish gunmetal black casing and comes with a premium BioLite(TM) display, providing a much wider viewing angle than conventional displays and outstanding visibility, even in harsh daylight. The CDA-9833 comes with the same finish, along with a 12-character dot matrix display. The CDA-9831 has a titanium silver finish with an 8-character display.

Classic Series - CDA-9820XM

Alpine will offer six Classic head units in 2004, with MP3/WMA support starting at $230 and XM Satellite Radio support starting at $199. Particularly exciting is Alpine's industry groundbreaking CDA-9820XM CD receiver featuring an integrated XM tuner (see separate release). Alpine's all-in-one CD/AM/FM/XM receiver makes it easier for users to enjoy XM's service by simply installing the CDA-9820XM and a new XM Micro antenna (sold separately), without having to purchase a separate XM tuner box.

About Alpine Electronics

Alpine Electronics is the world's leading automotive consumer electronics system supplier and an ISO certified corporation. Alpine specializes in an integrated platform concept for mobile multimedia with premium components for digital audio/video media playback, digital broadcast reception, and satellite linked navigation. With research and development facilities in Asia, Europe and the U.S., Alpine is the global leader for mobile sound systems and in-vehicle navigation for both after-market and OEM factory installations. Alpine Electronics is a consolidated subsidiary of Alps Electric Co., Ltd., one of the world's premier manufacturers of electronic components for computer, communications and car electronics equipment. Visit www.alpine-usa.com to learn more about Alpine products or to find an authorized retailer.