alpine imprint system
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=117980
Printed Date: May 03, 2024 at 3:27 AM
Topic: alpine imprint system
Posted By: DYohn
Subject: alpine imprint system
Date Posted: November 24, 2009 at 12:31 PM
I just purchased a new Alpine CSDA-9887 to upgrade my daily commute car. It'll be matching with McIntosh amplification, Eclipse component mains and in-door Tang Band subs. My main intent in my commute cars is always the best SQ possible. My question: does anyone here have experience with Alpine's Imprint system? Is it worth the $200 for the calibration mic and interface or should I stick with my tried and true EQ based on RTA readings? Thoughts anyone? ------------- Support the12volt.com
Replies:
Posted By: blackcivichatch
Date Posted: November 24, 2009 at 7:11 PM
Please Do It and come back with a VERY detailed review.
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UNLABELED Custom Car Club President
Posted By: j.reed
Date Posted: November 24, 2009 at 9:59 PM
Never used it, but i am curious to how well it does. I guess my question would be. If all it does is get your tune close enough that it takes some of the manual tuning time away, Is it worth $200 to you? Im sure with as picky as you are. Im sure you will be doing manual tuning to get exactly what you want after the imprint does it thing anyway. How much tuning though, is really the question.
Let me know how the tangs are. I have been looking at the Tang Band W8-1747 8" and the Dayton RSS210HF-4 8" for the doors of my 300 build. I got 4 15 inch re xxx 15s going in so i need loudness but i want to retain a good level of sq. I know, i know. No such thing as SQL :)
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Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: November 25, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Thanks guys. I have arranged to borrow an Imprint unit from a fellow installer and I'll let you know how it goes. As far as the TB's, I've used both the W6 6.5" subs and the W8 8" and have been very impressed with the build quality as well as the sound quality. Not a lot of power handling, but quite a bit of output for such small drivers. I have one W6 in each rear door of my Mitsubishi Outlander commute car and love them. They are worth checking out. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: jasonkelly214
Date Posted: November 26, 2009 at 4:33 AM
yeah please let us know! I actually just won an Alpine IXA-W407 from an online Alpine contest but it won't be here for a few weeks. I drive a suburban and I have aftermarket components and subs (3 amps) and as you can imagine in a 93 suburban, it's very hard to tune my system. I love the idea that I can use a computer to calibrate it.
Posted By: KarTuneMan
Date Posted: February 23, 2010 at 11:32 AM
Any info/opinion yet Dyohn? -------------
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: February 23, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Oh sorry I neglected to update this thread. Yes, the Imprint system works pretty well for setting speaker delays and levels, but I did not care for the Audyssey EQ it applied to the system. It's idea of "flat" and my idea of "flat" seem to be two different things. Audyssey wanted to set the subwoofer about +10db in most EQ bands even though it didn't need this, and it set the top end way too bright as well. Perhaps it is using a curve developed for a typical user rather than setting it flat and letting the user control it. Also, it was VERY dependent on mic position. If I moved the mic eight inches left or right I could get completely different settings. So, IMNSHO, it ain't worth the cost for what it does. I am glad I did not spend money on it. On the other hand, it would be a good tool for a shop to have on hand as it greatly speeds up the process of initial setup for one of these units, and who knows maybe the default curve it imposes would make most people happy. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: blackcivichatch
Date Posted: February 24, 2010 at 11:49 AM
So After Imprint "Does Its Thing" Can you manually fine tune the 7 band EQ?
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UNLABELED Custom Car Club President
Posted By: KarTuneMan
Date Posted: February 26, 2010 at 12:46 AM
blackcivichatch wrote:
So After Imprint "Does Its Thing" Can you manually fine tune the 7 band EQ?
I am to understand you CANNOT! -------------
Posted By: blackcivichatch
Date Posted: February 26, 2010 at 2:28 AM
Ouch.
Thats really unfortunate to hear.
Can you even Completely Manually adjust the eq??
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UNLABELED Custom Car Club President
Posted By: licto
Date Posted: February 26, 2010 at 8:00 AM
Wow, everything that Diyon said is EXACTLY what happened to my system...... 9887, alpine 4100, etc...... Had the imprint done twice..... same results. One exclusion, the staging was crap in my vehicle. I have since gone to the Alpine SQ guru in my area and he says, TURN IT OFF and tune by ear / hand. If you are using Imprint, there is no adjusting anything when it comes to freq..... or taking a look at what was sampled and or stored. I have since hand entered all the values for distance..... and run the unit mostly flat and it sounds much better to me. My 2 cents.......
Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: February 26, 2010 at 10:37 AM
blackcivichatch wrote:
Ouch.
Thats really unfortunate to hear.
Can you even Completely Manually adjust the eq??
Yes, and "completely manually" creates FAR better results, IMO. It is pretty time consuming, however, and probably pretty intimidating to the average user. The Auto EQ is either on or off, unfortunately, and not user adjustable once it's loaded. You can, however, use a computer connected to the Imprint processor and adjust the settings then reload them back into the device, but I did not try this method. ------------- Support the12volt.com
Posted By: blackcivichatch
Date Posted: February 26, 2010 at 11:14 AM
DYohn] wrote:
`Yes, and "completely manually" creates FAR better results, IMO. It is pretty time consuming, however, and probably pretty intimidating to the average user. The Auto EQ is either on or off, unfortunately, and not user adjustable once it's loaded. You can, however, use a computer connected to the Imprint processor and adjust the settings then reload them back into the device, but I did not try this method.
Ok. Well Thats better.
I'm Really trying to keep my current system All Alpine, And I dont know of any other Alpine EQ other than Imprint. ------------- UNLABELED Custom Car Club President
Posted By: Steven Kephart
Date Posted: February 27, 2010 at 8:01 PM
We had a customer bring in an Alpine system for us to install today and he had one of these modules. It was in an 07 Expedition and included two PDX amps, 2 sets of Alpine comps, and a Kicker sub. First; the signal sense didn't work so I had to run a turn-on to the accessory. Then I started tuning. I found the Alpine speakers to sound horribly bright and was hoping the auto EQ would take care of this. Well it didn't. And for some reason it set the sub level WAY down to where you couldn't hear it. I ran through the setup process twice and couldn't get any output on the sub. It was fine during the "gain setting" phase so I know it wasn't an install issue. It won't let you run the thing without running the auto EQ. And I couldn't figure out a way to bypass it. Since it was getting late in the day, we finally had to Y the rear outputs and use that for the sub amps input so the customer would have some bass. Now we have to figure out a solution.
Posted By: KarTuneMan
Date Posted: March 03, 2010 at 12:24 AM
I "had" an Alpine PXE-H650 in my 06 Civic. OE deck, Xtant 4x100, 1x600 Hybrid Audio Legatia 7/3/tweet. Image IDQ10 The thing to notice here is the term "had" This thing was total crap! As you found out the auto turn on did not work... the first pain. Then if turned on by the trigger I had to run.... it wouldn't shut off. From a SQ stand, lame at best. highs so friken high, and lows were non existant. No volume either. Not user or installer friendly.......... its gone now, so is my stock head. Life is good -------------
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