I recently purchased the Iva-d310 and previously i owned the ivad300. Both are phenomenal head units and do more than you can imagine. When you touch the screen it feels like an actual button but beyond the whole fancy features it has this IVAd310 is a very nice upgrade from what I've discovered. On the old unit, you couldn't change the track with the screen closed and it didn't even have a remote control. With this one , it comes with everything you need and for all you people out there who wonder if you can watch a dvd on it while your driving it IS possible all you do is go to your local car audio shop and tell them to ground wire (rig) it. But yes, it improves sound quality by far with the bass engine and media expander. If you've got the dinero then this thing is DEFINITELY the way to go.
I recently upgraded to the IVA-D310. This head unit made a BIG difference in my audio system. The functions of the "touch screen" are superior. The clarity of the video is great. This coupled with my iPod and iPod interface module makes for a great sound in my vehicle. I highly recommend this unit for the serious audio buff.
I have the IVA-D310 coupled with the Nav872A. It does have a small learning curve but once you get used to it this system rocks. The Nav system makes it controllable via voice. Another upgrade is the KCA 100BT which adds blue tooth wireless connectivity. Great for the newer phones!! Con- very pricy!
alpina has set it off with this one... the huge hide away brain unit ant the super sensitive pulsetouch monitior. not to mention it has one of the best sound pieces bult in. this deck is incredble...
This unit is awesome. The picture quality is great, the sound is phenomenal. The ability to do time correction on each speaker is awesome. I had mine professionally installed, and the installer rigged it so I just have to flip a toggle switch on and off to be able to watch a DVD and get the extra menu items. The iPod adapter is great. Being able to control the playback on it though the screen and remote rocks! I wish I could do a word search for songs/artists, but I'm over it!
iPod users, beware. I completely agree with the other reviewers that the sound and picture quality are way beyond great. However, if you are planning to get a KCA-420i and navigate your iPod from the touchscreen, you may be disappointed by Alpine's hacked together iPod solution. The main problem is that the ability to get to a specific track is very slow. Given the options of album, artist, or playlist search, and my iPod with 400 artists and 2000 albums, I had to resort to what most 310/420 owners have done: I created an iTunes Smart Playlist for each letter. So, click search, playlist, click 10 times to scroll to L, click, click 30 times to get to the artist, click, click on the album, and finally click on the track. As a result, I spend most of my iPod listening time using MIX Songs mode, which I frustratingly have to turn back on every time I power on the unit. It can remember that I want an 80hz low pass on the subs, but can't remember I want MIX on all the time. It seems Alpine acknowledged the problem by creating a half-solution hack called Percentage Search that jumps around in 1/6ths of all your music. Unfortunately, they implemented it on the lower end D100, and left us D310 users without a retrofit. Alpine further acknowledged they blew it by creating the IVA-X001's iPod interface, and continues to leave D310 users out in the cold. So my advice would be to wait a few generations on anything Alpine does. Eventually they'll get it right. Read a few reviews on their Bluetooth integration, you'll understand why I still have a Parrot. Still, don't get me wrong. I make up excuses to get in my car and listen to music. Sometimes, I'll get where I'm going and wait for the track to finish. I spent 4 months listening to systems, but slacked on getting all the details about functionality. Buy a D310 and love how it sounds, but realize that no matter which iPod you have, once you get in your car you essentially have a Shuffle. I've owned a D310 for over a year now and love every minute except when I want to search my iPod.
