I have been into, and competing in car audio since 1992 and have heard all kinds of differnt head units that you can imagine and I am telling you that their is only 1 other head unit that I have heard that is even in the conversation for me with the 7909 and that is the Mcintosh MX 406. Believe it or not I also had a 7990 which on paper has better statistics then the 7909 but even though it did sound very clean and impressive in its own right it still didnt exhibit that "Live" sound that the 7909 has in my opinion. Also, I have an original 1989 unit and a 1998 limited edition model and the 1998 limited edition model doesnt seem to have the mechanical issues that the original one had, in particular the CD transport mechanism issue that was a source of irritation on the original one. Apparrently Alpine made the necessary upgrades and adjustments for the 1998 model and they deserve accolades for that.
Alpine's 7909 Nabs 'Best Ever' CD Receiver Award
Categories: Industry News Car Audio Head Units
| Mobile Electronics Magazine Bestows Honor Voted by Industry Members TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 10, 2009 - Alpine Electronics of America, Inc., the industry-leading manufacturer of automotive mobile media solutions, has been honored with the award for "Best Ever" CD receiver by Mobile Electronics magazine. The online poll of the mobile electronics industry was conducted during the fall of 2008 and Mobile Electronics recently presented the award to Alpine. In 1989, Alpine introduced the 7909 (with an SRI of $1,200) as the company's flagship AM/FM CD receiver, targeted to audiophile consumers and auto sound competitors. The 7909 was best known for its incredible sound quality at a time when the CD format was gaining major popularity in the car. It used a dual Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) architecture designed to outperform other single DAC-based CD receivers. The 7909's 18 bit, 18x oversampling technology used with a 1 bit DAC delivered the best possible sound reproduction for CDs. The unit also featured CD Straight, which allowed the audio signal to bypass the bass, treble, balance and fader controls for the purest sound reproduction in the automotive aftermarket. Its 4-volt preamp outputs helped to further reduce noise. The 7909's performance made it a favorite among consumers and a popular source unit for International Auto Sound Challenge Association (IASCA) competitions. In 1998, Alpine re-introduced the 7909 Anniversary Edition, tied-in to the company's 20th anniversary in North America. Acknowledging the changes in consumer use, the Anniversary Edition did not have the Quick Release Bracket (QRB) pull-out chassis design that was found on the original 7909. Today, the 7909 still enjoys a strong cult following among car audio enthusiasts. "Alpine has always held exceptional sound quality as one of our key tenets, and the 7909 set this foundation for Alpine's Engineering Team. This knowledge ultimately influenced Alpine's product design principles, resulting in its strong reputation for sound quality," said Stephen Witt, vice president, marketing, Alpine Electronics. About Alpine Electronics Alpine Electronics is an automotive electronics manufacturer that supports drivers in over 60 countries and provides the world's leading automakers with audio, video, navigation and driver assistance products. The company specializes in system integration solutions with innovative vehicle entertainment and information technologies. Alpine's R&D and manufacturing facilities in Japan, China, Europe and North America ensure that all products address the real world requirements of drivers in each market. The company is committed to developing products that are safe, comfortable and eco-friendly for the automotive environment. For more information about Alpine Electronics, visit www.alpine.com For more information about Alpine's aftermarket products, visit www.alpine-usa.com |
Notice: Product information is based upon current information at the time of writing, but cannot be guaranteed. All designs, features, specifications and delivery dates are subject to change without notice. |
Alpine Media Contacts: Connie Sung | Jennifer Cody WONGDOODY Communications (310) 280-7963 | (310) 280-7717 connie.sung@wongdoody.com jennifer.cody@wongdoody.com |
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I just posted yesterday but I have more to add. In reference to the 7909, wether it is original or a 1998 one, it is best to send it to Chris Lewis at Pyramid Audio in Austin Texas. Chris will go thru it with a fine tooth comb and add better caps, resistors, shielding and anything else that can or should be upgraded. He will also send you a sheet that gives you the signal to noise ratio before and after. For example, my stock original 1989 7909 put out a measured 103.1. Then after Chris modified it, it put out a 107.5. Then on my 1998 limited edition piece that they only made 300 of, bone stock it measured 101.9. After Chris modified it, it put out a 107.8 ! The bottom line..the upgrade is worth it ! Also, remember this..most companies lie about their specs in the owners manuels, for instance..the 7909 claims to put out 110 signal to noise yet neither one measured over 103. As Eric Holdaway of Speaker Works in Orange, California once told me many years ago, "Mike..I dont know how some of these companies sleep at night".
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