Alpine CHAS-634 6-Disc CD Changer

I bought this unit after struggling with a Sony MP3 CD changer (model CDX-565MXRF) for a few months. The Sony unit had been a big disappointment and the Alpine unit has turned out to be just fantastic. I'm using it with my factory sound system for the Acura TL.

The Alpine unit was professionally installed in about 45 minutes.

Unlike the Sony unit, the Alpine unit offers "Ai-NET" compatibility. The installer was able to install a unit that converted the "Ai-NET" signals into Honda/Acura stereo signals so that the Alpine unit a) uses the CD controls that came with the car, and b) plays directly through the factory audio system instead of over an FM channel.

Because it plays through the car stereo, there are no visible wires. At first, I did not believe that the Acura TL, without a built-in CD changer, could control an external CD changer. The installer showed me the combination on the CD controls that allows me to change tracks and CDs. The existing car controls work well so that I can fast forward, skip or repeat tracks, etc.

Unlike the Sony MP3 CD changer that I used earlier, there is no easy way to access folders on an MP3 CD. More over, loading or removing CDs in/from the CD changer is more of a hassle. While the Sony changer allowed me to insert CDs into the tray quickly, the elements of the tray are separated easily in the Alpine unit, so one can actually take apart the entire tray assembly if one is not careful. Not easy to insert six CDs into such a tray if you are standing behind the car. The individual tray elements are not labeled so the new user won't know whether they have inserted CD1 or CD6.

The unit finds disks and tracks quickly, in both MP3 and regular CDs.

The only thing negative comment I have is that because the Sony remote is gone, I can't see the song titles any more, so the ID3 tags are of no use.

It is also surprising that, unlike portable units, the two CD changers that I have used do not specify an anti-skip buffer. I can understand that the Sony unit may not have one at all, but it will be comforting for the consumer to know whether they are buying a unit with anti-skip features. The installer knew that I had skipping issues with the Sony changer, and I had to take the installer's word that the Alpine unit would not skip. I would have felt more confident if the Alpine brochure or box listed an anti-skip buffer.

So far the Alpine unit has played all the CDs that I have put in it, regardless of whether these are MP3s, CD-R/Ws, or commercial CDs. No surprises so far, and the sound quality is excellent!