Alpine iLX-W650 7" Double DIN Touchscreen Digital Multimedia Receiver with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Great head unit, easy to install and fits nicely. I have paired this head unit with alpine door speakers and they sound AMAZING! I definitely recommend this head unit.

Installed this in a 2009 Chrysler 300 where the opening behind the radio is too narrow for double-DIN head units that are more than about 4 inches deep. This unit is only about 2.5 inches deep and is loaded with features (except for a disc player). I really like that the display is large and the text is very easy to read. The touch screen works really well. Blue-tooth connectivity works great. Apple CarPlay works great. The switch from Bluetooth to CarPlay is automatic just by plugging/unplugging the cable. It will drop audio for 1 or 2 seconds during the switch.Cons: Stupid #$%&ing parking brake sense wire is required to access most of the settings including just switching between two bluetooth devices. It can't be bypassed by simply grounding the wire. It requires a smart bypass circuit with a timed relay. I bought the "MicroBypass Parking Brake Override" on Amazon after I found out I couldn't even access the settings without the parking brake being engaged.The built-in amplifier is only 16W x4 vs. the typical 22W x4. I imagine this is due to the much smaller space available inside the unit. It's still good enough for the factory speakers in my car, though.Update: Aug 22, 2019. After 3 months, I'm still liking this unit. Some things I've noticed since my initial review:I occasionally see a lag on the touchscreen when using CarPlay, but it's rare. Not sure if it's the phone or the unit.When switching between Bluetooth and CarPlay in the middle of a song, it's obvious that the Bluetooth and CarPlay audio go through some different audio processing (e.g. equalizer settings). CarPlay sounds a lot better. Again, not sure if this is something on the phone or the unit.There is a small window of time about 3 seconds after you turn the unit on but before the unit is fully booted up where if you plug in your iPhone, it won't be detected and so CarPlay won't be available. If it happens, the simple solution is to unplug the cable and plug it in again.Update Aug 10, 2020: Wanted to update that the custom equalizer settings don't seem to affect the Carplay or Bluetooth at all. This is kind of a let-down for me after changing out my speakers.

This is my first touchscreen head unit and it is worlds more advanced than any head unit I've had before. This Alpine unit is simple to use and tweak to your liking. The screen is bright and easy to see during the day when its sunny outside and dims automatically at night. You can also adjust the brightness and dimness of the screen to your liking. Sound quality is first class and you know you are getting Alpine sound a build quality which will bring you years of quality use. All parts of this unit are very simple to use including the 9 band EQ, making or receiving calls, or navigating to a destination.Before buying this unit I compared it to the Kenwood DMX9706S which cost about $100 more (best I could find on internet). The Kenwood is obviously a great unit (I have Kenwood in my other automobile) but the Alpine just seemed easier to manipulate and manage due to its simple (iPhone - Like) feel. Of course the Alpine is compatible with both Android and Apple Car Play which is very nice for navigation, playing music, and making calls.When shopping for a new head unit I found most of the units were very comparable and do a lot of the same things (sort of like comparing smart phones) but I felt this Alpine head unit was the simplest to use and I felt ease of use is particularly important when you are installing it in an automobile. Also the price on it is better than the competition as I picked this one up for $279.00. It's a good buy on a great unit. Cannot go wrong with Alpine as the sound quality is definitely what you expect from Alpine.

Sounds great! Looks good in the card touch screen is really touch responsive. Easy to use and easy to navigate the screens.The only thing is you have to hook it up to your parking break sensor in order to use any of the features besides the radio itself. So just be aware of that. I had to pull everything back out after the install and rewire that.

Installed this in a 2006 F-250. Quite happy with it, it has good sound quality even with old factory speakers, although I was mainly just looking for something to work with my phone's map and to receive the audio/Bluetooth. It has a sleek look and was well worth the time and effort. I self-installed this and it wasn't very difficult with the help of a couple YouTube videos.I have a few minor gripes that I can't blame the manufacturer for. One is that without a dial changing the volume is a little bit of a hassle. I like the look of the solid glass face, but it is a little annoying trying to tap the small volume up or down spots while driving, a classic knob is preferred, at least by me. Alpine also uses a security feature to ensure the car is in park with the parking brake on before accessing some settings. I totally understand this is a safety matter but for me I was unwilling to locate and tap into the brake wiring. Granted there are other options out there to bypass this which I HEAR work well...... Final gripe is that in order to use Android Auto you must have it connected via USB. It works really well when hooked up, but would be even more useful if it was a wireless connection.That whining aside, happy with the final result and it is a worthwhile upgrade and expense.