Alpine has always been a trusted company when it has come to car audio. They have constantly and consistently produced quality units for the needs of the people. The newer in-dashes from Alpine are no different. The Alpine iDA-X100 and the iDA-x200 continue the Alpine legacy of superior products.

Both the Alpine iDA-X100 and the Alpine iDA-X200 are fully iPod compatible and house a USB/full speed direct connection made specifically for the iPod. They allow full access to the iPod from the in-dash and Alpine has made it easy for the user to navigate and search through the iPod. The iPod connection is becoming more and more popular among in-dash units and Alpine has really done it right. Along with being iPod ready, the Alpine iDA-X100 and Alpine iDA-X200 come ready for all of the following: Bluetooth, SIRIUS or XM radio, HD radio, and CD changer. These in-dashes are ready to do just about anything.

The Alpine iDA-X100 and the iDA-X200 are very similar digital media receivers and they only have a few differences between them. The first and major difference is the 2.2” full color display on the Alpine iDA-X100. The Alpine iDA-X200 has a 2.2”, two line LCD display that offers 2 colors. Obviously the Alpine iDA-X100 is going to look a lot better and more vibrant (as well as come with a bigger price tag). The really nice thing about the 2.2” full color display of the Alpine iDA-X100 is that when the iPod is connected it will show the album art of what is playing in a format that is strikingly similar to that of the newer iPods.

Of all the notable differences, the major variation is the full color display verses the two line display. That’s why the Alpine iDA-X100 is about a hundred more dollars than the Alpine iDA-X200. Of course that is the suggested retail for the Alpine iDA-X100 and the Alpine iDA-X200 is $400.00 and $300.00 respectively. If you are lucky then you might be able to find them cheaper somewhere. Some stores have somehow lowered their prices on the Alpine iDA-X200 to the low $200’s. It seems as though the Alpine iDA-X100 is sticking around the $400 range though.

After reviewing the details on both the Alpine iDA-X100 and the Alpine iDA-X200, it is clear that Alpine is still putting quality and excellence into the production of each and every one of their products. No one can make a wrong choice when choosing between either of these to in-dash receivers.

Written by Associate Writer Seth Wilde