Alpine IDAX 350 Ipod/USB radio

If your looking for a top notch Ipod deck....you've found it. The IDAX350 browses your ipod easily and effectively. It acts as an extension of your ipod when browsing......mimicking many of the Ipod wheel functions with the knob placed front and center on the radio. The controls are intuative and easy to understand. Many of our customers comment on how easy it is to learn with out even reading the instructions....thats how close it is to mimicking the ipod control wheel.
The deck has no cd slot......so if your looking to play cds......you'll have to pony up for the CHAS634 6 disc changer at $299 to play them. It has the capability of doing bluetooth, SAT radio, and HD radio with the appropriate add on modules. The IDAX350 comes with a USB cable that also has the IPOD connector on it it as well. AM/FM tuner is also standard on the deck.

The full color LCD screen is very easy to read and has great on and off axis viewing angles. That means the image does not wash out when looked at from an angle. The unit displays cover art from ipods with the capability. All functions are located on the center and left side of the unit....leaving the entire right side of the radio face for the screen. The buttons are easy to use.......although they can be difficult to read at night. This poses a problem for people who are unfamiliar with the radio.....but new owners will quickly learn to identify these buttons in a short period of time.

The sound quality seems pretty up to par.......although the unit we tested did not have a cd changer slaved to it so that I could make measurements from a cd. So I loaded my test sofware on my IPod and used that to make my measurements. Obviously a cd would have been more precise....but I did bring the test disc into my IPod at full file size. The output measured 1.96 volts at clip. Thats close enough to the 2v output claim in my book.

At $349 the IDAX350 is not the cheapest Ipod/USB deck.......but it is definately one of the easiest to learn and use that I have seen. If your looking for a great Ipod/USB deck....you should check this one out.