Alpine INE-Z928HD AVN DVD Receiver Preview

Alpine was alive and well in the North Hall and the new INE-Z928HD AVN (Audio/Video/Navigation) DVD receiver is a big deal for the company. It's squarely taking aim at the 12-volt aftermarket and competing with some of the big names that have dominated that segment for some time. Alpine claims it as the first AVN system with a full 8-inch WVGA screen, but whose chassis fits into a standard 2-DIN opening. We weren't the only ones who were impressed, the INE-Z928HD won a 2012 CES Innovations Award in the In-Vehicle Audio/Video category.

The INE-Z928HD include Pandora Internet Radio control and station creation from iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry smartphones. It has a built-in HD Radio receiver and is compatible with SiriusXM (a separate tuner and subscription are required). You can also play back music from an iPod or iPhone, but it doesn't appear to have video support for either. The INE-Z928HD makes every source sound better with its 4-volt preamp outputs and easy car-specific sound setup.

Additional technology features include:

• Built-in Bluetooth wireless technology, with audio streaming, call waiting and fast phone book search
• Completely new 3D WVGA navigation platform, with over 6 million Points of Interest (POI) and free lifetime TMC traffic monitoring

To accommodate the 8-inch screen into vehicles, Alpine will offer multiple Perfect FIT (Factory Integration Technology) installation kits for the INE-Z928HD.  Installation kits for ten vehicle platforms, representing popular models accounting for over 2 million annual U.S. vehicle sales, will be available when the unit goes on sale (each kit sold separately).  Besides being cosmetically matched for each vehicle platform, the kits also come with vehicle-specific wiring harnesses and installation accessories for a direct plug-and-play connection to the INE-Z928HD.

The Alpine INE-Z928HD and Perfect FIT Kits should begin hitting the market in June. Retail pricing is still being finalized but the unit should be priced around $1300 or so based on past product history.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.