Alpine KCA-420i iPod Interface

(Original review date: 9/26/04) Alpine touts the KCA-420i/head unit combination as “the Best In-Vehicle Solution for Your iPod,” and it’s hard to argue with that claim right now. No other product provides as much flexibility for browsing your iPod’s music from your car stereo. However, the interface will leave some people wishing for the kind of elegance that makes the iPod so special. Whether or not the KCA-420i is a good value also depends on your existing audio system. If you currently have a compatible Alpine head unit, the $100 cost of the KCA-420i will be money well spent. If not, keep in mind that you’ll need to first purchase (and install) a new head unit, which will run anywhere from $200 to $2,300 plus installation costs.

–Dan Frakes