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Experience The Music The Way The Artist Intended
The technology that makes the IMPRINT Sound possible is called MultEQ. It works by analysing the vehicle cabin acoustic characteristics, and then creating a set of equalisation filters to correct for frequency response and time domain problems for each speaker. MultEQ removes sound distortion caused by the specific acoustical problems in the vehicle by applying unique FIR equalisation using more than 500 points along the frequency spectrum (instead of the typically small number of equaliser bands). This claims to optimise the sound reproduction to the specific vehicle listening environment with incredible precision. The result, according to Alpine, is that everyone in the car hears the music the way the musicians wanted it to be heard. THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SOUND
Alpine’s IMPRINT sound system was developed in co-operation with some of the best minds in the field of acoustical correction: the founders of Audyssey Labs, professors Chris Kyriakakis, and Tomlinson Holman (inventor of THX theatre sound) of the University of Southern California (visions of the Fast Show's American professor are inevitable, but these guys certainly know their stuff). For the past five years, they have been intensively researching and testing new ways to understand the fundamental causes of room acoustical distortion. This research resulted in the creation of MultEQ, the sound equalisation technology that is revolutionising home theatre, and now car audio as well. IMPRINT using MultEQ is claimed to be superior to other equalisation systems in five ways. Alpine say it is the only system that measures the entire listening area, capturing time domain information from each listening location and applying a proprietary method for processing it to represent all seat locations. This gives the people in each seat the optimal listening experience. It corrects both time and frequency problems, for an improved soundstage and smoother, more natural sound. It uses dynamic frequency allocation to apply hundreds of points of correction to those areas where the sound problems are greatest. IMPRINT determines optimised blending points for low frequency crossovers. The technology provides, in minutes, vehicle sound tuning that generally takes skilled professionals days to accomplish. HOW TO GET IMPRINT-ed
Among the first products featuring the IMPRINT technology is the Alpine CDA-9887R, CD/MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver. As well as MultEQ, the CDA-9887R uses a 24-bit Burr Brown D/A converter for the best sound quality and playback of WMA, MP3 and AAC files. With three pairs of pre-outs (4V) and built-in 60W x 4 high power amplifier, the CDA-9887R offers great flexibility to add on other digital sources. Connectivity solutions include KCE-422i Full Speed Connection™ for iPod®; Bluetooth® via the KCE-300BT adapter; and support for USB WMA/MP3 players via the KCA-620M adapter. A separate IMPRINT Specialist Tuning Kit, KTX-100EQ, is available for installers. The kit includes the IMPRINT Sound Manager set-up software (CD-ROM for PC), a PC USB interface/calibration unit, cables and a microphone. The software allows the installer to automatically tune the system right in the vehicle. The system can be tuned to match the customers’ tastes, with the complete tuning process taking approximately 45 minutes. The CDA-9887R, £399.99 RRP, and the KTX-100EQ, £199.99 RRP, is available now through authorised Alpine dealers
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