Alpine Halo9 iLX-F309E

Overall good unit, Alpine quality sound – I have this head unit and I find the adjustability is fantastic, this includes time correction, multiple crossover points with multiple Slopes, individual control of equaliser for front and rear channels and a whole bunch of other features like digital radio HDMI input and so on and so on - this is a very fully-featured head unit. I primarily bought the larger screen for Google maps in my Volkswagen Amarok which is a work car and is using maps non-stop and for this function and hands-free calls it works fantastically.

The screen quality is a bit rubbish to be fair and everything looks a bit 2011 on it. The menus as per the menus on my ilx-702d are mostly easy-to-use but in some cases especially the dab tuner can be confusing and they do look dated but this is not really an issue for me because I'm also a bit dated. I don't do videos but the Maps look a bit flat and not very sharp this is true of all the menus but in terms of functionality it's fine - I just my gripe is this is actually a fairly expensive units and the screen quality really should be proportionate to the price.

Very good unit – The previous two reviews are clearly from people who don't know how to use or set up the unit. Disregard them. Large floating display that is bright and easy to read. Huge range of options to connect including the usual amps and speakers, external cameras, external screens etc. Android Auto works great (not sure why other reviewer thinks it's apple only, another reason to ignore their rambling)

The other review said you use your phone while driving? Another garbage statement. When you use android auto, the phone screen turns off. You use the stereo control, steering wheel buttons where fitted or voice control which works great for sending and receiving messages and calls.

Only downsides on my unit(same downsides on ilx-702d in my other car) are that periodically the voice button activates with no one touching it(approximately once per 3 trips) and screen resolution could be higher if you're picky. Installation is a tiny bit fiddly but overall not much harder than a non floating screen unit.

Would be great if it had seperate USB input for a thumb drive as well as a phone simultaneously but it's not a big deal.

The most dangerous head unit to buy – You pay so much money for a head unit the unit need to have navigation and everything built into it when you're paying this kind of money for Alpine halo9 head unit it is a joke with the app not working not connecting to the phone. To use your navigation and other things this is a distraction on the road and it's dangerous because you are using your mobile phone while you're driving this should be banned from selling in Australia or any country because you have to use your mobile phone for a lot of things it's completely a joke when any car on any stereo you have to use your mobile phone when it's not allowed and you get fines for it the people who make it don't they have any brains or do they just want people to pay fines take everyone's money it's bad enough you have to pay so much money for the unit. The price is for installation and the head unit only

Halo9 Alpine head unit gone backwards – They make this head unit for Apple phone's only it is not made for Android it's a bit of a joke we can't see the apps just like the Apple phone if you make something you should make it so it's same as the Apple apps and the app to connect from Android to the stereo it's like a child made it's got nothing on it it's pathetic for the price you pay I rather stick my tablet on the dashboard it would be cheaper to WiFi to your normal stereo just like a computer this Halo with a big screen it's a joke not the screen the programming you can't Bluetooth you have to use the USB to connect which is a joke wires is hanging out coming out of your glove box all this technology they haven't put nothing in it I had a $100 tablet which is better than the Alpine unit . This unit should be just like a tablet not have to connect phone's to it and no navigation it's a joke $80 head unit from China has more than this unit does I can prove that I put one on Friends vehicle recently

June 2nd 2019 Update: Alpine Halo 9 no help

Since I bought this few weeks ago I have been trying to get things working literally it is just a radio not even the digital works properly everything else is not bad except for it's a joke when you pay $1500 with insulation for a radio if I knew I needed a phone hooked up all the time to play things I would never have paid for such garbage and Alpine is not helping at all they literally don't want to know anything about it after selling so I'm going to take it out and give it back to them it's pretty pathetic this is the first time I have to deal with Alpine and they are not helpful anymore it is not like the 90s they just want the money and that's all they care about including Autobarn who sold it to me