Phoenix Gold Phorum

Im going through hell trying to rebuild my dad's Porsche system from the early 90s. It has a 1310 commander with a 5959S changer (that is jammed), and a 3681 time delay processor. We havent heard a system in a car that sounds as good. We arent sure what sounds good, but the combo of all the parts sounds fantastic.

The problem is the 5959S is old as dirt, and Alpine wont service it. So, my thoughts were to go Ai Net with a new headunit, 624 changer (I have 4 already) and a PHA-400 I think is the part number which is a AiNet 3681. Its even the same size so it will fit in the install perfectly.

What I need to know from someone is if this will sound as good, or the same as what we have now. Buying another 5959 is a pita and very pricy, and who knows how long it will work before it jams as well.

If it will sound similar due to the DACs being in the time processors (3681/H400), since they have the same DACs, does it really matter what changer or headunit we use? If it doesnt, what headunit would you guys recommend? I know the 7909 is the bad ass old school one for SQ, but did they make a decent AiNet one? Im not sure the F1 Status radio will work with the AiNet stuff, I think it has to work with all its own stuff, and thats not an option since I already have the H400 and the 624 to give to my dad...

Any advice besides set the car on fire and break out the smores?

7949 was the best alpine i ever owned

kg1961 wrote:7949 was the best alpine i ever owned

I just found one of those, 7909/Clarion 9255 good? Its sorta ugly but if it sounds good, thats what matters!

Anyone else have an old radio they wished they still had? The new tech amps out there are great, but no one makes a dang CD player anymore, I dont understand it.

I had the 7909, that deck was fantastic. I'd still have it, had it not got stolen.

I have owned both the 7909 and 7949. both sound nice. and if you can find one get either.

7949 was a great dead head, gotta love the copper.
7909 was legendary, as long as the loading mech didn't fail.
I think I am runnin a 7998 that I am happy with it has the auto-eq ability as well as built in cross-overs.

I am partial to the 7939 myself. Might run one someday. Lots harder to find than the 7949. Especially in good shape.

Audiophiliac wrote:I am partial to the 7939 myself. Might run one someday. Lots harder to find than the 7949. Especially in good shape.

The 7939 is my era, I got into car audio in the mid 90s... I had a 7807 and 7824 that sorta looked like a blend of that radio...

The 7939/49 is designed to work with the PRA-H400 which I was going to install as well, so I will probably get one of those. a 7998 is a great alternative as well, but I dunno if it will work with the H400, as I read the 39/49/69 were the main designed units for that processor...

Thanks everyone for the advice!

The 7939r is a very good headunit..... i have 3 of them... and one extra for parts......

i've heard the 7909 would even be better... only thing is when you need parts for it,

only option is to have or find another one just for the parts.......alpine has no stock anymore......

I will use myself the 7939 in combo with the changer 634.

I would only "upgrade" it to a Alpine F1 status if i had the chance to buy the F1 headunit 7990R

or the combo with the F1 status processor......

Those days they made headunits that sounded great, today they make headunits that sell great


I also own a 9812, a very good unit indeed, but i prefer the sound of the 7939r.....

i had two year ago a chance to buy a 7909, but the guy asked way to much.......i'd let it go......

zeropoint0.5 wrote:The 7939r is a very good headunit..... i have 3 of them... and one extra for parts......

i've heard the 7909 would even be better... only thing is when you need parts for it,

only option is to have or find another one just for the parts.......alpine has no stock anymore......

I will use myself the 7939 in combo with the changer 634.

I would only "upgrade" it to a Alpine F1 status if i had the chance to buy the F1 headunit 7990R

or the combo with the F1 status processor......

Those days they made headunits that sounded great, today they make headunits that sell great


I also own a 9812, a very good unit indeed, but i prefer the sound of the 7939r.....

i had two year ago a chance to buy a 7909, but the guy asked way to much.......i'd let it go......

Any chance you want to sell me one of those 7939s? assuming not the broken one:lol:

STROKD wrote:

zeropoint0.5 wrote:The 7939r is a very good headunit..... i have 3 of them... and one extra for parts......

i've heard the 7909 would even be better... only thing is when you need parts for it,

only option is to have or find another one just for the parts.......alpine has no stock anymore......

I will use myself the 7939 in combo with the changer 634.

I would only "upgrade" it to a Alpine F1 status if i had the chance to buy the F1 headunit 7990R

or the combo with the F1 status processor......

Those days they made headunits that sounded great, today they make headunits that sell great


I also own a 9812, a very good unit indeed, but i prefer the sound of the 7939r.....

i had two year ago a chance to buy a 7909, but the guy asked way to much.......i'd let it go......

Any chance you want to sell me one of those 7939s? assuming not the broken one:lol:

I have to dissapoint you !!! i have one almost mint one i have in a trade for an eq215i with plexi and two other

a little bid more used ones but in perfect working order. the extra one for parts only the rear rca works, from the front

rca an ic is blown up, but nowhere in the world to find anymore......Even alpine does not have them anymore. only way to

find is secondhand...... If i would ever buy a complete F1 status (headunit and processor); i know someone in my country,

then it's another thing....

If you want a good alternative, the 9812r is also a very good one. normally easier to find....

Sorry to give you not the answer that you wanted.....

One thing also to know about the 7939r, it plays only original cd's, not even cdr, then you will destroy the laser soon....

no laser more to find neither for that model

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Alpine-CDA-7939R ... 460fa71895


here's you're chance if you want one..................

Here's some I just found on the bay this a.m.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alpine-CDA-7998 ... 4d0d2909f7

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alpine-Cda-7949 ... 232ba358f2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USED-ALPINE-CDA ... 2c6f7f2e57

Just a lil off topic, but NONE of the alpines mentioned can run with a DRZ-9255 in anyway period! Its was a night and day diff,The 7995,7998 deadhead only comes close, i had that before I bought the 9255, then bought Stroked denon Z1 and have never looked back, cause you really cant... But If I had the change $$$ an all F1 setup would be the shit or even the new pioneer 99rs stage 4! That sounded GREAT at SBN...

I had a 7995 in my old car. I really miss it. I wouldnt mind having a 7990 as well.

matter of fact, if I was looking for high end units, other than the alpines, i wouldnt mind a Sony cdx-c90, or a pioneer P1R.

vwdude wrote:I had a 7995 in my old car. I really miss it. I wouldnt mind having a 7990 as well.

matter of fact, if I was looking for high end units, other than the alpines, i wouldnt mind a Sony cdx-c90, or a pioneer P1R.

I love the Sony CDX-c90. I think I've had 5 of them. The first four got ripped off. And the last one finally died a few years ago.

funny my cdxc90 got lifted also...

kg1961 wrote:funny my cdxc90 got lifted also...

popular deck to steal apparently.

ive never owned one, but i installed a few of them. the optical cable was a bear to run without kinking it.

finally a Alpine cda 7990r f1 status headunit is on the way to me

can't wait to do a sound test......very curious how much diff it will make over a cda7939r model

i was told it sounds ................................

when it arrives please post pics and a full review.

vwdude wrote:when it arrives please post pics and a full review.

it arrived today and the front looks as brand new..... not even a single scratch.....me like.........

some parts are still available for this unit ( display , laser etc ) so i will order a laser soon and keep it in stock

just as reserve.......... i'll make a test setup vey soon to see if indeed it's fully functional.......

Picture? Videos?

vwdude wrote:Picture? Videos?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200929994786?ss ... 1497.l2649

here's the auction...... didn't had time yet to connect it and do a full checkup.........

damn i just drooled all over my keyboard.

cant wait to see it installed.

oh, but keeping with the theme of this thread, is it AiNet? i didnt see the logo ont he face, but im pretty sure it is.

vwdude wrote:damn i just drooled all over my keyboard.

cant wait to see it installed.

oh, but keeping with the theme of this thread, is it AiNet? i didnt see the logo ont he face, but im pretty sure it is.

I connected it yesterday in some kind of a home setup to do a full checkup and a listening test.......

damn this is the best headunit i ever heard play..... no regrets......

only negative point is, how high the signal to noise ratio is, when i put my ear on a tweeter, it's really small,

but the pink noise is not zero.........with the volume on zero..... maybe it has to do with the quick setup i made ??

we'll see......my car won't be ready the first 6 months....... due to private matters(not money)..... no time and other

shit that happened........