Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Head Units

TIDAL Music Streaming Comes to Alpine Car Audio

Alpine is the first aftermarket car audio company with full TIDAL integration. Is it the start of a new trend?

TIDAL music streaming screen on Alpine Head Unit

Alpine has announced a free software update for select head units that enables support for the TIDAL streaming music service. Models receiving the software update include the new Alpine Halo11 iLX-F511, the Alpine Halo9 iLX-F509, the iLX-507, and Jeep-specific radios i509-WRA-JK and i509-WRA-JL.

Once updated, compatible Alpine head unit customers can access the high-res streaming experience with TIDAL, accessing its catalog of over 90 million songs and 450,000 videos.

For TIDAL HiFi and HiFi Plus Members, they’ll get lossless audio and high-fidelity music options for superior sound quality that elevates the music experience. TIDAL Masters, delivered in partnership with Master Quality Authenticated (MQA), allows HiFi Plus Members to listen to music exactly as the artist intended the track to sound. With thousands of expertly curated playlists customers will be able to listen to all genres and discover new artists via TIDAL Rising. 

Alpine is the first aftermarket car audio company with full TIDAL integration. 

How it works

The Alpine head units work via TIDAL Connect and WiFi. That means you will need to connect the Alpine head unit to WiFi, either via tethering from your smartphone or from the car itself (if built-in).

Then all playback is controlled from the TIDAL app pre-installed on the head unit.

The available content is based on your account favorites and TIDAL’s promoted material (New Releases, Curated Playlists etc). You can’t use TIDAL offline, which means there’s no access to account caching.

Customers can access to select TIDAL features directly on the head unit, including “My Mix,” a personalized curation of sound based on listening history, expertly curated playlists, and individualized daily listening insights. The TIDAL feature also has convenient access to music controls like Play/Pause, Repeat, Shuffle, Playing List, and Search, where listeners can browse through featured artists, genres, “moods,” and more.

Units are capable of MQA Core decoding when playing TIDAL Masters.

Using trickle-down technology from Alpine’s new High-Res line; Ultra AlpineF#1Status (64-bit/384kHz) and the Alpine Status System (24-bit/192kHz), Alpine’s new line of head units are able to playback and decode 24-bit/96kHz files.

Video Demonstration

This video provides a very good overview of all features of current model Alpine head units, including new TIDAL integration. The TIDAL segment start around 8:15 in the video.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Availability

Download the software update and follow the instructions at kb.alpine-usa.com. The TIDAL app is available on the App Store or Google Play. A TIDAL subscription is required and sold separately. To access TIDAL on the Alpine Head Unit, the head unit must be tethered to a mobile or smartphone hotspot. Data rates may apply. 

Related reading:

New Sonus Faber Premium Speaker System Comes Wrapped In A Maserati Grecale

McIntosh MX1375 Reference System Debuts in Jeep Grand Wagoneer

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. ORT

    September 13, 2022 at 9:15 pm

    I have a couple of portable CD players to take with me in my car or truck when I want to hear CDs. I have SiriusXM in my truck and car for when my cell phone has no signal, i.e., in the middle of the Aridzona desert and Android Auto for when I have a signal and want my Pandora or Amazon Music.

    I have never considered Tidal as I do not care for the “music genre” that the “founder” was a part of. Android Auto and fApple Carplay are both just fine so I see no valid reason why anyone would need this “Media Centre” (See? I can spell things yourapeean to be suavey!).

    Thank you for a look at this Alpine. I will consider one if it fits in my Mustang as I am thinking of one final audio upgrade for that car. How ever, no Tidal(bowl) for me. Ever. LOL!

    ORT

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

New Products

Stratton Acoustics Element 12 Loudspeaker Finishes

Floorstanding Speakers

For $42,000/pair, the Stratton Acoustics Element 12 offer a reference level stand-mount loudspeaker that's hand-made in the UK.

Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 Signature Loudspeakers in Midnight Blue Metallic Closeup Bowers & Wilkins 702 S3 Signature Loudspeakers in Midnight Blue Metallic Closeup

Floorstanding Speakers

Trickle-down technology from Bowers & Wilkins' flagship 800 Series arrives in select 700 Series loudspeakers with gorgeous new finishes.

Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 Wireless Earbuds with Charging Case Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 Wireless Earbuds with Charging Case

Earbuds & In-Ear Headphones

At $219, the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 true wireless earbuds support Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio and up 16 hours per charge.

SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle Loudspeakers SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle Loudspeakers

Floorstanding Speakers

From $899 to $4,999/pair, the new top-of-the-line SVS Ultra Evolution loudspeakers raise the bar for affordable home theater performance.

Atlantic Technology 8600i Series Loudspeakers Lifestyle White Atlantic Technology 8600i Series Loudspeakers Lifestyle White

Floorstanding Speakers

The top-of-the-line Atlantic Technology 8600i Series includes a new tower and center channel speaker for home theater or stereo listening.

RSL Speakers Speedwoofer 10E Subwoofer Front RSL Speakers Speedwoofer 10E Subwoofer Front

New Products

RSL Speakers undercuts its own pricing by offering a new 10-inch, 300-watt powered subwoofer for music and home theater.

You May Also Like

Digital Music Systems

Beoconnect Core seamlessly adds digital music streaming capabilities to Bang & Olufsen powered speakers.

Car Audio

From Charlottlesville, Virginia in 1974, learn how Bill Crutchfield grew a tiny car stereo mail order business into a national electronics retailer.

Music

New streaming playlists for R&B, EDM, Hip Hop/Rap, and Rock include music from twenty engineers using Focal Pro monitors.

Car Speakers

Klipsch and Panasonic have partnered on a new reference premiere 24-channel audio system for the 2025 Infiniti QX80.

DACs

FiiO's new R9 might be one of the most forward thinking streamers and headphone amplifiers we have seen in awhile. HDMI ARC, balanced XLR...

Digital Music Systems

If you thought MQA and SCL6 were dead? Think again. Lenbrook has just spun off MQA, SCL6, and BluOS into a new entity and...

Digital Music Systems

Listening to MQA tracks on TIDAL using BluOS just got a lot harder. Is this the end for MQA?

Car Speakers

Naim Audio built the most powerful in-car OEM sound system in the market for the 2024 Bentley Batur by Mulliner.

Advertisement

ecoustics is a hi-fi and music magazine offering product reviews, podcasts, news and advice for aspiring audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts and headphone hipsters. Read more

Copyright © 1999-2024 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.



SVS Bluesound PSB Speakers NAD Cambridge Audio Q Acoustics Denon Marantz Focal Naim Audio RSL Speakers