Reviews for Alpine i207-WRA 7" In-Dash Digital Receiver for 07-18 Jeep Wrangler JK
I really enjoy having the unit so far. The instructions are not the best and I had to watch videos before installing the unit. It was a little complicated to getting the unit inside the dash but event hung else was really easy to do. So far it's been worth it so far. Lots of really nice features that make it really convenient to have over other radios, like being able to see the check engine codes and resetting them.
I gave it 4 stars not for the quality of the sound, but rather the complexity of the install. The directions are not the best, and if you haven't don't this before, this is not the time to start. The fit is tight and there is a ton of wiring that needs to get crammed into a very small space. After having to pull it out and put it back 3 or 4 times due to connections coming undone, I took it to a stereo installer, and THEY struggled with it as well. The sound quality lives up to alpine, but the install that says "level 2" for complexity is misleading, especially if you expect this to be a simple plug and play. I am happy with the sound, and it is a huge improvement over the stock system that jeep for some reason feels compelled to use, so in that arena you won't be disappointed. The sub does thump though and your passenger will feel it!
Great buy. I didn't want just another head unit for my set up. With all the new laws regarding phone use I wanted something that I could have a map up on the dash and wanted to keep my factory steering wheel controls. The module even let me configure the controls the way I wanted them before install which was very convenient. Even through the stock speakers, this unit was a step up in sound. Install was relatively easy and following the video made it very clear. I do have some gripes that took a star away from an otherwise terrific product; * I wish there was a dim control without having to have the vehicle in park (E-brake pulled for manual vehicles) because while in the daylight this unit is very clear and even visible with polarized sunglasses but at night, holy cow this thing lights up the inside of the jeep and I have turned the screen off because it was so bright. *If I were to connect this unit to a backup camera and want it to automatically switch when in reverse, I would have to a connect a wire to the reverse light wire in the passenger side kick panel. The issue is, this wire is all but 6" long and needs to run a good 3' to the location the directions say to connect to. (again for manual transmissions) I haven't used the external module adapter yet but i have no doubts it will work just fine.
I bought this for a 2017 Wrangler Sport. The factory radio was terrible from a sound quality and aesthetic view point. I bought the entire "kit" which was the head unit, speakers, and, subwoofer. I must say that the sound quality is very nice. It's what I would expect from Alpine. With all the hands free laws going into effect, that is one of the other reasons I bought it. From this perspective, I have been disappointed. To call this a plug and play unit is mostly true, but there is a lot of fine tuning you'll have to do. The space in the dash is very tight. The software also seems to be counterintuitive to me. If you use your Bluetooth vs your USB cable, it seems like two different sets of software that just have a mind of their own. When I make or receive calls, the hands free picks up for about 5 seconds and then nothing. The other person can still hear me, but I have nothing on my end and the conversation will not transfer back to my phone. It just disappears somewhere in the ether. My steering wheel sound controls also do not work at the moment. I still haven't figured a lot of the issues out. I thought maybe I was just having an ID10T error for a while, but I don't think that is the case. My next step is to take the head unit out and make sure all the plug and play connections are still in tact. The biggest reason I bout this kit aside from what I have already mentioned is the fact that it was hyped as plug and play. I have to say I am more disappointed than I would like to have been and if I had it to do again, I would have just taken my Jeep to a reputable audio place and let them install what I liked from their selection. I have to also say that I have liked Alpine for years and I still do. I'm hoping that when I take the head unit out and double check my connections I will find my issues. I suppose I could re-flash the head unit with the software packet that was included. I'll have to check into that. Hope this helps you guys in your selection.
Not worth the price tag. Major fundamental flaws.
Pros: great integration, looks nice in dash
uses steering controls
plays flac files
Cons: missing fundamental features
no playlist support
no search function (there is a magnifying glass, but it just takes you to the full artist list)
apple CarPlay disables every other music connection
requires external adapter for satellite radio
does not use stock microphone
voice control does not work
Alpine support is poor
I wanted to like this stereo, and honestly it is better than the stock base system for use with a USB drive. It looks good, and it plays from a USB drive, bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay. Unfortunately it does none of this well. USB has NO search function, which means the 3000+ songs I keep on a USB must be scrolled through by artist, song, etc.. There is no way to search by alphabet or fast scroll. No problem, just make a .m3u playlist beforehand for what you want to listen to? This radio does not support .m3u, the most common playslist file format.
Well it is still cool because you can listen to this drive while using Apple Navigation? Well no, using apple CarPlay disables other forms of music. Bluetooth and USB both disable when CarPlay is connected. Using my phone for music is not an option for me, so I have to choose between navigation and music.
Just turn on XM? The box lists this as XM ready, except the antenna does not connect to the stereo, you must purchase a Sirius adapter for $40. This was not a dealbreaker for me, just worth noting.
The voice button on the steering wheel brings up a menu, which to this point in time I cannot figure what, if anything, it does. You press it, the stereo listens, and you have to press an "x" to get out. I read the entire instruction book from cover to cover, and I write software for a living. If this "listening" does something, it sure isn't doing it well...
I have had about five calls with Alpine, and every question has been met with a "go pound sand" attitude, so I do not expect an update to improve things.
It was a while to install, although the instructions are pretty good. Now that it is in, I will probably keep it, as USB music is mandatory for me. Would I buy it again? Absolutely not.
Pros: Very nice sound quality and functionality. CarPlay is a huge step up from my factory 730N unit. Modern interface, with lots of features and audio adjustments.Cons: I wish this list was smaller. The install manual is lacking. For example, the manual dedicates a page to discussing the factory Uconnect module and warns the reader that "If Uconnect® module is not disconnected the Uconnect® system will stay paired with previously paired phones. The users phone may connect to both Bluetooth devices simultaneously resulting in unpredictable and potentially distracting behavior." The manual then instructs the reader to remove a portion of the dash board to locate the module for removal. It does not, however, let the reader know that certain factory radios (730N for example) have Uconnect integrated into the radio, leaving the reader to search for other possible locations for the module before scouring through Jeep forums for advice. Second, nowhere in the installation manual, description, owner's manual, or Alpine website does it inform the reader that, because the Jeep's compass resides in the factory radio (at least for 730N radios), you will lose the dash compass functionality after installing this radio. Instead, you'll get two pretty dashes. Robert at Alpine was very familiar with this issue, and was unaware of any way to get this functionality to work besides reinstalling the factory radio. Quadratec, as usual, was very helpful and was more than willing to accept a return given that they were never told about the lost compass functionality either.