News

  Alps Alpine Co., Ltd. (Ota-ku, Tokyo; President Toshihiro Kuriyama), a leading manufacturer of electronic components and automotive infotainment systems and its domestic marketing division Alpine Electronics Marketing, Inc. (Ota-ku, Tokyo; President Muneki Ishida) introduce AlpineF#1Status, the pinnacle of car audio. Global sales will start in the fall.

  Developed through the culmination of knowledge and technical expertise gathered over the years as a premium sound system supplier, AlpineF#1Status is a complete premium car audio system that embodies Alpine’s vision of “Emotion in Mobility,” by delivering an unparalleled music experience. It provides listeners with the emotional experience of a live performance, transforming a space used for transportation into a superior acoustic environment.

  AlpineF#1Status is the first in the industry to achieve 384kHz/32bit high-resolution audio playback, the highest recording spec possible in a car audio system. This is more than 17 times the amount of digital audio data in a standard CD (44.1kHz/16bit). Audio is reproduced with a level of quality that is not possible with CDs and allows listeners to experience music details that were previously exclusive to a live performance, such as the breath of the artist and subtle interactions with instruments. The AlpineF#1Status system truly allows listeners to experience recording studio-level sound within a vehicle.

  To create accurate sound reproduction, development was focused on three critical parameters: Time scale synchronization of audio signal transmission, sound arrival and custom tone frequency range of a 4-way speaker system.

【Features of the new product】

1. Achievement of 384kHz/32bit High-Resolution Audio Playback and Playback Environment

  As a first for the car audio industry, AlpineF#1Status achieves 384kHz/32bit playback. This is 17.4 times the amount of information in a CD standard (44.1kHz/16bit) and results in minimal audio distortion for a music experience that’s close to the original audio. This reproduces audio with a level of expression that was not possible with CDs and allows listeners to experience details that were previously exclusive to a live performance, such as the breath of the artist and subtle interactions with instruments. It truly allows listeners to experience recording studio-level sound within a vehicle.

2. Appeal of high-resolution audio

  The human ear can hear frequencies up to 20kHz, however, 384kHz high-resolution audio allows playback of ultrahigh tonal ranges up to 192kHz. This poses a problem, as limiting the audio to a range that can be heard by humans causes compromises in the original sound wave, creating a reproduction that differs from the original.

  High-resolution audio is reproduced by incorporating frequency ranges that cannot be heard by the human ear. This provides a richer expression in high tonal ranges, expanding the sense of detail and depth of the music. Additionally, high-resolution audio reproduction is clean sound with minimal distortion, even when the music is played at high volumes.

3. Perfect Synchronization For a Live Feel

I. Time Scale Synchronization of Audio Signal Transmission

  Until recently, the head unit, used for audio source playback, and the audio processor, used for tuning, were separate systems due to the limited environment and installation space in the vehicle cabin. For this reason, it was necessary for each device handling digital signals to have an independent crystal (clock) to process the signals and timing of each component. This causes deviations in the digital signal called “jitter” (clocking errors) which affects the quality of the audio playback. The Master Clock Management System in the AlpineF#1Status system was developed to resolve this.
  At the Master Clock Managements System’s Core, the OCXO DuCULoN®, boasts the world’s highest level of frequency precision completely synchronizing the transmission between the head unit and the audio processor with a single clock. This reduces the amount of jitter in the audio transmission.

  Used for the first time in a car audio system, OCXO is a crystal oscillator with temperature control system.
It enhances audio precision with a design containing two crystals housed in a dedicated case with enhanced heat insulation that increases the frequency-temperature characteristic from ±50ppm (parts per million) to ±0.1ppb (parts per billion) through an automated temperature control system.

  To fully utilize this high-precision device, it is configured to be directly supplied as a Digital to Analog (DA) conversion clock to the ES9038PRO DAC used to achieve 384kHz/32bit playback. This minimizes audio quality deterioration caused by clock jitter and provides a configuration that reaches the full potential of high-resolution audio

■OCXO DuCULoN® Crystal Oscillator for Automotive

■ES9038PRO DAC, the highest level processor

II. Synchronization of Sound Arrival

■The Griffin UL DSP, the pinnacle
of digital sound processors
4 units are included, double the normal number

  In traditional car audio systems, the distance to the listener is asymmetrical on the left and right depending on the speaker placement and seat positioning, thereby requiring high-precision tuning to optimize sound quality.

  AlpineF#1Status is equipped with four premium digital sound processors running up to 1GHz/64bit, delivering processing capability of a high-power computer CPU to achieve accurate sound tuning. This enables AlpineF#1Status to perform time alignment adjustments with a precision of approximately 0.9mm, improving from the equivalent of approximately 7.2mm which is the smallest unit possible in existing products.

III. 4-Way Synchronization of Speaker Tone”

  Conventional speakers are made with materials and a structure suited to the entire playback frequency band, while component speaker systems are made up of materials and structures designed for its individual frequency band. For example, thin diaphragms are lightweight and suitable for playback of high-speed high notes but have reduced rigidity. Meanwhile, highly rigid diaphragms are suitable for low notes, but they are thick and heavy, and not suitable for playback of high notes.

  AlpineF#1Status uses high-performance carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) in each speaker that completely synchronizes the speaker’s tone by unifying the diaphragm material of each speaker. CFRP is lightweight, like plastic, yet highly rigid like aluminum. This aerospace material is versatile enough to be used for frequencies ranging from low to ultra-high range and results in the best diaphragm design to achieve the performance of the full specification of high-resolution audio.

  The surrounds of the speakers incorporate a proprietary “double gathered edge” delivering audio quality that supports high-resolution audio. Combining Alpine patented speaker technologies, including DDDrive, DDLinear, and DualEmission magnetic circuits, reduce distortion between speakers by accurately transforming the incoming electrical signal into cone movement. As a result, the playback frequency of each AlpineF#1Status speaker covers a wider range than ever before, enabling a wider cross-over for each system component.

■Carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP)

■Double gathered edge

【Alpine’s Passion】

  Since the Alpine brand was established, the company has cultivated its knowledge and technical expertise as a total sound system supplier, specializing in automotive audio and communication equipment to provide the industry’s leading car entertainment systems.
  AlpineF#1Status addresses the needs of all music fans who want to enjoy the highest recording spec possible in a car audio system for a live music experience.
  Through the high-resolution audio playback and expressive detail, AlpineF#1Status listeners can get the experience of a live performance, such as the breath of the artist, to create a space that’s not only used for transportation, but an environment that creates an exciting music experience.

【Sales】

  Sales will commence in autumn. Details will be provided on the website for each region by the start of autumn.
  AlpineF#1Status is exclusively available for sale as a fully system, components are not available for sale individually.

【About Alps Alpine】

  Alps Alpine, a leading manufacturer of electronic components and automotive infotainment systems, has brought the world numerous “First 1” and “Number 1” products since its founding in 1948. The Alps Alpine Group currently operates 110 bases in 26 countries and regions, supplying roughly 40,000 different products and solutions to around 2,000 companies worldwide. Those offerings include devices such as switches, sensors, data communication modules, touch input panels, actuators and power inductors; electronic shifters, remote keyless entry systems and other automotive units; consumer electronics like car navigation and audio-visual systems; and systems and services such as digital keys based on smartphone app and blockchain technology, and remote monitoring.
For more information: www.alpsalpine.com/e/

【Appendix】

* kHz (kilohertz): A unit of frequency repeated 1,000 times per second
kHz represent how fine the increments are in handling audio source information in a second.
A 44.1kHz CD records 44,100 pieces of data in a second and the 384kHz AlpineF#1Status is able to record 384,000 pieces of data in a second.

* bit: A unit of digitally processed information
A bit represents the size of the increments in which audio data is recorded.
A higher number of bits enables more accurate recording and playback of the original waveform of the audio source.