Developed through the culmination of knowledge and technical expertise gathered over the years as a premium sound system supplier, AlpineF#1Status is described as "a complete premium car audio system that provides listeners with the emotional experience of a live performance, transforming a space used for transportation into a superior acoustic environment."
AlpineF#1Status is presented as the first aftermarket car audio system in the industry to achieve 32-bit/384kHz high-resolution audio playback. Depending on the audio source that is being played, the level of quality that is possible with these systems allows listeners to experience music details that were previously exclusive to very high end home audio systems or a real live performance.
According to Alpine, to create this level of 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.
High-resolution audio is reproduced by extending to frequency ranges that cannot be heard by the human ear but provide a richer expression in high tonal ranges, expanding the sense of detail and depth of the music. While the human ear can only hear frequencies up to 20kHz, high-resolution audio allows playback of ultra-high tonal ranges and enables minimal distortion, even when the music is played at high volumes.
To deliver a superior audio reproduction, Alpine focused its development efforts on 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 each independent device to be able to handle digital signals it was necessary to distribute the same crystal (clock) reference to process the signals and timing of each component, which was a cause for jitter, potentially affecting 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 ultra-low-phase-noise crystal oscillator (pictured above) boasts the world's highest level of frequency precision and reduces the amount of jitter in the audio transmission. Used for the first time in a car audio system, the OCXO DuCULoN 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 leverage this high-precision device, the whole system is configured from the Digital to Analog (DA) conversion stage, using an ES9038PRO DAC with support for 32-bit/384kHz playback, minimizing audio quality deterioration and providing a complete configuration that reaches the full potential of high-resolution audio.
The next level of attention focused on time alignment. 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. The AlpineF#1Status systems approach uses four premium 64-bit/1GHz digital sound processors, delivering the processing capability of a high-power computer CPU to achieve accurate sound tuning. This enables AlpineF#1Status systems 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.
Also, the speakers used in the AlpineF#1Status system use high-performance carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) diaphragms. CFRP is lightweight, like plastic, yet highly rigid like aluminum, and the material is versatile enough to achieve the level of performance required for high-resolution audio reproduction. Even the speaker surrounds incorporate a proprietary "double gathered edge," while the whole design combines Alpine patented speaker technologies, including DDDrive, DDLinear, and DualEmission magnetic circuits, reducing distortion. As a result, the response of each AlpineF#1Status speaker covers a wider range of frequencies than ever before, reducing the undesired effects of cross-over frequencies for each system component.
Introduction of AlpineF#1Status will begin with the launch of a new demo vehicle, which will tour the US in the Summer of 2022, with sales starting in the Fall.
www.alpine-usa.com
www.alpsalpine.com
