Screen Alpine TME-370 Test

Alpine completes its multimedia range with a new screen insert of 16.5 cm. This type of product has long been at Alpine, but the brand has developed a new model extraplat to facilitate integration in places thin (sun visors for example), editing that one could hardly do with other models screens built. The TME-S370 offers more features very interesting!

Ideal for bespoke integrations!

Many cars are already equipped with an audio system, but fail to address the media. The phones have browsers'm increasingly multifunctional, they remain a backup solution and do not allow a perfect integration (vacuum windshield not very elegant). Apart from its size reduced, the TME-S370 is distinguished by the ability to control tactile sources Alpine. A key innovation is interesting because it allows a complete original installation with a multimedia system, without having to modify the original installation. The multimedia system built with the TME-S370 can be mounted in parallel to an existing facility.

Benefits: Alpine driver from many sources!

Entirely smooth, black finish with chrome banding, illuminated tactile keys in blue, the MTCT-SS370 looks like a giant iPhone with a design point of view. Visually, the product is beautiful and will not break the aesthetics of a cockpit. This display offers a 16.5-inch 16:9 format, with a WVGA resolution offering perfect picture quality. A major highlight of this display is its thinness: only 16.5 mm. This suggests assembling a sun visor in the dashboard in the back of a bucket seat; brief in places where installation depth is low. Until then, the proposed recessed screens were often too thick to consider this type of installation.

A black box used to connect audio / video sources to the TME-S370

This screen is touch-course, and his other big interest is connectivity with sources Alpine. The screen comes with a small black box very easily concealable. It includes an audio / video inputs, one S-Video, a rearview camera input and RGB input. Even better, it also has a touch control to allow the screen to order some sources Alpine (browsers, digital tuner, USB or iPod, rearview camera, CD / DVD, ...). And that's really new! We can create a multimedia system or a navigation system independent of the original installation. For navigation, the TME-S370 has an HP back. For other video sources, simply connect the audio output from the video source to the auxiliary input of the radio car.

The TME-S370 can directly control sources Alpine

For source control and for its Alpine setting, this screen has a simple and intuitive graphic interface. It may be green, blue, red or amber, to match with the lighting instruments in the car. A light sensor automatically adjusts the screen according to ambient light. In short a relatively complete, except that we would have liked an IR transmitter for wireless headphones son and a PC input. Anyway, given the advantages and qualities of this screen, we can easily forgive these absences.

Discover and use: excellent picture quality!

To perform the test on this screen, we tested with a conventional video source (a portable DVD player) and the browser Alpine NVE-M300P (already tested in our columns. As usual, Alpine, screen provides excellent image quality. Colours, contrast, brightness, we enjoy watching a movie. HP offers integrated listening correctly, but for audio / video sources, it is better to use the auxiliary input of a receiver for get sound in the HP of the car. But for navigation, integrated HP is more than enough. The TME-S370 has controlled impeccably browser Alpine, as easily as a multimedia station. Thus, it can be browser quality, much more comfortable than a PND, and especially better integrated.

TME-S370 plus GPS NVE-M300P allows a very good navigation system

For assembly, the TME-S370 is not a particular concern. One chooses the integration can be a challenge. But as shown in our photo, you can really consider arrangements in shallow locations. Only criticism, cable from the box on the screen is a bit too thick and rigid. In seat backs or headrests, it will not be a problem, but in a sun visor is a little trickier. The box is compact and can easily fit into a glove box or center console.

The notice

This new screen Alpine fills a gap in the multimedia catalogs very interesting. First, its very thin allows you to make arrangements to measure, we could hardly do before (hood). Second, and probably most interestingly, it allows a fairly complete multimedia system in parallel with a sound system of origin. On some cars, there is no media, and changing the original source can be problematic. With this screen Alpine Alpine supplemented by modules (GPS, DVB, DVD, backup camera, and even the USB interface) it can produce a multimedia installation at the top. We would have liked a PC input, but it is still possible to use the S-Video. The picture quality is outstanding and will benefit very nicely from the video or the Alpine navigation system. For those who wish to conduct tailor-made facilities and fully integrated, the TME-S370 is an excellent product. Its price is very well positioned given the advantages that the TME-S370.

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