Question - can someone tell me if the Alpine head units are significantly different in terms of performance - ie UTE73BT against the HD149BT - is the 73BT just a mech less 149BT? Does Alpine's numbering sequence imply better specs in the 175 vs the 149 vs 73? Thank you
I'm not exactly sure if the model numbers correlate to performance, but I would say that's a decent guess as long as you stay in the same product category and only look at current products. As an example, Alpine's current single DIN CD receivers are the CDE-170, CDE-172BT, and CDE-175BT. As the numbers go higher, you get more features.
Comparing different product categories (like CD receivers to digital media receivers), it seems like the model numbers don't really line up with each other. The only simple single DIN digital receiver Alpine currently offers is your UTE-73BT, and the closest match to that unit in their current single DIN CD receivers seems to be the CDE-175BT. (Which Crutchfield is now showing as discontinued, even though it's still up on the Alpine site...)
The CDE-HD149BT you mentioned was Alpine's flagship CD receiver that was recently discontinued. It was their direct competitor to the Pioneer DEH-80PRS and was loaded with cool features.
So to put it simply, I don't really know. Fun rambling about it though!