JVC KDSHX750 CD Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)There's two incredible reasons to buy this thing- It puts out a true 50W RMS into all 4 channels, and it will do time alignment. It's a really unique head unit in that sense, and it's why I bought it. Besides that, it's 2005 tech. A nice color LCD, SD card MP3 support (only up to 2GB), and the basics.
But to get real time alignment and a really powerful amp in a head unit was downright awesome if you want a mid-range setup without a trunk full of equipment.
It would get 5 stars if the MP3 browsing didn't suck so hard. But it's worth it.

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Mx406 - Mcintosh Am/fm/cd Player with Aux Input Review

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(More customer reviews)Ten years from now, when the compact disc format finally reaches complete obsolescence, we will be able to look back at the McIntosh MX406 and it's big brother the McIntosh MX4000 as perhaps the high-water mark of car audio excellence. (However, a tip of the hat must be made to the legendary Alpine 7909 (introduced in 1989!) and the follow up 1998 Alpine 7909 Anniversary Edition.) I owned a few other stereos, however the sonic quality of the MX406 was such that audiophiles and non-audiophiles alike were astounded by the loudness and detail of the stereo, (McIntosh amps and ten Oz Audio speakers, when the name "Oz" used to mean something). The MX406 utilizes Dual 20-bit Burr-Brown digital to analog converters and put out a whopping 9 volts on the preamp outs, helping to account for the stupendous clarity and headroom it provides and boasts a signal to noise ratio of an unheard of (in the car audio realm) of 110 db and a dynamic range of 100 db, making playing of transients very lifelike and accurate. Incidently, Clarion, parent company of McIntosh Labs, Inc. made a Clarion-badged version of this deck, the Clarion DRX 9255, also a fine source unit, and benefits from a scan forward and backward function which the MX406 lacks! So if you want to listen to a ten-minute long song and your favorite passage is at 09:00, then you're just going to have to wait, buddy. And pay attention because you can't rewind it either! This is a single-purposed machine indeed.
Cosmetically, it is beautiful with a black, onyx-like glass front panel and a soft, blue electroluminescent display bracketed with extruded and brushed aluminum accents on either end of it--signature McIntosh styling. I matched these with a set of matching dash-mounted analog (needles) stereo power output meters for an over-the-top presentation.
I owned one for six years or so, and had to send it back repeatedly for the laser pick up and various other issues. (In its defense, an idiot car detailer sprayed vinyl cleaner all over it and followed that up with a shot of compressed air!) After the fifth or sixth time back to Binghamton, NY, McIntosh replaced the then-six-year-old stereo with a brand new one in spite of being far out of warranty! I sold it online and got exactly what I paid for the original one, sort of like putting up a refundable 800-dollar deposit for the privilege of enjoying one of these for six years. The upshot of all this is that McIntosh obviously stands behind what they sell.
I'm not in any position to blow $3000 on a big car stereo system anymmore, but I will always remember with fondness my McIntosh MX406.

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Kenwood GPS Navigation Double DIN Receiver DNX6980 Review

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(More customer reviews)I just got it on my new car. The system freezes and lags. It is slow. It restarts all the time, and all around, it is just bad. I can't input 4 addresses into the GPS address book at one time. Once I do, it freezes and reboots. When I start my car, the map loads forever. And I have to restart the NAV to get it working. I went back to the dealer and tested the demo. The demo did the same thing. Model DNX9980HD performed well without these problems. I hope Kenwood has a software fix soon. Otherwise, I will have to go with another brand.
UPDATE - got an unofficial software fix and it seem to have resolved the issues. overall the receiver is a bit slow. a faster processor would be nice. love the garmin gps software. traffic works well when driving in la. bluetooth works great and everything else function as it should. bumping it up to 4 stars from previous 2 stars.

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Bazooka MC-HD-AMK 4-Channel Harley Amplifier Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)I installed the AMP myself and tested it. I seems to work great. The sound is so much better. I like my music loud and I can only turn it up to 1/2 volume. I have not really done anything other than test the unit in my garage as it is too cold to ride right now. Will have to see how it performs on the road. I need a year of riding to give a good review.

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Nakamichi In-Dash CD Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)IF YOU ARE INTO MUSIC FROM CDS AND THE SOUND QUALITY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU THIS IS THE UNIT TO GET..NO ELECTRONIC MUSIC PROCESSOR OR ARTIFICIAL CRAP JUST PURE AUDIOPHILE QUALITY SOUND.. THE WAY MUSIC SHOULD SOUND....HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ESPECIALLY NEW GENERATION.

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Kenwood Kiv-Bt900 AM/FM/USB Receiver with Bluetooth(R) Review

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(More customer reviews)It seems to me that some less that perfect early firmware has given this otherwise phenomenal HU a somewhat bad rap. Kenwood probably should have done more QA before release, but show me a software vendor that doesn't have the same problem. I've been running this guy for a week now and couldn't be happier, so I feel the need to do my part to increase its review standings! I had a lengthy list of mandatory criteria, and this was the _only_ HU on the market that satisfied all of them. Specifically:
- Rear mounted iPod an aux cables for clean installation. Contrary to what other reviewers have said, I think this is a huge win (especially vs. the Pioneer decks). Who wants a mess of spaghetti in front of their stereo? It took an extra hour to disassemble the center console and route the cables properly, but it was the "right way" to do it.
- Variable color display/buttons. This one really narrowed the field, and I'm surprised how many decks can't do this. I was replacing the factory stereo in a BMW, and for those who haven't been in one at night, _every_ lighted gauge, button, display, etc. is all the very same orangish-red color. A bright blue stereo would have looked hideous (*cough* Alpine).
- Integrated BT. As others have stated, this HU can't do streaming audio via BT, which is probably the only real con I'd cite. That said, my primary desire for BT was hands free, and it works great. Just in case Kenwood is reading though, I do think it would be super cool if they could pull the profile photos for my contacts and display them the same way they do album art from the iPod....
- Seamless iPod integration, including video. Check. Works great on both of my current and previous gen nanos. As another reviewer stated, you have to wait for the album art to skip to the next song, but there are several display modes available, some of which don't load the artwork and aren't affected if that's really a big deal to someone.
- Flexible, intuitive interface. The configuration options are very robust, and I found myself on several occasions thinking "geez, I wish I could do X", only to discover shortly thereafter that I could do X, Y and Z.
- Firmware updateable. With a deck this complex, this is mandatory in my opinion. No one is going to get it right on version 1.0, even with extensive in-house QA. I'm a software engineer by trade, and know from first hand experience how adept consumers at coaxing bugs out into the light. I used mine a few days before updating it and had some of the problems others have cited (mic drops, random source shifts, etc.), but absolutely no problems since updating it. It has the capability for a reason, so update the unit first thing!
- Good aesthetics and build quality. This is certainly subjective, but I'm appalled by how ugly some aftermarket decks are and how flimsy some of their control mechanisms are! Simple, clean lines and sturdy please.
- Good sound quality. I didn't do extensive comparison testing, but have been happy with previous Kenwood's I've owned this unit certainly outperforms the stock HU.
That's it! Love it!

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IDA-X100M Alpine MARINE Multimedia Head-unit with USB and iPod Control Review

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(More customer reviews)I received the IDA-X100m for installation into a 180 Bowrider (2000 Crownline). My boat came with a cassette deck (what they didn't have CDs in 2k??), so obviously it was going to have to go away.
I recently purchased a Pioneer MVH-P8200 for my RV about 2 weeks previous. That deck is also a AV receiver with Iphone integration and without a CD player. Since all of my media is digital, I had become used to having to burn CDs for use in the car which was both a waste of time and money but easy enough. That being said, this generation of decks which provides support for digital only is the future and is perfect for customers like me. So my Pioneer is a similar unit, large display with a single control wheel and advanced Ipod integration - no CD player wanted or included. (I have a iPhone 4). Nice deck, less expensive than the Alpine and a good fit for the type of usage it will get in the RV and advantage to the Pioneer for also having front mounted USB and aux inputs. Thats nice and the only advantage over the Alpine (other than being 100$ cheaper) however I do wish if I had it to do over again, I would rather have the Alpine instead:
So that out of the way, now looking at Marine models, I actually started my research slightly backwards because I knew I wanted a transom remote control, I considered how those looked and performed from Kenwood, Pioneer, Sony and Alpine, and the Alpine Remote Commanders are by far superior in terms of display, water proofing and functionality. That led me to the Alpine Marine Decks, and thus to the IDA-X100M. I was first struck by the ergonomics of the unit. One of the things I did not like about the Pioneer deck is that the control wheel isn't quite large enough which makes it tough to use to navigate. The Alpine knob is oversize, easy to grasp and the navigation makes sense. I have no problem operating it while driving the boat. Its easy to use and operate. The display is great and the illumination sharp. Connecting to my iPhone was simple and easy just as it should be, and I found the navigation of my music libraries was simple and intuitive. Unit came with everything I needed to install and since my boat only had 1 pair of speakers, I choose to use the internal amp for those and as expected was a huge improvement over its replacement and plenty of power. I have a external 1000w mono Fosgate Amp connected to a T1D12 sub woofer and the dedicated sub woofer RCAs (and control) made connecting it a breeze. Obviously there are also RCA outs for additional front/rear as well. Sound quality is typical Alpine - sounds great. FM radio seem sensitive, sounds good.
High WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor). Wife loves the look, found it easy to browse and find the music she wanted without having to read the instructions which is important. I have not yet hooked up the Marine Commander, but am anticipating from watching the demo videos that it will be awesome. I don't anticipate watching videos on the small screen, but appreciate having the option, as well as satellite radio, HD radio and the other add on components available. I like being able to use other USB storage including SD/MMC cards, however apparently unable to display the album artwork (why not?) is a downer. You only get that when connected to your ipod/iphone. Not a big deal to me, as I will always have my phone with me anyways, and I also appreciate that the ringer and email/text notification sounds come through the speakers so I don't miss calls when the music is pumping. I dont have the optional bluetooth. For me that is a must have in a car, but on the water, mic integration and ambient noise make it a non starter as well as my desire to have fun, not be on the phone in the water. I do however want to at least know I am getting a call/txt/email so if its important I can return the call.
Highly recommended for anyone wanting to go pure digital.


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KENWOOD DNX9960 eXcelon In-Dash 2-DIN AV Navigation System w/ Built-in Bluetooth 6.95" Review

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(More customer reviews)I had high hopes for the successor to the most excellent DNX9140 (which I own in my pick-up truck). The DNX9960's new UI is quite slick, and it works really well. Kenwood is shooting for an iPhone-like UI on the main screen. They did a decent job with it. Other than that, the basic features and functions of the stereo, iPod integration, Bluetooth, and navigation system are all identical to the aforementioned 9140...
Except: The "free" NAVTEQ traffic add-on isn't free. It comes with a catch: advertisements. On the main navigation screen, you will get pop-up ads for local businesses. They are, in my opinion, very tedious, distracting, and bothersome. And there's no way to disable them other than to disable NAVTEQ.
Consider this point very carefully before purchasing this unit. I really think Kenwood screwed the pooch with this move, and had I known this before hand, I'd have just purchased another 9140 for my car. Caveat Emptor, as the saying goes...

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Kenwood DNX7180 6.95" Nav/DVD Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)Where do I start... picked this up at best buy... had it installed by the guys there... they sucked but that's not what this review is about.
Firstly... the is my first review ever... I'm writing this because I don't want anyone else to buy this pos.
For $1200 it better "work"
1. It locked up 1 day after getting it.
2. It became super sluggish before it locked up.
3. The manual said the only way to fix it after a lock up was to hit the reset button in the bottom left corner. This reset the whole receiver to factory defaults. (omg i want to punch someone)
4. The DSP sounds horrible compared to how it sounds when I bypass it.
Kenwood messed this up big time... here's what probably happened.
1. they needed to meet a deadline to have the features complete
2. there wasn't enough time to optimize the features
3. they called it "complete" and shipped it with the worst quality ever
I'll never buy a kenwood receiver again. Their commitment to quality is non existant.

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Kenwood DNX7160 2-DIN Multimedia DVD Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I have the Aussie 7360 version, identical apart from locale settings.
First up, I had the reset issue that some owners have experienced with this model and also the DNX-9960 model. This has been fixed with an easy to load firmware update off the Kenwood website. If the FW on your unit is 1.0.0, then update as other slight improvements have been made to the iPod interface.
My main reason to choose the Kenwood was the Garmin navigation which I've used for several years and prefer over other SatNav systems. Could be just familiarity but I do like its no-nonsense interface. Access to readily available red-light and speed camera POIs and ability to upload all my existing favorites were also features for me.
As a radio/CD/DVD/iPod player, it's a very flexible unit. The comprehensive settings available across all audio/video sources mean any owner should be able to fine tune the unit to their listening preferences. You can configure just about every conceivable aspect whether it's EQ, position, balance or fader, spacial enhancement and so on. You can add a reversing camera which activates on selecting reverse gear. Plus you don't need to use a Kenwood camera. You can choose a CCD if you prefer over CMOS.
In my own case, I've retained the stock speakers at this stage and the improved sound over the standard Toyota head unit made by Fujitsu Ten, is wuite noticable, especially in the bass and treble ranges. As it is I don't see any reason to invest in an amp or replacement speakers.
The only reason I did not award a 5 star rating is that the interface which is easy to use, is a bit slow to respond and sometimes needs multiple touches to get a response at all. This is annoying as it distracts you while driving and as such it could shift your focus off the road. This is far from ideal. I tend now to ensure my sources are set up before driving. That is, try not to change CDs or change playlists on the iPod feature while driving. I have had my unit setup to play DVDs while driving but only use music DVDs. A nice touch is the ability to have a video window on the Nav screen. A quick touch hides this feature if the law is watching! I've fitted a PAC Audio SWI-JACK steerring wheel control unit interface to use the factory controls with the head unit. They work well but there is a slight delay in response. I guess this is because the controls must be translated in the box and this unfortunately is not instantaneous. You get used to it though.
You can also customise the boot screen which I have done to make it look more like a factory unit. All these features make the Kenwood a very desireable unit. While the Alpines look very nice too, the Garmin SatNav was the clincher for me and overall I am very happy. I'd probably rate it a 4.5 stars if I could but not quite a 5 as it does have some slight imperfections, but these are not enough to prevent me recommending the 7160/7360.

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Kenwood Excelon DNX9140 In-Dash Double-Din DVD Multimedia AV Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)What do you want to know? Is it a good product that does what it supposed to do? Yes! You have to buy a hook up to connect your ipod to it so you can play the videos on your ipod. You have to buy the rear cam also to hook up to it. It is a great product. I love watching my ipod videos on it. I love the quality of the screen. It works fast enough for me and I show it in my video. You can hook up a 5 channel amp for the front and one to your subs too. You can have your xm, ipod, xbox 360, radio, nav, tel, tunner all hooked up and ready to play! Can also use the video out to go to another source. I have a Honda Del Sol so not much use of another source for me. ha. Some of the concerns I had when reading the reviews I go over in my video. I hope it helps!; I had to edit the video a little. I took out the middle, but the key points are still there.

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Kenwood DNX7140 6.95-Inch Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Nagivation with Built-in Bluetooth USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I Received My DNX-7140 a week ago. I had no trouble installing it. It is extremely packed with value and even sounds good without an external amplifier.
Kenwood DNX7140 6.95-Inch Wide Double-DIN In-Dash Nagivation with Built-in Bluetooth USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver
Pros: Garmin Navigation, DVD, IPOD Connectivity(however you need the Kenwood adapter $30 to have full functionality), Back up camera (separately about $200), Excellent Sound
CONS: My Bluetooth Microphone didn't work at first. The System needed a firmware upgrade for the bluetooth and after resetting the factory settings it worked perfectly.
Bottom Line: It really is an impressive unit, Picture quality is good with DVD's and IPOD Videos. Touch Screen is responsive and GPS is Amazing!!!
The GPS is super accurate, shows the speed limit, your speed, arrival time, sets the clock automatically,and even changes time zones the second you cross the border!!
It is amazing, even changes speed limits exactly at the sign.
Overall I Recommend this product it is pretty awesome

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The DNX7140 is an extraordinary all-in-one in-dash system with cutting-edge audio, video, and navigation technologies. Featuring onboard Bluetooth powered by Parrot, an advanced navigation system by Garmin, a brilliant 6.95-inch touchscreen, and a wealth of expansion options, it's sure to assist as much as it entertains.

6.95-Inch Touchscreen with Variable Illumination The DNX7140 puts intuitive control right at your fingertips with its 6.95-inch QVGA TFT Active Matrix Display and powerful, easy-to-use graphical user interface. Customize the unit's front panel illumination with the new variable illumination palette of colors--match your interior tones, dash lighting, or whatever tickles your fancy. Selectable wallpapers and customizable backgrounds offer further personalization.
Reverse Tilt Mechanism Depending on the vehicle, in-car monitors are installed in a variety of heights and angles, and this sometimes results in reduced visibility due to reflected glare from sunlight. Kenwood's solution is the exclusive Reverse Tilt mechanism: In addition to the traditional tilt mechanism that allows the bottom of the monitor to be tilted forward over five positions, Reverse Tilt also allows the top of the monitor to tilt forward to eliminate reflected glare.
Built-In Advanced Navigation--Guidance by Garmin This integrated advanced navi system guides you everywhere with ease and is beautifully displayed on a large 6.95-inch screen. All functions are intuitively controlled by touchscreen menus and voice guidance works over the vehicle's speaker system. There is no need to swap map discs since it comes with a built-in full-memory Garmin Navigation board that features maps of continental USA, Canada, Hawaii and Alaska. New navigation functions include:
Roadside Assistance
Phone Number Search / Call (Using BT)
Brand Icon
Mileage Tracker

Built-In Bluetooth--Powered by Parrot The built-in Bluetooth hands-free system enables easy, safe cellular phone communications from the car. Features include (not all features work on all phones):
High-quality noise-cancelling microphone
Register up to five Bluetooth phones
Holds up to 1,000 phone numbers per registered phone
Supports Auto Phonebook Download
Supports A2DP Wireless Music Streaming
Supports voice-recognition dialing
Supports incoming/outgoing short-message service (SMS)
Bluetooth firmware upgradeable

MSN Direct Traffic/Data Receiver Ready Don't be late or waste your precious time and fuel stuck in traffic; use the Kenwood KNA-M100 featuring MSN Direct. Once you activate your subscription, the traffic receiver will begin to receive real-time traffic and other useful data right onto your Kenwood touchscreen, providing quick access to alternative routing using Garmin navigation.
Audio enhancement all the time As part of the DSP for the all new Sound Excellence feature, the DNX7140 Entertainment/Navigation System includes a Space Enhancer and a new Bass Boost. Space Enhancer expands the sound field for the listener so that the audio signal can be heard clearly by the driver and front seat passenger. The new Bass Boost feature increases low-frequency output for each channel and listeners will be able to feel the more powerful sound.
Enjoy Your Favorite Media The DNX7140 is a media powerhouse, letting you play your favorite CDs and DVDs, along with several digital audio and video formats. The unit accepts DVD, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, VCD, and CD-DA discs. It plays back AAC-LC, MP3, and WMA audio files; MPEG1 and MPEG2 video files; and can display JPG images. Throw your files on a disc or a USB device and enjoy them in your vehicle wherever you are.
And, of course, you still can listen to the AM/FM radio. Use Auto Memory to automatically add stations with good reception to presets, or enter them manually. The DNX7140 displays FM radio text when available as well as traffic information, and it allows you to enter station names.
Seamless Connection with iPod Video/Audio Connect an iPod using the optional KCA-iP301V cable to enable full video (for iPods with video capability) and/or audio control. You'll supply power to your iPod as well as charge it while you enjoy your music.
USB Direct Control You can enjoy your favorite music, video, or images from USB devices like flash drives or MP3 players. When connecting a USB device, playback starts automatically. When a battery-powered USB device like an MP3 player is connected to this unit, it also gets a charge, so it's ready to go with you when you exit the vehicle.
Input and Output In addition to the iPod and USB support, you can use the DNX7140's front auxiliary A/V input to connect external audio/video sources like video game systems.
The unit also features an A/V output for sending content to an additional screen in the vehicle.
For audio output, the DNX7140 has three sets of 2V RCA pre-amp outputs for system expansion (in addition to the on-board 50W x 4 amplifier).
HD and Satellite Radio Ready The DNX7140 allows you to enjoy SIRIUS (requires CA-SR20V cable + Sirius Tuner) or XM (requires KCA-XM100V + XM Mini Tuner) radio in your vehicle. Enjoy a multitude of channels featuring music, news, talk shows, sports, and traffic information with CD quality sound.
You also can add an HD Radio tuner. When you connect an HD radio tuner, features of the unit are disabled and changed to HD Radio tuner features.
Rear Camera Input The DNX7140 is ready for a rear camera, allowing you to monitor behind your vehicle as you back up.
What's in the Box Kenwood DNX7140, sleeve, trim ring, wiring harness, installation tools, installation manual, operation manual, warranty card.

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Kenwood Excelon DNX6960 6.1" In-Dash Double-DIN Navigation DVD Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)UPDATED REVIEW: My earlier review only gave this unit 4/5 stars because it wouldn't download the address book from my iPhone 3G. Please read on and see how this issue was resolved.
I got this unit yesterday at Mickey Shorr (Canton, MI). They installed it in my 2006 Eddie Bauer Ford Explorer in about an hour and I was off and running. The iPod integration is top notch. Using the touchscreen controls I instantaneously scroll back and forth between songs. So for the guy who installed this unit in his F-150, I'm not sure why you're experiencing the latency issue of 10-15 seconds to scroll to the next song, or go back one track. I feel bad for him because I'm thrilled with the speed and ease of use. The GPS is from Garmin who I believe to be the best. GPS in the unit is very accurate and could NOT be easier to use. Overall, with 15-20 minutes of fooling around I was able to master all the controls of the DNX6960 and same with my wife (since it's in her car).
I formerly had an issue with the unit in which it couldn't download the address book from my iPhone 3G (software version 4.1). The phone paired with the unit instantly (AWESOME!) but would not download my address book. The letters "DL" would show up at the top of the telephone screen for 3-4 seconds and disappear. This told me the address was being downloaded, but the address book touch screen icon was still greyed out. Low and behold, by mistake I found where the installer hid the bypass switch and it was set to "ON." So I figured this meant the unit was in bypass mode, meaning the parking break IS BYPASSED from having to be engaged to watch videos and download the address book. Apparently not because when I flipped it to the "OFF" position just for the hell of it, the address book touch screen icon became active. I said if I was able to figure this out I would let everyone know and rate the unit 5 stars. So here we are. I figured it out and I have no reluctance giving the Kenwood DNX6960 5/5 stars. I hope this helped someone out who was experiencing the same issue.
AC

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Getting there is now more fun thanks to eXcelon AV navigation systems. With full-featured navigation from Garmin, a brilliant 6.1-inch touchscreen, support for a variety of media, and expansion options aplenty, the Kenwood DNX6960 will keep on track and well-entertained.

Navigation Features
3D Building Map 3D Building Map displays realistic images of prominent landmarks and buildings in major North American cities. This function provides an appealing birds-eye view that makes getting to your destination more enjoyable.
Lane Assist with Junction View Enjoy advanced notification using Lane Assist with Junction View: As the name suggests, Lane Assist guides you to the appropriate lane to be in for upcoming directional changes such as at junctions or interchanges, and Junction View displays a view of upcoming road details to enable smooth driving as you approach.
Built-in NAVTEQ Traffic Data (Requires KNA-NT100) NAVTEQ provides real-time traffic data for over 80 major cities in North America. This means that if traffic is congested up ahead, the navigation system will automatically re-navigate the route to get you to your destination in the shortest amount of time.
Additional Navigation Features
Easy-To-Use GUI (Graphic User Interface)
Over 6 million points of interest
Program Up To 500 waypoints For long trips
Text-To-Speech (TTS) Voice Guidance (English, French, Spanish)
Selectable 2D or 3D Map Display
Track Log Display
Trip Computer
ecoRoute

AV Features
Control of iPhone, iPod and Video Playback The DNX6960 is compatible with iPhone and iPod models as well as video playback. In addition to conventional searches for playlists, artists, albums and genres, additional search commands can also be performed for music videos, TV shows, movies, video playlists, etc. via the convenience of Voice Control Command.
Flick Through and Browse A function similar to iPod�s Cover Flow is now featured on the DNX6960, allowing users to flick through and browse for music albums, video titles, photographs, etc. on connected media; the contents or titles of selected sources on the screen can also be viewed.
Split Screen An improved GUI makes split-screen operation easier to operate. For example, the split screen displays two different screens side by side while the primary and secondary screens allow you to toggle between two frequently used screens via touch-screen operation.
Built-in Bluetooth The eXcelon DNX6960 comes equipped with built-in Bluetooth capability to enable handsfree operation so you can keep your hands on the steering wheel where they belong and concentrate on the road ahead.
6.1-Inch Touchscreen with Variable Illumination The DNX6960 puts intuitive control right at your fingertips with its 6.1" TFT Active Matrix Display and powerful, easy-to-use graphical user interface. Customize the unit's front panel illumination by choosing from a large palette of colors--match your interior tones, dash lighting, or whatever tickles your fancy. Selectable wallpapers and customizable backgrounds offer further personalization.
Enjoy Your Favorite Media The DNX6960 is a media powerhouse, letting you play your favorite CDs and DVDs, along with several digital audio and video formats. The unit accepts DVD, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, VCD and DTS-CD discs. It plays back AAC, MP3 and WMA audio files; MPEG1 video files; and can display JPEG images. Throw your files on a disc or a USB device and enjoy them in your vehicle wherever you are.
And of course, you can still listen to the AM/FM radio. Use Auto Memory to automatically add stations with good reception to presets, or enter them manually. The DNX6960 displays FM radio text when available, traffic information, and allows you to enter station names.
USB Direct Control You can enjoy your favorite music, video or images from USB devices like flash drives or MP3 players. When connecting a USB device, playback starts automatically. When a battery-powered USB device like an MP3 player is connected to this unit, it also gets a charge, so it's ready to go with you when you exit the vehicle.
Input and Output In addition to the iPod and USB support, you can use the DNX6960's front auxiliary A/V input to connect external audio/video sources like video game systems.
The unit also features an A/V output for sending content to an additional screen in the vehicle.
Plenty of Power, Room to Grow The DNX6960 features an on-board 50W x 4 MOSFET amplifier, but also offers three sets of 5V preamp outputs (front/rear/subwoofer) for building your system.
System E's+ Crossover System A single IC that allows the user to select from 8 different high-pass filter crossover frequencies plus pass-through, with independent selection for front and rear outputs. This makes it easy to optimize the performance of all amps and speakers in a car audio system without needing an external electronic crossover. System E's+ also incorporates a phase switch and low-pass filter for the non-fading output. The low-pass filter has selectable cutoff frequencies of 50Hz, 80Hz, 120Hz and Through.
System Q EX Sound Control Five factory pre-set equalization curves (Rock, Top40, Pops, Jazz and Easy, plus a flat setting) and three speaker matching curves (OEM, 6x9, 5/4 plus a flat setting) that can be combined to give the user extreme flexibility over the sound's tonal character. The preset curves include midrange contouring, giving music more clarity and presence. System Q EX allows the user to modify the preset curves by changing the amplitude of the bass, midrange and treble compensation, and the Q of the bass and midrange compensation. The new curves can then be saved as presets for future recall
HD and SAT Radio Ready The DNX6960 allows you to enjoy SIRIUS (requires CA-SR20V cable + Sirius Tuner) or XM (requires KCA-XM100V + XM Mini Tuner) radio in your vehicle. Enjoy a multitude of channels featuring music, news, talk shows, sports and traffic information with CD quality sound.
You can also add an HD Radio tuner (requires KTC-HR300). When you connect an HD Radio, Tuner features of the unit are disabled and changed to HD Radio tuner features.
Rear Camera Input The DNX6960 is ready for a rear camera, allowing you to monitor behind your vehicle as you back up.
What's in the Box Kenwood DNX6960, GPS Antenna, Sleeve, Trim Ring, Wiring Harness, Installation Tools/Hardware, Installation Manual, User's Manual, Navigation Manual, Warranty Card.

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Alpine iDA-X100 Digital Media Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've made my way through a bunch of different car stereo head units over the years, but ever since the iPod has become the de-facto standard, I've wondered why nobody made a decent iPod-friendly one. Alpine's iDA-X100 is probably the first usable product for this purpose (its predecessor, the X001 was essentially a beta-tester version of the X100, and by many accounts, not ready for prime time). Sure, there are a slew of crummy FM transmitter adapters, and many stereos have auxiliary (Aux) inputs, but those are merely kludges.
The X100 displays the artist, track, and album of the currently-playing song. It lets you quickly scroll through all your artists, tracks, and albums, so you can find the song you want fast. All this works very well, and does so while charging your iPod in your glove compartment or wherever you want to put it. Don't have an iPod? No problem - just put your tunes on any inexpensive USB memory key and plug it in!
The X100's bright screen rivals a typical iPod screen, although is definitely a step down from my iPhone. The volume knob, which also affords navigation through your collection, is large and comfortable. In all, a solid design designed for use while driving. (This means that, unlike the iPod itself, you can use without having to look at it.)
So, why not five stars? First, the screen is too small. With the X100's large, easy-to-read font, there's only room for 6-7 characters. Listening to the White Stripes? You'll only see "White S" on the screen. Sure, 'long' text scrolls back and fourth, but that's a poor design for drivers who need to keep their eyes on the road. If I had designed this unit, I would've moved the big knob all the way to the left, and made the screen twice as wide. As it is, the left side is wasted anyway.
Second, when a song begins playing, the text rolls out on the screen very slowly, like it's being typed one letter at a time from a typewriter. It can take 10-15 seconds before everything appears, making it a stupid design for a display that must relay all its information at a glance.
Third, the 'Back' and 'Next' buttons are small and flush with the surface of the unit; you can't use the big wheel to go to the next track. These buttons should be more prominent, perhaps akin to the slick lever on Sony's excellent CDX-C90.
Fourth, the X100 can be set to have blue or red backlighting. But the red is a harsh, dark crimson that looks terrible next to the amber lighting on my dashboard. Why no soft amber/orange setting? Who knows.
Fifth, the X100 can display cover art from the current song (provided you've loaded one into iTunes), but, for some reason, it displays a very low-resolution image. This is particularly glaring when you hit the Display button to hide the text and display only the cover art; it just looks bad. I have high-res cover art in my collection that looks great on my iPhone's screen, but the X100 just doesn't use it. Perhaps a firmware upgrade will fix this?
Finally, and it may sound like nit-picking, but the X100's customizable wallpaper feature is poorly executed. You have two trendy patterns from which to choose, or you can download additional patterns from Alpine's awful website (which was last updated in 2005, by the way, and only works on Internet Explorer). Although Alpine has gone out of their way to prevent customers from creating their own wallpaper (for reasons that completely elude me), you can do as I did and download the free, third-party xndconverter.exe utility and create your own APN files. With my own photo as the wallpaper, the X100 head unit actually now looks nice in my car, despite the lack of a matching backlight color.
As for the sound quality (which is supremely important, despite the fact that I've spent most of this review talking about the interface), I'd rate it a solid 'B.' The sound is pretty good, but lacks the richness and warmth of the gold standard, the Sony CDX-C90 (even when playing the very same MP3s). Perhaps the PXA-H100 IMPRINT add-on accessory will improve the sound, but I haven't tried it yet.
To sum up, this is THE unit to get if you want to listen to your iPod/iPhone in the car, but don't expect it to be perfect. I'd give it only three stars if there were competition, but since it's the only worthy game in town, it earns four.
(Note: At the time of this writing, Alpine also makes the ida-x200 and ida-x300, but these are lesser models, both without the X100's bright color screen.)


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Alpine CDA9886M / CDA-9886M / CDA-9886M Marine CD Receiver with iPod Controls Review

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(More customer reviews)Great sounding head unit blue display hard to see in direct sunlight. Have sat radio connected also Ipod controlled by this head unit.....would buy again! Seems to have survived 1st year just fine, Its an Alpine!!!

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Clarion VZ300 3.5" In-Dash DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The two main features I use in the car work great: the radio and the AUX in line (for streaming Pandora from my phone). I haven't had a chance to try out the USB input yet, but I did try the DVD functionality and it works great too, although it does require the use of the remote for navigation. Here are my thoughts so far:
PROS
* Great sound
* Easy changing of audio settings
* Nice large display for displaying radio settings while playing the radio
* DIM function cycles through three settings great for day, night, and off
* Installation instructions were easy enough for me to follow
* Detailed instruction on how to connect hand brake wire (although the kit doesn't appear to include the right sensor)
* Lots of audio options: AUX in and DVD worked without any problems
* UPDATE: USB music plays fast with little delay
* UPDATE: USB music picks up right where it left off when you turn power on
CONS
* Lots of wires which make for a difficult installation into a standard stereo space
* DVD control requires use of the remote
* Display does nothing when in AUX mode (a screensaver or something would have been nice, not sure if that's legal though)
* UPDATE: Turning on power button in the dark is a guess game
* UPDATE: Navigation of USB music using remote is not intuitive (i.e. I have to read the manual)
* UPDATE: Received a USB Bad after leaving stereo off overnight
The installation for me went pretty smoothly. As mentioned above, the plethera of wires made sliding the stereo into place a pain. In order to get it to work, I had to pull out the DIN below the stereo and guide the wires down into the space below. Overall, I thought the installation instructions were good. They had the three most important items which are a step to remind you to disconnect the negative from the car battery, a diagram of the overall way the stereo is installed into a dash, and a wiring diagram. With those three I was able to do a standard installation (i.e. four speakers and the radio antenna) without any issues. By the way, this stereo was the first stereo I've ever installed.
By the way, another reviewer mentioned the audio would stop when they went into the settings. That may be true for USB audio or CD/DVD playback, but for radio and AUX in, the audio kept playing no matter what I did unless I hit the power button to mute.
UPDATE: USB functionality works great. You plug in a drive and it starts at the first song it finds. When you turn the power off and back on, it picks right up at the last part of the song you were listening to when powering off the stereo. I did receive a USB Bad error when turning the car on this morning, unplugging and replugging the USB in fixed the issue and it picked up at the last song it was playing. I haven't figured out all the details on navigating through the songs just yet, but with the remote it looks like you can search via artist, album, song title, etc. As the driver though, I'm expecting I won't be able to do much better than using the forward and reverse buttons (and the preview seek button) to navigate the music. Because of that, I grabbed some old 512 MB and 1 GB drives which I'm putting together different "mixes" that I can update at will and plug in as my mood changes.

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An affordable way to add multimedia to your vehicle, Clarion's VZ300 is anything but basic. It features a vibrant 3.5-inch LCD monitor, front panel USB input and iPod video playback (optional CCUIPOD3), an auxiliary input, and plenty more. The VZ300 is also HD Radio and Satellite Radio Ready if you choose to expand, and offers rear video zone entertainment. 40 Watts through four channels is a good start, but the VZ300 also features three sets of RCA preamp outputs, so you can build up anytime.

Enjoy a Wide Variety of Media The built-in optical disc drive is compatible with DVD-Video, DVD+R/RW, DVD-RW/RW, CD-DA, HDCD, CD-R and CD-RW, so you're assured access to a wide variety of visual and musical entertainment.
3.5-inch LCD Screen The 3.5-inch LCD displays operational status of your iPod, CD and DVD playback, radio functions and more. It offers maximum usability within minimum dimensions.
iPod Playback Just connect your iPod using the optional CCUIPOD3 cable to control your iPod from the source unit.
Front USB Input Front USB input is included. This is really convenient and just attach your USB Memory stick and USB Memory and enjoy your favorite music library.
Front Auxiliary Input Enjoy music from external devices such as MP3 players with this handy front-panel input.
HD Radio Ready Connecting the THD300 lets you enjoy listening to digitally broadcast radio programs with all their superior quality and helpful information.
Rear Vision Camera RCA Input VZ300 is equipped with an RCA type video input that accepts video signals from Clarion's rear vision CCD camera. This enhances safety by automatically displaying a live picture of what's behind you on VZ300's LCD screen whenever you shift into reverse, enabling you to avoid hitting objects even if they're not clearly visible in the rear-view mirror.
24-bit D/A Converter for Superb Sound Reproduction Fully enjoy the sonic impact of DVD movie soundtracks or music videos. 24-bit technology actually oversamples the digital signal, providing excellent results that just weren't possible with older 16-bit systems.
Built-in Low-Pass Filter For optimal subwoofer performance, Clarion equips its VZ300 with a built-in Low-Pass Filter. Offering users selectable frequencies at 50Hz, 80z, and 120Hz, Clarion's Low-Pass Filter stops mid- and high-range frequencies from entering the subwoofer output. This allows users to really dial in the bass so it hits harder and tighter.
XM Radio Compatible In addition to the many sources that can be connected to the VZ300, you can be connected with XM Radio. The VZ300 can be connected to the XM Direct 2 tuner for hours of entertainment.
6ch/2V RCA Output with Subwoofer Control With 3 sets of RCA outputs, you are free to add external power amplifiers to create a more powerful, sophisticated audio system. Also, independent volume control is enabled for the subwoofer so you can adjust the level of bass output to your liking at any time, regardless of the output level of the other channels.
What's in the Box VZ300 Receiver, Remote Control, Installation Hardware, User's Manual

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TVandNav2Go MyGig Block Unlock V2 W/ Audio Video Cable Review

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(More customer reviews)The Lockpick works perfectly fine, it does not take 15 mins to install unless you have installed several, but in 30 to 40 mins you are done and doing it with care its really simply. I recomend it.


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