JVC KDSHX750 CD Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(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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Lanzar SD31MU 3-Inch T-Feet AM/FM Receiver with DVD/VCD/MP3/MP4/CDR/USB Player Review

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(More customer reviews)El producto es bueno, buen sonido e imagen, el servicio al cliente es pésimo efectué una consulta por e-mail y nunca me contestaron...
Recibes lo que pagas, el producto lo catalogo como aceptable...

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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 Excelon KVT-696 DVD Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)It's everything that's advertised. Connectivity is great (when the XM Radio isn't stuck "checking" forever). The main problem is the user interface looks like something from the '90's. You can't even see the entire names of songs because only 16 characters are displayed. It's jagged and ugly. For such a high-tech product (and market) I'm kinda shocked that the interface is so pathetic. Take a cue from the iPod (or maybe more realistically Android) and make it pretty and easy to use. The interface essentially hasn't changed at all in the last several years through several product revisions. I also used the KVT-512 and it was nearly identical. This is not good.

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

Average Reviews:

(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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Alpine IDA-X300 Digital Media Car Audio Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This isn't a bad stereo, but its replacements include Imprint/Audyssey, which make them so much better than this one that you would have to pay me more than 400k for me to put it in my car instead. It's just not worth it anymore. Hold out for a iDA-X305 or iDA-X303 instead. Imprint is a must!

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PIONEER FH-P8000BT DOUBLE DIN IN-DASH CD/MP3/WMA/ITUNES(R) AAC/WAV RECEIVER Review

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(More customer reviews)I have installed lots of stereo's this one is my favorite. The options are great, The sound very customizable and the connections give you every function you need from audio. Tiny gripes would be the folder\file tree structure on the usb flash drives playback and the lack of dimmer functionality but over all the bluetooth is great, the usb-ipod options are great, the audio input was great fro sirius,and the modern sleekness(with a touch of 80's Big Button)

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JVC KD-AVX11 DVD/CD Receiver with 2.7-Inch Monitor and iPod/Bluetooth/Satellite Ready Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had this JVC KD-AVX11 for about 1-1/2 years. It rocks. I picked up the backup camera accessory kit. Let me start by saying, the screen is short from being too small, it is large enough to see all the details in movies and music videos. The bluetooth phone works great and its microphone is very good. The backup camera is cystal clear. I had one of those wireless ones before, this one blows them away. Even at night it is bright and clear. The Ipod connector is okay. The only problem with it is that you can't see more than one song at a time on the dispay. But what is amazing is the usb port. Connect a 20 gig usb drive with as many songs as you want and it will show up on the display in groups of 6-8 songs. Easly to scroll and pick songs. The only disadavantage is that if you have too much songs (more than 10 gigs)then it will take about 20 seconds to read the drive. Also, videos can be watched from your usb drive too. You will have to have a separate usb drive for video (cant read multiple media - music is dominant media). Hope this review help you.

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JVC's KD-AVX11 is a great way to get mobile video in a one-DIN space, along with a host of other cutting edge features. Take your CDs/DVDs, MP3/WMA/WAV files, DivX movies, and JPEGs on the road. Easily add support for Bluetooth wireless, SAT radio, steering wheel remotes, and direct control of your iPod. The KD-AVX11 starts out big, and lets you go bigger.

Detachable Control Panel At the heart of the KD-AVX11 is its motorized, detachable control panel. It's where you'll find the built-in 2.7-Inch LCD. With 560 x 220 resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio, it's a great way to enjoy video and images, and you can select from several different wallpapers to get the look you like.
CD and DVD Playback Enjoy your favorite CDs or watch some video on DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW or VCDs. Use the gold-plated video output terminals to send video to a passenger screen.
AM/FM Radio The KD-AVX11 features an AM/FM radio with standards like automatic presetting. You can also add SAT radio with additional accessories.
GIGA MP3 MULTI--Play MP3, WMA, and WAV Files Burned on DVD The KD-AVX11 features GIGA MP3 MULTI, which plays MP3, WMA, or WAV files burned on DVD. With MP3 and WMA files, the 4.7GB capacity of a DVD can store up to 2,500 songs on a single disc--equal to 250 pre-recorded CDs. If you want even more superior sound quality, WAV files can be burned onto a DVD. WAV is an uncompressed PC music file format that delivers CD-quality sound. A single DVD disc can store 100 WAV files--equal to 10 pre-recorded CDs. Now you can enjoy non-stop entertainment with CD-quality sound, without an additional CD changer.
Bluetooth Ready Bluetooth Wireless Technology is available with an optional adapter (KS-BTA200) for the KD-AVX11. A maximum of five compatible mobile phones can be registered for hands-free calling. With voice-recognition mobile phones, you can dial by just saying the name in your phone book. The wireless functions work even if your mobile phone is tucked away in your bag or pocket. You can also stream music from a compatible digital audio player, for listening on your car stereo.
DivX Video Files The KD-AVX11 system is a DivX Ultra Certified product, and can play PC-created DivX� video files on a DivX� can fit up to 10 movies onto 1 DVD, or 1 movie onto 1 CD, without sacrificing picture quality.
Ready for iPod You can listen to iPod music with an optional KS-PD100 adapter. The iPod can be controlled from the head unit, and song information is displayed with the same categories and layers as an iPod.
MPEG 1/MPEG 2 Playback Play MPEG 1 and MPEG 2 video files burned on DVD or CD, TV programs recorded from a PC, or personal footage from digital camcorders, without the hassles of authoring or decoding.
JPEG Pictures JPEG digital still photos can be displayed on their own or as slideshows.
Setup/Control With the Multi-Functional Monitor You can use the built-in monitor to set the system's parameters (EQ, balance, fader, etc.). Operation is easy with user-friendly interface and controls. Searching through music folders with GIGA MP3 MULTI is also a snap.
Expandability With its 50W x 4 MOSFET amplifier, the KD-AVX11 packs a lot of punch. But if you need more, three sets of preamp outputs (front, rear, and sub) are included.
A/V Input Connect external devices like video game systems with the A/V input.
What's in the Box JVC KD-AVX11 DVD/CD Receiver, trim ring, sleeve, remote control, wiring harness, installation hardware, installation manual, instructions

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Power Acoustik PTID-5300 5.3-Inch Widescreen Touch-Screen In-Dash Monitor with DVD TV Tuner and AM/FM Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this in Feb 08.. had to send back already.. the video is excellent.. but the Ipod SUCKS!! and i wish they would've had a screen saver.. becuase the blue screen really sucks!! PA has great devices..this unfortunately for me, isn't one of them.. any suggestions for another detachable face dvd in dash player???


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JVC Car KDPDR80 CD Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this radio to replace the factory unit in my 2005 GTO. The factory unit had so much security it was a nightmare to use and I wanted a USB input. I have had the radio for about a year and it works perfectly. I had a module installed which integrates the controls with those on my steering wheel. The radios buttons and controls are on the small side compared to the factory unit. You must read the manual. If you know where everything is and how it functions, it's no problem. I had it professionally installed and as far as I'm concerned it looks as good as the factory radio and it has many more features. The USB is a must have. You can load up as much as your key will hold and it will play for hours. I use the USB all the time and it has worked perfectly. If you don't use the USB or the IPOD plug, you still have a good CD player. I love this radio and I would recommend it.

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Kenwood KVT-512 7-Inch Wide Indash Monitor with USB/iPOD Direct Control/DVD Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I got the kvt-512 along with the kna-510 installed in my 06 TSX. So far, all is good and no real complaint. The unit is loaded with features and options so what you can do with it is limitless. I have this unit connect through my factory head unit but the sound is still pretty good. The dvd is nice and clear and the navi works great. The touch screen is very responsive as well. I really like the fact that it plays mp3s off of a dvd. It is also convenient that it comes with a usb port to play mp3s off of. You can buy a ipod adaptor but why when you can get a cheap usb drive to play your music out of. I have it connected to a 8 gig thumb drive(bought for like $15) that I perminantly keep on there since it is plenty to hold all of my music.
You have to touch the screen on a unmarked location to activate the menu control options which is something I need to get used to. So far...I am definitely enjoying my new toy.

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DVD/CD receiver with internal amp (22 watts RMS/50 peak x 4 channels) * motorized 7" touchscreen * plays DVD, DVD-R/-RW, DVD+R/+RW, CD, CD-R/RW, and MP3/WMA/AAC files on disc * compatible with Kenwood iPod adapter, Bluetooth adapter, HD Radio tuner, and navigation module *

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Jensen VM9311TS - DVD player with LCD monitor and AM/FM tuner Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I picked up this unit without high expectations, but was very surprised with the quality of this unit for the price.
The audio and video quality is superb. It wasn't installed in a vehicle with a full "system", but a plain old minivan. It replaced a 1995 Dodge Caravan factory cassette deck. Yeah, yeah I know. :)
Why did I wait so long? I used an MP3 player with a RF modulator, so I didn't care about the cassette deck. My Rio Karma MP3 player served its purpose for over a year until the cassette mechanism finally took a crap on me, so it was time to purchase a new deck.
I contemplated the idea of just picking up any CD/MP3 deck, but figured why not spend some extra cash and have a new toy that I can enjoy?
Installation was a breeze and I had it installed, wired, and running in less than 30 minutes. The dash in my van is easy to work with, so you mileage may very for ease of installation. There's nothing special about installing this unit when compared to a standard deck.
Now on to the pro's and con's of the VM9311TS:
Pro's:
-First and foremost is the price. You will not find any unit with the features this unit has for this price range!
-Audio and Video quality: playback of DivX, XviD, MPEG's, and standard DVD's are crystal clear. No noticeable pixilation, fading, etc.
-Using the touch screen to navigate through DVD's is very user friendly.
-While not an iPod user yet, the ability to connect your iPod to the unit and have full control over it using the touch screen is a big plus. I actually caved in and bought an 80GB iPod Video. I haven't received it yet, but I am looking forward to getting it. I'm dumping my entire 40GB music collection onto the iPod along with all my episodes of Lost, Prison Break, Family Guy, etc onto one piece of hardware. The ability to fully the iPod using the touch screen is a big plus!
-Full set of audio and video outputs. You can connect this unit to your external amp, subs, etc.
-Full set of audio video inputs. You can plug in your video camera to review what you've recorded, Xbox, PlayStation, and anything else with a standard composite (RCA) yellow jack output.
Con's:
-Navigating a DVD full of MP3 is extremely tedious. Here's why... You get a full dump of EVERYTHING on your screen. You can't navigate by Album, Artist, Year, etc. So if I have a MP3 album of Anita Baker and an MP3 album of Usher I actually have to "click" the directory button over 50 times until I get to the artists with their name's being closer the end of the alphabet. You can also use the soft button on the screen to the next directory, but even then you have to press it over 50 times to get through your entire collection. I called Jensen and they confirmed that yes "you have to navigate through all the albums until you get to what you want.
-To make things worse you can not fast-forward or rewind MP3's. This was also confirmed by Jensen.
-I burned a DVD of all the current Prison Break episodes which were in DivX format. They played back beautifully, but here's the most irritating problem. As soon as you turn off your deck (i.e. turn of your car) the video will start playing over again from the beginning. You can skip over to the next video file on the disc, but again, after power-cycling your vehicle the deck will start over with the first file on the disc.
-As with the MP3's you can not fast-forward or rewind individual video files. This was confirmed by Jensen.
-No ability to change the look of what I call the operating system (OS). You can't change the wallpaper, color scheme, etc. What you see is what you get.
-Navigating through a DVD burned with hundreds if not thousands of MP3's is extremely slow. The OS definitely needs tweaking and enhancements, so I'm hoping that Jensen releases firmware updates in the future.
-Every time you turn your vehicle off and restart it, it takes up to 40 seconds before the track you were listening to resumes on a DVD-R. Navigating and resuming playback with a standard 700MB CD-R is faster when re-starting your vehicle.
So with all the cons aside it's still a pretty nice unit for the price. When the iPod arrives I'll post an update and let you guys know what I think.
It's unfortunate that I had to plunk down another $330 just to get the deck to be more user friendly and functional, but my hands are tied.
For somebody not looking to use the more advanced features such as playback of DivX files this deck is perfect for them. Remember that you can't fast-forward or rewind MP3's, so that may irritate even the non-techie.
So with review coming to an end I give this unit a 3 out of 5.
George

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Alpine IVA-W505 2-DIN Mobile Multimedia Station (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)UPDATE:
Alpine's customer service did get in touch with me, and I was able to resolve my Navigation issues...therefore, I would move my rating from 4 to 5 stars - but it won't let me!
Original review:
First let me say that I thoroughly enjoy this Alpine head unit. It really does everything you can imagine from an entertainment / navigation unit.
BTW - I purchased a PMD-B200 portable navigation unit that 'docks' into the IVA-W505 head unit. In addition, I am using the optional USB cable to connect to my 80 GB iPod.
The head unit will play both video and audio from the iPod. Basically, it can play anything that your iPod can play (video, audio, books, TV shows, etc.). In addition the unit can sync to your phone via bluetooth (I happen to have an iPhone) and the phone book syncs every time I get into the car. The 'handsfree' works seamlessly - when someone calls me the audio mutes, and as soon as I am done with the call, the audio (music) comes back on at the level it was prior to the call - and song plays from where it was interrupted by the call.
On the navigation side of things, I like the 3D mode - you can watch points of interest go by on the map, etc etc. The 'sky' on the nav unit changes from day to night...simple, but cool feature.
Supposedly, there are over a million points of interest...to which many in my town seem to be in there...
One note - I haven't been able to figure out what the 'address book' is in the navigation unit - it didn't seem to sync from my phone - and I had to manually input the addresses I wanted in the address book - which is cool I guess, it limited the entries in the book itself.
In summary -
PROS -
-Access to navigation, phone, iPod, DVD/CD all in one unit - VERY COOL!!!
-Interfaces very well with iPod - all iPod functionality is available in head unit (previous head unit only partial iPod functionality, playlist only)
-Screen resolution is very good - which makes movies crystal clear, and helps in day time viewing.
-Many audio and video adjustments - from bass, treble, subwoofer, and high pass filter, to contrast, color, screen height/width etc., etc.
-Just good to have so much functionality in one head unit...CONS -
-Owners manual might as well not exist, I have a USB cable that doesn't seem to go to anything (it goes with the nav unit, but with no software updates, and no computer interface why include it??)
-Graphic User Interface (GUI) is REALLY funky - you have to learn how to use it - not intuitive at all (and I own 2 Macs, 1 PC, Xbox360) - there are actually two menus, one for the audio / video side and one for the navigation side - and each have their own 'setup' menus etc....
-NO support on the Navigation side of things - Alpine actually isn't releasing updates for the navigation maps, and NAVTEQ (the people who they purchased the maps from send you back to Alpine (NAVTEQ's customer service was quick to respond and outstanding)
Overall, I am EXTREMELY pleased with the performance of the unit, and would recommend it to anyone.

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Kenwood KNA G510 - Navigation system Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have the Kenwood KNA-G510 Nav. hooked up to the New 2009
Kenwood KVT-514 DVD receiver. The Nav. is surpurbe, like a Garmin should be. There are other receivers out there that offer navigation, but you can't beat Kenwood and Garmin's track record. I doint have the Bluetooth conected yet, but I understand when you are looking up a place of business(Restaurant) You can press on the phone number and it will dial the phone number of the place (very cool). I think this is a GREAT product and will add one to my other car as well.
1 word of CAUTION...KENWOOD ONLY HONORS THERE WARRANTY IF YOU BUY FROM THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALERS..(Crutchfield).


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Boss BV9976 In-Dash 7" DVD/MP3/CD Widescreen Receiver with USB, SD Card, and Front Panel AUX Input (Detachable Front Panel) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I don't usually write reviews but felt compelled to do so in order to better reflect the true value and qualities of this deck. I have this deck installed on my skoolie RV conversion.
The BV997 is a great piece of car video/audio goodness for a reasonable price that reflects its status as slightly outdated. In other words for those looking to upgrade their current stereo without breaking the pocketbook this is a heck of a deal.
Love the ID3 tag display (my last one didn't have it) which pops up the info on all my self burned mp3 cds.
The touchpanel picture is comparable to an older netbook and very responsive to touch handling the controls. It will of course get smudgy so I keep a micro fiber cloth and lcd screen spray handy to keep it looking top notch.
The AUX input is on the front panel which is where your iPod (or any other player with a headphone jack)can plug in. It works great however keep in mind that the deck itself will NOT control your player. Personally I prefer this since it gives me greater flexibility in what is compatible and I like having the familiar player controls vs a deck that doesn't fully support it and takes flipping thru tons of menus to get the song/artist I want.
The SD card is an interesting touch that I occasionally utilize to look through camera photos instead of trying to see it with the tiny 2" lcd screen on the camera itself!
The USB port is easily accessible and works great when you pop a flash drive filled with music.
I have not yet used the rear camera input but am greatly looking forward to wiring that up and have been told by another who has this exact deck that it works like a charm and was very intuitive hooking up.
The power and expandability is where the BV997 really shines. The 85 watt 4 channel starting point sounds great but utilizing the front/rear and subwoofer outputs allowed me to expand the speaker system down the length of the skoolie easily. Added an amp to boost the power and it is an amazing sound that gets many compliments from people who think I shelled out big bucks for system.
The remote is a nice addition that comes in handy controlling the stereo while sitting in the back. Its features go way beyond your basic source/volumes. The buttons are a little small and occasionally I do fat-finger things but people with smaller fingers don't seem to have that issue.
The mounting hardware provided likely would work fine for a standard car upgrade - for my use I had to do a little retro fitting with extra screws and bracket that were easily (and cheaply) obtained by popping into a local stereo installer and picking up some of his leftovers. The user manual makes self installation by someone who has a little experience with stereo install a breeze.
In summary, this isn't a top of the line version but for those who want great bang for your buck, a whole lot of handy features, and an excellent overall car stereo the BV997 deserves your attention.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Boss BV9976 In-Dash 7" DVD/MP3/CD Widescreen Receiver with USB, SD Card, and Front Panel AUX Input (Detachable Front Panel)

The Boss Audio BV9976 is a single-DIN multimedia receiver offering playback of DVDs, CDs and plenty more, including digital MP3/MP4/WMA files. This receiver features touchscreen operation on its motorized, flip-out 7-inch widescreen display, an auxiliary input, USB port, and SD Card slot. With 85 Watts through four channels, it offers plenty of power, but front/rear and sub preamp outputs offer room for further growth.

7-Inch Touchscreen The BV9976 features a motorized, slide-down front panel with 7-inch widescreen display, complete with vertical angle adjustment for optimizing your viewing. Touchscreen controls make navigation of receiver features a breeze, and the brilliant monitor features a 1440 x 234 resolution and 600 NIT brightness--your video will look great.
Enjoy Your Media The BV9976 will play back your DVDs/SDVDs, SVCDs/VCDs, CDs, CD-R/Ws, and WMA/MP4/MP3 files. The ESP anti-skip mechanism ensures your music or video isn't interrupted by any bumps in the road, and playback features such as a mute function, intro scan, and last position memory are all included.
When listening to digital files, enjoy full ID3 tag display of artist/track info.
Dial in the sound with separate bass and treble EQ controls, along with balance/fader.
USB and SD Connectivity The BV9976 features a USB port and SD Card jack, so you can instantly switch out USB thumb drives or SD cards with a fresh batch of MP3 tunes/podcasts/etc.
AM/FM Radio Enjoy your favorite radio programming with the PLL-synthesized tuner, featuring 30 station presets for instant access to your preferred stations, and switchable USA/Europe radio frequencies.
Auxiliary Input The convenient front-panel auxiliary input (3.5mm mini jack) is a great way to enjoy audio from external devices such as MP3 players.
Power and Expandability The BV9976 provides 85 Watts through four channels to start, and if you'd like to expand your system, use the front/rear and subwoofer preamp outputs to add external amplifiers.
Rear View Camera Input Add a rear view camera for safety and convenience when your vehicle is in reverse.
Remote Included A wireless remote control is included for convenient control of the system.
What's in the Box BV9976 Receiver, Wireless Remote, Mounting Hardware, User's Manual

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Clarion VX409 6.5-Inch Double-DIN Multimedia Station with Touch-Panel Control Station Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I installed this unit in my 2009 Subaru WRX. I removed it and returned it after 3 days.
The good:
-It has a good amount of power. I ran this to my stock speakers and they sounded much, much better than they did with the factory receiver.
-Good build quality. The physical unit feels well made. Mechanical flip face works smoothly, buttons and volume dial feel solid.
-It's cheap.
The bad:
-iPod integration is terrible. There is no way to easily scroll through artists/albums etc. You have to click an arrow to flip through each individual entry. This is OK if you have a couple albums on a nano, but not OK if you plan to connect an iPod with a large library. Finding an artist beginning with 'N' took close to 100 clicks with my full 120GB iPod classic. And if you want to go from Nelly to Nirvana, you have to start all over from 'A' again.
-Poor screen resolution. Font edges are jagged.
-No dimmer. It has a dimmer connection wire, but it did not work on my unit. The screen was at full brightness at all times, and the manual dimmer control did not work either. At night it was like having a spotlight in my dash.
-Restarts between sources. Every time you change sources, the entire unit restarts. Screen shuts off then on and everything. It doesn't take too long, 3-4 seconds maybe, but it is rather odd and obnoxious. I took the whole thing out to check for a loose connection when it first happened. Called Clarion about it and they said it is normal operation.
-Navigation. The specs list this unit as being compatible with an optional navigation unit. However, the only input for the navigation unit is a component video connection. So if you were to connect navigation, the VX409 would only serve as a monitor, and you would not have touch screen control of anything.
Overall, the actual physical unit could be quite nice. However the software feels like going back to using Windows 95.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Clarion VX409 6.5-Inch Double-DIN Multimedia Station with Touch-Panel Control Station

Clarion's VX409 packs plenty of features into a two-DIN DVD unit. The VX409 boasts a high-resolution 6.5-inch QVGA LCD display, DVD/CD/MP3/WMA playback, AM/FM radio, and more. And there's room to grow--connect to a Sirius satellite radio receiver directly by adding a tuner, get hands-free calling by adding Bluetooth, add iPod direct control with a simple cable, and expand the system with three preamp outputs. The VX409 gives you great value to start, and lets you choose where to add on as you go.

High-Resolution QVGA Display The 6.5-inch QVGA color LCD features an intuitive graphical user interface for operation of your iPod, Sirius Satellite Radio, CD and DVD playback, including full access to DVD menus. The QVGA LCD screen offers high resolution viewing for DVDs as well as AUX connected sources.
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.
Navigation RCA Video Input With the VX409, you can connect the NP509 hideaway navigation system to upgrade to a car navigation system at any time. Count on voice guidance messages and high-resolution map displays to get you safely to your destination. Optional SA509 required for installation.
Bluetooth Interface Ready Add the optional BLT370 for hands-free calling in your vehicle.
Sirius SSP Direct Connection Ready Connect to the Sirius Satellite Radio receiver without the need for a interface box. One sirius Tuner and one interface cable, and you are ready to receive over 130 channels of music, news, talk shows, sports and traffic information with CD quality sound throughout the USA.
Media Versatility Play back your DVDs (including burnt DVD-R/RWs and DVD+R/RWs) and CDs (CD-DA and CD-R/RWs too).
You can also enjoy MP3/WMA files burnt to disc. ID3 tags such as artist and song info are displayed on the unit's screen.
AM/FM Radio Catch up on the news or listen to your favorite stations. Get quick access to your favorites with 18 FM and 6 AM station presets.
iPod Direct Control Add the optional CCUIPOD1 and enjoy full control of your iPod while it charges.
AV Input/Output Use external devices (such as video game systems, etc.) using the rear AV input.
Or, add a second monitor in the back seat using the AV output.
Room to Grow With 40 Watts through four channels, and a 24-bit D/A converter, the VX409 gives you great sound to start. But it also includes 6 channels of preamp output and a subwoofer volume control, so you can easily add external amplifiers and build a monster system.
Remote Included A full-featured remote control is included. The VX409 is also OEM steering remote ready, if you'd prefer control right at the helm.
What's in the Box VX409 Main Unit, Power Supply Cord, Remote Control Unit, Battery, Installation Hardware, Finishers, Owner's Manual, Installation Manual

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