Showing posts with label bluetooth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bluetooth. Show all posts

7/17/2011

Pioneer Premier AVIC-F90BT Review

Pioneer Premier AVIC-F90BT
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I've been really on the fence with this system. I love all the selling points of a GPS, MP3, Bluetooth and DVD, but it has some really disappointing downsides.
I go back and forth on whether or not I should take the system back and just have my factory stereo put back in (but who can go back when you've had something like this?). Sometimes I'm so incredibly frustrated and other times, I just simply love this system. I wish I could have researched it more, but I got it when it was brand new so no one had any reviews up. So here's the long of it (and YES I have the most recent firmware update):
-GPS works great expect for the orientation of the screen (if you are going south, the arrow points down... going north, arrow points out - can be very disorienting). I love being able to type in an address and have your system not only direct you, but having several options being directed (knowing the speed limit of where you are, approximate time to destination and/or next step, etc).
-DVD function works well too. Technically you have to have the parking brake on to have it work, but its a simple connector issue you can easily bypass. I take a lot of roadtrips with friends and my boyfriend, so I had it bypassed. It is incredibly dangerous to have it bypassed and a lot of places won't even bypass it for you, so use your best judgment.
-MP3, for some reason the place I got this thing installed told me I had to buy a connector to get it to work with an ipod. I thought it would work with the usb/ipod connector I bought at apple, but apparently not. Or they were just trying to rip me off ($75 they said, I said sell it to me for $20 or I was just going to return the whole damn thing completely). I love the MP3 player. It could be more accessible having the controls on the LEFT side of the screen rather than the RIGHT side. Plus, it operates with the standard ipod controls and menus, which are limiting at times. But it shows album cover art and if you have an ipod video, it plays your vids.
-Bluetooth has been touch and go for me lately. At first it totally worked with my LG enV. Tonight it wouldn't connect at all. Not sure if its a phone issue or a unit issue. But the sound is clear, people can hear you well and it saves your contacts. The bad thing is, because its touch screen, your finger might wrongfully choose a contact and before you know it, you are calling the wrong person. Sometimes the hangup glitches and I've experienced a few times where it wouldn't even call even when it was connected. Really annoying. I hope a fireware update fixes these bugs.
Other things...
Since I have a Mazda 3, they had to remove my clock because the double dec got in the way. Well, the lack of clear and readable clocks drives me nuts. I absolutely can't stand how small and unreadable the clock is either when its in audio mode or map mode. HATE IT.
Start up is slow, I have yet to try turning off the VC but I will. Still, 20 seconds even after you fix the default setting? Lame! You have no idea how much you miss your music when getting your journey started. Its a long time!
The touch screen is sometimes really finicky. If there is a bug or a glitch, the system can lag when you touch a button. Or sometimes you have to be really careful with how precise your aim is for a button.
The radio preset is really annoying. Again, why have the buttons on the RIGHT side of the console? So weird and awkward.
I feel like this system would really benefit from a remote controller. My arm is so tired from pressing so many things.
I wish the unit focused more on the audio and even the presentation. Its so bland and boring when its rife with cool possibilities like a screen saver with a clock on it (please... next firmware update have a BIGGER CLOCK accessible!! I'm dying here!). I'm really looking forward to the next update, but I'm worried it won't satisfy its deficiencies. When you spend this much on a fully loaded system, I know it won't be perfect, but some things are just really difficult to deal with. If I can really get the start up time down to 5 seconds, I'll be a really happy camper and just glue a clock to my dash.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer Premier AVIC-F90BT

No more hassling with map discs. Now you don't have to worry about discs being misplaced, damaged, lost, or stolen because we've done away with them for the F-Series navigation line. We've taken the entire TeleAtlas Database that was previously on the two-DVD set, compressed it down, and stored it internally on flash memory.

Buy Now

Click here for more information about Pioneer Premier AVIC-F90BT

7/11/2011

Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD 7-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Double-Din DVD Multimedia A/V Receiver Review

Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD 7-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Double-Din DVD Multimedia A/V Receiver
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I have had this unit for about a week now, and generally it's a pretty impressive unit. I also purchased the Pioneer GEX-P10HD HD Radio Tuner for Pioneer HD Radio-Ready Head Units, the Pioneer CD-BTB200 Bluetooth Wireless Adapter, and the Pioneer Car CDIU200V 2 Meter USB iPod Cable for AVH-P4100DVD.
Installation:
Installation for the product was generally clear. I am using the unit in a 1999 Nissan Altima. Had plenty of room for all three pieces either below the stereo or below the steering column.
AUX Inputs:
You'll need to buy an 1/8" headphone extension cable if you plan to use the aux input to connect to a normal player since the AUX input is in the back of the unit. You can also use a normal RCA stereo to 1/8" cable like for a home stereo as well. The unit accepts both and you can use them for different units, so you can have an ipod hooked up and another player at the same time.
Video Quality:
* Album covers from ipods are okay. A bit fuzzy, but okay.
* DVDs look awesome on this unit. Every bit of what you'd want. Plenty of control options. I have no complaints on this one.
* Color on the screen is bright and easy to read and selecting things on the screen is also easy. It's a senstive touch, so I never have to press hard. Most of the text is very large, so it's easy to read and select on the screen in a moving car. Has a clean look, will be impressive to passengers, but when off, nothing that makes it look fancy (in my ideal world hopefully that'll reduce theft potential). If you go to the Pioneer Electronics website, they have many more images of the screens. And the unit looks just as good in real life as it does in those pictures.
Sound Options:
* EQ is parametric, only three bands, but it allows you to choose what frequency and how many frequencies on either side of that one are affected. Provides enough flexibility if you may be used to a 7 or 10 band EQ like I am.
* Also, for external players, the feature that compensates for MP3 compressed audio is great. Really helps improve the sound from ipods.
* The Loudness feature has three intensity levels--quite helpful since on some units the difference between it being on and off can be crazy.
* The sub woofer settings allow you to choose the sub frequency you want to accent or reduce--assuming you have one with an external amplifier connected.
* Clock is only military time with no option to change it to am or pm. And it has a "just" option that drops the minutes and rounds the hours up or not. At least in the U.S., why would someone want to know a rounded hour. Not sure how that helps with anything.
Radio:
* The automatic station presets (BSM) only work in each preset group. Each group only has 6 options. So, you can't have it find the top 18 strongest signals. For example, if you use BSM setup for FM set 1, and then do the same for FM set 2, they have practically the same stations in them.
* HD radio is great, but when selecting presets, it doesn't insert the name of the station like it does with normal FM. All you see is P1, P2, etc. And I have yet to find a way to manually add it in. I don't expect to. If you use the HD unit, the normal radio functionality in the unit is disabled. You can still get the analog signals, it just works a little differently. It seems like they forgot to dot a few i's. But it switches back and forth between the analog signal and digital signal pretty well. With strong FM signals, I really can't tell much of a difference. Generally speaking, I probably wouldn't buy this item again if I had the choice. Most stations don't provide song title and artist information, plus most average stereos have that capability anyway. And on the display, what information is available from the station is really small and cluttered at the top while tremendous space is wasted in the main areas. Poorly thought out for such a excellently featured unit.
* AM stations don't come in well. When they come in, they sound great. It basically acts like a digital signal, so it either comes in and out quickly so you can't catch the words, doesn't come in at all, or it's on perfectly. When perfectly, it sounds much better than a normal stereo. My guess is that there's a processor in the unit that tries to clean up the signal. But as a result, weaker signals are simply cut off. You can't turn this feature off. Pretty tough since AM signals are so weak in the first place. My last stereo was much better. AM HD certainly sounds better, but it requires a stronger signal than the analog AM. So, it doesn't help you either.
iPod Controls:
* iPod controls work just like on the ipod except the scroll wheel action. In playlists, you can't see title and artist together. It also truncates titles and shows only 5 at a time. It's hard to find artists on the screen if you have a lot and scrolling is time consuming. There's really nothing special with this feature. It's better on the ipod because you can use the scroll action. The stereo allows you to use the ipod to select songs instead if you want. I didn't find any significant bugs when using this feature.
* The unit allows you to play videos from your iPod or iTouch if you have video capability. I have a 5th generation ipod video (The stereo does have requirements as to what ipods can be used. Basically if you have one manufactured in the last two to three years, you'll be fine.). I used DVDFab's software on a PC to convert my DVDs to a format for the ipod. But for some reason, the videos wouldn't play via the stereo like they should. I have the same problem on exercise units with the same feature. It's probably a problem with my encoding. Just know you may have some adjustments to make. I haven't bought a video from iTunes yet. I'd assume the videos would work just fine then.
Parked Requirement:
* I found a way around the parking brake requirement like a couple other reviewers. It is as simple as connecing the parking brake lead to a switch and the switch to the car chasis. The switch will have to be on (i.e. grounded) when you start your car. Then you'd switch it off and then on again. Most product descriptions on sites about this unit talk about it blocking DVDs, but if you don't hook it up at all, it actually blocks other features in the unit as well, such as changing the display intensity and setting up the bluetooth module. Even after you engage the "parking brake", there is a compliance screen prior to watching a DVD that requires you to press OK saying you're parked. It's good they do that. They shouldn't be liable in an accident caused by us going around their system and watching a DVD or trying to dial a number while driving. By going around their system, we are certainly fully responsible for the consequences.
Bluetooth Capability:
* It allows you to dump your phonebook into the unit if your phone has that option. Wasn't too hard to do that on my Treo 700p. The microphone sounded great on the piece and callers through the stereo sounded ok. I wouldn't say it's clear, but not much better than what you hear through your cellphone. The unit disables the EQ, however. So, you're stuck with the default cellphone sound. The only thing you can do is balance the signal volume with the other equipment, which for the Treo is unnecessary since you can control that on the unit.
Backgrounds:
* The default set of background options are really good, except for the animated versions. They are very pixelated--very poor quality. The are still pretty cool, though. I still use one of them for some sources.
Summary:
Overall, I'm glad I bought the unit. The radio shortcomings and ipod clumsiness are pretty big ones for me. But considering the price here on Amazon vs. other options in the same price range, I still would have bought the unit again.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD 7-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Double-Din DVD Multimedia A/V Receiver

Introducing the Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD In-Dash Double-DIN DVD Multimedia AV Receiver with 7-inch Widescreen Display, including DVD Video, DivX, MP3/WMA/iTunes AAC playback, iPod Direct Control (CD-IU50V Required), and Bluetooth Adapter Ready (CD-BTB200 Required).
Now Playing In A Dash Near You This is what Drive-In Movies were supposed to be. Audio/Video players improve on CD Players by adding a nice large touch screen. With features like touch-slide control and improved iPod interface, taking your favorite movies, music, and other media on the road is better than ever.

Widen Your Horizons With a 15 percent larger display that the AVH-P3100DVD, the AVH-P4100DVD's motorized display hides the CD slot, allowing you to enjoy all of your Audio/Video content on the full-color 7-inch screen.
iPod Made Easy Simply plug your iPod directly into the unit using the CD-IU50V iPod cable, and you are ready to rock and roll. Touch slide scrolling, Alphabetical Hi-Speed Search, Album Art, and improved Link Search make it easy to find your music.
Bring Your Music To Life Hear the detail, warmth, and clarity the way the artist intended it, from all of your highly compressed MP3, WMA and AAC files. By restoring data that tends to get lost in the digital compression process, we can make your music sound close to CD quality.
Smooth Operator Controlling your movies and music has never been easier. With a smooth swipe of your finger on the touch panel display, you can fastforward and rewind Audio/Video content (Note: Touchslide Fastforward/Rewind function not available on iPod).
Now It's Personal Select among five display colors and 112 key panel illumination to match car interior lighting, color, and design. You can even set your favorite JPEG file as wallpaper. Parked with no place to go? Now you can enjoy a slideshow of your photos on a CD or USB Device.
Fed up with your Bluetooth headset? Here's a better hands-free solution. Use the available CD-BTB200 Bluetooth Adapter and Bluetooth-enabled cellular phones for easy, safe, and hands-free operation. The unit acts like a speakerphone, channeling the sound through your car speakers which makes the call sound better. It also automatically mutes your music so that you'll never miss a call (Note: Optional CD-BTB200 adapter required).
What else does this model have to offer? The AVH-P4100DVD also includes additional features like built-in AUX input for your media devices. Features that are designed to expand your system, customize your experience, provide superior sound quality and easy operation.
3 RCA Hi-Volt pre-outs for adding on external amps and speakers simplify system expansion.
Play your MP3, WMA, iTunes AAC from CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, or USB Device.
Built-in MOSFET 50 W x 4 amplifier for excellent sound quality, minimal distortion and efficient power handling.
Supertuner IIID advanced analog and digital processing assure superior imaging, less distortion and noise, and stronger, smoother broadcast signal reception.
What's in the Box Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD, wiring harness, installation hardware, operation manual, installation guide, warranty sheet

Buy NowGet 29% OFF

Click here for more information about Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD 7-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Double-Din DVD Multimedia A/V Receiver

7/10/2011

Pioneer AVIC-X910BT 5.8-Inch In-Dash Navigation A/V Receiver with DVD Playback and Bluetooth Review

Pioneer AVIC-X910BT 5.8-Inch In-Dash Navigation A/V Receiver with DVD Playback and Bluetooth
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Bought the X910BT for my car, we enjoy traveling the back roads of Arizona and the southwest. Having the Nav system installed in the car makes things very easy - no hassle connecting the various devices, cables running all over, taking it down and putting it back up when making stops, and little "suction circles" on the windshield that thieves look for. Now I only have to fuss with the radar detector. Startup time on the unit is really not a problem, my Garmin would often take several minutes to startup, the AVIC is typically ready to go in about 1 minute. The bluetooth connection takes a little longer and the unit is very sluggish until the bluetooth connects. After the bluetooth is connected, the X910BT is very responsive.
It's a very easy unit to operate after you get used to it. My previous GPS was a Garmin unit, and I really got spoiled by their features. A few things I can complain about with the X910BT:
- Voice recognition on bluetooth - just doesn't seem to understand what I'm saying, either by name or number. I usually end up selecting the contact off the screen instead of telling it who to call. After the call has started, it works great, incoming sound is loud and clear. One person told me I sounded kind of muffled on their end, but they did not have any problem understanding me.
- Route planning is a bit of a pain if you're like me and like to take the back roads. When we travel, we like to stay off the interstate as much as possible. Disabling the Highway option makes for some very long trips as it will try to route you way out of the way to avoid highways. The AVICFeeds software is ok and I have used it to generate POIs for route planning, but it is tedious and not as easy to use as Garmin's MapSource. AVICFeeds also has a 300 item limit on POIs it can import, which means getting creative if your have a file with a large number of locations, such as those found on POI-Factory.com.
- The volume knob is really small and hard to grasp. I picked up a press on knob from a guy on AVIC411.com and it works great, easy to grasp and works the way it should have from the factory.
- The maps are very limited in the speed limit data they have. One a recent trip Southern California, we were being tailed by a CHP on one of the backroads. We were doing a reasonable speed, but the AVIC did not have any speed information for the road we were on. Additionally, many of the major surface streets in the Phoenix metro area also do not have any speed limit info available. It was very rare for the Garmin to not have speed limit data available.
I have the Sirius option installed, it works great and I listen to it more often than FM or my SD Card. I used the factory installed Sirius antenna lead to connect to the X910BT with no problem. I was able to transfer my new car subscription over and they even waived the $15 transfer fee. I also found a nice flat spot under the dash to put the GPS antenna where it is hidden and out of sight. I do not have any extra objects laying on my dash or on my roof as giveaways to what I have in my car. I ran the microphone up inside the front pillar, under the roof liner and used velcro strips to attach it to the rear view mirror. It's almost completely out of sight unless you know what to look for.
I really like he X910BT and would not go back to the portable Garmin GPS, though we still have it for use in our other vehicles and when we are hanging around planning a trip. It's great having the GPS built-in, many times we are out running around and decide to go someplace, we can enter whatever we want to find right in the GPS and it tells us where it's at.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer AVIC-X910BT 5.8-Inch In-Dash Navigation A/V Receiver with DVD Playback and Bluetooth

Pioneer's AVIC-X910BT is an in-dash navigation receiver with DVD Player and Bluetooth. Get fast, easy-to-use in-dash navigation, talk hands-free with built-in Bluetooth, and control your iPod or iPhone directly. Voice control allows you to play music from your iPod and make hands-free Bluetooth phone calls just using your voice.

Key reasons to upgrade from AVIC-U310BT:
DVD Video, DVD-R/RW Playback
MSN Direct built-in
3D Hybrid Sensor (Gyro & G-Force) for enhanced positioning
DivX video playback on CD/DVD


Navigation Beyond Expectation The AVIC-X series of receivers are ideal for those looking for a refined navigation experience with the latest in media and connectivity options. Out of the box, this system comes with 12 million points of interest and an extensive map database to help you find your next destination.
On the Map The easy-to-operate Pioneer Navigation system has built-in maps that put the world at your fingertips. This includes major points of interest, such as restaurants, ATMs, gas stations, entertainment venues and more. The built-in Text-to-Speech engine clearly pronounces turn-by-turn direction and street names to ensure smooth travels. The AVIC-X710BT also offers high-resolution 2D and 3D maps with renderings of nearby landmarks and terrain to help navigate the world around you.
AVIC Feeds The system's database is fully expandable with AVIC feeds, Pioneer's PC application, which lets you create custom trips and your own points of interest.
Voice Control The Z-Series offers convenient voice-activated navigation, which allows you to simply say an address or find nearby points of interest.

AVIC FEEDS for iPhone now available Unleash the power of your Pioneer navigation system with the AVIC FEEDS for iPhone application. Find a destination, then transfer it to your Pioneer navigation system for turn-by-turn routing.
Bridge the Gap Start Planning your route before you even step into your car with the free AVIC FEEDS app. Now you can seamlessly use your iPhone with your Pioneer navigation receiver. Simply find your destination with the built-in Google Maps interface and transfer it via Bluetooth for easy, turn-by-turn directions.
Picture Yourself There The AVIC FEEDS app also allows you to use the geo-tag data in your photos to be routed directly to places you've visited. The built-in GPS feature of iPhone 3G and 3GS has the ability to embed geo-tag information in the photos you take with its camera. AVIC FEEDS allows you to save destinations by reading these geo-tags. You can also use AVIC FEEDS to create destinations from geo-tagged photos that are sent to your iPhone.

Your iPod (and iPhone) Will Thank You On top of being an exceptional navigator, the AVIC-X series delivers an iPod experience that blows away FM transmitters or cassette adaptors. Even at the first glance, you will fall in love with the easy-to-use touch screen controls for your music and brilliant 5.8-inch display for your videos. Album art is also beautifully displayed.
With the optional cable (CD-IU230V) connected to your iPod, you will notice how easily you can find songs, videos, artists, or playlists with a few simple taps of your finger. The AVIC-X710BT also features voice-activated control of your iPod. Simply say the name of an artist, album, playlist, or genre to bring up the next song.

Ditch the Headset with Built-in Bluetooth Take incoming calls through the AVIC-X910BT, and be heard clearly without a headset courtesy of Bluetooth technology. Connecting your compatible phone is easy and gives you instant touch screen access to your contacts. You can also dial a contact with the sound of your voice by simply saying "Call Jack Smith."

Get Connected with MSN Direct Access up-to-date information with the built-in MSN Direct tuner on your AVIC-X910BT. MSN Direct is the ultimate in-car convenience, offering news, traffic, stock quotes, weather, movie times, and gas prices. Because MSN Direct can work seamlessly with system�s navigation, you can be routed directly to a theater after finding the right show time, or have traffic flow overlayed on your route.
Enjoy MSN Direct free for the first three months when you purchase the AVIC-X910BT.

The Freedom of Speech Your iPod audio functions and hands-free Bluetooth dialing can all be controlled with the sound of your voice. Voice-activated control over your navigation system not only performs in-car tasks with greater speed, but helps you keep your eyes (and attention) on the road ahead.

Media Mogul Built to navigate, but born to entertain, the AVIC-X910BT offers audio and video playback from the most popular formats. Whether you're watching DivX files on DVD, MP3 audio on SD card or iTunes AAC files on CD, there are dozens of playback options for your favorite media.
From Disc Play back DVDs and DVD-R/RWs, CDs and CD-R/RWs, and burn discs with all your digital media, since the AVIC-U310BT also plays back MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV and DivX files from CD or DVD.
From USB Device If you don't feel like burning CDs just throw the MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV files you want on a USB device and enjoy.

Sound Minded Just because the AVIC-X710BT features a robust navigation platform, doesn't mean it holds back on sound quality. With 3 sets of RCA pre-outs, MOSFET50 power and a 3-band parametric equalizer, you can build a massive system with massive sound.

Expanded Listening The AVIC-X710BT gives you plenty of room to expand your broadcast options. With optional tuners, experience the vast channel selection of XM Sirius Satellite Radio and HD Radio.
What's in the Box AVIC-X710BT Main Unit, Power Cord, Extension Lead, RCA Connector, GPS Antenna, Microphone, User's Manual, Installation Manual

Buy NowGet 44% OFF

Click here for more information about Pioneer AVIC-X910BT 5.8-Inch In-Dash Navigation A/V Receiver with DVD Playback and Bluetooth

Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD 5.8-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Double-Din DVD Multimedia A/V Receiver Review

Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD 5.8-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Double-Din DVD Multimedia A/V Receiver
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Edit 2/2/10: After several months of use, I am revising my review to give this radio 4 stars. I still think it is the best out there today, but am subtracting a star to account for some poor design flaws on it with the way they integrate with the Bluetooth and Sirius units.
The Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD is a touch-screen Double DIN aftermarket car stereo. It has a 5.8" full color widescreen face, front auxiliary port for connecting an IPod or other device, a front USB port for connecting a USB flash drive, and it can play DVD-R/RW, CD-R/RW, DivX, MP3, WMA and AAC files. The Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD 7-Inch In-Dash Double-DIN DVD Multimedia AV Receiver with Widescreen Display is the same exact radio, except it adds a bigger screen (7") by removing the physical buttons to the side, and it adds a subwoofer preamp output.

INSTALLATION AND DVD BYPASS: Double DIN means that it is roughly twice the size of a conventional car stereo, so before ordering, you need to make sure it will fit in your car. The best way to do this is to go to Crutchfield's web site and determine if it will work on your vehicle. The unit itself comes with the receiver, mounting screws, manual, a stylus pen, front mounting cover, and a power cable. I found it fairly easy to install. The power cable it comes with just has bare wires coming out of it. In addition to the radio, you will want to buy a mounting harness and mounting bracket for your vehicle. The harness looks just like the one that comes with the stereo, but it is designed to clip into the factory harness that's in your vehicle, to make it easy to remove the stereo. If you don't have one, you'll have to connect all of the wires by hand, and disconnect each one to remove. The mounting bracket is designed to make sure you radio fits correctly in your specific vehicle. I purchased both the harness and bracket from Crutchfield. My only problem with installation, is that it comes with a long green wire that is supposed to be connected to your emergency brake wire. This is necessary, because the unit has a safety feature that requires the emergency brake to be applied in order to play DVDs. My emergency brake wire was extremely hard to get to, and once I was able to finally remove the center console and find it, it was buried and almost impossible to access. I don't suggest doing this, but if you have the same problem and want to get around this issue, or if you want to be able to watch DVDs without having to engage the brake, then you need to connect this wire to an auto relay switch. Go to Radio Shack and buy a momentary push button switch, part number 275-1548. Cut the green wire coming out of the radio harness from the receiver, close to the end of it, maybe 5 inches away from that red clip. Strip the wire, and run it through one of the holes on the relay switch. You can solder it or just wrap it with electrical tape. Buy a standard 16 gauge wire from Radio Shack and connect it to the other hole on the switch, then connect the other end of it to a grounded connection on your vehicle. I just wrapped mine around one of the mounting screws for the radio. I stuffed this wire out of site under the dash and pull it out when I need it. Alternatively, you can just cut the green wire directly in half, and use the half you cut instead of having to buy more wire at Radio Shack, but I wanted an extra long wire in case I ever want to move it. Now, when you play a DVD, the warning screen will come on. Just press the button on the switch and it will go away, since it tricks the receiver into thinking you have engaged the parking brake. Be sure to check with your local laws, as having the DVD player on while driving or bypassing this may be illegal in your area. It may also void insurance claims. I definitely do not recommend ever watching a DVD while driving.
FORM FACTOR: The radio itself is beautiful. It fit flush with my dash and looks gorgeous. There are only a few buttons on the left hand side, and I didn't even realize they were buttons until I looked at them closely. They control volume, forward/backward, source, mute, and power. I like having these physical buttons, especially for volume and mute. If I get a phone call or need to hear something, I want to be able to instantly mute the radio without having to fool around with a touchscreen. It's very nice to have a radio that doesn't have 15 buttons all over it and looks cluttered. Customization is easy with the radio. You can select from several different colors, which will change the LED colors on these physical buttons and on the touchscreen menu buttons, so that it matches your car's LED colors. You can also choose from seven factory background screens, three of which are animated videos. The animation on the videos is very subtle and doesn't distract you. Plus, when you change the LED color, it actually changes the color of the background videos to match it, which is really cool. If you don't like these, you can use your own image from a CDR or USB drive. The screen contains a dimmer option, so when you turn on your lights, it automatically dims. This is pretty nice, but can also be annoying. I like to use my lights during the day, and while the screen is still readable, it can be hard to see. Fortunately, you can completely adjust the dimmer options through the settings.
TOUCHSCREEN: The touchscreen is very easy to navigate and done very well. The menu system is very intuitive and set up a lot like a computer. There is a back button and an escape button to get you through the menus. Seeking through a song can be done in three ways. You can hold down the physical forward/backward buttons on the unit, you can do the same with the touchscreen forward/backward buttons, or you can use your finger to slide a progress bar back and forth, the same as you would do with a video file on your computer or with an IPod. This is great because a 30 minute song can start, and I can just press the end of the progress bar with my finger and it will immediately skip to the end of the song (or whatever position I press on the bar). From what I can tell, it will scroll exactly like a computer and stop at the exact position you touch. A lot of touchscreens would have "segments" or 5-10 seconds, and stop on whichever segment you came close to. But with the AVH-P3100, it is segmented into 2 second increments, so you can have much more accurate scrolling. This is the only instance where I can see the stylus being of any use, but I have fairly large fingers and don't have any problem with the scroll bar. My main gripe with the touchscreen navigation, is with the up/down scrolling. This is used when navigating radio/satellite stations, song tracks on a CD, or file folders on a USB/IPod. There is no page up/down feature, so if five folders are displayed and you press the down arrow on the scroll bar, or if you press anywhere below the current position on the scroll bar, it will move the list down by one, instead of down by five. This is a major oversight in my opinion, and will affect the way you setup your folders. I have one folder on my USB with 80 subfolders. That means if I want to scroll through every folder in the list, I have to press the down button 75 times. Now you can put your finger on it and simply drag the arrow down to move quickly, but it goes kind of fast, and paging through the list would be so much more convenient. Also, since it only displays five lines at a time, it means you have to scroll one time to view all six of your radio presets.
USB: USB is the main reason I purchased this radio, and works well, with a few faults. First, it takes about 10 seconds when I start the car or select the USB source, for it to "read format." This is possibly because I am using a 8Gb drive with over 1000 songs on it, so it's acceptable to me. My main problem with the USB feature, is the way it organizes the folders. They do not appear alphabetically. I am not sure what method it uses, but like a lot of MP3 audio devices, it just seems to throw them up in the folder list in whatever order it wants. It will use the same order every time, but you can't trick it by copying a folder you want to appear at the top first, or adding "01, 02, 03, etc" in front of your folders/file names." There is probably a workaround for this, but I have no idea what it is. I think it would make more sense if it just listed the folders alphabetically. It does read ID3 information very well, however it cuts off anything after a certain character limit. It would be nice if it scrolled sideways through long song titles/artists to show you the full ID3 information, but for about 95% of people's music, this won't be a problem, and for the other 5% you should have enough of the title to figure out what it is. However if you don't have ID3 tags on your music, it can be a problem. For example, if you have a folder with 10 songs in it labeled "DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - Greatest Hits - Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble," and there are no ID3 tags, it is only going to display the first part of the filename until it reaches the character limit. So your list on the screen will have 10 songs on it that all say something like "DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fr." Additionally, the USB drive is going to stick out 3" or so from the unit, so unless you remove it every time, you have to be aware of it and careful not to break it off. It doesn't bother me at all though. (Edit - I recently purchased elago Mobile Nano II USB 2.0 microSDHC Flash Memory Card Reader (Black) for it, which only sticks out about 3mm from the unit and is awesome. Get this and a ...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD 5.8-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Double-Din DVD Multimedia A/V Receiver

The Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD in-dash double-DIN DVD multimedia AV receiver features a 5.8-inch widescreen display and plays back DVD video, DivX, and MP3/WMA/iTunes AAC. It also features iPod direct control (CD-IU50V required) and is Bluetooth-adapter ready (CD-BTB200 required).
Now Playing in a Dash Near You This is what drive-in movies were supposed to be. Audio/video players improve on CD players by adding a large touchscreen. With features like touch-slide control and improved iPod interface, taking your favorite movies, music, and other media on the road is better than ever.

I Can See Clearly Now The 5.8-inch widescreen touchscreen on the AVH-P3100DVD allows you to enjoy all of your music and videos in style. Sick of having to search through your music song by song? Now you can scroll through your music at the touch of a finger.

iPod Made Easy Simply plug your iPod directly into the unit using the CD-IU50V iPod cable, and you're ready to rock and roll. Touch-slide scrolling, alphabetical high-speed search, album art, and improved link search make it easy to find your music.

Bring Your Music to Life Hear the detail, warmth, and clarity the way the artist intended it, from all of your highly compressed MP3, WMA, and AAC files. By restoring data that tends to get lost in the digital compression process, Pioneer can make your music sound close to CD quality.

Smooth Operator Controlling your movies and music has never been easier. With a smooth swipe of your finger on the touch-panel display, you can fast forward and rewind audio/video content. (Note: The touch-slide fast forward/rewind function is not available on iPod.)

Now it's Personal Select among five display colors and 112 key panel illuminations to match your car's interior lighting, color, and design. You even can set your favorite JPEG file as wallpaper. Parked with no place to go? Now you can enjoy a slideshow of your photos on a CD or USB device.

Get the Blues Fed up with your Bluetooth headset? Here's a better hands-free solution. Use the available CD-BTB200 Bluetooth adapter and your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone for easy, safe, and hands-free operation. The unit acts like a speakerphone, channeling the sound through your car speakers, which makes the call sound better. It also automatically mutes your music so that you'll never miss a call. (Note: CD-BTB200 adapter is required.)

Other Features The AVH-P3100DVD also includes features that are designed to expand your system, customize your experience, and provide both superior sound quality and easy operation, such as:

built-in AUX input for your media devices;
two RCA high-Volt pre-outs for adding external amps and speakers;
built-in MOSFET 50 W x 4 amplifier for excellent sound quality, minimal distortion, and efficient power handling; and
supertuner IIID advanced analog and digital processing to ensure superior imaging, less distortion and noise, and stronger, smoother broadcast signal reception.

What's in the Box Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD, wiring harness, installation hardware, operation manual, installation guide, warranty sheet


Buy NowGet 26% OFF

Click here for more information about Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD 5.8-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Double-Din DVD Multimedia A/V Receiver

7/09/2011

Pioneer AVH-P5200BT In-Dash DVD Multimedia AV Receiver Review

Pioneer AVH-P5200BT In-Dash DVD Multimedia AV Receiver
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
This is definitely a great player but there were a couple of surprises for me. First is the bluetooth is only made for calls so don't think about trying to stream music through it because it won't work. Second, the order of files on the sd card depends not on the name of the file but when the file was actually transferred. For example, if you have A, C and D and you add B to the SD card later, it will actually show up as A, C, D, and then B. I just got it so these are the only things I have found so far. I was a little disappointed with these quirks but other then that it is a great player.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer AVH-P5200BT In-Dash DVD Multimedia AV Receiver

Get your media on the road with Pioneer's AVH-P5200BT, an in-dash single-DIN DVD Multimedia AV Receiver featuring a motorized seven-inch widescreen display. With versatile music and video playback, modern features like USB Direct Control and DivX support, a built-in MOSFET 50 W x 4 amplifier, and plenty of expansion options, it's the perfect way to turn your vehicle into a mobile entertainment center. And with built-in Bluetooth, you can take and make calls through your vehicle's sound system.


AVH-P5200BT Features
Built-In Bluetooth The AVH-P5200BT features built-in Bluetooth technology, which allows you to take incoming calls through your vehicle's sound system. Connecting your Bluetooth-enabled phone is a snap, and gives you access to all your contacts. Best of all, you can make or take a call without a headset.
Motorized Seven-Inch Touchscreen Display The AVH-P5200BT boasts a seven-inch TFT LCD touchscreen display with 1440 x 240 pixel resolution. Navigating your media and system settings from the touchscreen is a breeze thanks to intuitive touch controls and customizable menus. Tap, Swipe or Drag--exactly the way you expect a touchscreen device to work.
When not in use, the screen tucks away safely in the unit. The viewing angle is also adjustable, from 50 to 110 degrees.
Versatile Multimedia Playback Enjoy your favorite DVDs while parked with the full-featured DVD player, or add a back seat screen for your passengers to watch as you drive. The AVH-P5200BT will play DVDs, DVD-Rs, Video CDs and even DivX files burnt to CD or DVD (or from a USB device). You can also use the rear A/V input to attach external devices like video game systems.
As for music, you can enjoy your favorite CDs, or listen to MP3/WMA/AAC files from either CD/DVD data discs or a USB device.
USB Input / SD Memory Card Slot Connect USB thumb drives or other devices and enjoy playback of your digital audio files or DivX video. Ditto for SD memory cards. This makes it a breeze to quickly grab some media from your computer before a big road trip, and enjoy hours of entertainment on the road.
iPod Direct Control (CD-IU50V required) Connect your iPod directly and experience exceptional sound quality while easily navigating through music, videos and album art on the AVH-P5200BT's screen. Say goodbye to the annoying static of FM transmitters and other iPod half-solutions.
Advanced Sound Retriever Hear the detail, warmth and clarity, the way the artist intended it, from all of your highly compressed MP3, WMA and AAC files stored on USB memory device, iPod and portable digital players. By restoring data (especially higher frequencies) that tend to get lost in the digital compression process, Pioneer's Advanced Sound Retriever technology enhances audio reproduction nearly all the way up to 20 kHz frequencies.
Supertuner IIID AM/FM Tuner Pioneer's legendary Supertuner IIID combines the best of digital and analog tuner technologies to reduce distortion to bring you exceptional FM and AM performance. If you live in an area where reception is weak, you'll hear a big improvement in signal strength. And when you're near tall buildings, Supertuner IIID reduces the effect of multi-path noise, which occurs when the signal is reflecting off of the buildings.
Always have your favorite stations at hand with 18 FM and 6 AM user presets. And when you're somewhere new, let the tuner do the work for you by activating the Best Stations Memory (BSM) function. The tuner will seek out the 6 strongest stations in the area and set them into the tuner presets.
Dial in Your Sound Use and customize EQ curves, adjust the eight-band parametric equalizer, or change loudness and bass boost settings to get the perfect sound.
AUX-In Connection Use the built-in AUX input for connecting any digital portable player and other external auxiliary devices. For extra-convenient access, the AVH-P5200BT has this A/V input on the front panel.
MOSFET 50W x4 Amplifier for the Power Hungry Compared to conventional power supplies, the MOSFET amplification circuit is smaller and more efficient, delivering power with less distortion and absolutely zero on/off switching noise. And that doesn't just mean a boost in volume: it means that your music will be cleaner at higher volumes because you're not pushing the limits of the amplification circuit. Clean, efficient power that will rock your vehicle.
For those who'd like a bit more power, three 4V RCA preamp outputs are also included for system expansion (front/rear/sub).
Add the Power of Navigation This receiver is ready to take direction with the optional AVIC-U220 navigation module, a sleek navigation unit that supports AVIC feeds, enabling you to create custom trips, as well as your own points of interest. The plug and play AVIC-U220 puts Pioneer's legendary AVIC navigation at your fingertips.
Rear View Camera Capability Keep an eye on your backside using the optional Rear View Camera (ND-BC2 or ND-BC20PA): while you're in reverse the rear-view camera can be in full screen.An unit equipped with the optional rear-view camera adds a level of safety and assurance you can rely on.In addition to keeping you and your family safe, this feature also makes maneuvering in tight spaces easier.
Ready to Expand The AVH-P5200BT is also compatible with Pioneer's XM and Sirius satellite radio tuners, HD radio tuner, TV tuner, CD/DVD changers and more.
AVH-P5200BT Basic Specs

What's in the Box Pioneer AVH-P5200BT Receiver, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Owner's Manual

Buy NowGet 26% OFF

Click here for more information about Pioneer AVH-P5200BT In-Dash DVD Multimedia AV Receiver

Clarion NX500 6.5" In-Dash Motorized Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver, Built-in Navigation and Bluetooth Review

Clarion NX500 6.5 In-Dash Motorized Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver, Built-in Navigation and Bluetooth
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Since the 1st reviewer really captured a lot of my feelings on this unit, I'll try to concentrate on or add some additional thoughts...
When researching the higher end offerings from Kenwood and Pioneer, I finally decided on Clarion's NX500 after I saw all of the features that were included for a price tag that was *at least* half the cost of anything comparable. For reference, I picked mine up for $579 from another online retailer.
Installation was a breeze in my Mercedes Benz ML320 using a Metra harness. I was especially pleased with the modular wiring setup in the back of the headunit. As the other reviewer mentioned, you only plug in the connections you plan to use. This all means less clutter and mess behind the dash. At the time of installation, I also installed the Sirius Direct Connect adapter and a rear view camera. Connections were very straightforward.
The navi system seems to be a hybrid between a Garmin and Honda/Acura unit. You have the ability to view the mapping aerially, or slightly angled (quasi 1st person). The system is adequate for getting you to your destination, although I would've liked to have seen an option that lists turn-by-turn directions on the right side of the split screen for better clarification similar to the software found in my Acura TSX. Guidance voice options include 2 sets of male and female voices. One set utilizes text to speech (TTS) and phonetically pronounces street names and highways. These voices are robotic sounding, and will literally pronounce names as they are spelled. For example, U.S. Highway 9 would sound like "us nine" vs "u-s nine". The other set of more human sounding voices merely give generic turn by turn directions such as "Turn left at next intersection" vs "Turn left at Broadway". A neat feature of the split screen option is that the time and distance to the next turn/checkpoint is displayed on the left side while the total remaining distance and estimated time of arrival are displayed on the right side. I did not have any issues w/ the unit keeping extremely accurate time as the other reviewer. I believe setting the time to sync via the GPS will solve his problem. The POI database in the nav software was fairly extensive and very helpful when in an unfamiliar area looking for a place to eat, a place to get gas, etc. Entering addresses to get routing guidance was fairly easy; however, destinations on main streets sometimes became sources of frustration. When trying to enter an address on Rt 46, I finally realized that the road was also known as "Main St". Having a HD based system allows quick re-routing when you deviate from the directions. While my Acura TSX and MDX would take a few seconds to "recalculate" a new route, the NX500 does it almost instantaneously. Nav reception via the GPS antenna is very strong. I mounted mine under the dash, and have had no issues whatsoever with getting located as soon as I turn on the vehicle. The reception is so strong that viewing the speedometer screen yielded identical results to the actual speedometer in my instrument cluster.
Sound quality was very good considering I am not running an aftermarket amp. If you're an audiophile, the limited EQ adjustments will feel limiting. For the average person, there are "preset" EQ settings for various types of audio such as "Rock", "Urban", or "Techno".
Sirius radio reception sounded CD clear in my vehicle. I did not get any hissing or "white" noise on any channel like the other reviewer did, nor has my sat radio ever locked up.
I also purchased a bypass module on e bay. Unlike Pioneers and other aftermarket headunits, you cannot simply ground the parking brake wire to the chassis. It requires a pulsing signal to mimick the release and re-engagement of the parking brake in order to operate any stereo function that includes video. I do not condone, nor recommend watching any video while operating the vehicle. For my purposes, I wanted the ability to adjust my nav destination w/o pulling the car over.
Ipod integration is ok --- all pertinent menus/data are available such as playlists, artists, songs, albums, etc. Unfortunately, however, you do not have the ability to quickly scroll through entries. I have over 5,000 songs on my 5G 30GB Video. Trying to select an artist beginning with a 'G' requires the continuous pressing of the down arrow. You cannot hold the button to accelerate the process.
The DVD function works well. The picture is very good, although it seems a tad washed out. Of course, this is a minor point as I rarely watch movies in the vehicle. Playing a CD is standard fare, but I was VERY disappointed in what appears to be a poor oversight in basic design. I used to be a vinyl DJ, and have a large collection of "continuous" mix CDs that I have not yet been able to transfer to my iPod. When playing a mix, the player will insert a 2-3 second gap between tracks, regardless if the CD was recorded without them. This can get rather annoying during a DJ set or live band performance.
The built-in bluetooth system makes this unit such a big upgrade over its predecessor because an additional, external modular add-on is not required (less mess behind the dash). Calls come in loud and clear through the vehicle's speakers, and a mic is built directly into the face of the stereo. I also installed the supplementary external mic in the vehicle to give me the option of choosing which mic to use, but callers on the other end have not reported any problem hearing me clearly when using the built-in mic. Music/video will pause and mute when a call is placed or received. My Verizon Blackberry Storm can synch its address book and call log w/o an issue. You can switch off to your handset in a snap with a dedicated button on the bluetooth screen interface. The other GREAT feature of the built-in bluetooth system is the ability to listen to Bluetooth audio. I frequently run Pandora and Slacker in the vehicle now from my Blackberry. I have so many "entertainment" options now, it truly is ridiculous. One gripe about this feature is that you can't view the nav screen at the same time.
As the other reviewer touched on, the biggest problem with this unit has to do with its visibility in bright sunlight. Because the screen is very smooth and gloss like, it reflects a great deal of glare during the day. I will try to remedy this with an anti-glare film and update at a later time. With all that said, after a month and a half of solid use, I would purchase this unit again in a heartbeat. I almost feel like I stole it, and cannot say enough about what a great value it really is. While it is not a supreme standout in any one area, it does everything fairly well. If you are looking for a good "quiver killer", I would highly recommend it.
Pros (to echo some of the 1st reviewer's sentiments):
1 - Ease of installation w/ no mess.
2 - Fast navigation due to HD based software; STRONG GPS reception.
3 - Clean sound, even w/o an amp.
4 - Easy addition of additional AV sources.
5 - POI database is robust.
6 - Built in bluetooth, especially the ability to stream BT audio (Pandora and Slacker in the car!!!)
7 - Tangible, physical buttons for volume control and source selectionCons (more nitpicking than anything else):
1 - Excessive glare in bright sunlight... hopefully this will be remedied w/ a simple anti-glare film.
2 - Can't use voicedial feature for making calls.
3 - Entering addresses could be a little cumbersome if you don't know the alternative names.
4 - No quick scroll feature for navigating through the iPod.
5 - Mix CDs don't play continuously.
6 - Can't view the nav screen when playing BT audio.
I hope this helps others who are trying to decide on a new DD unit for their vehicle. Thanks to the 1st reviewer for helping me make my own decision.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Clarion NX500 6.5" In-Dash Motorized Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver, Built-in Navigation and Bluetooth

Clarion's NX500 is a premium double-DIN audio/video navigation unit with built-in GPS navigation, built-in Bluetooth for hands-free control, and audio streaming and USB iPod and iPhone compatibility. iPod video playback is also available using an optional cable (CCA748). The unit is also Sirius Satellite Radio and HD Radio Ready (including the iTunes tagging feature) with additional hardware. With built-in GPS navigation, the flash memory allows for quick response and access to navigation maps and multimedia options.

Built-in Navigation System with 12 million POIs NX500 features a built-in car navigation system with simple destination input, turn-by-turn voice prompts, selectable route guidance--everything you need to reach your destination quickly and efficiently. Pre-loaded with 12 million Points of Interest, its database includes national parks, restaurants, gas stations, and much more.
Built-in Bluetooth Hands-free Calling With Bluetooth built-in, you can wirelessly connect your Bluetooth capable mobile phone to listen to calls through your car's audio system. HFP/OPP/A2DP/AVRCP protocols are supported.
Superior iPod and iPhone Connectivity USB connection enables complete control of your iPod including video playback. Also "Works with iPhone" certified to bring its communication and entertainment capabilities into your car.
HD Radio Ready with iTunes Tagging Connecting the THD400 lets you enjoy listening to digitally broadcast radio programs with all their superior quality and helpful information. This includes iTunes Tagging capability, so if you hear a song on the radio that you like, you can tag it to download later from the iTunes Store. Save time finding and accumulating the tunes you want.
Sirius Direct Connect Ready Connect to a Sirius Satellite Radio receiver without any need for a interface box--and enjoy over 130 channels of music, news, talk shows, sports and traffic information with digital quality sound throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Rear Vision Camera RCA Input This RCA input enables you to smoothly connect a rear camera to display the area behind your vehicle. The increased view encourages and facilitates safer driving.
Front/Rear AV Inputs NX500 is equipped with AV input terminals on the front and rear of the unit to enable enjoyment of content from an external connected source. The rear RCA inputs are ideal for permanent installations, while the front pin jack type input will come in handy for quick connection of portable audiovisual 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.
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 NX500 Receiver, Remote Control, Installation Hardware, User's Manual

Buy NowGet 40% OFF

Click here for more information about Clarion NX500 6.5" In-Dash Motorized Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver, Built-in Navigation and Bluetooth

7/08/2011

Pioneer AVH-P5200DVD In-Dash DVD Multimedia AV Receiver Review

Pioneer AVH-P5200DVD In-Dash DVD Multimedia AV Receiver
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I've been a Pioneer "Fan Boy" for many years, and have owned a little more than a 1/2 dozen of their mobile audio head units. Each Pioneer/Primier HU I purchased got progressivly better as time went on, and each one offered more and more features.
The AVH-5200DVD, so far, has been my favorite Aftermarket HU to date - but my very first video capable unit. I'll break this review down into a few sections.
SELECTION / DIY INSTALLATION: I chose this unit for its single-din design, and motorized screen. This allowed for what I considered a "lower profile" install, and helped keep folks in the parking lot from being too impressed with the stereo to consider breaking into my SUV. I own a 2007 Jeep Commander Sport (no OE Boston Acoustics amplifier for you Commander owners out there), and am pretty protective of my possessions as I'm sometimes not in the nicest of areas.
Installation was a breeze, especially having installed several in the past. As always, you'll want to look up/purchase the single din conversion kit for your particular vehicle. I'm using a Metra branded kit, mostly b/c it was the only option. I also recommend a wiring harness.
Something a little unusual about this unit over previous models is the inclusion of an "external" radio receiver. Its pretty much a small 1"x3"x4" box that contains all the guts for the AM/FM radio. My assumption is that since the screen retracts into the body of the unit, they had to sacrifice some space internally and the radio got the boot. The HU and the radio box simply connect together with a proprietary cable that is included in the packaging.
Something else "new" for me was the inclusion of the parking brake wire. You're supposed to ground this on your parking break to allow you to watch video while parked. Aparantly its not recommended to drive with video playing in the front seat. There are ways to "hack" this - but you'll have to do your own Google search on that.
***NOTE: Make sure you boot up the unit BEFORE you put the dash back together. The screen screen slides out and into a pre-determined angle and distance from the dash - there are controls in the set-up menu that allows you to chose a "pitch" and 2 distances from the face of the dash. I pitched mine back a few clicks for a better viewing angle, and set it up to extend out a little further due to a lip/overhang on the top of my dashboard.FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Once I had the unit installed, I "oooooh'd" and "aaaaaaah'd" over the glossy finish, the smooth action of the screen sliding out and into position. The unit should be fully booted up by the time the screen locks into position.
There are tactile buttons on the exterior that made sense to me. Track Skip/Advance and Reverse, Source, Menu, Mode (for switching from possible GPS mode, regular mode, rear camera, and rear seat video), and of course Eject and Screen "Hide/Open". Since the unit is a touch screen, I feel a little better about using the "physical" buttons to advance songs, rather than having to look away from the road to change tracks.
When the car is shut off, the unit waits a few seconds, beeps to remind you take the removeable anti-theft faceplate with you, and quietly retracts the screen. The anti-theft face is sort of a joke, I'm not sure if it's keyed into this specific unit, and its removal doesn't radically alter the appearance of the unit - so a thief might not know the faceplate is missing until they've smashed their way into the car. INTERFACE: The interface is a little confusing to learn at first, with some items not being labeled. You'll want to play with it a bit before cruising around and trying to operate it. Keep your manual handy in the glove box if you ever get confused. Its quick and easy to pick-up though, and I mastered it within a few short days.
The 7" screen, animations, and graphics are great - fonts and displays are easy to understand a read - even while driving. The unit is a show-stopper, and will impress your passengers the moment the screen slides out and blazes to life.
The touch screen controls are intuitive, though the sliding motion will be a little awkward to you iPhone and BlackBerry Storm users out there as the pages don't "glide" after you've lifted your finger. Very little pressure is needed to activate something on the screen. Just a VERY light tap. You can calibrate the screen too if you need - but mine operates flawlessly out of the box.
The screen is a matte texture (very smart) - which guts down on glare from other light sources like the sure and reduces finger prints/smudges.
You can also change the colors of the external lighting - and the interface colors to match your car's esisting lighting. The ability to make your own custom wallpapers is amazing as well.AUDIO PERFORMANCE: The MOSFET powered amplifier built into the unit pumps crisp clean highs and punchy powerful lows from the Commander's 6 speaker factory speakers (haven't replaced them yet). It currently pushs two 3.5" mid/high speakers, two 6x9" woofers in the front doors, and two 6.5" mid-rangers in the rear doors. The sound fills the cabin of this fairly large SUV nicely with minimal distortion at fairly loud volumes.
I'll be upgrading to a 5-channel amp shortly, using all 3 of the RCA inputs on the reverse of the unit for front, rear, and sub componants.
The menu gives you a great EQ options with 8 bands, bass boost control, 3 "loudness levels", Front/Rear/Sub crossovers, and much much more. Pretty much everything you need to build an audiophile set up.
iPod integration works well. I was a little disappointed that they put the USB input on the front, and not the back as I'm unable to hide the cables for a clean install. It's nice though, for people that want to play files off of a USB flash drive, etc...
I'm using an iPod Classic 160gb loaded down to about 80% capacity. Songs read clear, with song ID tags loading promptly with just a slight delay. There is also a delay when using the SongLink feature - which allows you to search for songs/genre/album/artist based on what is currently playing. In some cases it took several minutes to load up some results. I'm ASSUMING that this is because of the sheer number of songs I have loaded onto the Classic, and the fact that it is a hard drive based player. My wifes flash memory-based iPod loads song data instantly, and has a much faster SongLink retrieval time. So this is probably iPod technology-based, not Pioneer Hu software-based.
I organize all oy my music by genre - so tearing through the organization tree is fast and efficient. The "Alphabet Search" is fantastic too. You slide your finger along the alphabet for the first letter in your search, and a LARGE magnification of that letter appears in the middle of the screen, making it easier and safer to see while driving.
Album art loads a few seconds after the song begins to play and looks pretty sharp - it even animates a little when it loads - making for a flashy display. VIDEO PERFORMANCE: DVD's play just as they're supposed to - like any normal DVD player. Menu items are selected by simply touching the option with your finger. The unit supports several aspect ratios - most of my movie collection is in 16:9 widescreen format - so it fits perfectly. The 16:10 stuff looks great too.
I watched the original Star Wars trilogy (not the new CGI garbage Lucas put out recently) in its entirety on my way too and from Gatlinburg with nary a hiccough or hang up.
It is capable of reading video from an iPod as well. I'm having issues with it reading video from my Classic 160gb, but my wifes flash-based iPod Nano reads perfectly. My issue with the Classic is probably the encoding method I chose to convert the music videos to that I had intended to watch.EXPANDABILITY!!! I, personally, am happy that Pioneer decided to make this unit one of their more "expandable" head units - giving the consumer a boatload of technology to add onto their unit at their leisure and in small increments as your personal cash flow allows.
Just a few of these "upgrades" include:
Bluetooth (if you didn't buy the unit with BT built in - the AVH-5200BT)
HD Radio - I don't personally listen to the radio, unless its a little conservative talk radio, and thats mostly on the AM bands
Sirius/XM Satillite
Rear View Camera
and - most notably - GPS Navigation
You can also add rear seat video monitors utilizing the rear video output on the unit,Now on to some of my gripes about this unit:
No remote control - every single Pioneer HU I've ever purchased came with a remote. This one, for whatever reason - did not. At $500 for a HU, I'd think a remote might not be too much to ask.
Expansion module price - I'm also a little disappointed in the price of the expandsion modules. Dropping $500 on a HU, then another $400 on a GPS unit might seem a little insane - but if you look at the prices of head units that INCLUDE GPS, the price comes out on par, or cheaper, than an "all inclusive" option.
The SOMETIMES slow crawling speed of the iPod library search - even though this is probably iPod related - a 15minute long search for a tune is more than little rediculous. The integrated search on the iPod itself would only take a dozen or so seconds - MAX. Of course - 100-160gb of music/movie files could be a little overwhelming. Perhaps Jobs will offer a little support and help Pioneer find a way to speed up this process.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer AVH-P5200DVD In-Dash DVD Multimedia AV Receiver

Get your media on the road with Pioneer's AVH-P5200DVD, an in-dash single-DIN DVD Multimedia AV Receiver featuring a motorized seven-inch widescreen display. With versatile music and video playback, modern features like USB Direct Control and DivX support, a built-in MOSFET 50 W x 4 amplifier, and plenty of expansion options, it's the perfect way to turn your vehicle into a mobile entertainment center.


AVH-P5200DVD Features
Motorized Seven-Inch Touchscreen Display The AVH-P5200DVD boasts a seven-inch TFT LCD touchscreen display with 1440 x 240 pixel resolution. Navigating your media and system settings from the touchscreen is a breeze thanks to intuitive touch controls and customizable menus. Tap, Swipe or Drag--exactly the way you expect a touchscreen device to work.
When not in use, the screen tucks away safely in the unit. The viewing angle is also adjustable, from 50 to 110 degrees.
Versatile Multimedia Playback Enjoy your favorite DVDs while parked with the full-featured DVD player, or add a back seat screen for your passengers to watch as you drive. The AVH-P5200DVD will play DVDs, DVD-Rs, Video CDs and even DivX files burnt to CD or DVD (or from a USB device). You can also use the rear A/V input to attach external devices like video game systems.
As for music, you can enjoy your favorite CDs, or listen to MP3/WMA/AAC files from either CD/DVD data discs or a USB device.
USB Input / SD Memory Card Slot Connect USB thumb drives or other devices and enjoy playback of your digital audio files or DivX video. Ditto for SD memory cards. This makes it a breeze to quickly grab some media from your computer before a big road trip, and enjoy hours of entertainment on the road.
iPod Direct Control (CD-IU50V required) Connect your iPod directly and experience exceptional sound quality while easily navigating through music, videos and album art on the AVH-P5200DVD's screen. Say goodbye to the annoying static of FM transmitters and other iPod half-solutions.
Advanced Sound Retriever Hear the detail, warmth and clarity, the way the artist intended it, from all of your highly compressed MP3, WMA and AAC files stored on USB memory device, iPod and portable digital players. By restoring data (especially higher frequencies) that tend to get lost in the digital compression process, Pioneer's Advanced Sound Retriever technology enhances audio reproduction nearly all the way up to 20 kHz frequencies.
Supertuner IIID AM/FM Tuner Pioneer's legendary Supertuner IIID combines the best of digital and analog tuner technologies to reduce distortion to bring you exceptional FM and AM performance. If you live in an area where reception is weak, you'll hear a big improvement in signal strength. And when you're near tall buildings, Supertuner IIID reduces the effect of multi-path noise, which occurs when the signal is reflecting off of the buildings.
Always have your favorite stations at hand with 18 FM and 6 AM user presets. And when you're somewhere new, let the tuner do the work for you by activating the Best Stations Memory (BSM) function. The tuner will seek out the 6 strongest stations in the area and set them into the tuner presets.
Dial in Your Sound Use and customize EQ curves, adjust the eight-band parametric equalizer, or change loudness and bass boost settings to get the perfect sound.
AUX-In Connection Use the built-in AUX input for connecting any digital portable player and other external auxiliary devices. For extra-convenient access, the AVH-P5200DVD has this A/V input on the front panel.
MOSFET 50W x4 Amplifier for the Power Hungry Compared to conventional power supplies, the MOSFET amplification circuit is smaller and more efficient, delivering power with less distortion and absolutely zero on/off switching noise. And that doesn't just mean a boost in volume: it means that your music will be cleaner at higher volumes because you're not pushing the limits of the amplification circuit. Clean, efficient power that will rock your vehicle.
For those who'd like a bit more power, three 4V RCA preamp outputs are also included for system expansion (front/rear/sub).
Available Bluetooth Wireless Technology Use the available CD-BTB200 Bluetooth Adapter and Bluetooth-enabled cellular phones for easy, safe, and hands-free operation, including talking via the headunit's microphone and your vehicle's speaker system. The system automatically mutes any other audio during incoming or outgoing calls.
Add the Power of Navigation This receiver is ready to take direction with the optional AVIC-U220 navigation module, a sleek navigation unit that supports AVIC feeds, enabling you to create custom trips, as well as your own points of interest. The plug and play AVIC-U220 puts Pioneer's legendary AVIC navigation at your fingertips.
Rear View Camera Capability Keep an eye on your backside using the optional Rear View Camera (ND-BC2 or ND-BC20PA): while you're in reverse the rear-view camera can be in full screen.An unit equipped with the optional rear-view camera adds a level of safety and assurance you can rely on.In addition to keeping you and your family safe, this feature also makes maneuvering in tight spaces easier.
Ready to Expand The AVH-P5200DVD is also compatible with Pioneer's XM and Sirius satellite radio tuners, HD radio tuner, TV tuner, CD/DVD changers and more.
AVH-P5200DVD Basic Specs

What's in the Box Pioneer AVH-P5200DVD Receiver, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Owner's Manual

Buy NowGet 16% OFF

Click here for more information about Pioneer AVH-P5200DVD In-Dash DVD Multimedia AV Receiver

6/29/2011

Power Acoustik PTID-8970NRB 7-Inch In-Dash Widescreen TFT/LCD Monitor with DVD Review

Power Acoustik PTID-8970NRB 7-Inch In-Dash Widescreen TFT/LCD Monitor with DVD
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I don't normally write reviews, but I decided I should for this product since there aren't many and I think the manufacturer deserves credit. I've used Power Acoustik amps and speakers before and liked them a lot. The company produces quality products but gets non-name-brand prices. So I wasn't too scared rolling the dice on this unit. I've been using it for a half a year now and it hasn't disappointed.
Sound is just fine. I doubt its audiophile quality, but it will stand with a good portion of the Sonys and the Pioneers. My one gripe there is that it doesn't seem to filter the low pass signals out of the main channels if you tell it to output to the sub channel, but this is a relatively minor problem and if you're not using a sub, you won't even care. The volume is sufficient.
Menu/control system is pretty good. You get some geek cred for having a touch screen and the basic functions are as you would expect. The external controls on the faceplate are a little weird. I definitely would have made the source easier to change than scrolling through by tapping the power button (I've never accidentally shut it off though--it's just you would think this would get its own button). I do like having the call pick-up and disconnect buttons that you can use when the faceplate is down.
iPod control is weird and I honestly don't use it. It's 100x easier to navigate your songs on the iPod itself. But I don't have use the custom ipod input because the basic audio input off a headphone jack is all i need there anyway and it lets me set my iPod in the console right side up. I suppose if I got into video on my ipod I'd give the ipod control another try, but it doesn't really worry me.
The Bluetooth handsfree option works fairly well. When someone calls you, no matter what screen you are in, it mutes your music, comes up with who it is and lets you choose to answer. It will also dial out strait from the head unit and interface with your phone's phonebook. It had troubles interfacing with mine. I actually prefer to just make the call from the phone and then the head unit takes over. I'm still out on whether I find the audio quality acceptable. In town its fine, but at highway speeds I think it picks up too much noise. Still, it's definitely usable.
Movies are pretty good. They can be a little washed out in the day depending on where the sun is etc., but generally the picture is great. I also like that it's not just a DVD player but a divx/xvid player and can use SD and USB storage devices. I haven't really used it, but I like knowing its there. If I did want to watch movies etc, I'd definately be using more the xvid/divx stuff than off the ipod. My one grip is that you have to use the remote for some of the navigation of the movie menus. I wish this was all touch screen, but you don't need it that often.
Navigation is the killer app for me. I just love it. It's also the part that I was most ambivalent about since there were no reviews of it. Well I'm glad I took the plunge. It's $200 extra, but well worth it. It's well programmed, you won't have a problem switching from a Garmin or a TomTom. It finds the satellites a lot quicker than my Garmin too, and I assume (though I don't have many tall buildings or mountains around me that it will hold on signal better there as well. And I have the antenna buried behind my glovebox. I imagine if I gave it more prominent positioning, the signal would be even better. The maps seem to be better than my garmin: it has less unnamed streets in my experience. And the fact that it's built into your dash and you don't have to sucker it onto your windshield is great. I'm really interested if anyone knows about software updates for it (just because I'm geeky that way). The website it points to doesn't seem to exist. You can quickly switch between your nav screen and your audio screens. You can continue listening to your source audio while in the nav screen and you can continue to get audio nav directions when off of the nav screen.
The security feature sort of scares me. The removable part isn't all that noticable when it's removed. It doesn't seem like much of a deterrent, which is all that really matters. I once had a head unit with top of the line smart card security. Well, it was stolen even though the card was out. All the thieves got was a dead stereo, but that didn't help me any. Anyways, this unit is so reasonably priced that I think the risk is worth it.
So all and all: everything is a little rough around the edges, it seems like it was designed a little hastily--maybe by the engineers, but it's feature-rich and most of the features work well. And if you tried to get anything similar from a big name you'd easilty be paying twice as much, which makes this a great buy.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Power Acoustik PTID-8970NRB 7-Inch In-Dash Widescreen TFT/LCD Monitor with DVD

7-inch In-Dash Widescreen TFT/LCD Monitor with DVD

Buy NowGet 48% OFF

Click here for more information about Power Acoustik PTID-8970NRB 7-Inch In-Dash Widescreen TFT/LCD Monitor with DVD

Pioneer MVH-P8200 Multimedia AV Receiver with 3 In. Color Display Review

Pioneer MVH-P8200 Multimedia AV Receiver with 3 In. Color Display
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Pros
-Sleek, clean interface
-Plays music, video, and images
-Great sound
-Great customization (appearance and sound)
Negatives
-No support for artwork on USB devices (save the iPod)
-Needs ridges on side of knob for easier grip
-Sometimes the knob can be hard to push straight in
Overall, I'm happy with this unit. The installation was pretty straightforward. It's easily one of the more customizable units on the market. You can adjust the background, screen color, button color, 8 different EQ settings, including using the 5 that they give you already.
One thing that bugs me is that it doesn't support artwork out of a USB device. It'll display artwork from an iPod but not a USB device. For being a media-centric device, this should be a big embarrassment for Pioneer. I was sorely disappointed when it wouldn't work, especially since all of my music is properly tagged with ID3 tags.
The second problem is lack of an HD radio. This is a hefty price to pay for a radio where they saved money by taking the CD player out.
For those reasons, I gave it a 4 out of 5.
Otherwise it's a pretty nice unit that definitely stands apart from the rest. The clean look along with the ability to play music, videos, and photos from USB devices OR the SD card is quite nice. The multi-control knob is actually quite nice and makes for easy adjustment of many settings. And once you get a hang of the home list, operating this is a piece of cake.
There's a reason I stick with Pioneer and this unit proves why. The sound quality is unparalleled. I have no problem recommending this unit.
Edit: One other thing that I want to mention is that other than the standard guidelines (so many folders, so many files, etc.) that this radio will handle (at least) up to a 16GB flash drive (more from what I read, with people actually hooking up 60+GB portable hard drives) and a 16GB SD card. I had previously read that the limit on the SD card was 2GB but this is not true; my 16GB card borrowed from my XSi worked beautifully.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer MVH-P8200 Multimedia AV Receiver with 3 In. Color Display

"Mech-free" receivers are all the rage lately, as more and more consumers migrate their music and media collections to hard drives rather than physical media. The MVH-P8200 from Pioneer is one of the company's first mech-free receivers, and has plenty to offer the digital-centric crowd. Enjoy direct control of your iPod, with simple navigation and search features. Play back MP3/WMA/AAC audio files, DivX video, and even JPEG images from USB devices or SD memory cards. You can even tag songs heard on the radio for later purchase. It's all conducted via the simple "Rotary Commander" control and simple user interface displayed on the unit's three-inch display.


MVH-P8200 Features
Smart Interface for Quick Access Pioneer's new user interface has a minimal yet powerful design, and scales to accommodate modern media sources easily. Tailor it to your own preferences with the customizable home menu, putting your favorite features right at your fingertips.
USB Input / SD Memory Card Slot Connect USB thumb drives or other devices and enjoy playback of your digital audio and video files. Ditto for SD memory cards. This makes it a breeze to quickly grab some media from your computer before a big road trip, and enjoy hours of entertainment on the road.
iPod Direct Control (CD-IU50V required) Connect your iPod directly and experience exceptional sound quality while easily navigating through music, videos and album art on the AVH-P5200BT's screen. Say goodbye to the annoying static of FM transmitters and other iPod half-solutions.
Simple Search for iPod lets you quickly search your iPod/iPhone with alphabetical search by Song, Artist, Album or Genre categories.
MP3/WMA/AAC Playback Play back three of the most popular digital audio formats:MP3, WMA, and AAC. The MVH-8200's screen displays track info, and makes navigating directories/folders a breeze.
Video/JPEG Playback for Non-Stop Entertainment The MVH-8200 features a three-inch color display designed to take full advantage of all of your media. Play music videos and more from your iPod/iPhone, or from SD memory cards/USB devices. The MVH-8200 can decode Divx (AVI or DIVX extensions) video. You can even display JPEG photos using the Digital Photo Frame feature.
Auto EQ Automatically tailors acoustics by fine-tuning frequency bandwidths plus front/rear speaker digital parametric equalization. Result: smooth sound full of subtle nuance and clarity. Requires optional CD-MC20 microphone.
Customize Your Colors The MVH-P8200 will accommodate your taste or mood. Select from six colors (blue/violet/red/amber/green/white) for the display, and 112 colors for key panel illumination.
Connect, Tag, and Download Have you ever heard a great song on the radio, but couldn't remember what it was called or who sang it when you went to go look for it later? Now you don't have to worry about missing out on great music. iTunes Tagging gives you the power to "tag" all of your favorite songs without having to scramble for a piece of scrap paper in the car, then later preview or purchase music at iTunes Music Store. Works with stations transmitting RDS data.
Bring Your Music to Life with Advanced Sound Retriever This year you can hear the detail, warmth, and clarity the way the artist intended it, from all of the highly compressed MP3, WMA and AAC files playing on your CD player. By restoring data that tends to get lost in the digital compression process, we can make your music sound close to CD quality.
Supertuner IIID AM/FM Tuner Pioneer's legendary Supertuner IIID combines the best of digital and analog tuner technologies to reduce distortion to bring you exceptional FM and AM performance. If you live in an area where reception is weak, you'll hear a big improvement in signal strength. And when you're near tall buildings, Supertuner IIID reduces the effect of multi-path noise, which occurs when the signal is reflecting off of the buildings.
Always have your favorite stations at hand with 18 FM and 6 AM user presets. And when you're somewhere new, let the tuner do the work for you by activating the Best Stations Memory (BSM) function. The tuner will seek out the 6 strongest stations in the area and set them into the tuner presets.
MOSFET 50W x4 Amplifier for the Power Hungry Compared to conventional power supplies, the MOSFET amplification circuit is smaller and more efficient, delivering power with less distortion and absolutely zero on/off switching noise. And that doesn't just mean a boost in volume: it means that your music will be cleaner at higher volumes because you're not pushing the limits of the amplification circuit. Clean, efficient power that will rock your vehicle.
For those who'd like a bit more power, three 4V RCA preamp outputs are also included for system expansion (front/rear/sub).
MVH-P8200 Basic Specs

What's in the Box Pioneer MVH-P8200 Receiver, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Owner's Manual

Buy NowGet 35% OFF

Click here for more information about Pioneer MVH-P8200 Multimedia AV Receiver with 3 In. Color Display

6/19/2011

Pioneer MVH-P8200BT Multimedia AV Receiver with Built-in Bluetooth Review

Pioneer MVH-P8200BT Multimedia AV Receiver with Built-in Bluetooth
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I received my MVH-P8200BT yesterday, and installed it. Installation was as normal as any other stereo, except the additional parking brake wire if you want to use the photo or video portion of this radio. Let me first start out by saying the AM & FM portion of the radio work pretty good, you can relatively easily seek to the next or previous station by pushing the knob left or right, or bring up your presets by pushing it up. The radio displays the RDS nicely as well. Changing sources (Radio, ipod/USB, or Aux input requires pressing the SRC button and rotating the tuning knob to the right or left to highlight the source and then pressing the tuning knob in. This in all is relatively easy to do in a timely manner.
Where the problem comes in, is using the ipod interface. it will start playing I believe the last song you had playing, but if you want to jump to another artist or lets say a podcast, be prepared to take your eyes off the road. You have to hit the Home button, and then rotate the knob one to the right and then press it in, and rotate the knob to highlight Songs or podcast or artist, and in my case lets do podcast, then the lost of podcast comes up and you have to rotate to the podcast and press the knob in, then it shows you the episodes, then you push it in. But on top of doing this, the tuning knob which is a 5 way control (left, right, up , down, and in) is very sensitive and plan on registering the wrong menu choice, and then having to hit the previous button on the display to pop out one menu and continue. You have to do this anything you want to change songs that are not the next immediate song that you can just press the right commander button to jump to next track.
So, I thought, well the nice remote has a left right up and down, and in feature as well. I will do this from the remote with a little more precision, well turns out 70% of the buttons on the remote don't even do anything. any function that requires you to turn that knob on the radio, still has to be done that way. the up and down will not allow you to scroll through menu items. the only real think I was able to do with the remote was volume, next track and previous track, and radio tuning.
If you thought it would be nice to be able to play videos from your ipod or photos, it requires a $40 cable with a usb and aux cable now hanging out of the front of the radio per the manual. I did put some photos on the SD card, but you cannot play music from SD while you do your slid show, and again its a cumbersome use of the scroll wheel to jog between music and photos on the SD setup. You are able to play the slide show while listening to the radio.
Now for the real good, I think the best integration with this unit is the bluetooth with the iphone or probably many other phones, I was able to easily pull up contacts, and you can quickly choose a letter of the starting letter of the contact and click through to dial the appropriate name and if you want to call mobile or home. And the audio with the included mic is excellent. it will mute your music and continue it when your call is done.
The radio looks really good and thats what lead me immediately to this model, but I am ever so sorry I did not test it out before doing the install. I for sure thought the short comings would be overcome by using the remote, but you had no way to test it that well in the store. The remote is useless for iPod navigation or navigation or any SD media. I did get a chance to watch many tutorials online on the Alpine receiver 305 which was made for iPod and it has the navigation the way I would prefer it, thought it does lack characters and you have to scroll most titles, this pioneer was able to display a good character set. Oh and speaking of a feature that Alpine has, it has a nice readable clock. The clock on this is small, there is a feature you can turn on to show a nice clock, but you have to turn it on every time, it doesn't stay on as an option. Even with the radio in off mode, it should show the nice larger clock IMHO, but it doesn't you have to fight menus again to call this up.
To summarize, much fighting with a poor jog wheel to drill through menus to make common settings to what you want to listen to. They made it simple to change source and volume and next and previous track everything else gets deep in menus that will take usually 6 to 10 seconds to drill through menus to do, this is not safe in a car and the remote which could have assisted in this matter has much less ability. I think if you can do a double din the AVH-P3200 double din touch screen, is sooo much easier to navigate and for not more then $120 more in general, very upgradable and the addition items you get (CD/DVD slot and DVD playback, you wont be trying to convert stuff to Divx, and you can burn your stuff or bring along your DVD's and you have a bigger screen.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer MVH-P8200BT Multimedia AV Receiver with Built-in Bluetooth

"Mech-free" receivers are all the rage lately, as more and more consumers migrate their music and media collections to hard drives rather than physical media. The MVH-P8200BT from Pioneer is one of the company's first mech-free receivers, and has plenty to offer the digital-centric crowd. Make and take hands-free calls with built-in Bluetooth technology. Enjoy direct control of your iPod, with simple navigation and search features. Play back MP3/WMA/AAC audio files, DivX video, and even JPEG images from USB devices or SD memory cards. You can even tag songs heard on the radio for later purchase. It's all conducted via the simple "Rotary Commander" control and simple user interface displayed on the unit's three-inch display.


MVH-P8200BT Features
Built-In Bluetooth The MVH-P8200BT features built-in Bluetooth technology, which allows you to take incoming calls through your vehicle's sound system. Connecting your Bluetooth-enabled phone is a snap, and gives you access to all your contacts. Best of all, you can make or take a call without a headset.
Smart Interface for Quick Access Pioneer's new user interface has a minimal yet powerful design, and scales to accommodate modern media sources easily. Tailor it to your own preferences with the customizable home menu, putting your favorite features right at your fingertips.
USB Input / SD Memory Card Slot Connect USB thumb drives or other devices and enjoy playback of your digital audio and video files. Ditto for SD memory cards. This makes it a breeze to quickly grab some media from your computer before a big road trip, and enjoy hours of entertainment on the road.
iPod Direct Control (CD-IU50V required) Connect your iPod directly and experience exceptional sound quality while easily navigating through music, videos and album art on the AVH-P5200BT's screen. Say goodbye to the annoying static of FM transmitters and other iPod half-solutions.
Simple Search for iPod lets you quickly search your iPod/iPhone with alphabetical search by Song, Artist, Album or Genre categories.
MP3/WMA/AAC Playback Play back three of the most popular digital audio formats:MP3, WMA, and AAC. The MVH-8200's screen displays track info, and makes navigating directories/folders a breeze.
Video/JPEG Playback for Non-Stop Entertainment The MVH-P8200BT features a three-inch color display designed to take full advantage of all of your media. Play music videos and more from your iPod/iPhone, or from SD memory cards/USB devices. The MVH-8200 can decode Divx (AVI or DIVX extensions) video. You can even display JPEG photos using the Digital Photo Frame feature.
Auto EQ Automatically tailors acoustics by fine-tuning frequency bandwidths plus front/rear speaker digital parametric equalization. Result: smooth sound full of subtle nuance and clarity. Requires optional CD-MC20 microphone.
Customize Your Colors The MVH-P8200BT will accommodate your taste or mood. Select from six colors (blue/violet/red/amber/green/white) for the display, and 112 colors for key panel illumination.
Connect, Tag, and Download Have you ever heard a great song on the radio, but couldn't remember what it was called or who sang it when you went to go look for it later? Now you don't have to worry about missing out on great music. iTunes Tagging gives you the power to "tag" all of your favorite songs without having to scramble for a piece of scrap paper in the car, then later preview or purchase music at iTunes Music Store. Works with stations transmitting RDS data.
Bring Your Music to Life with Advanced Sound Retriever This year you can hear the detail, warmth, and clarity the way the artist intended it, from all of the highly compressed MP3, WMA and AAC files playing on your CD player. By restoring data that tends to get lost in the digital compression process, we can make your music sound close to CD quality.
Supertuner IIID AM/FM Tuner Pioneer's legendary Supertuner IIID combines the best of digital and analog tuner technologies to reduce distortion to bring you exceptional FM and AM performance. If you live in an area where reception is weak, you'll hear a big improvement in signal strength. And when you're near tall buildings, Supertuner IIID reduces the effect of multi-path noise, which occurs when the signal is reflecting off of the buildings.
Always have your favorite stations at hand with 18 FM and 6 AM user presets. And when you're somewhere new, let the tuner do the work for you by activating the Best Stations Memory (BSM) function. The tuner will seek out the 6 strongest stations in the area and set them into the tuner presets.
MOSFET 50W x4 Amplifier for the Power Hungry Compared to conventional power supplies, the MOSFET amplification circuit is smaller and more efficient, delivering power with less distortion and absolutely zero on/off switching noise. And that doesn't just mean a boost in volume: it means that your music will be cleaner at higher volumes because you're not pushing the limits of the amplification circuit. Clean, efficient power that will rock your vehicle.
For those who'd like a bit more power, three 4V RCA preamp outputs are also included for system expansion (front/rear/sub).
MVH-P8200BT Basic Specs

What's in the Box Pioneer MVH-P8200BT Receiver, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Owner's Manual

Buy NowGet 28% OFF

Click here for more information about Pioneer MVH-P8200BT Multimedia AV Receiver with Built-in Bluetooth