Coby TF-DVD7060 7-Inch Portable Tablet Style DVD Player with Wireless Headphones Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Works well. Only 2 minor issues: First is the buttons on the front of the player are not clear re: stop, play, ect. which in the dark while traveling is frustrating as you push in trial & error. The remote is direct line of sight only. The second is the wireless headsets. They have a button on each that scans 4 frequencies for the sound connection. It is very easy to push this button & lose the connection while simply putting the headsets on or if a child adjusts theirs without realizing it until you question why you can't hear the movie. You have to keep pushing the button til the sound comes back clear. Also there was interferace one time by a powerful radio station in the major town we were in. On the other hand, the volume control is not as easy to change, that's a good thing with kids, and can be set & left at an appropriate level.

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PYLE PLD3MU 3-Inch TFT Touch Screen DVD/VCD/MP3/CDR/USB Player and AM/FM Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just installed my Pyle PLD3MU and had the chance to do some testing with it. Overall I am impressed with all of the features and functions it has. There are some quirks and the instructions are poorly translated but for the price I feel the total package was a good deal.
DVD - It plays DVDs well - the screen is rather clear for its size. I wouldn't equate it to an ipod or iphone video screen but it has more than adequate resolution for a tiny screen. Hardly jagged edges if at all. Excellent viewing angle and lots of color/tint contrast settings that I can adjust. I'm playing the DVD through an overhead mounted LCD screen and the resolution is adequate for passenger viewing but not HD... so don't expect perfection here.
CD - the sound is great but out of the box the display of the track, time, etc is so small it can hardly be read. I am not sure if the display size can be adjusted or not in CD mode (haven't tried yet).
Radio AM/FM operation - works good; it appears the pre-sets must be done automatically, I haven't found a way to set my own stations. Since there are no preset buttons I supppose you just auto-program and skip from station to station. Not quite as fast as presets but close enough. The display is much better for AM/FM radio than for CDs, it has nice big letters and selectable backgrounds. Clock only shows military time from what I can tell (i.e. 00:00 to 23:59).
Remote control works good out of the box. Button presses are reliable. To FF or RW a DVD, hold down the skip forward or skip back buttons while aiming at the screen.
When switching between sources, there is a short period of blue screen with source name listed, then the desired selection will show.
Touch screen is easy to use and seems to associate finger vs. intent rather accurately. Not too soft or squishy. Detachable face detaches and attaches akwardly but easily enough. When removed, the rectangular LED under the disc slot blinks slowly to indicate anti-theft while the car is off. I appreciate this because higher end units seem to have gotten rid of the blinking LEDs when face is detached (at least Kenwood has).
The instructions included with the unit are sparse. Some areas not translated into english very well. However, I had no problem installing because the wiring all matches the aftermarket in-dash recevier convention for colors of wires. There is a matching wiring diagram on the bottom of the unit affixed as a sticker, in case the one in the manual gets lost or is not available. A large square connector is at the end of all the wires to facilitate testing at the factory. It must be cut off to allow for installation to a vehicle specific pigtail adapter. Manual didn't explain this.
The brake wire (gray or brown) from the back of the unit needs to go to a ground (-) source when the car is not moving (example: parking brake or foot pedal brake). If your brake activates a positive lead like my Dodge pickup, you'll need to find another way to ground the unit to be able to see the video on the 3" TFT screen. Whenever this lead is connected to ground, the video will show on the detachable face screen. The video output always shows through the video out port regardless of brake wire connection or not.

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Boss BV9995B In-Dash 7" DVD/MP3/CD Widescreen Receiver with USB, SD Card, and Front Panel AUX Input (Detachable Front Panel) Review

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(More customer reviews)1. The positive
---------------
* Excellent screen size and resolution
* Versatile (can play numerous video and audio formats, plenty of inpus: SD card, USB, DVD/CD, Bluetooth, auxilary)
* The USB input works flawlessly, recognizing the files fairly quickly
* The LCD has 3 different tilt levels for better viewing angles, and various brightness settings
* Looks and feels well-built / solid
* Auxilary input in the front (3.5") allows for easy connecting of MP3 players / cell phones (particularly useful since the Bluetooth is worthless on this device, per below)
* Comes with a small remote
2. The negative
---------------
(1) The Bluetooth: Drops out all the time, listening to Pandora or other streaming radio through the cell phone impossible. The sound quality with the included microphone is mediocre at best. Have not tried to pair the Bluetooth with a laptop or a device with a more powerful Bluetooth signal than a cell phone, but again, I don't plan on using a laptop while driving. Hence, the Bluetooth is worthless in my opinion.
(2) For some reason, after few hours of continuous watching, the movies running off the USB start 'skipping', which can get very obnoxious. Thankfully, this only happens occasionally, and it may have something to do with overheating of components while driving in a hot summer day, even though the device has a cooling fan in the back.
(3) In addition to the $25 for the wire harness, a $15 antenna harness is required ($40 at worstbuy; I was quoted $60+ elsewhere). The radio is not HD/digital and the reception quality is noticingly worse than my stock stereo.
(4) The SD card input is very slow, taking 1-2 minutes to "load up" the list of songs on a 4GB card. The recognition is much faster with a high quality SD card with smaller capacity (i.e. 2GB Sandisk ultra/extreme).
(3) The cooling fan can be loud, and the LCD brightness is not adequate for bright, sunny days. The movies are still watchable with the screen tilted down, but much is washed out.
(6) The remote must be directly pointed at the IR sensor to work, and the layout is not very user friendly / intuitive
SUMMARY
-------
Overall, it's far from a perfect device, but comparing its price to some bigger names (which I'm guessing are no better in addressing the issues I mentioned earlier), and the amount of joy it provides on loooong cross-country drives, this system is well worth it...

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Boss Audio's BV9995B is a perfect choice for those seeking in-dash multimedia. With a 7-inch touchscreen, USB port, front auxiliary input and other convenient features, you'll get plenty of bang for your buck. Bluetooth technology provides the groundwork for hands-free calls and streaming from mobile devices. Ready to grow with two preamp outputs and a subwoofer out, along with a rear view camera input, it's a perfect way to get your mobile mediaplex started.
Serious multimedia features with built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling. Click here for a larger image

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Boss BV8965B In-Dash 7" DVD/MP3/CD Receiver with USB, SD Card, Bluetooth and Front Panel AUX Input Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)this radio is very cool and has many features to boot. the touchscreen is awesome and easy to use. the remote is light and easy to use. the sd card slot is awesome and the video display is gorgeous.i got mine for [...] and its the best radio i have ever owned.update: my screen on the radio no longer shows any images. it's just a white screen now. i did not drop it nor did it get wet so. basically it's a 50/50 shot with this type of screen detachable design. 1/29/2010

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Kenwood KVT-719DVD DVD/WMA/MP3/AAC/USB/iPod Control Receiver with 7-Inch-Wide In-Dash Monitor Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought and installed this head unit; it took 14 hours with all the cables, accessories, and removal of vehicle parts (seats, consoles,etc). Overall, the unit works well in all but one aspect. I have a rearview camera, gps, bluetooth, usb thumb, apple ipod, amp, and of course quality speakers connected. The only issue I have is with the BT100 I connected to it. Not sure though if it is the BT100, the interface with the 719, or just my cellphone compatability. It does take some patience getting all other accessories to interface correctly, and I wouldn't say the manual is great.
The screen is very good including the tilt feature and if you have a steady hand, you can use the little silver circular button controller. The remote is a plus too as it does many things; if you can remember all functions. A good compromise to higher end head units, and it fits all in 1-DIN with a removable faceplate.

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Play movies, music and control your iPod in high speed with this beautiful indash monitor. Play music directly from a USB device or go hands free on phone calls with the optional Bluetooth adaptor. You'll also appreciate its user-freindly GUI and touch-screen control.

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Valor NVG-720W In-Dash DVD Multimedia Receiver w/ Navigation Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Dont be afraid of the name Valor. They make top of the line equipment at a very reasonable price. This unit does it all and has a very friendly interface. Perhaps the biggest selling point is all the accessories it comes with. It comes with an ipod cable, nav dvd, a 2 gb card to download updates, 2 remotes and also a very "mouse" that allows you to change station/songs with a mouse scroll wheel as well as volume. Pretty much everything in the unit you can fully customize. The nav is very accurate and has a lot more points of interest than i ever expected. Sound quality is great with plenty of equalizer options. Bluetooth is a great function- i guess you dont always sound incredibly clear on the other end but no real complaints. If youre in the market for a multimedia system to handle everything you need- look no further. I had looked at pioneers and jensens and the extras you needed to buy were just too much. This is BY FAR the best bang for the buck. Dont hesistate because you want to buy a name brand. Youll end up with a better unit and only spend half the money.

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Kenwood KVT 617DVD - DVD player with LCD monitor and AM/FM tuner Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For some context:
I recently installed this head unit in my '04 Grand AM. I'm running it with a pair of Polk DB components, Alpine 6x9 rears, a single Alpine Type S 12" sub in a sealed box and a Pioneer GM-7100 amp feeding the sub around 350W RMS. This unit was an upgrade from my '06 model Pioneer DEH-P5800mp.
First let me say that I (as I imagine most people do) did a LOT of research before choosing this head unit. I encourage anyone interested in an in-car DVD screen to get out to a local retailer to view and test as many options as you can. It's one thing to look at all the specs and details in print but an entirely different experience once the device is in front of you. All the features in the world don't mean anything if the controls are counter-intuitive or the LCD is low quality. I'm happy to report that this Kenwood unit met all of my qualifications and expectations both on paper and in reality.
The screen is bright and contrast is sharp. The built in light sensor dims the screen at night and brightens it during the day, making sure you always have a good picture. There are plenty of tilt and depth options to suit pretty much any application. The touch screen menu interface is a nice alternative to some other screens that force you to use dedicated areas of the screen to arrow through all the options to select the one you want.
The only two drawbacks to the 617 are the lack of an external display when the screen is closed and the 2V pre-out voltage, but both are comparable to the features of similarly priced screens (from companies with less history, or lower quality standards than Kenwood) and are easily balanced out by the positive aspects of the unit.
What really drew me to the Kenwood line was the look of the screen. Most other manufacturers surround the LCD with up to an inch of plastic, wasting space and making for an ugly border around an otherwise nice looking display. Kenwood does away with that, filling nearly the entire fold-out portion of the HU with the ample 7in. screen.
The install went smoothly and the connections to the stock wire harness were no more complicated than a standard CD head unit install. Kenwood provides ample wire to locate the unit's external "brain" in the trunk if you choose, or under a seat as I did.
Don't be thrown by the low price, overall this is a great unit for anyone looking to move up to DVD capability.

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Pioneer AVIC Z2 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had this unit up and running now for approximately two months. NAV system works great. Touch screen is very responsive. Less than 20 seconds to sync up with GPS and have my music or video running all at the same time when I first start my vehicle. Very nice and does not seem like a long time to me.
All NAV/DVD systems lock you out of certain features while you are driving. This is not new or exclusive to Pioneer. However, the fact that Pioneer saw fit to block bypass measures in their software installed on the hard drive of this device shows their overall lack of forward thinking. Too much control over a product deters and slows creativity, innovation, improvement, and compatibility. Wake up Pioneer!! I love your product, but get your corporate chains off my purchase...


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Valor NVG-606W 6.5-Inch Double-DIN Touchscreen Navigation System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Installation relatively painless. Purchased installation instructions, wiring harness and mounting bracket from other online audio supply dealer. Unit was installed in 2003 Ford Expedition. The installation was performed on a Saturday morning. The only SNAFU experienced was when powering on the system and trying to initialize the GPS a warning message would appear stating something to the effect of 'invalid license key' and then an input screen would pop up for key entry. Nothing in any associatated documentation regarding license key, unlock code, or how to obtain such. An email and then telephone message were left with tech support regarding the issue. Appears there is no support provided on weekends. Monday a friendly tech support returned the call with the unlock code and an email was also received with same unlock code. Once the code was entered the system functioned just fine.
Pros:
The sound is much of an inprovement over the stock CD / tape deck that was purchased with the vehicle. Nice match for the Infinity Kappa speakers I previously installed. The convenience of AUX, USB and SD all in the front panel were a big plus for me (I have not hooked iPod to the read media input, the front AUX is more convenient.)
Cons:
Confusion of the unlock code resulted in my spending a few hours trying to hack the system into working state while waiting for tech support to return calls. GPS only runs from maps in the SD card. This prohibits playing SD based music when navigation is enabled. (Not really a big issue.) The unit will display song titles for USB based songs, but does not for standard CD format music - just Track01, Track09, etc.


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This double-DIN dash receiver offers a built-in navigation system from NavMate; a 6.5-inch LCD touchscreen display; playback of DVDs, CDs, SVCDs, VCDs, and various digital audio/video formats. It features front-panel SD card and USB ports, A/V input and outputs, and plenty more, all backed by a 4 x 45 Watt MOSFET amp. Add navigation and entertainment to your vehicle in one fell swoop.

6.5-Inch Touchscreen The NVG-606W features a 6.5-inch LCD touchscreen display with 1200 x 234 pixel resolution. Movies, pictures, and GPS all look great on the brilliant screen, and accessing features is easy.
NavMate Navigation Getting where you need to go is a breeze with the NVG-606W. NavMate software provides turn-by-turn visual and voice assistance to direct you there, complete with text-to-speech technology.
The intelligent virtual keyboard is easy-to-use, and NavMate offers 2D and 3D map views, text and voice guidance in 25 languages, and comes with 11.4 million points of interest. Route to addresses, intersections, or points of interest, and easily find those POIs with an advanced search function. The NVG-606W includes maps of the U.S. and Canada on an included SD card.
DVD Playback and More Enjoy your favorite DVDs (including DVD-R/RW and DVD+R/RW), VCDs and SVCDs on the NVG-606W's brilliant screen.
You can also view JPEG image files. If your camera uses this format, it's a quick way to take a look at pics you took on the go.
On the audio front, you can play your favorite CDs and CD-R/RWs or opt for digital MP3/WMA files burned to disc or on USB devices.
If you'd prefer the radio, use the AM/FM receiver to dial up your favorite news or other programming, complete with 36 FM and 12 AM presets.
Front Panel SD/USB Easily connect USB devices with your favorite digital media, and easily add/update maps using these front panel ports.
A/V Input/Output Use the front A/V input to connect external audio or video sources, such as MP3 players or video game systems.
You can also send two separate video outputs to the rear of the vehicle if you'd like to install more monitors.
Rear Camera Mode Add a rear camera for safety and convenience. When the vehicle is placed in reverse, and an optional rear camera is connected to the unit, the TFT monitor will automatically switch to the camera input source.
Expandable With its 4 X 45-Watt MOSFET amplifier, the NVG-606W cranks out plenty of power, but if you need more, use the preamp outputs (front/back/subwoofer) to build your system.
What's in the Box NVG-606W Receiver, Remote Control, GPS Antenna, Trim Ring, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, User's Manual, NavMate User's Manual

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Kenwood Excelon DNX8120 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I researched the best Double DIN units for a couple of weeks. There isn't much on the web about this unit and where there is there is 1 review that says it's great to 1 review that says it's horrible. This unit was more available for me to get my hands on locally then any other. I played with the pioneer a bit and was fairly satisfied with it's interface. The clarion's review on the web was terrible so i don't even bother. So basically it was either the pioneer (forget the model but it's the one with all the bells and whistles that compare to this unit) or this kenwood.
The pioneer installer actually told me that they wouldn't/couldn't install the unit in my '07 vette. Said it was just too difficult and couldn't be done. These people have installed all my alarms/radios/speakers etc for 15 years now and i trust their opinion. However, i read a couple step by step forum posts that showed it be done. Instead of arguing and trying to talk them into it i went to another installer.
The second installer had the kenwood (8120 and 7120) with some other cheaper non-options for me (Dual and some other manufacturer). The kenwood had the built in bluetooth which was a huge plus for me. I'm very very skeptical of bluetooth units in any car. I have had many and have yet to find one that was sufficient to replace me having to hold the phone to my ear. The fact that this was built in gave me hope as all others are add-ons.
Many reviews said the kenwood interface is bad. I don't see why. It is plainly laid out and functional. I think it just has so many options (bells and whistles) that there are many nav keys to get into them it confuses people. It seems pretty good IMO. Could be flashier but i haven't gotten into all the custom skins etc that can be added so maybe it is.
I added the IPOD and Sirius accessories. They work great. The sirius has a better connection then my sirius handheld stiletto which isn't saying much but worth noting. The IPOD connection works good and clean sound. The interface is kind of bulky but when you're used to the iphone's simple interface what isn't going to be bulky compared to it? (Bulky = boring/simple not alot of features)
So everything works great except for the one thing that i knew probably wouldn't before i ever purchased it. The bluetooth phone. Everybody i've talked to on the other end said it sounded choppy and/or had static. I could hear them just fine and the voice dial seems to work ok. However, none of that matters if the other person can't hear you :P I will prob keep the phone to my ear.
Oh, the NAV works great. I've used several nav systems on phones and in rental cars and OEM version's and this is wonderful. It auto updates the routes instantly and doesn't yell at me for not following it's orders. It adapts rather than freaking out. So far so good.
Bottom line -- I would look at the pioneer a little harder if i went back through the purchase process but i doubt it's BT is any better and i don't like it's nav maps. However, for me, if the BT is better i'd swap in a heartbeat. The BT is very important to me though.

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

Average Reviews:

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

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KENWOOD EXCELON KVT-614 7" DVD MONITOR WITH TOUCHSCREEN Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The unit works well however there are a couple of things that is not noted in the manual. First thing is that it does support both XM and HD radio. However as I found out it will only use ONE of them. So you can have either one but not both. This is a real shame and was quite disappointing. The second thing is you can use either a USB thumb drive or the IPOD cable but not both. This limitation is not as serious because if you leave the usb connector withing easy reach you can swap them as you need to. It still is a pain however. I wanted to connect the ipod cable and leave just the end that plugs into the ipod exposed. Now I have to have all 3 wires exposed and have to stop the car and switch them when I want to use a different device. All in all it is a good unit and I like it I just wish that these limitations had been made clear or better yet not had them to begin with. I also tried using a usb hub for the usb drive but it won't read the device. A powered hub might work better but I don't have one that will work in a car to test that.

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Alpine IVA-W205 2-DIN DVD/CD/MP3/WMA Receiver/AV Head Unit (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Picked up an IVA-W205 for my 2008 Saturn Vue Redline. Double DIN fits like a glove and the standard $29 bezel keeps it well appointed in the Redline's elegant interior (never thought I'd type the words "elegant" and "Saturn" in the same sentence)! ;-P
Anyway, the IVA-W205 does not dissappoint: the screen quality is excellent, with a defined color palette that *pops* - especially in bright sunlight. The pulse-touch LCD makes it feel as though you are pushing a button when you touch the screen - a welcome feature.
DVD navigation is intuitive and works well. No, straight out of the box, you cannot view a DVD-video from the built-in screen while driving...unless your installer offers a toggle switch to get around that (mine did!). Audio sub-features (bass, treble, width, minor freq. adjustments, subwoofer, etc) are all there, and easier to traverse thanks to the visual GUI.
Installed the iPod cable connector for my 60GB iPod Photo; makes playlist and artist/song navigation a snap with the large touchscreen LCD.
Integrates with OnStar and steering-wheel controls if you purchase the standard add-ons to make it work, but look forward to dropping another $200-$300 for that. Don't bother with the Bluetooth add-on if you plan to use it with a Blackbird PMD-200, as the Blackbird PMD-200 has Bluetooth built-in and the IVA-W205 syncs with it (hence, your phone syncs with a PMD-200 and your PMD-200 syncs with your IVA-W205 while in the dock).
About the only complaint I have is Alpine's absolutely horrific choice of GUI graphics (no customizable wallpapers, jerky scrolling of song title/artist info, just plain old..."PLAIN"... user interface - it's 2007 Alpine - get with the times)!
Overall highly recommended!


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Alpine INA-W900 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor, digital player and radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I would rate this unit an 8.8/10. I own a 2009 Honda Accord Ex-L w/o Nav because Honda charges a ridiculously high price for their navigation package and I knew I could do better for cheaper with aftermarket. This unit does an ok job with its navigation, but not as good as other units. The alpine has about 6 million points of interest compared to 12 million of other units so if you are searching for a location without its address, it could pose potential problems. As far as map updates, I doubt it. I have heard from Alpine owners of past and they still haven't released a map update for previous models. A feature I would have liked to seen is the ability to send an address to your headunit from googlemaps which would have negated the need for map updates in my opinion. The turn by turn navigation is nice, the voice is not annoying and it has an adjustable setting that controls how loud the voice comes in over your music. Another feature I like is being able to see your next turn even if you are on the audio screen.
Where this unit shines, in my opinion, is its ipod integration.
**Disclaimer: Be forewarned if you have an ipod touch you will have issues with it because it is not completely compatible with the ipod touches. There will be occasional disconnects and the only solution is to unplug and then plug back in your ipod, even on the latest firmware, 3.1 as of this message. I have confirmed this with Alpine support (which is sub par at best). This would have been a deal breaker for me, but luckily I have a classic also that works very well with it even though there are some minor quirks though (not a dealbreaker in my book), but that could be because of the ipod, it is rather old and has been run over.**
The way you access your ipod is pretty much mimicked through the Alpine. You have access to everything you would normally have when using your ipod (music, movies, podcasts, playlists...). The sound quality using the ipod to the headunit is nice!!! I am no audiophile but music sounds great from this headunit with the settings I currently have. I have heard from others that the IMPRINT module makes it sound even better if you don't know how to properly configure your settings by yourself (which I know I don't). Album artwork shows up nicely in the corner if you have artwork for the song or if you prefer, your next turn if using navigation. One thing I would have liked to have seen with the ipod integration is a search function so you don't have to scroll through all of your music. I have 4,000+ songs and even though you can scroll by alphabet, it would make things a lot faster in some cases if I could just use a search function that narrowed down all the available listings every time you clicked another letter to the song/artist/album name like you would do with your ipod. Speaking of the alphabet search function, it can be a little hairy at times. You would think that since one of the selling points of this head unit is its ipod integration, it would sort songs like iTunes does seeing as how iTunes is the only way to put songs on your ipod. For example, lets say I have the following list of songs:
Almost Easy
American Idiot
...And Justice for All
Arterial Black
Baba O'Riley
If I am currently on a screen that shows these 5 songs and I hit the Alphabet > button you would think it would put the 'B' listings at the top, but it doesnt. It sees the ... and puts that at the top of the screen since it is different from 'A'. So now we have ...And Justice for All at the top of the screen and if I were to hit the Alphabet > button again, Arterial Black would show at the top because 'A' is different from .... iTunes ignores these just like it does the word 'The' in song titles when sorting by alphabet but this headunit does not. Minor quirk, I know.
Video looks great on the 7 inch screen and the sound quality is great as well when using a DVD. If you use a converter to change a video to ipod format (instead of DVD format) from say .flv (YouTube's format) or .avi there is some sound/video quality loss but it is still convenient to be able to store all of your movies on your ipod and have them accessible at any time.
I also bought an Alpine backup camera to go along with the headunit and it is a dream to have. I am very surprised it came with toggable cones to help you measure distance. Along the same lines, this headunit is an awesome all in one system. There are connections for another AUX input so if you wanted to put in say a front camera or PS2, this system is accomodating. Be prepared to pony out the money for extras though (backup camera, Imprint, HD radio, SIRIUS, Bluetooth). These are all seperate modules that you must pay for. I was a little disheartened to see you had to pay out extra for Imprint and Bluetooth. Maybe not so much the Imprint, but definately the Bluetooth I felt should have been included.
The touchscreen user interface is responsive and user friendly, not to mention eye candy. Be prepared to hear people say "I want that" for any passengers you might have. Menus are easy to navigate and provide adequate system options. I cannot speak on audio options such as HPF or LPF, for people with aftermarket audio systems, as I don't have one and I have never dealt with options like that before.
All in all, this unit is a definate + in my book. I am very happy with my purchase and am glad I didn't buy a different head unit, I would just like to see some map updates and I will be a very happy man.
Summary:
+++Definate headturner
++Audio Sound Quality
+Touchscreen interface
+Ipod Integration...
-Assuming you don't have a iTouch
+Built to be an all in one device...
-If you shell out extra money for the modules
+- Navigation package has its moments. Map updates hold this unit back from being competitive with other units.
--Alpine Support


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JVC Mobile Regular KWNT3HD Navigation Head Unit with HD Radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I finally got off my hump and decide to change my factory radio in my 2008 Chevy Impala LT. I researched so many stereos and finally settled on the JVC NT3HDT. I made a list of all the features I wanted in my new stereo, and the JVC NT3HDT met each one. I was looking for a stereo that included built-in Bluetooth, HD radio, navigation, lifetime traffic updates, iPod/iPhone control, SD card slot, USB port, speed alerts, DVD player, and voice control. I was not interested in XM radio since I do not subscribe to the service. The only place where the unit fell short was that there wasn't any voice control. I went to a local installer and had the stereo installed along with a Boyo VTL420 backup camera. I had already read the online manual on JVC so I put it to the test.
I read previous reviews where there were complaints about the startup time. I see no lag. I guess because as soon as I start up the car I am usually backing out of my garage or a parking space so the backup camera comes on immediately. There are options to adjust the display settings so I could tweak it where I was comfortable. The navigation is awesome. There are 3 map viewing options. I chose the 2D display. There are so many options including avoiding toll roads, ferries, and highways to the shortest and quickest course. You can add your own POIs from Google Maps using Street Assistant that can be downloaded from the JVC website, but the unit comes loaded with so many POIs like gas stations, restaurants, and department stores. You can also set up alerts for the POIs on your route. The traffic alerts come in handy. I love being able to get in the car and look at Traffic Incidents instead of waiting for a traffic update on the radio or trying to check it before I leave the house. It has real time traffic updates as well. The second day I had the stereo I was on the highway when an accident happened about 7 or 8 cars in front of me. About 5 minutes before that I had checked the traffic incidents, and there was were no incidents. I checked the traffic incidents 5minutes later and confirmed the accident was listed and was able to select the option to detour the accident. I currently have the detour traffic incidents feature set to manual, but it can be set to automatically detour accidents. The unit displays the current speed limit for the road you're traveling on. I had the speed sensor that comes with the unit hooked up so I can get a voice alert letting me know if I am exceeding the speed limit by 3, 6, or 10 miles. The voice alert will speak over anything currently playing. It does come in handy for those speed traps.
The HD radio is pretty awesome. I checked online to verify that there were HD stations in my area. I currently have my stereo set up to change the audio to digital automatically. It can be manually set. The system does support multicast stations. I know a lot of systems claim to and don't. The radio station name, song title, and artist info display when a song is playing. There is iTunes tagging available as well when you have an iPod or iPhone connected via USB. Besides providing traffic updates, the stereo also gives the latest sports scores, local,sports, and national news, and weather.
My iPhone 3Gs paired with the stereo quickly, and downloading my phone book to the stereo took less than 3 minutes. I have only had to pair it once, and my iPhone is always connected. Pretty much everyone I have talked to using the Bluetooth tell me it sounds better than my normal phone. I have used the Bluetooth audio a few times. I don't really care for it because none of the album art displays. I did have the original iPod cable connected. Everything sounds so awesome, but video will not display with that cable. I decided to purchase the JVC cable to connect my iPod to the USB port and aux in port to display video and album art. The sound is wonderful. What's so incredible is the way my album art and artist information displays. The album art is sharp and clear. My podcast art displays splendidly as well. My playlists, videos, podcasts, and audio books all play smoothly, and the sound is so strong.
My DVD player is awesome. I did purchase the bypass cable so I could play videos while I am driving. I made a DVD disc containing 3 AVI files, and the videos look better than they dos on my iPod. I purchased a few DVDs as well that play well. I purchased an anti-glare screen protector as well. I wanted to test out how movies that are usually really dark display with the sun shining on the unit. I tested it using the movie Legion. Legion looked pretty incredible. I also made a MP3 DVD disc as well that displayed all the album art and artist info and sounded great. In addition to that, I also purchased a 16 GB SD card that I filled with music. The album art and artist info all displayed as well. The sound was incredible. I have yet to play anything on this stereo that doesn't sound incredible. I currently have the equalizer set to Natural. I set up greeting and goodbye messages. They play when I enter and exit my car. I was able to customizable my display colors to match my current interior display colors. It's no question that this stereo fulfills all my needs and wants. It's funny because one of my friends has the Ford Sync in his Fusion and was looking amazed at all my stereo does for such a good deal.


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Boss BV8970 In-Dash 8" DVD/MP3/CD Receiver with USB, SD Card, and Front Panel AUX Input Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I BROUGHT 3 OF THESE UNITS....AND FOR THE MONEY YOU CANT BEAT IS....THE BIGGEST SCREEN ON THE MARKET 8''WIDESCREEN..TOUCHSCREEN///DVD LOOKS GREAT ..GREAT SOUND....AND THE RETURN POLICY IS GREAT .....YOU HAVE 1 MONTH FROM THE DATE OF PURCHACE TO REURUN...

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

Average Reviews:

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

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