Pioneer DEH-P5000UB In-Dash CD/MP3/WMA/iTunes AAC/WAV Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this to replace the stock radio in my 2006 F150 4x4. I read the reviews here and elsewhere and was a little bit concerned about the interface in regards to it being non-intuitive and the knob flimsy. I disagree on both counts. The interface is very intuitive once you learn it, and the knob is by no means flimsy. Also, there were comments regarding the lack of presets - this is not a problem at all - when the radio is in tuner mode one only needs to push up or down on the knob to advance to the next preset. There was another complaint regarding the clock - all I can say to that is, read the manual!
My stock radio had very good AM reception but poor FM reception. I was afraid I would lose good AM reception with the new radio, but the AM reception is just as good if not better.
I use this radio with my iPod Touch 2nd generation and again, no complaints. I am a mild audiophile and the output sounds very clean to me in all modes.
I do agree that there should be a mute or pause button on the radio itself in case the remote is not handy. Other than that, this is a great product for the price.


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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. When Advanced Sound Retriever is "ON," the high frequency range is compensated to match the frequency response curve of the original sound.

USB Direct Control for iPod and MorePioneer's DEH-P5000UB is ready to roll with capability for direct connection to your iPod. USB 2.0's speed and capability allow an elevated iPod experience in the car, and nearly limitless expandability for portable media players and USB memory devices.

File search and access are extra quick. The head unit keeps song, artist, time, and album information displays very clear and user-friendly, and control is intuitive through the 7-way Rotary Commander. The system's wired USB connection provides direct digital signal transfer from the iPod for clean, clear sound. In addition, Pioneer has developed the following new features to make using your iPod in the car extremely easy and convenient:
• Link Search-- While listening to a specific artist, hold "List" button to pop up folders containing that specific artist.
• Passenger Control Mode--Allows passenger to use the iPod directly to browse and select music, while connected to the head unit for playback.
• Random (Shuffle) Key--Physical Random Button on faceplate (Shuffle) makes it easy to hear something fresh.
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 head unit's microphone and your vehicle's speaker system. The system automatically mutes any other audio during incoming or outgoing calls.
*Optional CD-BTB200 adapter required
Full Featured and High PerformanceThe DEH-P5000UB is smartly designed to expand your system, customize your experience, and provide superior sound quality and easy operation. Features include:
• 3 RCA Hi-Volt pre-outs for adding external amps and speakers simplify system expansion.
• Two-way Crossover with separate High and Low Pass settings.
• 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.

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Alpine CDE-126BT - Radio / CD / MP3 player / digital player - Full-DIN - in-dash - 50 Watts x 4 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After reading another review I felt the need to write a review on this great radio. The Alpine CDE-126BT replaced the stock radio in my 2003 (7.3L) F250 which had a broken CD player. I've been looking and reading reviews on and off since purchasing the truck used 2 years ago. Since I already had all my music converted to iTunes in Apple lossless I really wanted to be able to use my iPod 120gb classic in my truck. In the past there seemed to be mixed reviews with functionality using this and many iPod/iPhone/iWhatevers including a friend's older 80gb classic and older Alpine radio with built-in iPod support. His combination doesn't work very well but does somewhat work.
After doing some reading again I ended up with this Alpine CDE-126BT. If you compare it to the CDE-125BT it's slightly more money but includes the iPod adapter which plugs into the rear of the radio. It also includes a few other additional functionality such as 4-channel pre-amp. I'd suggest purchasing a little more radio than you currently need just to future proof it a bit. You'll at least have options if you decide to add an amp or two plus they normally include some additional controls you may need.
Anyway, just prior to installing the CDE-126BT I put some Alpine 6 ½ component speakers I had from a previous vehicle in the front doors. This did help with sound quality even with the stock deck but with the CDE-126BT and the iPod it was awesome! I really wasn't expecting it to be this good. Although the big diesel motor is somewhat loud the clarity still stands out. As far as the iPod 120gb Classic, it works great and is fully controlled from the radio. Just be sure to use the included cable and plug it in the rear of the deck. Why wouldn't you just use it!? Searching is easy enough once you get used to the controls. Yes you do need to learn how to get around! It also includes a small quick reference book to carry in the vehicle.
Bluetooth - I really didn't purchase the radio because of this but why not hook it up? Did I mention the truck is loud? It also does work way better than I thought. People on the other end do hear the motor at highway or every speed but say it's acceptable. Placing and receiving calls are really easy and with my Motorola Atrix it also displays the person's contact information.
Supported devices - Download the manual and check page 24 to see for yourself what's support. If you still have issues and it's on the list contact Alpine directly for support, don't just complain about it on a forum!
[...]

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Pioneer Premier DEH-P510UB iPod AM/FM/MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought a Pioneer DEH-P510UB along with the Pioneer HD tuner in early 2009 when they came out. I was eagerly awaiting a quality deck with good radio and also AUX-IN and USB right on the faceplate of the deck. The unit sounds fabulous, even through my car's original (premium, 7 speaker) sound system with no additional amp. The radio works wonderfully, gets stations that our home tuners don't, and you can store HD subchannels as presets. I put a whole bunch of MP3-encoded songs on a 16 GB USB thumb drive and this is my primary mode of use. It's very easy, plug in the thumb drive and within seconds it's playing your music. The key to playing 1000 songs on one digital medium like a USB drive is the user interface, of course. Sadly, this is where Pioneer cut corners. There's no way to skip ahead say 50 or 100 songs, and if you want to go back to the song that played before the current one it's incredibly bad, barely works. You can put the unit into random mode, which will skip around through your music. Unlike many consumer audio players, the random algorithm seems to work well. However, this is the very worst part. If I'm in random mode and I push the button to skip to the next song, it should go to the next song randomly, NOT the next song in alphabetical order. This is a very basic and stupid mistake in the UI design and it is excruciating for the user. Stuck in the middle of one of your daughter's Spice Girls songs and don't want to listen to it? You'd think you could push "next song" and it would jump to the next song in random order. Does it? No. It goes to the next Spice Girls song, then the next .. yow.
It's a good thing the remote works as well as it does, because that one-button-does-all thing doesn't work very precisely if you're driving. To make a radio station a preset, for example, requires that you hold that button exactly in its center for several seconds until the deck realizes what you're trying to do. I have yet to accomplish this while I'm driving - some tiny swerve will make my fingertip move just barely but enough to make the thing skip to the next radio station instead of adding the current one as a preset. Sigh. The remote works much better.
It's a shame, really. This could be a really killer product and it wouldn't have cost Pioneer any money in hardware, just needed to put someone on the UI design who knows something. The manual seems large at first glance until you realize it's one of those awful written-in-every-language manuals. The English section is skimpy, the index is uselessly terse, and whatever you're looking up is certain to refer to another section which itself may refer to another section .. just plain lazy tech writing. And the font is way way tiny. I have to take off my driving glasses and put on reading glasses to read it. Needless to say I have to pull over to do this. There is supposed to be a way to enter custom EQ data using a six-band equalizer, but the crummy manual has defeated me entirely.
So it's a great product with great limitations. I'm going to keep mine, hoping Pioneer comes out with a flashable upgrade to the UI. After all, I can still have my whole damn collection on one USB drive and the unit plays them and sounds great. That's cool.

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Pioneer's DEH-P510UB CD receiver is an ideal upgrade to your stock system, with iPod and USB connections, MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV playback with advanced sound enhancement for compressed audio, and plenty more. The DEH-P510UB features clean, modern design, with Pioneer's highly regarded rotary commander for superior operation, swift retrieval of music files and ease of use when scrolling through audio and function menus. Expand your system with digital radio options like HD Radio, XM Satellite Radio or Sirius Satellite Radio.

Stop straining to see the screen Enjoy vibrant, exciting displays with the Larger Full-Dot OEL display that makes it easier to see what is playing, no matter what the light is like. Scroll through your iPod with greater ease with 3-Line list mode. Even enjoy features like 3D full motion screen savers.
Dual USB opens up a whole new span of options for your system. Plug in your passenger's iPod while leaving your own connected, practically doubling your music. Keep your iPod in your car and add new songs into the mix with a USB drive. The possibilities are endless.
iPod Made Easy It's easy! Simply plug your iPod directly into the unit using the included cable, and you are ready to rock and roll. Listening to an artist that you just can't get enough of? Now you can hold the "List" button down and it will pop up folders containing that specific artist. You can also have your passenger control your music directly from the iPod.
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.
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. *Optional CD-BTB200 adapter required
The Premier advantage Discover the quality and passion that goes into our Premier CD players. The warranty on this model is two years--double the warranty period of most headunit models currently on the market.
What else does this model have to offer? The DEH-P510UB also includes these additional features like built-in AUX input for your media devices and Advanced Sound Retriever to restore your MP3s to near CD quality. Features that are designed to expand your system, customize your experience, provide superior sound quality and easy operation.
Remote Control included
Full Dot OEL Display (192 x 48 pixels)
Advanced Sound Retriever to restore your compressed media to near CD quality
iPod Cable Included
AUX input to easier plug in your portable media devices
Dual USB (Front/Rear)
HD Radio, XM, and Sirius Radio Ready
3 RCA Hi-Volt preouts for adding on external amps and speakers simplify system expansion.
Two-Way Crossover with separate High and Low Pass settings.
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.
Amplifier Off Mode
Display Off Mode

What's in the Box Pioneer DEH-P510UB receiver with detachable face, sleeve, trim ring, wiring harness, installation hardware, wireless remote, USB cable, iPod cable, manual, installation manual, warranty

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Pioneer Premier DEH-P410UB CD/MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Bought the DEH-P410ub for my girlfriends 2006 civic, installed this system using Scosche HA1561DGB 2006 Honda Civic DIN and Double Din Kit with Dark Atlas Grey Color Matched and is currently powering 4x Polk Audio DB651 6.5-Inch Coaxial Speakers (Pair, Silver) This head unit provides great clarity and sound quality. The stereo allows every gain and frequency adjustment to be made from the head unit itself, otherwise id have to pull my 2x Infinity Reference 1252w 12-Inch Dual Voice Coil Subwoofer (Silver/Black) in order to make adjustments. Three RCA outs are included, for SUB and speaker AMP outs. The head unit is refined and sophisticated in appearance, unlike the other juvenile-looking alternatives in the market.
Be careful when choosing a Car stereo for your iPod touch/iPhone. There are many receivers out there that have iPod compatibility, however alot of them wont work with the iPod touch/iPhone. I have tested, this is indeed compatible with iPod touch and iPhone (Play tracks, playlists, charging) everything except make calls. An added perk is that you can disconnect the included iPod cable, and play songs from any USB Mass Storage standard device, the stereo can play music from other MP3 players as well as flash drives and SD cards (with a USB adapter). If possible, connect your device via the USB port, instead of the 1/8" AUX jack on the front bezel, this will allow the stereo to internally process the tracks digitally, for better sound quality, and discrete connectivity (e.g. inside the glove compartment) and to enable tracks selection to be controlled by the head unit, instead of fiddling with the MP3 player.

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Pioneer's DEH-P410UB CD receiver is an ideal upgrade to your stock system, with iPod and USB connections, MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV playback with advanced sound enhancement for compressed audio, and plenty more. The DEH-P410UB features clean, modern design, with Pioneer's highly regarded rotary commander for superior operation, swift retrieval of music files and ease of use when scrolling through audio and function menus. Expand your system with digital radio options like HD Radio, XM Satellite Radio or Sirius Satellite Radio.

Stay in Command Enjoy vibrant, exciting displays with the larger OEL display that provides superior brightness and visibility in all conditions. Scroll through your iPod with greater ease with the newly redesigned smaller rotary commander.
iPod Made Easy It's easy! Simply plug your iPod directly into the unit using the included cable, and you are ready to rock and roll. Listening to an artist that you just can't get enough of? Now you can hold the "List" button down and it will pop up folders containing that specific artist. You can also have your passenger control your music directly from the iPod.
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.
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. *Optional CD-BTB200 adapter required
The Premier advantage Discover the quality and passion that goes into our Premier CD players. The warranty on this model is two years--double the warranty period of most headunit models currently on the market.
What else does this model have to offer? The DEH-P410UB also includes these additional features like built-in AUX input for your media devices and Advanced Sound Retriever to restore your mp3s to near CD quality. Features that are designed to expand your system, customize your experience, provide superior sound quality and easy operation.
Remote Control included
OEL Segmented Display with 16-character Text
Advanced Sound Retriever to restore your compressed media to near CD quality
iPod Cable Included
AUX input to easier plug in your portable media devices
USB input (Rear)
XM Radio and Sirius Radio Ready
3 RCA Hi-Volt preouts for adding on external amps and speakers simplify system expansion.
Two-Way Crossover with separate High and Low Pass settings.
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 DEH-P410UB receiver with detachable face, sleeve, trim ring, wiring harness, installation hardware, wireless remote, USB cable, iPod cable, manual, installation manual, warranty

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Valor ITS-301D 3-Inch In Dash Touch Screen DVD Monitor Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've never written a review for Amazon before but this product needs a warning for potential buyers. I bought the ITS 301D a little over 8 months ago and other than needing some interface tweaks, it worked great, a lot of features for the price. However, it can no longer read any disks. I've tried to contact tech support but all I get is the run-around...deleted tech support tickets, hung up on phone calls, and plain ignorance on the part of their reps regarding their "warranty". Reading the other reviewer's experience regarding getting his deck fixed, I probably shouldn't even bother. Oh well, at least I still have a radio...for now.
Go ahead, try your luck with Valor. But, if I were you I would put down a little more cash and go with a better known, reliable brand.

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Kenwood Kdc-Mp745U CD/AM/FM/USB Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Car audio seems to be stuck in an odd spot. Most seem to be saddled with 1990s technology and pathetic MP3 support unless you are willing to buy an Ipod or a satellite radio subscription. I'm still waiting for a car stereo with proper MP3 support, but this Kenwood is pretty close. Let's get down to the pros and cons:
Pro:
* Sensible MP3 support with only a few big limitations (listed below). Other MP3 players I checked out had all sorts of absurd weaknesses like one player that literally dumps all of your MP3s into a difficult-to-navigate list.
* Big and easy-to-read display.
* USB is in the rear so that you don't have a flash drive sticking out of your dash.
* Huge number of settings and options. They not only exist, but the UI of the main panel makes it easy to change the settings.
* The audio is great. In fact, the audio is too good for its own good! You can easily crank up the levels to a point that still sounds clean but overheats the player to the point it enters a safe mode where it lowers to cool down, returns to loud, lowers to cool down again etc...Cons:
* USB cannot even power a small laptop-style harddrive even though my laptop's USB port easily handles it.
* MP3 storage devices are limited to 256 folders. Even though this thing can handle a 32GB flash drive, and probably more, the 256 folder limitation is a significant, and unnecessary, barrier that seems like a relic of the 1980s that will force you to make concessions with your music library. Considering that my 32GB chips are already maxed out, you can assume there will be little point in upgrading to 64GB, 128GB, or higher flash drives during the time you will own your vehicle.
* No mute button! How can there be no mute button?
* Settings are lost when the power is completely cut. No, turning off the ignition will not lose your settings, but you will sometimes find mechanics disconnecting the battery when performing maintance.
* Must use buttons instead of a dial to change the radio station.

* Disc drive is a CD drive instead of a DVD drive. I do not expect video capabilities from this, but considering the CD format is long obsolete and DVD drives handle all of the functionality of those old drives it sure is unfortunate that the disc drive cannot handle MP3 from DVD.

* This complaint is a bit unfair but I have a Sansa Fuze MP3 player that froze the Kenwood and it had to be reset. If you connect the Sansa, then turn on the car's ignition that process seems to screw things up and it causes the headunit to freeze. It happened twice. The Kenwood never said it was compatible with the Sansa Fuze, but it was a bit odd that the Kenwood wasn't designed well enough to at least not crash when unexpected devices are connected.

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Alpine CDE-103BT - Radio / CD / MP3 player / USB flash player - Full-DIN - in-dash - 50 Watts x 4 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)UPDATE: Crutchfield had Alpine provide me with another unit with updated firmware (Version 310, I think) and I haven't had a problem since. Crutchfield told me they were having Alpine replace all the units they had in stock with the updated version.
I love the unit and recommend you' get it from Crutchfield so you get the updated firmware.
ORIGINAL: I'm having the same issue as Buyer Beware, the internal amp often shuts off when the ignition is turned off as well as the Bluetooth.
But I like the unit so much I still give it 4 stars.
If Alpine would issue a software update and resolve the issue I would give it 5 stars.
I have documented the bug on youtube, just search for CDE-103BT Software Bug.

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Alpine PXA-H100 - Audio signal processor Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this along with the auto-calibration kit (the KTX-h100) for my new car system. I set the system up and tried it without calibration first, other than tweaking the fade and bass/trebel. I thought it sounded pretty darn good.
I then did the sound measurement calibration with the microphone and there was a BIG difference in sound quality (it lets you turn the multi-eq on and off, to hear before and after calibration results). So much so, that I found myself wondering if the stereo really sounded that much worse before. I had a friend who had heard the system before calibration listen to it again with Multi-EQ off to see if he thought it sounded the same, which he did.
Bottom line: this thing WILL improve your sound quality ALOT if you (like me) don't have the faintest idea what needs to be tweaked in an advanced equalizer to get your system sounding better. The biggest difference you will notice is that with this thing on, you can't really tell where your music is coming from, instead of before when, if you tried, you could clearly make out where the speakers were. In other words, it makes it seem as if the music is just appearing in midair around you, instead of from the doors in your car (at least for me). On top of that, the music just sounds much better, like a stock system vs aftermarket all over again. Of course I would not recommend this unless you have invested in good speakers all around for your car. I'm using Bostons and a Basslink II in the trunk.

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Alpine KTP-445 Head Unit Power Pack - Amplifier - 4-channel Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For anyone who wants a simple solution to increasing power to decent quality speakers with out the hassle of wiring, this is the way to go.
I am amazed at the difference.
Alpine does it again!

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Pioneer DEH-4200UB CD Receiver with OEL Display and USB iPod Control Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is the best single din player I have come across. I used sony xplod series earlier and have also used kenwood but I realized when I used Pioneer that it is a class apart. I have 4X4 infinity reference speakers installed. 1st time I used my pioneer, I thought "Do I have a sub in my car that I dont know about". I mean, I could actually feel the real power of infinity without amp just by installing pioneer!!
This system is amazing. I can tune it the way I want it too. It has HPF and LPF, so if I had an amp or sub, i can make use of it. One of the best thing about this is the blue OLED screen. Though I would have loved it to be 1.5 times or 2 times bigger than what it is but its great. Lot of options to choose from. I can also setup alarm on it (though i've never used it). The sound reproduction is very clear.
Dont buy the pioneer cable for ur iphone. Your regular charging cable will work just fine.
The negative:
Only thing I dont like is the joystick which is little less on grip. But I rarely use it as I am hooked to the remote.
All in all, the best your money can buy for the price. Thumbs up and pioneer again hit jackpot with this.

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Pioneer's DEH-4200UB is an ideal way to upgrade your OEM system, offering playback of WMA/MP3/AAC files from disc or USB devices, optional direct iPod control, and plenty more. It also offers big-time opportunity on the upgrade front--easily add Bluetooth and HD/SAT Radio, or use the three pairs of preamp outputs to build a system with external speakers and amplification.


DEH-4200UB Features
Stop straining to see the screen Enjoy vibrant, exciting displays with the Large Full-Dot OEL display that makes it easier to see what is playing, no matter what the light is like. Scroll through your iPod with greater ease with 3-Line list mode. Even enjoy features like 3D full motion screen savers.
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. Optional CD-BTB200 adapter required.
CD-R/RW Playback Play back your favorite CDs and burnt CD-R/RW discs in the slot-loading CD player.
MP3/WMA/AAC Playback Don't let your favorite music downloads languish on your computer hard drive. Burn them to a CD-R or CD-RW and play them right on the car stereo. Enjoy hours of your favorite tunes MP3, WMA, and AAC audio content.
You can also just throw some files on a USB thumb drive and insert it directly in the front panel USB input.
iPod Made Easy It's easy! Simply plug your iPod directly into the unit using the optional CD-IU50 iPod cable, and you are ready to rock and roll. Listening to an artist that you just can't get enough of? Now you can hold the "List" button down and it will pop up folders containing that specific artist, album, or genre. You can also have your passenger control your music directly from the iPod.
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.

A Better Way to Control Your Music Sick of using buttons to search through your songs? Now you can scroll through your music with greater ease using the 7-way rotary commander.
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.
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.
The DEH-4200UB is also well-equipped for those who want to expand their system, with three sets of 4V preamp outputs (front/rear/subwoofer) for system expansion with external amps/speakers, and a two-way crossover with separate high and low pass settings.
Get Plugged In Use the built-in AUX input for connecting any digital portable player and other external auxiliary devices. For extra-convenient access, the input is on the front panel.
Dial In Your Sound Tweak the sound to your liking with the on-board three-band graphic EQ. A Loudness feature ensures ample low-end even during quiet listening, and standard balance/fader controls let you adjust the stereo image to suit your vehicle and preferences.
DEH-4200UB Basic Specs

What's in the Box Pioneer DEH-4200UB In-Dash CD Receiver, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Owner's Manual

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Pioneer DEH-P7200HD CD Receiver with HD Radio, OEL Display and iPod Control Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Installed in 1995 Ford F150 XLT Ext. cab w/stock {for now} speakers.
Installation took about an hour, direct replacement of the factory HU. Pretty basic once you get the original HU out.
I've had my P7200HD for about a month now.
The HD sig reception is great and I've had no probs breaking/losing signal. Having the 3 row display is nice for song info, etc.
ipod {I'm using USB2.0 cable} controls are great and ipod can be controlled from HU or ipod, which is nice for passengers.
Audio control gives many options for tailoring personal tastes. I've been able to fine tune to where my factory speakers sound pretty darn good. {Still going to upgrade them though.}
I haven't tested the CD/XM/bluetooth capabilities yet, but I'm confident that they will perform as well as the rest of the system.
On a scale of 1-10 I give the P7200HD a 9.5.
The only improvement that I would have would be a dedicated ipod connection from the rear of the unit.
Would I recommend the P7200HD?
You bet!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer DEH-P7200HD CD Receiver with HD Radio, OEL Display and iPod Control

Pioneer's DEH-7200HD is an uncompromising CD system, decked out with a full-motion OEL display, direct iPod playback, WMA/MP3/AAC playback from disc or USB devices, built-in HD Radio with iTunes tagging, and plenty more. It also leaves room to grow, with three 4V RCA preamp outputs and the ability to add Bluetooth or SAT radio in a snap.


DEH-7200HD Features
Built-In HD Radio Now listen to the radio in the Same Unmatched Fidelity as Your Digital Music with HD Radio. Your FM stations now with CD-quality sound, AM stations now with FM-quality sound, and crystal-clear reception with no audio distortion. Enjoy new music and programming with no subscription fees.
Stop Straining to See the Screen Enjoy vibrant, exciting displays with the Large Full-Dot OEL display that makes it easier to see what is playing, no matter what the light is like. Scroll through your iPod with greater ease with 3-Line list mode. Even enjoy features like 3D full motion screen savers.
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. Optional CD-BTB200 adapter required.
CD-R/RW Playback Play back your favorite CDs and burnt CD-R/RW discs in the slot-loading CD player.
MP3/WMA/AAC Playback Don't let your favorite music downloads languish on your computer hard drive. Burn them to a CD-R or CD-RW and play them right on the car stereo. Enjoy hours of your favorite tunes MP3, WMA, and AAC audio content.
You can also just throw some files on a USB thumb drive and insert it directly in the front panel USB input.
iPod Made Easy It's easy! Simply plug your iPod directly into the unit using the optional CD-IU50 iPod cable, and you are ready to rock and roll. Listening to an artist that you just can't get enough of? Now you can hold the "List" button down and it will pop up folders containing that specific artist, album, or genre. You can also have your passenger control your music directly from the iPod.
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.

A Better Way to Control Your Music Sick of using buttons to search through your songs? Now you can scroll through your music with greater ease using the 7-way rotary commander.
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.
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.
The DEH-7200HD is also well-equipped for those who want to expand their system, with three sets of 4V RCA preamp outputs (front/rear/subwoofer) for system expansion with external amps/speakers, and a two-way crossover with separate high and low pass settings.
Get Plugged In Use the built-in AUX input for connecting any digital portable player and other external auxiliary devices. For extra-convenient access, the input is on the front panel.
Dial In Your Sound Tweak the sound to your liking with the on-board three-band graphic EQ. A Loudness feature ensures ample low-end even during quiet listening, and standard balance/fader controls let you adjust the stereo image to suit your vehicle and preferences.
DEH-7200HD Basic Specs

What's in the Box Pioneer DEH-7200HD In-Dash CD Receiver, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Owner's Manual

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Clarion VZ309 3.5-Inch Single-DIN Multimedia Station with USB Port Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)To put it politely, I have been disappointed by the performance and feature set of this receiver. In fact, I thought it was so bad that this couldn't have been a product developed by Clarion. I think this is a re-badged Clarion which was designed/engineered by a low-tier manufacturer. The fact that the HD Tuner that works with this receiver doesn't work with any other seems to point in that direction too. But this is a review, so I will be specific about it.
Usually, people write the positives and negatives when writing a review. I will do the same. So, here's what I like about it:
1. Looks: It is a handsome looking deck. I am not a fan of the flashing LEDs and rotating colors. This has very minimalistic and simplistic, OEM type design that complements the rest of the dash.
2. Build quality is great. Definitely does not look like a made in China item that you can buy at an auto parts store.
3. Nice, large screen - crisp and clear.
4. Sounds is good, although nothing earth-shattering for a 200W amp.
5. HD Tuner works well, get stations fast and clear.
Now, before I list the things I don't like about it, let me explain something. A lot of people will mention a LACK OF FEATURE as a negative. I kind of find it unfair. I mean, before you buy something, you should know what features it has or doesn't have. For example, this receiver doesn't have Bluetooth. Now, it will be unfair for me to say this is a bad receiver because of that.
On the other hand, things that are wrong with it, or designs that are inconvenient can be fairly mentioned in the list of CONS. So, I will start with it:
1. If you start your car before you attach the faceplate, the receiver will remain turned off. You have to press the power button to turn in on - every time. With most receivers, if you turned off your receiver before you remove your car keys, it will remain off until you turn in on manually. Same way, if you left your receiver turned ON, and turned the car off (remove keys), it will come on automatically next time you turn on ignition and put the faceplate. This doesn't do that. Very inconvenient.
2. The "power"/ON button is not lit when the unit is off. So, coupled with the issue #1, it is a major inconvenience at night. You come in, start the car, put the faceplate back on - and nothing. Now you will have to blindly look for the power button to turn it on.
3. If there is a CD/DVD in the drive, it will always start in the CD/DVD source, regardless of last source you were listening to when it was turned off.
4. USB slot is also not lit, so, inserting a USB drive at night takes a few tries.
5. Most of the buttons have more than one functions. One function is printed right on the button, the other function for the same button is printed right below it. However, ONLY the button is lit, not the print below it. For example, the power button also acts as the mute button. But when the receiver is on, only the power symbol is lit, not "MUTE" which is written right below it. It is true for all buttons with more than one functions.
6. The dreaded DVD-loop issue. If you switched to a different source or turned the unit off while playing a DVD, next time it will only loop in the chapter it was last playing. Definitely a bad programming issue.
7. If you "mute" the unit while playing a CD or songs from USB, the mute will be automatically canceled and sound will come back on after the next song comes on. Really annoying - specially if you are on the phone with someone and suddenly the music comes on. I know this is not meant to be or that it is not a feature because the mute symbol stays on the display, even though the sound is heard. Again, bad programming.
8. The faceplate anchor design is merit-less at best. It has two plastic anchors sticking out from the unit where the faceplate latches on. These are plastic anchors about 1" long and they are just sticking out. If one of the breaks, the whole unit is useless. I will post a pic to show what I mean.
9. Absolutely no display customization. What comes with is what you get - and what comes with it is nothing. You can't change the display color/wallpaper/font/size - nothing.
10. USB operation is ridiculous at best. It shows all the songs in one list and the only way to navigate through them without the remote is to go up and down, which is painfully slow. You can go folder to folder using the remote. With the "UP" and "DOWN" symbols being not lit, it's inconvenient at night.
EDIT: I discovered that you can press and hold the up or down button to navigate from folder to folder. No mention of this in the manual.
11. If your mp3 folders have a pic such as an album art, this unit will get stuck at that, and it will ask you to put the parking brake on to view it - instead of just not showing the pic and moving on to the next song. If you have a lot of albums, you will need to manually remove all the album arts from the USB drive.
12. In the USB mode, it "eats" about 1 sec from the beginning of a song when it moves starts the next track. It's not as noticeable with the songs that start slow, but clearly annoying when a song starts out loud or with a beat, for example, Michael Jackson's Billie Jean. Don't know if this applies to CD tracks too.
13. It will recognize only 512 songs total in your USB drive. Now-a-days people have their whole music collection on a single chip. 512 songs limitation sets you back to 1999.
14. A lot of the DVD operations can only be performed using the remote. There are buttons on the faceplate that are inactive during DVD play which they could have easily put some functions on.
15. It is not compatible with all USB drives. I don't know which ones are okay but I have a USB drive that works fine everywhere but this gives me an error saying "UBS Bad".
16. No dedicated button for "search", meaning fast forward or reverse. So, if you want to FF a song or DVD chapter, you will have to press and hold ">>|" for about 5 secs and then it will do it only at 2x speed. Do the same again (another 5 secs) to go 4x. If you let go before that, it will just skip to the next song or chapter - and you will have to do it again.
17. The internal clock loses time like crazy!! It would be half to a minute behind in just a week.
18. No permanent brightness setting for the screen. All you have is Normal -> Dim -> Off, using the Dim button. You can't set the brightness to your liking. To make matter worse, the setting using "Dim" button is temporary. Once the unit is re-started (turn off/turn on), it goes to full brightness.
19. Finally, THIS UNIT IS SLOW!!! Navigating through songs or tuning stations, skipping songs, switching sources - much slower than even the cheapest receivers out there.
Now, some of things that I would have love to see and I could expect in a $400 receiver:
1. This unit should have been AT LEAST bluetooth ready.
2. It has this huge, rotary volume knob which is also used for Bass/Treble settings by pushing it. I think this would have been more useful is this was programmed to be used as "Enter" button, and putting the "Bass/Treble" settings in the settings menu. Now, the "AS" button acts as enter which is not even lit.
3. When the ignition is on and the faceplate is not on, there is a little triangle blue LED that flashes to show where to enter CD/DVD. I wish this LED would blink all the time so it would act as a theft deterrent.
4. When you enter the "Settings" menu where you can change equalizer/loudness etc, the music stops. So, you have no way to instantly compare the effect of different EQ or loudness settings. Wish the music didn't stop.
5. The faceplate carry-case/box is CHEAP!!! They should have included a little better case.
Like the title says, the only thing that makes things even is the ultra-low pricing of Amazon, which sometimes even include a free HD tuner. Otherwise, for more price I would suggest getting something else.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Clarion VZ309 3.5-Inch Single-DIN Multimedia Station with USB Port

Clarion's VZ309 is a true multimedia station with a DVD/ CD receiver; USB connector that supports playback of MP3, WMA and JPEG files; front AUX inputs for portable audio players; and optional iPod audio and video playback (CCUIPOD2). The brilliant 3.5 inch display lets you control it all. All this in a small one-DIN package.

Enjoy a Wide Variety of Media The built-in optical disc drive is compatible with DVD-Video, DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW, CD-DA, HDCD, CD-R and CD-RW, so you're assured access to a wide variety of visual and musical entertainment.
You can also play back MP3/WMA files from disc, complete with ID3-Tag display of artist/track info on the screen.
3.5-inch LCD Screen The 3.5-inch LCD displays operational status of your iPod, CD and DVD playback, radio functions and more. It offers maximum usability within minimum dimensions.
iPod Playback Just connect your iPod to the VZ309 using the optional CCUIPOD1 to control your iPod from the source unit. Please see the Clarion website for iPod models that can beconnected.
Front USB Input Grab a USB drive with some of your favorite MP3/WMA tracks and enjoy them right from the front of the unit.
HD/SAT Radio Ready You can connect optional tuners and enjoy the benefits of high-definition and XM satellite radio.
AM/FM Radio Catch up on the news or listen to your favorite stations. Get quick access to your favorites with 18 FM and 6 AM station presets.
Auxiliary Input Use the front 3.5mm auxiliary input to connect external audio devices like MP3 players, etc.
Rear AV Output A rear AV output allows you to send your signal to a second monitor in the back seat.
Dedicated Rear vision Camera RCA Input Add a rear vision camera to see the area behind your vehicle, for added safety and convenience.
Room to Grow With 50 Watts through four channels, and a 24-bit D/A converter, the VZ309 gives you great sound to start. But it also includes 6 channels of preamp output and a subwoofer volume control, so you can easily add external amplifiers and build a monster system.
Remote Included A full-featured remote control is included.
What's in the Box VZ309 Source unit, Mounting bracket, Removable face plate case, Trim plate, Remote control unit, Battery (CR2025), Owner's manual, Installation manual, Installation hardware

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Alpine iDA-X305S - Radio / digital player - Full-DIN - in-dash - 50 Watts x 4 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Aside from buying my music on disc, as I like having a hardcopy backup, I will no longer be using CD's thanks to this head unit. First off, it works fantastically with my iPhone 3GS, which I assume almost everyone buying this head unit will also have (or an iPod at minimum). Plug in the iPhone and it recognizes the entire library in about 3 seconds (I believe the older IDA-X305, no S, would sometimes give people problems with recognizing their iPhone/iPod. I've had no such problems so far). This is INCREDIBLY nice, as before I had my music collection on 6-7 mp3 CD's. Searching for what you want to listen to is a breeze and functions similarly to an iPod Classic. As a side note, when you plug in the iPhone, it automatically switches to iPod mode and starts playing where the currently playing song on the iPod left off. Some people may be annoyed by this if you just want to charge your iPhone, but it's more convenient than not, considering it's the mode you'll probably use the most. Maybe Alpine should have made it an optional setting.
I can't comment too much on Pandora. I don't use it often, but it's nice that it's there. It takes a little longer before the music starts compared to the iPod function. Usually about 10 maybe 15 seconds tops, before music from Pandora starts playing.
Stereo presets are a bit weird to set, but it's not overly complicated. That's the price of having so few buttons on the face.
The screen is perfect for navigating selections. A full function LCD is so much nicer than the one or two lines of text on most of other head units. If you're OCD like me and have album artwork for every song on your iPhone, you'll appreciate the beautiful LCD screen even more. Some people may find the screen too bright at night, but it can be turned down I believe with a dimmer setting.
Sound quality is very good in my opinion, especially for just a head unit. I'm not using an external amp. I had an Alpine CDA-9856 head unit before this one and this one sounds noticeably better. Perhaps Alpine used the additional available space and reduced cost of omitting the CD player to put in a better internal amp? Maybe, but my cynicism makes me think otherwise.
So after all of my glorification of this head unit you may be asking, why only four stars? Lack of value in my opinion. Receivers cheaper than this give you many features that Alpine makes you pay extra for, and they aren't cheap either. Buying just the imprint processor (stock EQ's are fairly basic, probably on purpose so you'll buy this addon) and bluetooth phone kit will cost almost as much as the head unit itself. Then there's HD radio and satellite tuners to potentially buy as well. If you're buying Alpine though, you are probably already expecting not to get much bang for your buck.
All in all, if you have an iPhone/iPod and the money, this head unit is for you. You will be hard pressed to find a head unit that gives you better control of it than this.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Alpine iDA-X305S - Radio / digital player - Full-DIN - in-dash - 50 Watts x 4

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ALPINE CD PLAYER MP3 CDW AAC WMA USB - CDA117 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Anyone who has owned an aftermarket Head Unit(HU) can tell you that there is a definitive amount of quality between lower price and upper price HU's.
Being an audiophile, i have heard and owned many, many HU's. My last HU was a Pioneer DEH-P8600MP. Pioneer's top quality HU next to the 9600 at the time it came out. After purchasing this Alpine CDA-117, i had very high expectations with which i was going to compare this HU to. First of all they both use 24bit Burr-Brown Digital-to-Analong Converters (24bit DACs) so you get the most information from the CD player, or ipod to the speakers as possible.
Secondly, a feature i wish my Pioneer HU had, is the ability to defeat, or cancel, the CDA-117's internal MOSFET Amplifiers, and send the signal directly from the CD or ipod to the external amplifier (if your using one) and then to the speakers. This allows you to crank the volume considerably with less signal distortion on the beaten path(from the source to the speakers).
This HU also has a very intuitive User-interface(menu system) and the scroll wheel is second to none in terms of usability and control. The HU has a very bright display, and it is also recessed(sunk in under the plastic casing) so that when the sunlight hits the display, you can still see the words very clear. I have no complaints for this HU except that the tuning options are a little less than my previous model HU, but Pioneer decks can be a little overkill with tuning options, and sometimes they are better left alone if you aren't familiar with what they achieve. All in all, this is an audiophile-quality deck, with more than enough features for the most experienced tuners. I believe this unit is the successor to the Alpine CDA-9886, and that unit is revered in the audio community. If nothing else, go to your local best buy and see if they have one of these on display, you will not be unimpressed!
Thanks for your time.
Josh

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

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

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JVC Arsenal KD-ADV49 DVD/CD Receiver with Motorized 3.5" Widescreen Monitor, Built-in Bluetooth®, USB 2.0 for Ipod, HD Radio Ready, Satellite Ready Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this unit on Ebay, so my review is strictly on the stereo itself and not Amazon. It has options such as: ipod control, and bluetooth that most other stereos require expensive add-ons to do. This unit is exactly the same as the KD-AVX44. The only difference is one has blue backlighting and a two year warranty, the other has white backlighting and a one year warranty. This receiver would be five stars if the controls were a little more intuitive. You definitely need to read the manual, or you will get frustrated quickly.

Click Here to see more reviews about: JVC Arsenal KD-ADV49 DVD/CD Receiver with Motorized 3.5" Widescreen Monitor, Built-in Bluetooth®, USB 2.0 for Ipod, HD Radio Ready, Satellite Ready

Click here for more information about JVC Arsenal KD-ADV49 DVD/CD Receiver with Motorized 3.5" Widescreen Monitor, Built-in Bluetooth®, USB 2.0 for Ipod, HD Radio Ready, Satellite Ready

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