Showing posts with label ipod. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ipod. Show all posts

9/05/2012

Phase Linear UV8020 MP3/WMA/USB/SD Card/DVD Receiver with 7 Inch Screen (Black) Review

Phase Linear UV8020 MP3/WMA/USB/SD Card/DVD Receiver with 7 Inch Screen (Black)
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I was a little apprehensive to buy one of these because of the low price and the myriad of features that it performed. But I went ahead and bought one. I bought a 3 yr warranty from squaretrade just in case it broke. I was especially concerned with the motorized screen which slides down when you need to insert or remove a DVD,CD, or SD card. Once the package actually arrived the unit felt very nice and seemed to be built solidly. I installed this myself in my Lexus. It has 5 preamp RCA outputs which includes a subwoofer output. It also has 2 RCA video outs and 1 RCA video input for a backup camera. It also comes with a remote (feels a little cheap but works adequately). I was a little diappointed with the front AUX input as it is smaller than a standard headphone jack and you have to use a nonstandard cable (they provide 1 cable for audio only and 1 for video/audio). If your looking for Bluetoooth, Navigation, or Satellite ready, look elsewhwere.
Pros:
Lots of features. It also seems to have excellent laser quality as it plays many of my CD's which are so scratched up they will not play in any other player I own. You can play music (not video) from an SD card. In fact if you have pictures on an SD card you can play them in a slideshow. DVD playback works as it should and it has an auto resume feature so even once you shut off the car it will return to the point in the movie you were at. The unit sounds good with no hum or high pitch whine linked to engine rpm like you experience with some units. The motorized screen works well and feels solid and strong. The radio receiver seems to pick up more stations than my factory radio did.
Cons:
I wish it had some visualizations while you were listening to music. For instance even a bouncing EQ or ANY animation. Instead while listening to CD's it does have a graphic, but nothing more. It seems a shame to waste that beautiful 7" screen. Several of the features can only be accessed via the remote. This could be a problem if you lose it or break it. Included instructions were lacking, however most people should be able to use it without any instructions needed. It only supports regular SD cards, so no 4GB or larger cards will work. It simply says SD card error if you try. The screen does seem to get washed out when the sunlight hits it directly. (however pretty much ALL LCD screens do this).
UPDATE:
I've had this unit for around six months now with zero problems.

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9/04/2012

ibiza Rhapsody H1A030P 30 GB Wi-Fi/MP3 Player by Haier (Pink) Review

ibiza Rhapsody H1A030P 30 GB Wi-Fi/MP3 Player by Haier (Pink)
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As were many others, I was reluctant to purchase an MP3 player from a company that normally manufactures microwave ovens, dehumidifiers, and other home appliances. I watched reviews and comments about the ibiza for a month before jumping in. I've owned several hard drive MP3 players in the last year, culminating in an Archos 504 WiFi that was working pretty well for me until Urge and Rhapsody merged, and I lost a compatible subscription based music service.
The Haier Ibiza is the first player I've owned that hits every major requirement I have. Subscription based music with a broad, deep catalog, unprotected music, unrestricted WiFi, bluetooth, a reasonable, quick, well designed UI, etc.
Additionally, the development team at VariaMobile, the folks who are developing the software for this device have taken a very open, community driven approach to making this device better.
Downside? There are no accessories yet, (specifically a docking station). The player cannot be used while connected USB to your computer, (my previous Archos models would prompt, asking if it should connect, or simply charge).
Haier and Varia have put together a potent combination of features that more than justify the price, (some have complained it is too expensive). Anyone looking for a player that does music, subscriptions, and pod-casts will not be disappointed. I haven't even dug into the video features yet.

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The ibiza Rhapsody keeps you connected no matter where you go. Boasting PC-free, wireless operation, this compact MP3 player offers 30 GB of storage and a "hot button" that instantly connects you to millions of songs, podcasts, and videos. Easy to operate, with simple navigation and selection you can manage with one hand, the Rhapsody is slim, light, and ultra-portable, with a long battery life. And its intuitive, user-friendly design helps you fit more fun into your busy life.Stay Connected On the Go Whether you're traveling to work or school, or hanging out at the local coffee shop, take advantage of the Rhapsody's Wi-Fi capability to access the Internet. Browsing is a snap with the easy-to-read 2.5-inch color LCD, and the 320 x 240 resolution lets you enjoy vivid videos and photos. Need to find something right away? The content menus are streamlined and straightforward, so you never have to hunt for what you want to see or hear.Personalize and Share Let your Rhapsody showcase your individual style. Airskins let you automatically personalize your player with styles, graphics, pictures, and colors of your own choosing. Have you found a cool picture or song you can't wait to show off? No problem. The included Rhapsody software quickly loads on your computer so you can transfer your favorite images and songs, making everything easy to share with friends and family. Or you can save data from your PC to the Rhapsody, organize pictures into portable digital photo albums, and enjoy click-and-drag access while you're out and about.Entertainment Anywhere and Everywhere With the Rhapsody, you'll never run out of entertainment options. Instantly tune to a host of your favorite, preset FM radio stations; enjoy free AOL videos on demand; and bring with you nearly 1,000 categorized podcasts, including free up-to-the-minute news and sports. Over-the-air updates mean you'll never miss the newest available information or services. The Rhapsody also features Bluetooth capability that works with compatible headphones or speakers.Free Trial to Rhapsody To Go Never run out of new music again. The Rhapsody comes with a free 30-day trial (credit card not required) for Rhapsody To Go, a four-million song library. Play or save your favorites in seconds. You also can listen to free, nonstop Rhapsody channels in any genre, completely free of advertisements. At the end of the trial period, your membership will be automatically canceled, with no cost to you. Or, you can choose to extend your membership and listen to up to 25 new songs a month, or play 25 Rhapsody channels without any monthly fee.What's in the Box Device, headphones, wall charger, CD, and gel skin covering.

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8/29/2012

Kenwood KDC-BT838U - Radio / CD / MP3 player / digital player - Full-DIN - in-dash - 50 Watts x 4 Review

Kenwood KDC-BT838U - Radio / CD / MP3 player / digital player - Full-DIN - in-dash - 50 Watts x 4
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This head unit is well worth the price. I am anti-iPod guy and this unit having an USB connection made it very easy to "digitally" connect a hard drive. I now have a 200 gig hard drive (~$150) in my vehicles, never with out a type of music. This unit allows you to navigate the hard drive from the units screen. With the provided software, you can make playlist or just add music to the hard drive. It also has bluetooth, so you can also stream music that way. The unit also come with hands free, there is a mic with a cord on it long enough to put anywhere. If your state is (or has) mandated hands free devices and you are not one to want to look like a cyborg, this unit will comply with the law. It mutes the music, diplays the caller, push a knob and your connected. Once hooked up, everything is automatic, just get into your car, start it and it connects. It will download your phonebook to the unit so you can dial from the unit. Here is another good thing, ever leave home without your cell phone, well you wont ever again, tells you not connected within a minute of starting your vehicle. I would definitly recommend this to my poorest friend, well worth the investment.

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Planet Audio P9715B 5-Inch Single-Din In-Dash Receiver with Motorized Slide-Down Widescreen Touchscreen Monitor Review

Planet Audio P9715B 5-Inch Single-Din In-Dash Receiver with Motorized Slide-Down Widescreen Touchscreen Monitor
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Although the radio appears to have great features like a top of the line radio, there were some defects in the unit. Note: it was professionally installed. The volume control did not work adequately. When shut all of the way off, you still heard music. Turning up the volume, you nearly maxed output through the speakers. The bluetooth functionality did not work well either. There was constant static. In addition, when you tried to stream music, there was a constant hum on low volume. Subsequently, I returned this item and purchased another brand completely (Soundstorm - no issues with this unit with one exception - while using bluetooth, the receiver on the phone hears some static).

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8/25/2012

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

Pioneer DEH-P5000UB In-Dash CD/MP3/WMA/iTunes AAC/WAV Receiver
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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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8/24/2012

Alpine TUA-T550HD - HD radio tuner Review

Alpine TUA-T550HD - HD radio tuner
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Got one of these and it didn't pick up many stations but sounded great. Thought the reception was normal from the HD reviews I've read. But then it would not turn on when I started the car -- just dead. The regular tuner came on but had no antenna so it didn't work. Turning off the car and turning it back on "fixed" it for a couple of days but then it started getting worse. Got the unit replaced.
The new unit picks up MANY more stations than the first and worked good for a couple of weeks. Now its starting to have dead audio occasionally when I turn on the car. The difference with this one is that the radio comes on -- says 'digital' on the faceplate -- but there is no audio until you turn off the car. That's right, turn off the car, not the radio. Then it usually works when the car is turned back on.
This is very annoying. Alpine makes an amazing amplifier in the 9885 and it is awesome with my iPod connected directly to the radio. But the radio in the 9885 sucks, which is why I bought the HD radio, but the HD radio has its own kinds of problems.
Unless you really like putting up with problems, don't get this tuner until the bugs are worked out.

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8/20/2012

Alpine iDA-X100 Digital Media Receiver Review

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


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8/19/2012

Pioneer DEH-P7000BT In-Dash CD/Mp3/Wma/iTunes AAC/Wav Receiver Review

Pioneer DEH-P7000BT In-Dash CD/Mp3/Wma/iTunes AAC/Wav Receiver
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This is the third in-dash receiver I've installed in my car in the past 2 years, and I have to say, this is by far the best head unit yet. I didn't install an amp and I'm using the stock speakers, so I can't comment much on audio quality. It's as good as can be expected from the marginal factory speakers. Instead, this review will focus on features.
The P7000BT has a very nice, clean design. Some car receivers are just overloaded with dozens of tiny buttons and goofy graphics. Not so with this unit: it is clean and neat, but not too spartan. The cool blue and white faceplace looks modern, and is bright and easy to read in both sunlight and at night.
The large rotary knob on the left side controls volume, station selection and tons of other functions. Its not as elegant as the click wheel on an iPod, but lets face it, no other company can come close to the ease of use of an Apple product. It will take a little getting used to, but after using this Pioneer receiver for a few days, I got the hang of the interface, and I like it. Note that there are no station preset numbers on the faceplate itself; instead, you use the rotary knob to select from one of 6 favorite stations, or you can use the included remote to directly select a preset. At first, I thought this was kind of lame, but after using it for a while, I don't mind it at all.
The built-in Bluetooth is a godsend. Within minutes of first installing the P7000BT, I was able to pair it with my iPhone. It just works. Not much else to say about this.
I also installed a USB to Dock cable, allowing an iPod or iPhone to connect directly to the head unit via USB. Nothing special is required: a standard dock cable is all you need (Apple brand or third party, doesn't matter). Not only does the receiver play the iPod's audio through the car speakers, but it also charges the iPod without the use of an extra clunky cigarette lighter charger. You can even choose to have the head unit control the iPod, in which song titles, artist info, track number and duration show up on the head unit. Or, if you prefer, you can choose to do all your searching on the iPod or iPhone itself. I like how the receiver gives you both options. I prefer to control all my music on the iPod or iPhone, because Apple's interface for browsing music is simply unmatched.
In this review you've seen me mention the iPhone several times. Just to confirm, yes, the P7000BT does work flawlessly with the iPhone, despite the fact that Pioneer never lists it as officially supported. No complaints here. It just works.
Overall, a very nice receiver. Highly recommended!

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8/07/2012

JVC KD-A805 - Radio / CD / MP3 player / USB flash player - Arsenal - Full-DIN - in-dash - 50 Watts x 4 Review

JVC KD-A805 - Radio / CD / MP3 player / USB flash player - Arsenal - Full-DIN - in-dash - 50 Watts x 4
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I love this stereo. You cannot beat the price for all the functions it has. The Bluetooth is soooo useful since I hate those ear things - I love how my car answers the phone for me now. The dual USB is really nice. I don't even bother with CDs anymore, I just use my 8GB USB stick. I can also use the bluetooth to connect to the music on my phone which is another 8GB. That gives me 16GB of music space in the car... awesome!
Small complaints. When showing artist it first shows the album title in the text line. Maybe that's just the way I have my ID3 tags setup but it's annoying. For having so many colors, none match the other colors in my car but I like being able to change it every few weeks.

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Clarion CZ309 CD/MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver and USB Port Review

Clarion CZ309 CD/MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver and USB Port
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The Clarion CS309 has a ton of features: USB, Aux jack, bluetooth ready, DVD ready, satellite ready, etc. Unfortunately the interface and ergonomics are among the worst i have ever used on any electronic product.
Simply adjusting the settings requires careful reading of the manual. Would you like to adjust the bass or treble? That only requires 4 to 6 different buttons pushed in sequence. That would be mostly different buttons, scatterred all over the unit. By the time you remember the sequence the song is over. Where other units use a modal volume control (i.e. pressing a tone button will allow the volume control to adjust bass, treble, etc) on the Clarion the volume knob is for volume and volume only, sir. And a crappy, overly small volume knob it is.
On the subject of audio quality, I replaced my stock 2005 Subaru WRX unit, no superstar in sound quality. The Clarion takes a step backward in that dept as well. Clarity is not the hallmark of this Clarion.
As far as the USB port goes, due to the complete absence of any navigation of a drive, it is rendered almost useless for playing a drive loaded w/ various ODs. Although Clarion boasts that the unit will read up to 8 directories deep it will not NAVIGATE the directories - it simply will find the lowest level folder and cycle through each one, in the order it was written to the drive. Thus having more than 1o or so CDs on the drive becomes very unwieldy and adds yet another way for this thing to become a serious traffic hazard.
Ironically I picked this unit due to its relative lack of video game like displays. You can turn off the rather muted (but still irritating) "screen saver" and I'm certainly happy about that. It's probably the only reason this thing gets 2 stars and not one. Avoid this train wreck.


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With MP3/WMA/AAC support, direct iPod control, a front USB input, and a wealth of sound-shaping features, Clarion's CZ309 CD receiver is a powerful system to begin with. But with support for SAT radio, Bluetooth, OEM steering wheel remotes, and three sets of preamp outputs, it's a perfect bed for expansion.

Detachable Control Panel The CZ309 features an anti-theft detachable faceplate featuring a white-on-black single-line display with screensavers. Blue key illumination makes control in the dark a snap.
CDs and Beyond This receiver will play your CDs and CD-R/RWs, but burn a data CD with your favorite MP3/WMA or iTunes AAC files and the fun begins, with hours of music on a single disc. You can also play the files back from an inserted USB thumb drive. The device will display ID3-TAG info like artist or song name for your added convenience.
Front USB for Direct iPod Control The CZ309's USB input lets you connect your iPod directly without an expensive adapter. Just use your stock iPod cable, and you'll enjoy your favorite iPod tunes, along with complete control and battery charging of your iPod. The unit also supports title display for the tracks playing on your iPod.
AM/FM Radio Sometimes you just want to listen to the radio. Store your favorite radio stations on the 18 FM and six AM presets.
Front AUX Input With an AUX input on the front panel, it's easy to plug-in a portable audio device, portable satellite radio, or other external audio gadgets for instantaneous enjoyment.
Built-in High Pass/Low Pass Crossovers Crossover settings of 50Hz, 80Hz and 120Hz are available, letting you optimize the signal for high or low frequency reproduction when a subwoofer or tweeters are part of the system.
Sound Adjustment (Z-Enhancer Plus + Magna Bass EX) Clarion's Z-Enhancer Plus lets you select from three performance patterns--Type1, Type2, and Type3. With a touch of the control keys, you can arrange the high-quality sound to better fit the genre of music you are listening to. While most loudness controls boost bass at 60 / 80 / 100 / 200Hz, the Magna Bass EX circuit boosts bass at 50Hz. This creates a rich, deep, defined bass rather than the muddy, booming bass of a standard loudness control. The Magna Bass EX boost levels are dependent on the system volume, which results in balanced system response and dynamic bass reproduction.
SAT Radio Ready Clarion gives you the choice of XM Satellite Radio or Sirius Satellite Radio. Choose either system and you can connect a Satellite Radio receiver with Translator connected via Ce-NET. Enjoy over 150 channels of music, news, talk shows, sports and traffic information with CD quality sound.
Ready to Expand The CZ309 gives you a 50W x 4 built-in amplifier to begin with, but if you'd like to add additional power to your system, three RCA preamp outs are provided.
It's also ready for Clarion's BLT370 Bluetooth interface or OEM steering wheel remote. Grow your system at your own pace.
Remote Control Included Control the action with the included wireless remote.
What's in the Box Clarion CZ309, trim ring, wiring harness, remote control, installation hardware, owner's manual, installation guide.

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8/05/2012

Power Acoustil PTID-5000 Single DIN A/V Source Unit w/ Oversized Digital 5? TFT-LCD Touch Screen; Motorized Front Panel w/ 4 Pre-Set Angles Review

Power Acoustil PTID-5000 Single DIN A/V Source Unit w/ Oversized Digital 5 TFT-LCD Touch Screen; Motorized Front Panel w/ 4 Pre-Set Angles
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I wanted so bad to love this HU (head unit) but I can't. What you get for the price is amazing but it comes with it's down sides...
Pro's:
DVD picture quality is perfect (I don't think you could get much better)
Motorized face is nice
Touch sensitive buttons work well
Good Price
Nice Remote
Con's:
Sound quality is average or less
Bass and treble adjustments only, no other audio fine tuning available
Touch screen was intermittent, sometimes it was good and sensitive, sometimes you had to press hard or multiple times
Very annoying buzzing/ringing sound when an auxiliary device is plugged in
Some DVD's froze/skipped (DVD's were in perfect condition)
Subtitles kept coming on while playing DVD's. Had to keep going in the menu and turning them off
Takes forever for a disc to load (either CD or DVD)
Can't do anything else while a CD is playing (ie., can't adjust audio settings while disc is playing, but can in AUX mode or am/fm)
I expect a lot from my car stereo systems and I have been doing this for 15+ years. I think this HU would be good for an entry level user or someone not as picky as me. Also I hope the other ones don't have the AUX input buzzing/ringing that mine did. Remember that one key thing your parents always told you......You get what you pay for!


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8/04/2012

Planet Audio P9725B 7-Inch Single-Din In-Dash Receiver with Motorized Slide-Down Widescreen Touchscreen Monitor Review

Planet Audio P9725B 7-Inch Single-Din In-Dash Receiver with Motorized Slide-Down Widescreen Touchscreen Monitor
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This is a sweet stereo for cheap money-i love bluetoothing my music to it via my phone and overall having it completely wireless. The one big complaint is that I have had the stereo lower the volume on me randomly. This has happened whether the volume was very low or very high. Great screen quality though for DVDs and the bluetooth talking is really clear on the other person's end. If you can deal with the volume lowering itself randomly, it is a pretty sweet radio, especially considering the price. I will respond back if it does go dead (a slight few have been known to happen with this model I found out during my research)

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8/01/2012

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

Alpine CDE-126BT - Radio / CD / MP3 player / digital player - Full-DIN - in-dash - 50 Watts x 4
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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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7/27/2012

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

Pioneer Premier DEH-P510UB iPod AM/FM/MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver
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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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7/24/2012

USA SPEC PA11-HON2y - iPod to 2003-2006 Honda Factory Radio Interface w/ Auxiliary Audio input Review

USA SPEC PA11-HON2y - iPod to 2003-2006 Honda Factory Radio Interface w/ Auxiliary Audio input
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Prior to purchasing this, I had a Dension ice>Link which worked well for a while until I restarted the my car. To restore functionality, I had to pull a fuse out and plug it back in. I did this several times until eventually, it just died on me.
The USA Spec Adapter however gave me no such problems. It's very stable and works exactly as advertised. Installation in my 2005 Accord LX was fairly easy. The toughest part was plugging the socket under the radio without removing the cubby hole -- it's possible but you need small hands.
This is an excellent purchase. I'd recommend this product to anyone.

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7/23/2012

Alpine iDA-X200 In-Dash Radio/MP3 Player (Black) Review

Alpine iDA-X200 In-Dash Radio/MP3 Player (Black)
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I was surprised there was so little info on the web about the Alpine iDA-x200. It's one of the only car stereos that can control your Creative Zen and other mtp (media transfer protocol) mp3 players like an iPod. When you plug your zen into the usb port, it takes about a minute of searching before it will play music. You can search by playlist, artist, album and others. You can skip to the next song but you can't speed search through a song (this limitation is only with mtp players). Also, when you turn off the car and come back, it will return to the beginning of the track you were listening to (only with mtp players). This means, for practical purposes, you will want to carry your podcasts and any lengthy tracks on a flashdrive or ums mp3 player. The alpine can speed search tracks on ums devices and it even remembers exactly where you left off within tracks when you disconnect the device and reconnect! Plus you can do all the same searching by artist, album, track, file name ect. So you're probably wondering, why not use a ums mp3 player exclusively? Two reasons. First, you won't get playlists. If you want playlists, you have to get a mtp player or iPod. Second there are currently no small ums flash players with large capacity (32 gb) and great sound (Sansa Fuze blows in comparison to Zen V Plus). Two other quick notes, there is no cd player and going to radio presets requires a few clicks. Finally, I want to mention how much better the sound quality is when you allow the Alpine's 24 bit burr brown d/a converter to process the sound (using usb connection) rather than letting the mp3 player decode the sound and send it into the car via minplug aux connection. If you current stereo plays mp3 cds, do a little experiment and listen to the same song on mp3 cd compared to your mp3 player plugged into the aux. Keep an eye on the horizon for when the Microsoft and Ford sync exclusive deal ends. Then you may be able to buy a non-Ford car or an aftermarket head unit that works with mtp mp3 players and has voice command. Should be within a year. One more thing, if you upgrade your Zen V firmware, the Alpine will control it too. Also, I can't tell you about the power of the internal amp because all my speakers have a separate amps. Even though it's the only game in town in aftermarket car stereos that can control mtp music players, it does an admirable job.

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7/19/2012

Bulldog Deluxe 500 Two-Way Remote Starter with LCD Remote Review

Bulldog Deluxe 500 Two-Way Remote Starter with LCD Remote
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Its the first time I am installing an autostart, that too on my 1984 VW Rabbit GTI. Since there are no adaptors for such an old vehicle, I had to splice all the wires and manually install everything, but thanks to their fairly well written installation manual, it was all done successfully.
I gave it only 4 stars, because the range is nothing like what they advertise. My building is just 400 feet away and it still has difficulty, like if I face towards the direction of the car with the remote antenna pointing towards it, it works, but if I simply turn around pointing the other direction, it does not. Inside building is totally out of question. I have no tested it, but I sincerely doubt their half a mile range even if you are in an open field pointing it towards the car.
I callled tech support to ensure if I mounted the antenna right and there is no problem there. I do not also have tinted glass to cause a reduction in range.
Tech support was reached very promptly and they answered my questions.

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