JVC KD-BT11 Single DIN In-Dash CD Receiver with Built-In Bluetooth (Silver) Review

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(More customer reviews)Let me explain this product in one sentence: A steal for the price. The deck is comparable to most on the market right now other than the fact that it has bluetooth built in. I was using the bluetooth with my phone in seconds - making calls, streaming music. I have read reviews elsewhere that complain about navigating through the menu, I find these complaints unsubstantiated. Although not purely intuitive they were graspable without picking up the manual and looking things up - the only thing I had to revert to instructions for was setting the clock. The sound has been good, no objections there - and the equalizer functions are minimal but in my opinion adequate (I've had decks with crazy equalizers that have gone unused so this one was a good switch for me). I intend to add the ipod interface ($30-$40 on amazon) as well as the HD radio tuner (not on amazon at the time of the review but available for around $100 if you really look around). So, for about $300 I'll have a bluetooth, HD radio, that can control and charge my ipod (through the stereo). Try to find anything that can do all that for the same price and I'll give you a cookie.
A quick note about the bluetooth quality (in regard to talking on the phone). There is a mic in the stereo that picks up your voice as you hear the person you're speaking with through your speakers. As an artifact of this setup at times the person will hear their echo (one must deal with it). People will know they are on speakerphone, but conversations can be had with ease. So far all the calls I've made have been successful, in other words no one has said 'you've got to get me off speakerphone'. All in all I'm happy with the quality and I assume if my car were more airtight the person would hear me much better.
One potential problem: there is only one set of pre-outs, so those of you with big ideas about expanding drastically should look into a deck with front, rear, and sub outs (3 total). I however am doing a downgrade and the single pre-out worked fine for me.

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JVC KD-AVX2 - DVD player with LCD monitor and AM/FM tuner - EXAD Review

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(More customer reviews)Can't tell if this is a good item because Super Deal never shipped it, nor did they bother to tell me until I asked where it was a week later...however...Amazon is very good about returning my $ to the credit card...

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JVC KW-HDR720 Double Din MP3/WMA Multimedia USB/CD Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)After much research, I purchased and installed this unit in my 2009 Tacoma. I also got the ASWC steering wheel control interface so my steering wheel controls would work. This stereo sounds much better than the stock radio, love the changeable display colors, the HD FM radio is nice, but most of all I like having the USB to plug in my memory stick. I don't know if I will ever use the CD player.

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JVC KW-AVX800 7-inch In-dash Multimedia System Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this unit specifically because I wanted certain functions. After extensive research, I found that this device said in the product specs that it would do everything I wanted. While technically true, it performed so poorly in some areas that I in the end was disappointed. I have now tried several units trying to get these functions, including this unit. Ultimately, I returned this unit, though because it was not good enough at all of the things I wanted it to do. If you do not care about some of the things I do (or you care about other things - for example, for me DVD playback was irrelevant, so I did not even try this out), the unit might be fine for you.
Keep in mind, in order to do a lot of these things, you need to buy a separate breakout box or adapter that is not included in the price. Here is a list of what I wanted it to do & how it did:
1.Bluetooth integration. Fantastic. Best voice dial integration on any product I tried. There is a dedicated hard button to turn on voice dial that can be accessed no matter what mode the unit is in. Call quality was also good. It also accessed and played in a very good quality my music on my bluetooth smartphone. Truly, best in breed, and if all you care about is bluetooth integration, then this unit is for you.
2.Ipod integration. Not so good. Although the unit is touch screen, instead of listing items on the screen and letting you touch them to select, it instead only goes through one item in a menu tree at a time & then you have to hit an "enter" button that is not marked as enter. It looks like they took a non-touch screen interface & used it in this unit instead of writing one to take advantage of the touch screen capabilities. Worse, it sometimes looses time scyc with my latest generation ipod (I tried both a new 8 gb nano and a new 80 gb classic & had the same problems). Basically, the time would come up with "00:00" quite often, and then stay there. Because the unit continually thinks you are at the beginning of a track, it will not let you rewind. This can be a problem with books on tape or podcasts. This happened at least a few times per week. My installer said JVC was aware of this problem.
3.XM integration. OK but not great. It suffers from the same annoying lack full touch screen integration that exists for ipod, albeit to a much lesser extent. You can, for example, select a preset by touching the channel. However, my xm presets would often disappear from the preset list. What I mean is that the slot for the preset would be there, but the channel name would be missing. This happened almost daily. My installer said JVC was aware of this problem.
4.Control of unit from factory redundant controls on steering wheel. Poor. I wanted to be able to control basic functions on the unit from the factory steering wheel controls so I would not have to take my eyes off the road. Sometimes it worked, sometimes (often) it did not. Volume down refused to work most of the time.
In the end, item 1 was great, item 2 was below average, item 3 was OK, and item 4 was poor. On balance, not good enough for me to keep.


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JVC GZ-HM550 High Definition Camcorder Review

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(More customer reviews)I've had this camcorder for about a week now and so far I am pretty happy with it. The one thing that really strikes me as odd is selling a HD camcorder, but not including a HDMI cable in the bundle...? Playback of the footage recorded on a full HD tv via RCA or even component cables isn't going to result in good picture quality. My mini-HDMI cable should be delivered in the next day or so and then I'll be able to really evaluate the video. So far the video looks much better on my computer monitor than it does on my 52" 1080P LCD TV.
Also, the camcorder ships with the video quality set to XP, instead of the highest quality UXP. When setting quality to UXP it gives a warning that UXP video files can only be written to Blu-Ray, which of course makes sense. However, the bundled software will automatically downgrade the UXP video files to XP quality if you want to write to DVD, and then you'll still have the higher quality UXP for future use. Seems odd to not record in the highest quality as you can always downgrade the footage, but you'll never upconvert to true full HD quality if recording at lower quality.
So far, I am not impressed with the photo quality of still images, but I haven't played around with the settings much yet. The handful of stills that I've taken have turned out grainy and dark. In dedicated image mode, you can take 9MP stills, while when taking snapshots in video mode you are limited to 5MP. So far I think all of my stills were taken in video mode.
The camera has some great features that I've not yet played with nor am I sure I ever will. The time lapse is a great feature, but unless there's a spectacular sunset or something I'm not sure I'll have much use for it. Same for the auto record feature, interesting to have, but what are the practical applications? I suppose I could set it up and see how often my dog moves around during the day when we're not home. One thing with both of these modes is that the LCD must remain open, if you close the LCD, the camera shuts off completely.
The battery that comes with the unit doesn't last very long - roughly 45 minutes. the built in memory can hold about 2.5 hours worth of video at UXP quality so the battery is by far the limiting factor in your usage. If the video via HDMI turns out to be as good as I hope, I'll be investing in a higher capacity battery and a stand alone charger. Out of the box, the battery only charges when the power cord is plugged into the camcorder itself.
The software included is very easy to use and has some neat organization methods of displaying video files in a calendar layout by month, day and hour which it makes it easy to locate your files.
The software has options for converting the video to a number of different media and file types. You can write the files to Blu-Ray, DVD and AVCHD disc (DVD media). It also has the ability to convert video for upload to You Tube, iTunes and can also convert to .wmv for use on computers and upload to other sites, such as Facebook. The conversion process lets you choose the video size you want and at least on my PC was pretty quick to process.
I'll try to update this review after I am able to test the video via HDMI and use more of the features.
UPDATE 3/24/2010: Recorded a school concert last night and the battery lasted for 1.5 hours of nearly constant recording. This was much better than the capacity I noticed earlier when recording 5 or 10 minute segments spread out over a couple of days.
UPDATE 3/28/2010: Video quality via a Category 2, mini-HDMI cable is much better than via the cables included with the camcorder. My TV indicates a full 1920x1080 video resolution although it doesn't indicate if it is 1080i or 1080p. The box indicates that the camcorder has full 1080p output, but I can't verify that for sure.
I've had a chance to take some more still images both in video and in the dedicated photo mode. Given the right lighting images in both modes are usable. Images taken in dedicated photo mode are of higher quality, which is to be expected since they are 9MP images instead of the ~5MP images you get in video mode.
All in all, I'm more satisfied with camcorder now then I was when I initially posted this review. I'd rate it at 4 1/2 stars if possible.

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The Everio GZ-HM550BUS is an elegant Full HD memory Everio with dual memory of 32GB internal Flash memory/SD card featuring 10.62M Back-illuminated CMOS, Real 9.3 Megapixel Stills with no interpolation, recording up to 3520x2640 digital still images. Pick up your JVC Everio GZ-HM550BUS Flash Memory Camcorder today!

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JVC KW-NX5000 Vehicle Multimedia Receiver w/ 3.5" Color Display Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one hell of a unit. I have had it for 3months now and suffice it to say it has everything you could ever ask for. For example, if you decide to adjust the sound settings, watch out, you might rip your speakers or are you into satelite radios...it is Sirius and XM radio ready. Navigation is superb and as far as I am concerned, it is on par with my 2007 Yukon navigation system. I have watched full lenght movies on the screen with front passengers and connected video monitors on the headrests for rear passengers. There are so much more to this unit; bluetooth, MP3/ZUNE/IPOD adapter, 13million POI etc
I love it and will buy another if I ever have to.

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JVC KW-NX7000 Double Din Navigation with 7" Wide Touch Panel Monitor w/ DVD/CD/USB/SD Media Card & 2.0 Direct Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently installed a KW-NX7000 in my Honda Civic. Overall it is a pretty good system but it does not really break any new ground either. This is not my 1st GPS, I have installed a Kenwood DNX5120 in my other vehicle and a factory VW Navi in another. I also have various portables from Garmin, Magellan, TomTom, Dash, etc. I will primarlily make comparisons to the Kenwood, the VW system is not worth discussing!
Interface. One big plus I will give to the KW-NX7000 is the interface. It looks good, is intuitive, and is easy to use. Kenwood has good Navi menus (all Garmin) but the rest of the interface is a mess and often requires you to refer back to the manual. With the JVC the manual is really not needed, the whole system is very intuitive.
The navigation itself works very well. It locks signal quickly and presents routes that usually make sense. The database of POI's seems reasonably complete. You do have options for fastest time / shortest distance in both preferences and on a per trip basis.
I am not especially impressed with how the KW-NX7000 displays maps. They are easy to read but kind of dull, often times you are just seeing lines on a white background. Unfortunately, there is no option to show more or less detail. Thus, unless you are zoomed way in to about 600 feet, you do not even see road names, town names, etc., just lines. The 3D view was even more dissapointing as it shows even less detail unless you are in one of the few major metropolitan areas where 3d renditions are presented. I have yet to see it present anything nearly as interesting as the photo on the box! My 10 year old says that my other units maps look more "modern". Although I tend to think Garmins maps look a bit cartoonish, I still prefer them to the blandness of JVC's. I will give JVC the edge in how they present things like speed limits, lane guidance, and other details when you are doing a routed trip. If you are only displaying the map all you get is the map and the time.
The JVC has a feature that menus appear and buttons light up when you hand gets near the screen. This is a nice feature and sensitivity can be adjusted. You can change the screen colors but not the button light colors as you can on the Kenwood or Pioneer units. No big deal but if every other button on your car is red, these will be blue.
Boo-hiss to JVC for not including RDS on FM. This means that the unit does not display the song, artist, or station information. Kenwood does provide this feature. JVC has it for HD Radio only.
I installed the JVC bluetooth module and this works great with my blackberry. Given the price differential between the Kenwood and the JVC, I do think Bluetooth should be built in as it is on the Pioneers.
I have not yet installed the HD radio module as this requires an antenna splitter (KS-U21) to continue getting traffic. Unfortunately, part KS-U21 is virtually unobtainable at this time. I am also waiting on my ipod interface so will have to provide an update on that later.
Physically the unit looks good. As installed in the Civic it looks very close to a factory install. The removable, flip down, screen is a great feature unique to the JVC. The screen is nice and large, defintely bigger than the DNX 5120. However, keep in mind that in some vehicles, the screen will stick out a bit more form the dash than some other units and may thus look more "aftermarket" than some others. I was originally going to install this in a 2nd Gen MR2 and it just stuck out to far for my tastes. In the Honda it sits in a "pod" so this is not an issue.
Install was no harder or easier than any other 2-Din head unit. It does work with the PAC Steering Wheel interface controller.
I do feel that for the price of this unit it should include some additional "standard" features. If it included either Bluetooth or HD built-in, this could make it stand out from the pack and not require another box to hide under the dash. Heck, if they just included an iPod cable or an AV cable it would be nice. Do lifetime traffic instead of 3 months. Just provide something that makes this more than another "me too" GPS. This unit costs a good bit more than the DNX5120 but it does not feel like I got a lot more.
So, is this a good head unit? Absoultely. I think it does everything well. I guess the rub is that it does no one thing great, it just has not raised the bar in any features other than the removable faceplate. Some of this could be revised in software, but the same can be said for every other manufacturer.
If this unit were the same price as the DNX5120 I would call it a toss up. You would be trading some features for others so it is a matter of what is more important to you. Currently it is a fair bit more expensive. If I were to get another GPS today, and it were between these two, I would likely go with the Kenwood.

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This double-DIN all-in-one navigation system gives precise navigation with built-in RDS-TMC tuner, high sensitivity WAAS GPS, and 7-inch wide touch panel. The unit features map coverage of the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, Voice Guidance in 16 languages, Text-to-Speech, 12 million P.O.I, Lane Guide, and Speed Limit Display. Enjoy audio and video (KS-U20 cable required for iPod video playback) from your iPod, USB devices, and SD cards. Experience a new style of operation with the Proximity Sensor--control keys will appear as your hand approaches. The unit is compatible with Bluetooth Wireless Technology, HD Radio, and SAT Radio with optional devices.
Superior Navigation Technology
Built-in Flash-Memory provides quick startup and search, high-speed route calculation, and is resistant to in-vehicle extreme temperatures and vibration.
Millions of Points of Interest and map graphics are Pre-installed for Coverage in the United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and Puerto Rico.
POI database and Map data are updatable by SD card.
Allows use of navigation functions and listening to various multimedia sources simultaneously.

POI & Search Options
POI Information can be searched by Address, POI Name, Vicinity, Telephone Number, Map Location or Zip Code.
Store 100 favorite Points of Interest and recall up to 50 previous destinations from the built-in memory. Return trips are made easy by using the preset "Home" Location feature.
Quick Search Feature--Allows up to three favorite POI categories to be set in the immediate menu screen for one-touch access.
Routes can be configured by fastest time or shortest route length and configured to avoid specifi c roads such as Freeways, Ferries or Toll Roads.
Up to 4 Waypoints can be entered--even while in route to the destination that has already been entered.
Ambiguity Search--Compensates for spelling mistakes and eliminates the need to type in entire City or POI information by alphabetically listing the most popular entries for the partially given information.

Convenience Features
TTS (Text-to-Speech)Street names etc. read out in 3 languages: English, Spanish and French.
Customized Message A voice message greets you in the Text-to-Speech language when you power on/off.
Detachable Faceplate Faceplate with monitor is fully detachable for anti-theft security and convenience.
Lane GuideDisplays the correct lane to move into in preparation for approaching turns, highway entrances or exits, or U-turns.
Speed Limit Display & Speed Alert FunctionDisplays speed limit information on screen for the current road location. Selectable Speed Alert Function audibly alerts when the vehicle is traveling faster than the posted speed limit for the current road.
POI Touch-Screen Dialing Utilizes the internal POI database as a business phone book. Bluetooth wireless technology allows one-touch phone number dialing to a selected business or Point of Interest.
Brand Icons Display Familiar brand logos are listed on-screen for easy recognition of POI contents.
Direct Zoom Keys Allows one-touch access to specific aerial zoom level lengths or one-by-one zoom level adjustments
Multimedia Connectivity
Easy Connection for Digital Devices Front USB & AV-IN (mini)
iPod/iPhone via USB + AV-IN
USB Device via USB (Direct-In)
Camcorder via AV-IN (AV Mini Plug included)
Digital Audio Player via AV-IN (AV Mini Plug included or Audio Mini Plug)
USB Plug and Charge--Charge USB devices such as cell phones and digital audio players.

USB 2.0 for iPod, iPod Video, iPhone
Allows Direct iPod/iPhone connection using the iPod USB charging cable.
Connect Portable Hard Drives, Digital Audio Players and USB Flash Memory devices for added music selection options.*
Easily scroll through song files and layered categories.
Digital audio transfer provides the highest sound quality from iPod, iPhone, and connected USB devices.
iPod/iPhone Video display and control possible using the KS-U29 iPod Video adapter.**
USB Plug & Charge--Use the built-in USB port to charge your portable devices such as Digital Audio Players and Cell Phones.***

CDs, DVDs and More Enjoy your favorite CDs or watch some video on DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW or VCDs.
You can also enjoy your favorite WMA/MP3/WAV/AAC audio files, or take in MPEG1/2 videos or JPEG images, from disc, USB device or SD Card.
Grow Your System With three gold-plated preamp outputs you can add plenty more to the KW-NX7000's 50W x 4 MOSFET amplifier. You can also send the composite video output to a rear video screen, and use the gold-plated AV input to connect gaming systems or other devices.
Easy Operation Easy operation with 7 inches wide touch panel display and detachable faceplate security.
7" wide TFT Display is motorized with a low reflection surface that minimizes screen glare from sunlight.
Large screen area allows full name display, splitscreen information and map views, and easy multimedia functions operation.
Faceplate with monitor is fully detachable for anti-theft security and convenience

Proximity Sensor Unique Proximity Sensor Function and Touch screen allow for easy operation.
Full on-screen map is displayed while in navigation mode.
Proximity sensor will detect as your hand approaches to operate.
Unit changes to operation mode and Menu, Zoom and Function keys are immediately displayed on-screen.

Real-Time Traffic Tuner Provides Real-Time Traffic Update Conditions on-screen:
View relative traffic speed on selected highways or along the current route.
Shows high congestion areas due to accidents or construction.
Helps to calculate accurate travel time to destination.

Allows the option to reroute around congested areas automatically or continue on current route. Works directly through the vehicle's existing antenna so there is no need to purchase additional equipment Includes a 90 day free trial subscription to the RDS-TMC Traffic Service Network (Real-Time Traffic Subscription Service = $60 per year).
POI Downloads Street Director Assistant
Easy Point of Interest Update--Get the latest P.O.I. Information from the internet using your computer, save it to SD card, then add the new P.O.I. to the navigation system.

What's in the Box JVC KW-NX7000 Receiver, trim ring, sleeve, face case, remote control, GPS antenna, wiring harness, installation hardware, installation manual, instructions

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JVC KD-AVX44 El Kameleon Vehicle Multimedia Receiver w/ 3.5" Monitor Review

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(More customer reviews)I was searching around trying to find something that I could use as my central "media" center without having to install a mac mini in my Pt Cruiser.
My needs were/are: Ipod integration (including video playback), Dvd Playback, CDs, Bluetooth and of course am/fm. After a long hard search of single-din units I choose this model.
[...]
What I liked about this unit is you have a video out. You can hook up your headrest monitors and if you have a game system (Xbox, PS, Wii...what have you) you can hook it up to the video in that it has to offer as well (with full playback to your headrests). This just allows you to have direct connection to your cars speakers.
Dvd Playback. It is very good. Turn the car off, it'll start right back up where it left off.
Bluetooth. My boyfriend has a Pioneer DEH-P9800BT which I installed as well (A great unit if you don't require Dvd play back). Unlike the pioneer unit there is no mic to install anywhere and the quality still sounds pretty good on both ends. Doesn't matter what source you are using Bluetooth will alert you when someone is calling by pausing your music/video and showing the caller Id. You can accept or decline.
AM/FM. I was a bit disappointed that the unit didn't have RDS. I have been using a factory unit that had it and kind of miss that feature. Seemed like a feature they could have added.
Ipod. Heres where I am on the fence. I had been using a fm transmitter for my ipod and finally wanted direct connect because I could not take the quality anymore. I purchased an Apple Composite AV Cable (THIS WORKS JUST AS GOOD AS A JVC KSU20 CABLE) Of course, The quality was 300% better than before. However, The Interface is a bit slow. I really hope that JVC comes out with a firmware upgrade that speeds it up a bit. When I go to play "The Killers" it takes me approx. 1 minute to get to the letter "K". But for the most part I keep it on shuffle. The unit charges the Ipod as well.
Ipod Video. This is a cool feature. With either the JVC KSU20 or the Ipod Composite AV cable. You can watch any video off your ipod and direct the signal to the headrest monitors as well.
Pros: Great Bluetooth, DVD, Ipod Video integration with a sleek (no button look). Love the 4 setting tilt screen (great for stereo units closer to the ground)And Love the Proximity motion light as well.
Cons: For a single din unit JVC did a decent job, Ipod interface is really my only complaint. I had looked at the JVC KD NX5000. But didn't like the look of the unit or felt the need for crappy navagation. The menu interface feels like it should be more user friendly (getting to the ipod artists list has to be done by hitting about 5 buttons)
I have not used satellite or the back-up camera (which I plan to install soon).
[...]
Good luck and have fun with this great little unit.*UPDATE*
A few new things.
Satellite Radio - Bought the Sirius Adapter through ebay. Though it's not as fast as a stand-alone unit, It sounds great and it's nice to have it integrated into the radio.
Iphone Compatibility - I was a little disappointed to see that, unfortunately, the Iphone does not seem to be compatible with the unit. Maybe with either an update from Apple or JVC this will change in the future. For now, I use my usable Ipod touch just as a music jukebox in the car and Iphone for everything else (gym, work, etc...). It's actually not a bad setup.
HD Radio - Buying the HD Adapter fixed my RDS problem. Any stations that send out artist info is now displayed. Without excellent reception, those extra HD stations are hit or miss. It's a nice feature to have. Quality can be exceptional at times.
I will keep those interested up-to-date if I come across any new info on the unit.
Have Fun,
Mary

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JVC KD-R800 30K Color-Illumination Single-DIN CD Receiver with Dual USB 2.0 for iPod/iPhone and Bluetooth Review

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(More customer reviews)Pros:
Lots of sound input options
Reads MP3 tags
Cons:
Display only has 1 line of text for song tags
Display is a tad too small
Poor blue tooth microphone implementation
Comments:
I can't live without an MP3 stereo anymore. I first owned a cheap Chinese player back in 2002 and then I upgraded to a JVC-G820 in 2005. The G820 was awesome compared to most players at the time. I just upgraded to the KD-R800. It's basically just like the G820 except with bluetooth and a harder to read screen. 99% of the time I use the USB interface with a mini 4GB usb flash drive. This deck is great for that.
Blue Tooth audio: This deck supports 2 blue tooth functions, input as a music device and input/output as a phone device. It works fine with my iPhone 3G for both of these functions. The blue tooth music functionality is basically a wireless line-in.
Blue Tooth Phone: This is my first blue-tooth deck. The phone functionality seems to work ok but it comes with a cheap microphone that only works when connected to the rear mic-in plug. I had to find a way to run the microphone cable from inside the dashboard to the outside of the dashboard. This was tricky to install and the micro-phone is a kludge on the dashboard. I think I'm not going to use the phone functionality on the deck because of this. They should have built a microphone onto the faceplate. I was amazed at the phone options on this deck: It was able to reads lots of information from my iphone 3G like recent call history, the address book, and caller ID for incoming calls.
Colors: JVC highly touts the "30k" colors as a feature. It's neat at first but I don't really care. The system comes with 30 preset colors and a USER option with sliders to configure Red, Green and Blue for a custom color.
USB: I really like the usb feature. I use a FAT formatted 4GB flash drive with lots of sub-folders and songs. My favorite part of this deck is that it displays proper ID3 tags. I read somewhere that a USB HDD will work too but I have yet to confirm. I will update this review after I get an HDD. The iPhone/iPod should also interface on the USB port but I have yet to try that either.
Sound quality: Good enough. I don't have good speakers or a sub.
Digital Radio: Does not work out of the box, requires extra equipment.
Satellite Radio: Does not work out of the box, requires extra equipment.
Aux Line-in: Haven't tried it.
Buttons: The track forward/back and folder up/down buttons are on a single square button that pivots and works better than I expected. The volume knob is near the center of the deck and looks and feels great. It turns like a softly notched mouse wheel and also acts as a button. The phone button is used as a shortcut to the phone options menu and can also pickup and end calls.
Overall: I like this stereo but it only gets 4 out of 5 stars because the blue-tooth microphone is a kludge and the screen is on the small side. Otherwise a fantastic deck that works as advertised and will support all your digital music needs.

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The KD-R800 CD Receiver features Dual USB ports, an included USB Bluetooth adapter, front auxiliary input, detachable faceplate, and Full Dot LCD Display. The unit is also HD Radio Ready, Satellite Radio Ready, and MP3/WMA compatible. The KD-R800 also includes a 3-Band Parametric iEQ, wireless remote, MOS-FET 50W x 4, variable-color illumination and front, rear, and subwoofer preamp outputs with Subwoofer Control.

Variable-Color Illumination Variable-Color Illumination lets you get just the look you want, or match your vehicle's interior lighting, offering 30 preset color choices--or customize your own from over 30,000 variations.
CD and MP3/WMA Playback Enjoy your favorite CDs or burnt CD-R/RWs, or get more bang for your buck with MP3/WMA discs--burn hours of music to one disc and get ID3-TAG support for display of artist and song info. You can also enjoy MP3/WMA files from USB devices.
AM/FM Radio with HS-IVi Tuner Sometimes you just want to listen to the radio. The KD-R800's AM/FM radio features automatic presetting of strongest signals and 6 presets for each band.
The HS-IVi tuner features higher sensitivity, thanks to three IF bandwidths (wide, middle and narrow). It also includes AM Noise Canceller plus upgraded IF filters that help avoid the distortion caused by interference from adjacent stations.
To get even more from the airwaves, add JVC optional hardware for HD Radio or SAT Radio reception.
Dual USB Ports The JVC KD-R800 features not only an integrated front USB port connection, but also an external rear cable/port for connecting an additional USB device. This flexibility enables you to customize how you use your stereo's connections to work best with portable devices--eliminating the need to constantly switch libraries while driving. JVC's Dual USB stereos allow two of these devices to connect simultaneously: iPhone/iPod, Portable Hard Drive, USB Memory Devices, Bluetooth (using included USB-Bluetooth Adapter), Digital Audio Players.
iPod Connectivity You can also operate your iPod via the USB port. Control your iPod/iPhone from either the player itself or from the receiver's controls, while allowing song and artist information display, play, pause, skip, or back commands from either device.
USB Plug and Charge Full Battery charging of USB devices such as iPod/iPhone, Digital Audio Players, and other USB-based devices such as Digital cameras and cell phones (USB-based charging adapter required for some devices).
Built-in Bluetooth Wireless Technology The KD-R900 and KD-R800 include a USB Bluetooth adapter "Dongle" that can be plugged into either USB port to enable full Bluetooth wireless technology features such as:
Hands Free Calling
Voice Dialing
Wireless Audio Streaming
Text Message Notifi cation
Phonebook Transfer

High quality external microphone also included.
Dial in Your Sound Perfect your sound with a three-band parametric equalizer and Loudness control for low level listening.
Input and Output Three pairs of preamp outputs (front, rear, and subwoofer) are provided for adding a little extra power to the KD-R800's onboard 50W x 4 amplifier.
A 3.5mm front panel auxiliary input is also included for use with MP3 players or other external audio devices.
Bluetooth Ready Bluetooth Wireless Technology is available with an optional adapter. A maximum of five compatible mobile phones can be registered for hands-free calling. With voice-recognition mobile phones, you can dial by just saying the name in your phone book. The wireless functions work even if your mobile phone is tucked away in your bag or pocket. You can also stream music from a compatible digital audio player, for listening on your car stereo.
Wireless Remote A full-featured wireless remote is include for controlling receiver functions.
What's in the Box JVC KD-R800 Receiver, trim ring, sleeve, remote control, microphone, wiring harness, installation hardware, installation manual, instructions

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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

Average Reviews:

(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.

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JVC KD-AVX77 El Kameleon DVD/CD/USB Receiver with 5.4-Inch Monitor, Proximity Sensor, Touchscreen Controls, Built-in Bluetooth, iPod/iPhone USB 2.0 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Like everyone else, I too love the receiver for all the reasons people described. I DID NOT read the lack of support with the IPHONE 3GS before I bought and installed it. I didn't even really realize the lack of support when I used them together until I read the reviews here. I installed mine yesterday with a powered sub and factory speakers for now. The installation was a breeze and everything works well, except for one thing. Here is a description of the features I setup and the success of their function.
- Bluetooth setup: I have an iPhone 3Gs and it paired just fine the first time. I was not able to get the "phone book", as JVC calls it, loaded to the receiver. It didn't recognize the iPhone as a device with a phone book. Not that big of a deal to me as I will always use my contacts in the phone for that. It DOES however, activate the voice feature in the iPhone which I didn't expect, and works perfectly on voice dialing for hands free use. (so why would you need the phone book downloaded to the receiver if the reason you wanted it there was so you could make hands-free voice calling) It also connects via Bluetooth audio to my iPhone for wireless iPod listening and sounds perfect, as if it were plugged in. To summarize, everything actually works the way it was designed except the phone book can not be downloaded in to this receiver.
- Wired features with the iPhone 3Gs: Everything works as it was described in the list of features from the JVC spec sheet. When plugged in to the USB port of the receiver using the standard interface cable that came with your iPhone, it will charge the iPhone, control the iPod via the "head unit" mode so you can listen to music through the receiver (kind of an attached hard drive idea) as well as use the phone to place calls. All of this also works the same when you have the receiver in "iPod" mode.(you can hold the iPhone and use it as you would normally but have the sound come through the receiver)
I do not use any of the options connected to the receiver, i.e. HD radio, Sirius Radio, so I can not comment on those but I will tell you that this is a pretty kick ass receiver and you will enjoy all the rich features it has to offer. Including what I am calling, support for the iPhone 3Gs.
Believe it or not I don't work for Apple or JVC. Just a guy that wants it right.

Click Here to see more reviews about: JVC KD-AVX77 El Kameleon DVD/CD/USB Receiver with 5.4-Inch Monitor, Proximity Sensor, Touchscreen Controls, Built-in Bluetooth, iPod/iPhone USB 2.0

Both innovative and stylish, exclusive El Kameleon technology provides the ultimate anti-theft security advantage. The KD-AVX77's faceplate converts to a stealthy black appearance when the power is turned off--appearing unnoticeable to potential car stereo thieves. Once powered on, El Kameleon comes to life as a full function Multimedia player--complete with a unique electro-static touch panel operation interface and 3-D graphical menu system.

El Kameleon Control Panel The single-din receiver's 5.4" ultra wide monitor is constructed with a high-resolution 192,000 pixel TFT panel capable of over thousands of display colors. This TFT panel can display aspect ratios up to 3:32:1 for a super-wide Cinemascope viewing experience. The ultra wide monitor can also display multimedia video and AV input content at the same time in split screen mode. The KD-AVX77 also boasts a wide viewing angle free of screen glares, making the monitor clearly visible from every angle. Another new feature is full touch screen capability, which allows the entire TFT panel to dual-task as the receiver"s control panel. This receiver also features a built-in electrostatic proximity sensor, which illuminates the screen when the user approaches it with their hand. Otherwise, it's pitch black--El Kameleon.
Customizable Interface The KD-AVX77 lets you make it your own by selecting touch-key layouts and designs, colors, and wallpaper. You can also upload a favorite JPEG picture to use as the wallpaper.
Built-in Bluetooth Wireless Technology The KD-AVX77 features built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling while driving. Phone calls can be made easily and received directly through the receiver, while voice recognition technology enables immediate dialing from the driver's cell phone without the distraction of handling the phone while driving. Phonebook entries can be stored and accessed on the receiver and text message notification can also be displayed on-screen.
JVC also includes PBAP, or "Phonebook Access Profile" capability. This feature allows direct view and selection of phonebook entries without requiring any additional action or information transfer. PBAP also allows access to all phonebook entries, regardless of how many number entries are stored in the cell phone's memory.
Bluetooth connectivity also allows music enthusiasts to listen to their favorite songs and artists wirelessly from iPod/iPhone, cell phone, or other Bluetooth enabled devices through the receiver.
CD and DVD Playback Enjoy your favorite CDs or watch some video on DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW or VCDs. Use the gold-plated video output terminals to send video to a passenger screen.
AM/FM Radio The KD-AVX77 features an AM/FM radio with standards like automatic presetting. You can also add SAT or HD radio with additional accessories.
GIGA MP3 MULTI--Play MP3, WMA, and WAV Files Burned on DVD The KD-AVX77 features GIGA MP3 MULTI, which plays MP3, WMA, or WAV files burned on DVD. With MP3 and WMA files, the 4.7GB capacity of a DVD can store up to 2,500 songs on a single disc--equal to 250 pre-recorded CDs. If you want even more superior sound quality, WAV files can be burned onto a DVD. WAV is an uncompressed PC music file format that delivers CD-quality sound. A single DVD disc can store 100 WAV files--equal to 10 pre-recorded CDs. Now you can enjoy non-stop entertainment with CD-quality sound, without an additional CD changer.
USB Port Stream WAV/MP3/WMA/AAC files from USB thumb drives and other devices via the included USB port.
iPod Connectivity You can also operate your iPod via the USB port. Control your iPod/iPhone from either the player itself or from the receiver's controls, while allowing song and artist information display, play, pause, skip, or back commands from either device.
MPEG 1/MPEG 2 Playback Play MPEG 1 and MPEG 2 video files burned on DVD or CD, TV programs recorded from a PC, or personal footage from digital camcorders, without the hassles of authoring or decoding.
JPEG Pictures JPEG digital still photos can be displayed on their own or as slideshows.
Expandability With its 50W x 4 MOSFET amplifier, the KD-AVX11 packs a lot of punch. But if you need more, two sets of preamp outputs (front, rear, and sub) are included.
A/V Input Connect external devices like video game systems with the A/V input.
What's in the Box JVC KD-AVX77 DVD/CD Receiver, external wired microphone, trim ring, sleeve, remote control, wiring harness, installation hardware, installation manual, instructions

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JVC KW-XR810 Double-DIN Bluetooth Dual USB/CD Receiver with USB 2.0 for iPod/iPhone, and Bluetooth/Satellite/HD Radio add-on capability Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Installed it in 2010 Nissan Frontier Extended Cab, along with the HD Radio tuner, 6"x9" Alpine SPR-69C speakers in front and 6.5" Alpine SPS-600's in rear.
Pros:
1. Very easy, intuitive navigation, especially for all the features, including large dedicated buttons for preset radio stations -- which was important to me since I listen to the radio a LOT. Menu and Back buttons make the nested menus easy, especially when using USB mass storage (up to 20,000 songs). Can Hide infrequently used menu options (such as AUX input) using Setup. Can readily "customize it" to meet your preferences. Once you've tweaked your setup, it's very easy to use.
2. Color matched my dash lights VERY well, with separate settings for the display and the buttons, including totally different setups for night and day. Display is fairly customizeable, as well, in addition to choosing Negative and Positive backlighting.
3. Great internal equalizer provides 3 different adustments for each of at least 3 frequencies in each of the 3 broad ranges (High, Mid, Low) -- making it more like a 9 or 10 band equalizer. Can finetune it to your speakers and the car's acoustics -- your tweaking is most easily done by pressing and holding the preset that's closest to what you like, then make your manual adjustments and its automatically saved as a USER preset that's easily accessed via this dedicated EQ button. Or, you can do it the hard way using the Setup >> Audio menu.
4, Strong internal amp is certainly not "over-rated" at 20 watts -- it will produce 20 watts with little noticeable distortion. With good aftermarket speakers, you may not (I don't) need an amp or separate sub, though I'm sure it would sound even better. Multiple LOUD settings to enhance low volume, if desired, but I don't use them -- just tweaked the EQ. You could boost the volume even more by jacking up the input volume (see #5 below). Of course, you have 5 sets of RCA out jacks and built-in subwoofer control if you want to amp it up...
5. Adjustable input volume for each input source(Aux, USB, CD, etc) other than the Radio, so you can get the same output volume from each source withour jarring (and possibly harmful to your ears or speakers) volume changes when switching sources. Even the Aux input sounds good, though it doesn't quite compare to the 24-bit Digital-to-Analog (DAC) converter in the headunit.
6. Clean, great sound, though I didn't try it with just the stock speakers. With all the adjustments, you can tailor it to the type of music you typically listen to. Surprising bass with these nice Alpine speakers. The stereo in my truck now blows away the Pioneer/Bose setup in my house!
7. Attractive, without being flashy. Looks almost stock... hopefully won't attract the attention of theives!
CONS:
1. Couldn't transfer phonebook from my old Casio Boulder. Easily paired up to it, and the Bluetooth works great otherwise. I just dial out using Phonebook on my cell, and the headunit takes over. Could still manually dial using headunit, but it's more cumbersome. Sounds great -- callers say it sounds like I'm just using a headset, without echoes, road noise or other distractions.
2. Didn't recognize my Sansa Clip MP3 player - perhaps because I also have a microSD card in it. Bought a 8GB USB flash drive that works great, and use it on the rear USB, hidden in glove compartement. (The tiny USB Bluetooth adapter stays in the front USB and isn't very noticeable at all.)
3. File names and folders still limited to 25 characters, which initially required some renaming of the files. This has little impact on the display, however, since the Tags (Artist, Album, Song Title) can contain up to 128 characters. Can select to scroll long tags once, repeatedly, or turn scrolling completely off.
4. FM radio reception isn't really any better than stock, though the sound is clearer with less static on normal AM/FM. AM reception seems better than stock, and much clearer overall. HD radio sounds GREAT, though HD stations and their range are still limited. I saw HD as an investment in the future, without subscription charges, especially since the FCC just recently approved the HD stations to increase their broadcast power (i.e. range) ten-fold or something like that.
5. Glossy faceplate and buttons show fingerprints and dust, and makes it look "less stock" than it would if it had a textured finish. Otherwise, matches stock dash very well. At night, with the colors adjusted and stored via setup, it looks like it came from the factory instead of having a multi-colored light show... See the photos that I uploaded.
Overall, I'm VERY, VERY pleased with the upgrade. The improvement in sound (not counting flexibility of two USB inputs, AUX, HD radio, etc.) over the stock single-CD (non Rockford-Fosgate) system is simply incredible. With the 6x9 Alpines, you can crank it up and feel the bass thump your chest. IMO, this JVC has the most features available at this price point in a double-DIN deck, those features are easy to use, and the sound won't disappoint!

Click Here to see more reviews about: JVC KW-XR810 Double-DIN Bluetooth Dual USB/CD Receiver with USB 2.0 for iPod/iPhone, and Bluetooth/Satellite/HD Radio add-on capability

JVC's double-DIN KW-XR810 is a USB/CD receiver with plenty of connectivity--connect USB devices and iPod/iPhones using dual USB ports, or other devices using the front-panel 3.5mm auxiliary input. Bluetooth technology gives you hands-free audio or audio streaming with your cell phone, and expansion options include three preamp outputs and the easy addition of HD or satellite radio. The icing on the cake is JVC's Separated Variable Color, which lets you adjust the receiver's display color to match your vehicle or preference.

Separated Variable Color The KW-XR810 features a Full-Dot LCD with JVC's Separated Variable-Color. Personalize your stereo to match your vehicle's interior illumination colors. Separated variable color lets you use two separate colors from a choice of over 30,000 options to create your own color scheme.
Built-in Bluetooth Wireless Technology Drive more safely (or legally depending on where you live) with hands-free calling. The included wired microphone offers flexible settings for clear communication. The Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP) for iPhone lets you automatically access your phone book without transfer. You can also manually transfer up to 400 numbers from compatible cell phones. Changing from hands-free to a private conversation can be done by a push of a key. You can also easily switch Bluetooth connection between 2 phones, such as for business/private use.

CD and MP3/WMA/WAV Playback Enjoy your favorite CDs or throw in burnt CD-Rs. You can also listen back to MP3/WMA/WAV data CDs, which allows you to throw hours of music on a single disc, with ID3 tag display of artist and track info. Or better yet, just drag your files to a USB thumb drive and plug it into the receiver's front-panel USB port.
A 24-bit TI/Burr-Brown analog-to-digital converter provides a solid sound base, and you can perfect it with the three-band EQ. For quiter listening, a Loudness function (in three different patterns) is provided, to ensure you still get some low-end and dynamics.
Front-Panel USB and Auxiliary Input Connect USB thumb drives, iPods/iPhones (see below), or other USB devices using the USB port. If you have another audio device that's not USB compatible, just use the standard 3.5mm auxiliary input and you're all set. A second USB port is provided on the rear of the receiver, so you can keep a couple devices connected.
USB Audio and Video for iPod/iPhone The USB connection for iPod/iPhone provides clear digital sound directly from your iPod or iPhone. While your device is in use, it also receives a charge, so it's ready to step out of the car when you do. Since the KD-R810 features two USB ports, you can connect two different iPods, or a USB device along with an iPod.

With External Mode for iPod, you can also enjoy sound from your favorite iPod/iPhone apps in your vehicle, such as Internet radio, games, video, or navigation apps (compatibility differs by model).
AM/FM Radio The KW-XR810 features an AM/FM radio, with 6 AM and 18 FM presets, for quick access to your favorite stations.
The HS-IVi tuner features higher sensitivity, thanks to three IF bandwidths (wide, middle and narrow). It also includes AM Noise Canceller plus upgraded IF filters that help avoid the distortion caused by interference from adjacent stations.
HD/SAT Radio Ready If you'd like to add some serious entertainment options to your vehicle, add an optional HD or Satellite radio solution from JVC to take advantage of XM/SIRIUS programming or HD features like Multicasting or iTunes tagging.
50W x 4 MOSFET Amplifier The built-in 50W x 4 MOSFET amp provides plenty of power, but three 2.5V preamp output terminals (front, rear, subwoofer) are also provided for system building.
What's in the Box KW-XR810 Receiver, Bluetooth Microphone, Sleeve/Trim Ring, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Instruction/Intallation Manuals, Warranty Info

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