Clarion VRX485VD 7-Inch Single-Din Multimedia Station with Fully Motorized Touch Panel Control and iPod Ready Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one fantastic car stereo, but it has two flaws, IMHO...
First, the volume knob is quite small and doesn't protrude out very far, making it difficult to turn the volume up or down while driving, especially on bumpy roads. I think Clarion should have done two things here. One, make the volume knob pop out farther with a push and then push back into place. Second make the volume control adjustable on-screen, either by dragging and dropping the volume bar or by pushing the icons for more volume or less volume. Either or both of these changes would greatly improve the controls.
Secondly, for some reason if the stereo isn't on the Ipod input when you turn the car off, then it will not recognize that there is an Ipod attached when you turn the car on until you remove and re-attach the Ipod, which is not a huge deal, unless you keep the Ipod in your locked glove-box then it is a pain in the ......
For these two reasons I give it four stars, but other than that it is AWESOME!!! And, as always, Amazon is impeccably priced and their service is top-notch!!!
Also, one last note...I wanted to redo my interior with more brushed aluminum and this stereo looks killer in the dash. I love the brushed aluminum look!

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Dual XDVDN9131 4X50 watt AM/FM/DVD with 7-Inch Touch LCD/USB/SD/BT/NAV/iPod Multimedia Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the Dual DVDN9131 at Wal-mart on 1-23-10. Today is 3-6-10 and I just shipped it back to Dual to be fixed or replaced. The unit worked fine when I first installed it, but now when I try to use the blue tooth to make phone calls people cannot understand what I am saying. My voice is Garbled like I am talking under water or something. I contacted Dual customer support and they told me to ship it back for repair or replace. I don't know what to expect from here, I have never owned any Dual products before. This radio seems to be a nice unit, I just hope they take care of the problem in a timley manner.

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AM/FM/DVD w/7-Inch Touch LCD/USB/SD/BT/NAV/iPod, 4X50 watt. 200 Watts Peak (50x4) Motorized 7-Inch touch screen TFT LCD monitor Integrated Navigation DIN chassis (all-in-one) Import ISO/DIN mountable Fold-down detachable front panel Internal cooling fan Electronic volume, bass, treble, balance, and fader MOSFET audio output 4.1 audio outputs (RCA) 1 Audio/video input (RCA) 1 Rear camera input (RCA) 1 Composite video output 1 Audio/video input (3.5mm) 24-Bit D/A Converter Infrared remote control

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JVC KT-HDP1 Universal Car and Home HD Radio Tuner (Turns any Stock Car Radio / CD Player to High Definition Radio) Review

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(More customer reviews)The tuner works well and picks up AM and FM as well as or better than a standard receiver. It works for what I needed. The issues I have with it that would make it an ideal receiver are; 1. You need to buy accessory packages for use in an auto or indoors 2. It runs a little warm. 3. Tuning is somewhat difficult because there is no way to manually tune, it only searches and if you want to pull in a weak station you must try and stop the scan right in the station you want as it passes it. The remote does not have the ability to manually tune either. 4. The preset buttons don't always work right away when press them which means sometimes I must press a button 2 or 3 times. 5. I cannot find individual parts of accessories only kits. (For example I may want an additional auto power cord but I have to buy the entire auto kit for that one part. 6. The tuner graphics are not changeable and its monochrome display looks like old technology.
It works. I had a specific use for the tuner so it does what I need. If i wanted to convert my car radio to a digital (HD) radio, I think I would be better off buying a new full car radio with HD. I needed one for my car and for use in my house for occasional special use so it fits my bill. It works but I would spend more for a better radio if I needed to use it more.

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JVC KT-HDP1 Universal Car and Home HD Radio Tuner (Turns any Stock Car Radio / CD Player to High Definition Radio)

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Audiovox XM XMFM1 FM Direct Adapter (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are installing an XM radio in your car and thinking about utilizing the XM radio's ability to broadcast music to a specific channel on your car stereo - FORGET ABOUT IT!!! Just assume you will NOT be doing it that way, and buy one of these instead. This unit doesn't require any external power hookup, won't require you to string thin fragile wires from the front of your car to the back, is fairly small and easy to install, and sends wonderful, static-free sound to your car stereo. On your XM radio, you will still have to select a specific FM channel for reception of XM music, but you won't get any static even if you select a strong local FM channel. And, if you turn your XM radio off, you will be able listen to the FM channel normally. The FM channel is only blocked out when the XM radio is turned on. Check to see if your car stereo has a non-standard antenna input that will require inexpensive adapters. My car, which has a Blaupunkt radio, required "Volkswagen style" adapters. All these do is change the shape of the plugs that connect to the car radio and antenna. Note that I say "adapters" (plural) because, if you DO have a non-standard antenna input, you will need 2 adapters: 1 to mate the Audivox plug to your non-standard car stereo antenna input, and another to mate the antenna wire that used to plug into your car stereo but now needs to plug into the Audiovox adapter. The Audiovox unit goes between your car stereo and the end of your existing antenna wire. So, you will need a standard-to-nonstandard adapter + a nonstandard-to-standard adapter.

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The Audiovox XMFM-1 FM Direct Adapter for Xpress XM7 Satellite Radio Receiver is designed expressly to turn the internal FM transmitter in Audiovox's XM7 receiver into a wired FM modulator. This unit plugs directly into the vehicle radio antenna jack in your car stereo, and connects to the XMC-10 cradle via the docking station's audio line-out jack. This is especially useful for when you are taking advantage of your XM7 XM satellite radio receiver's FM transmitter because your vehicle's car stereo does not have an audio line-in jack accessible, and you are driving through areas with strong FM radio signals that are interfering with your car's reception of the XM7's FM transmission. In order for this unit to operate, your XM7 receiver must be set to FM On in the Xpress XM user's menu.

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JVC KD-HDR20 Single-DIN CD/HD Radio/MP3/WMA-Compatible Receiver with Remote Control and J-Bus Expandability Review

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(More customer reviews)I hadn't been a real fan of JVC car steros in the past, but the price point and option of being able to try out HD Radio led me to this purchase.
I've had the unit for over a month now, and I love it! Great sound. I was planing on upgrading my speakers, but this thing seems to have pumped new life into the ones I already have. Didn't realize how weak my old stero was.
The HD Radio sounds great. There are only about 4 HD stations in my area right now, but those all sound a ton better then the stations that are not broadcast in HD. It even makes some AM stations tolerable.
CD player is very nice and the unit also has an aux port to hook up your choice of MP3 player. It was nice to get rid of the sometimes staticy FM Transmitter that I was using before.
If you're looking for a respectibly priced radio with all the bells and whistles, look no futher. Highly recomended!

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The KD-HDR20 is an easy-to-use HD Radio receiver with a bundle of modern features. The built-in HD Radio tuner offers a multitude of programs in premium digital sound. The unit also has DiAS digital processing tuner for high quality FM radio. The front AUX-IN lets you easily play songs from digital audio players. No matter your source, enjoy superior sound with a MOS-FET power amp and 24-bit DAC, and dial in the sound with 7-band parametric iEQ. You can also add Bluetooth Wireless Technology and iPod control with optional adapters for the whole entertainment package.

Discover how good radio can sound
HD Radio is a Digital technology that allows a radio station to transmit more information in the same radio wave, enabling higher quality sound and additional content. HD Radio technology makes AM Stations have FM Station-like sound quality, while FM Stations are broadcast with CD-like sound quality.
Unlike typical FM or AM transmission, HD Radio has crystal clear reception with low noise and no audio distortion.

More content, more listening options with Multicasting
Multicasting allows more channels to be accessed from your radio dial. HD Radio multicast channels can be listened to only by an HD Radio enabled stereo such as the KD-HDR50. These "Stations In Between the Stations" contain additional format options, music genre and talk radio options, and even experimental formats that have, until now, never been heard through other radio broadcast mediums.
HD Radio broadcasting is completely free of charge--there are no monthly plans or subscription costs for this unique and exciting content.
National coverage areas--HD Radio content is currently available in close to 200 major markets currently and rapidly expanding. For more information or to find HD Radio stations near you, log on to mobile.jvc.com or www.hdradio.com.

Conventional Radio Of course, sometimes you'll want to tune into non-HD content, so you can also dial in standard AM/FM stations. Tune into your favorite stations instantly with 18 FM and 6 AM presets (all of which can be used for HD stations if you choose).
CDs and More The KD-HDR20 also features a CD player, which will play your favorite CDs and CD-R/RWs.
What's more, you can burn an MP3 or WMA disc and enjoy hours of audio complete with ID3 tagging for displaying track information.
Input and Output Two pairs of preamp outputs are provided for system expansion if you want to add a little more power to the KD-HDR20's onboard 50W x 4 amplifier.
A 3.5mm front panel auxiliary input is also included for use with iPods, MP3 players, or other external audio devices.
Room to Grow The KD-HDR20's got the basics for a great system, but with a few additions you can expand your options. Add JVC modules for Bluetooth, iPod direct control, CD changers or SAT Radio to take your system to the next level.
Wireless Remote A full-featured wireless remote is include for controlling receiver functions.
What's in the Box JVC KD-HDR20 Receiver, trim ring, sleeve, remote control, wiring harness, installation hardware, installation manual, instructions

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JVC KT-HDP1 Transportable HD Radio Tuner (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Unit connectors have intermittent connection. Unit gets very hot and then the display becomes impossible to read in daylight. Remote has very poor range and doesn't respond off axis. The HD Jump I have is bigger than the JVC, but the quality is so much better, both in quality and performance.
This unit gets so hot, that I can't believe the electronics and display will last very long.
I am returning the unit.

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The world's smallest HD radio tuner! The KT-HDP1 adapts to most vehicles and features a thin and slim design with Built-In HD (With Multi-Cast), FM, and AM Tuners. Using the optional accessory kits, the KT-HDP1 allows you to listen to your favorite High Definition Radio programming while driving, or, you can take it into the home or office too. Accessory options include: KV-K1017 Professional Car Installation Kit, KV-K1018 Do-It-Yourself Car Installation Kit, and KV-K1019 Home Kit

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Clarion THD309 HD Radio Tuner Review

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(More customer reviews)Great upgrade to your radio but I live in the sticks so it doesn't allow me to use all the features.

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Add HD Radio to your Clarion VZ309 receiver. This add-on HD Radio Tuner receives both analog and digital signals, and does not require an additional antenna or subscription fees. Enjoy the unmatched fidelity of HD programming, along with real-time info from stations, to expand your entertainment horizons.

HD Radio technology HD Radio technology allows CD-quality digital broadcasting of your local AM and FM radio stations. HD Radio broadcasts can include multiple channels on the same frequency, which is called multicasting. With multicasting, you can receive up to eight additional multicast channels. With the installation of the THD309 Radio Module, you will receive HD Radio digital broadcasts automatically when tuned to a station that offers HD Radio technology.
Not all FM or AM stations offer HD Radio (digital) broadcasting. However, you can receive both analog and digital stations with the unit.
Real-Time Data The VZ309 can display information provided by various HD stations, along with the default display of stereo indicator, frequency, band, and clock.
Radio stations are offering a variety of useful messages that scroll across radio display screens, including:
Artist name and song title
Live weather and real-time traffic updates
Local news, sports scores and school closings
Emergency information and much more coming soon!

The amount of information displayed when receiving HD Radio signal is dependent upon what is being broadcast.
HD Radio Program Type Scan Equipped with the THD309, The VZ309 displays "Program Type" categories for HD programming. This allows you to find similar programming by genre. Just rotate the knob to change the category, press the rotary button to select program category, and the radio will start scanning for stations broadcasting in the selected category.
Store preset stations Up to six stations on each band (3 FM and 2 AM bands for a total of 30 analog or HD presets) can be stored as presets, which can then be instantly recalled by pressing the associated preset button.
What's in the Box THD309 Radio Module, Connection Cable, Mounting Hardware, Warranty Information

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Clarion VZ400 7" In-Dash Single-Din Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver with Bluetooth Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased and had this product installed in my truck, and am completely satisfied with it. I only wish it had more input/output controls for use with my system. Other than that the condition is perfect and the usability is perfect.

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Clarion's VZ400 gives you a premium multimedia receiver with intuitive touch panel control and clean, cutting-edge faceplate design. The VZ400 is a single DIN unit with a motorized, seven-inch touch panel. It offers built-in Bluetooth for hands-free operation and audio streaming, wide format support, USB audio for iPhone and iPod, front and rear A/V inputs, and plenty more. Plus with six channels of preamp output, rear vision camera input, support for HD/SAT radio, and more, there's room to grow. A significant and stylish upgrade to simple factory radios.

Built-in Bluetooth Hands-free Calling With Bluetooth built-in, you can wirelessly connect your Bluetooth capable mobile phone to listen to calls through your car's audio system. HFP/OPP/A2DP/AVRCP protocols are supported.
Superior iPod and iPhone Connectivity USB connection enables complete control of your iPod including video playback. Also "Works with iPhone" certified to bring its communication and entertainment capabilities into your car.
HD Radio Ready with iTunes Tagging Connecting the THD400 lets you enjoy listening to digitally broadcast radio programs with all their superior quality and helpful information. This includes iTunes Tagging capability, so if you hear a song on the radio that you like, you can tag it to download later from the iTunes Store. Save time finding and accumulating the tunes you want.
Sirius Direct Connect Ready Connect to any Sirius Direct Connect Satellite Radio receiver without any need for an interface box and enjoy over 130 channels of music, news, talk shows, sports and traffic information with digital quality sound throughout the United States and Canada.
Two AV AUX Inputs / CCD Input VZ400 is equipped with two RCA jacks for AV AUX input. In addition to being able to hook-up an external video source for viewing in your car, the inputs also accept video signals from Clarion's rear vision CCD camera which lets you see the area behind your car for safer driving and parking.
Touch Panel Controlled GUI The GUI (Graphical User Interface) shows large icons that are highly visible and easily recognizable at a glance. And thanks to the touch panel screen, accessing each function is as intuitive as touching its icon. This very straightforward system lets the driver keep his attention on the road, and enables front seat passengers to use any desired function without the need to "learn" anything. What's more, since the vast majority of functions are controllable from the touch panel, there are only 4 physical buttons on the unit for the most basic and commonly-used functions.
Navigation Touch Panel Operation The NP400 hide-away navigation system can be connected to the VZ400 directly and controlled through its touch panel. So with this multimedia station, you can upgrade to a car navigation system at any time. Count on voice guidance messages and high-resolution map displays to get you safely to your destination.
6ch/2V RCA Output with Subwoofer Control With 3 sets of RCA outputs, you are free to add external power amplifiers to create a more powerful, sophisticated audio system. Also, independent volume control is enabled for the subwoofer so you can adjust the level of bass output to your liking at any time, regardless of the output level of the other channels.
Low-Pass Filter for Subwoofer Switching on the Low-Pass Filter (LPF) will send only the low frequency range through specified outputs to ensure superb performance with a connected subwoofer. A must if you have or plan to add a subwoofer to your system.
What's in the Box VZ400 Receiver, Remote Control, Installation Hardware, User's Manual

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Delphi SA50004 XM SKYFi Home Adapter Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)Very easy install.. but a little warning. You may need to purchase a shielded cable. ( ie: Monster or Acoustic Research). Hooked up two of these one downstairs, one upstairs.Downstairs on a inexpensive audio system (Aiwa bookshelf system CD.Cassette,Am/Fm). That one worked fine. Upstairs on a larger Denon A/V Receiver not so good, major humming noise.Turns out the unshielded cable supplied with home kit picks up major electrical interference from receiver (I'm sure there's a proper word for that). Discovered I wasn't the only one with that problem.Installed a shielded cable for about $13.00 noise gone. This probably applies to the home kit for the SKYFI2 if it uses the same cable.

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The perfect way to integrate your Delphi SA50000 XM SKYFi radio receiver with your other entertainment components, the SA50004 home adapter kit features a compact stand for the receiver, a high-gain indoor/outdoor antenna, and an AC power adapter. Now you can connect your SKYFi receiver to any home stereo equipped with RCA-type audio input connectors--including a cassette deck, a minidisc recorder, or a home CD recorder--as well as with any set of powered computer speakers (especially convenient if your PC speakers have a headphone output). The kit is purportedly compatible with aftermarket attachment accessories from leading manufacturers.What's in the Box Home stand with minijack stereo output, an XM Radio antenna, an AC power adapter, a stereo minijack-to-stereo RCA audio adapter cable, and a user's manual.

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Clarion VZ300 3.5" In-Dash DVD/CD/MP3/USB Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The two main features I use in the car work great: the radio and the AUX in line (for streaming Pandora from my phone). I haven't had a chance to try out the USB input yet, but I did try the DVD functionality and it works great too, although it does require the use of the remote for navigation. Here are my thoughts so far:
PROS
* Great sound
* Easy changing of audio settings
* Nice large display for displaying radio settings while playing the radio
* DIM function cycles through three settings great for day, night, and off
* Installation instructions were easy enough for me to follow
* Detailed instruction on how to connect hand brake wire (although the kit doesn't appear to include the right sensor)
* Lots of audio options: AUX in and DVD worked without any problems
* UPDATE: USB music plays fast with little delay
* UPDATE: USB music picks up right where it left off when you turn power on
CONS
* Lots of wires which make for a difficult installation into a standard stereo space
* DVD control requires use of the remote
* Display does nothing when in AUX mode (a screensaver or something would have been nice, not sure if that's legal though)
* UPDATE: Turning on power button in the dark is a guess game
* UPDATE: Navigation of USB music using remote is not intuitive (i.e. I have to read the manual)
* UPDATE: Received a USB Bad after leaving stereo off overnight
The installation for me went pretty smoothly. As mentioned above, the plethera of wires made sliding the stereo into place a pain. In order to get it to work, I had to pull out the DIN below the stereo and guide the wires down into the space below. Overall, I thought the installation instructions were good. They had the three most important items which are a step to remind you to disconnect the negative from the car battery, a diagram of the overall way the stereo is installed into a dash, and a wiring diagram. With those three I was able to do a standard installation (i.e. four speakers and the radio antenna) without any issues. By the way, this stereo was the first stereo I've ever installed.
By the way, another reviewer mentioned the audio would stop when they went into the settings. That may be true for USB audio or CD/DVD playback, but for radio and AUX in, the audio kept playing no matter what I did unless I hit the power button to mute.
UPDATE: USB functionality works great. You plug in a drive and it starts at the first song it finds. When you turn the power off and back on, it picks right up at the last part of the song you were listening to when powering off the stereo. I did receive a USB Bad error when turning the car on this morning, unplugging and replugging the USB in fixed the issue and it picked up at the last song it was playing. I haven't figured out all the details on navigating through the songs just yet, but with the remote it looks like you can search via artist, album, song title, etc. As the driver though, I'm expecting I won't be able to do much better than using the forward and reverse buttons (and the preview seek button) to navigate the music. Because of that, I grabbed some old 512 MB and 1 GB drives which I'm putting together different "mixes" that I can update at will and plug in as my mood changes.

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An affordable way to add multimedia to your vehicle, Clarion's VZ300 is anything but basic. It features a vibrant 3.5-inch LCD monitor, front panel USB input and iPod video playback (optional CCUIPOD3), an auxiliary input, and plenty more. The VZ300 is also HD Radio and Satellite Radio Ready if you choose to expand, and offers rear video zone entertainment. 40 Watts through four channels is a good start, but the VZ300 also features three sets of RCA preamp outputs, so you can build up anytime.

Enjoy a Wide Variety of Media The built-in optical disc drive is compatible with DVD-Video, DVD+R/RW, DVD-RW/RW, CD-DA, HDCD, CD-R and CD-RW, so you're assured access to a wide variety of visual and musical entertainment.
3.5-inch LCD Screen The 3.5-inch LCD displays operational status of your iPod, CD and DVD playback, radio functions and more. It offers maximum usability within minimum dimensions.
iPod Playback Just connect your iPod using the optional CCUIPOD3 cable to control your iPod from the source unit.
Front USB Input Front USB input is included. This is really convenient and just attach your USB Memory stick and USB Memory and enjoy your favorite music library.
Front Auxiliary Input Enjoy music from external devices such as MP3 players with this handy front-panel input.
HD Radio Ready Connecting the THD300 lets you enjoy listening to digitally broadcast radio programs with all their superior quality and helpful information.
Rear Vision Camera RCA Input VZ300 is equipped with an RCA type video input that accepts video signals from Clarion's rear vision CCD camera. This enhances safety by automatically displaying a live picture of what's behind you on VZ300's LCD screen whenever you shift into reverse, enabling you to avoid hitting objects even if they're not clearly visible in the rear-view mirror.
24-bit D/A Converter for Superb Sound Reproduction Fully enjoy the sonic impact of DVD movie soundtracks or music videos. 24-bit technology actually oversamples the digital signal, providing excellent results that just weren't possible with older 16-bit systems.
Built-in Low-Pass Filter For optimal subwoofer performance, Clarion equips its VZ300 with a built-in Low-Pass Filter. Offering users selectable frequencies at 50Hz, 80z, and 120Hz, Clarion's Low-Pass Filter stops mid- and high-range frequencies from entering the subwoofer output. This allows users to really dial in the bass so it hits harder and tighter.
XM Radio Compatible In addition to the many sources that can be connected to the VZ300, you can be connected with XM Radio. The VZ300 can be connected to the XM Direct 2 tuner for hours of entertainment.
6ch/2V RCA Output with Subwoofer Control With 3 sets of RCA outputs, you are free to add external power amplifiers to create a more powerful, sophisticated audio system. Also, independent volume control is enabled for the subwoofer so you can adjust the level of bass output to your liking at any time, regardless of the output level of the other channels.
What's in the Box VZ300 Receiver, Remote Control, Installation Hardware, User's Manual

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

Average Reviews:

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

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

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PIONEER GEX-P20HD - HD TUNER FOR HD READY PIONEER HEADUNITS Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The sound quality of the HD signal is dazzling and it's awesome to be able to pull in all the extra stations. I live in the L.A. area and get plenty of programming here. I'm pleased with how well it pulls in the signal in areas where I used to get poor signal quality from my factory tuner. It cuts out pretty bad when the signal is too weak though.
The only real disappointment is the integration with the Pioneer head unit. It's as if the two product teams never talked to each other. The head unit behaves strangely if I leave it on HD Tuner when I turn off the power. So I switch to AUX 1, CD, or USB before I turn off the ignition and then everything is OK. Otherwise the stereo doesn't turn on at all (have to turn it on) or it turns on but the display is all messed up.
The install was very simple. No complaints there.
One big improvement would be a pass-through setting. It wouldn't take much engineering to change it so that you could pass the antenna signal straight through to the head unit in areas where you don't have any HD signal or where the signal is weak. Then you wouldn't have to listen to the tuner fighting itself over deciding which band to use.
But when it's working, it sounds AMAZING. The FM quality is top notch and the AM quality is dazzling.
UPDATE 8/5/10
One more gripe (or "suggestion"?) is that the HD tuner isn't actively tuning unless it is the current Source from the head unit. So if you switch from CD to HD Radio, it takes a few seconds for it to search and tune in the signal. Why?!?!?! As long as there's power from the head unit, it should keep working away and pulling in the best possible signal so it's ready to go whenever you switch to that Source.
I've also noticed a bug where the signal cuts out and that locks up the tuner. The only way to wake it back up is to power off the head unit and turn it back on ("reboot" the stereo).
Again, very poor integration.

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Designed to receive high-quality HD Radio broadcasts for compatible Pioneer car stereos, this HD Radio tuner is a hideaway module that connects through the Pioneer headunit's IP-BUS interface.

What is HD Radio? HD Radio is the only system for digital AM and FM broadcasting in the U.S. Currently more than 1,000 radio stations are broadcasting primary signals in digital HD Radio technology, as a free service. That's right, no subscription charges.
Expanded Selection Enjoy an expanded selection of both stations and content, with new music, new artists, new genres, and new music from abroad. New programs, new formats--the operative word is "new."
No Monthly Subscription Fees Since HD Radio is a free broadcast, all you have to do is get an HD Radio receiver and you're all set.
Less Static, More Sound Enjoy crystal-clear reception with no audio distortion. Listen to your favorite FM stations with CD-quality sound, and AM stations with FM-quality sound.
iTunes HD Radio Tagging Capable With compatible receivers such as the DEH-P710BT or DEH-P7100BT, you can tag a song you hear for later purchase in the iTunes store.
What's in the Box Pioneer GEX-P20HD HD Radio Tuner, Power Cable, Connection Cable, Owner's Manual

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JVC Car KDG340 50W X 4 AM/FM/CD/MP3 Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a great sounding CD/MP3 player, and much better than my factory system. It fit right into my 95 Legacy, without any dash kit. I bought the system because it had CD/MP3 playback and a front auxiliary jack, and the price was under $100.
The manual is pretty good, with some broken English. The volume knob is not tall, making it hard for your fingers to grab. The "equalizer" has several adjustments for bass, midrange, and treble, each having a adjustable frequency, level, and Q or slope. This allows the user to get very tweaked sound that I heard on no car audio with just the level adjustments. Unfortunately, adjusting the sound is not intuitive, (actually, not many of the functions on this stereo are intuitive), and you have to wave your hands around the the panel from one end to get into the equalizer mode, and to the other to make the adjustments. Once your in the adjustment mode (the small circular 4-way button), you have to be careful not to hit left/right button at the wrong time, because the track will change!
On the radio end, the user can customize the station names. If your searching for a new station the left/right buttons on the 4-way button is used. I have not been able yet to figure out how too switch between manual search and auto search, although it seems to switch from time to time. I prefer to have a knob to manually search through stations, which I think is typically quicker when going through a long range.
Although this is my first CD receiver w/MP3 playback and optional satellite/HD radio, bluetooth, functionality, I find it to be the worst of all CD receivers I had in terms of controls. On most systems, I can figure out settings/functions pretty easily from the button location and names, but this system just seems to have buttons in a spot where it fits and makes the face look nice and curvy. If your interested in this, or any other reciever, I would suggest going to an electronics store first to get your hands on the display models and testing. However, if you listen to similar sounding music most of the time, once the sound is optimized it will sound great.

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JVC built the KD-G340 CD receiver to deliver strong audio performance, and to provide playback and expansion options that'll make the most out of your car audio experience. Its built-in amplifier ensures powerful sound, and a premium 24-bit digital-to-analog converter ensures CD playback that's faithful and true to the original recordings. The KD-G340 will play your MP3 and WMA-loaded recordable discs, and you can enjoy full iPod control with JVC's optional iPod interface. You'll find six preset sound curves combined with treble, midrange, and bass controls for adjusting the sound to match your vehicle. Add a satellite radio tuner to enjoy 120-plus channels of music, news, sports, and entertainment to the party. JVC also offers an optional HD Radio tuner if you'd like to tune in to the latest in terrestial radio technology. For an extra measure of convenience and safety, connect JVC's Bluetooth adapter and take your calls hands-free through this versatile receiver. Two sets of preamp outputs offer convenient connections for your external amplifiers and subs. You even get a subwoofer level control for adjusting your bass settings on the fly, without leaving the driver's seat. JVC rounds out the package with an easy-to-use wireless remote control.

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Pioneer DEH-P3000IB In-Dash CD/Mp3/Wma/iTunes AAC/Wav Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)Pioneer always has really great, high-end products. I was only slightly disappointed with this one. Whoever they have in their usability/user interface department, they need to fire them. The controls on this deck are absolutely counter-intuitive. I consider myself pretty much a gadget geek and computer nerd, so I'm usually able to figure out how to use things without reading the manual. However, I had to read the manual to figure out how to use it, which generally means it hasn't been designed very well. It's very difficult to navigate through the menus of the deck.
I would say whoever wrote their user manual should also be fired, since it's extremely confusing and hard to read. I still don't know how to change the clock on it.
Overall, it's a great upgrade. I miss my stock Honda one, but some of the buttons didn't work. Once you get the Pioneer deck installed, I suggest just using the included remote, as it's much easier.

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The Pioneer DEH-P3000IB is a perfect receiver if you want all the basics. With a built-in MOSFET 50W x 4 amplifier, you'll get plenty of power along with the CD player, playback of MP3/AAC/WMA/WAV files from data CDs, an AM/FM radio, remote control, and auxiliary input for external devices. And when you're ready to expand, Pioneer has you covered with support for adding Bluetooth, iPod Direct Connection, Satellite Radio, CD changers, and more--not to mention two RCA preamp outs for growing your system. Start out right, and expand when you need it.

Detachable Faceplate The DEH-P3000IB features a detachable faceplate with a white on black one-line, 16-character LED display.
CD/MP3/WMA/AAC Playback In addition to CDs, enjoy playback of MP3, WMA, AAC, and WAV audio files burned to CD, with ID3 tag support--title, artist, and album info will be scrolled across the display.
AM/FM Radio Always have your favorite stations at hand with six user presets per band.
Best Stations Memory Setting your radio presets can be a real pain while you're driving--especially if you're in an unfamiliar area. So, let the tuner do the work for you by activating the Best Stations Memory (BSM) function. The tuner will seek out the six strongest stations in the area and set them into the tuner presets.
7-Way Rotary Commander The 7-Way Rotary Commander is like a musical joystick: with one central dial, you can actually control 90% of the unit's functions and features. Scrolling through your MP3/WMA/AAC files and folders is now very easy. In addition, when controlling an iPod, the operation is easy to learn--it is similar in all respects to the actual iPod.
AUX-In Connection Use the built-in AUX input for connecting any portable digital player or other external auxiliary devices. For extra-convenient access, the DEH-P3000IB has this input on the front panel.
Full-Featured High Performance The DEH-P3000IB is intelligently designed to expand your system, customize your experience, and provide superior sound quality and easy operation.
Two RCA 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.

Wireless Remote A wireless remote is included for use while watching the road.
iPod Direct Connection (CD-I200 required) Connect an iPod to the DEH-P3000IB using the optional CD-I200 direct control cable, and you can control menus, shuffle function, songs, podcasts, and audiobook chapters in the iPod through the headunit interface as quickly and easily as you would on the iPod itself. Don't worry about your iPod battery running low on power--this direct connection also recharges the unit during playback. 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, you can hold "List" button down and it will 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 headunit for playback.
Random (Shuffle) Key--Physical Random Button on faceplate (Shuffle) makes it easy to hear something fresh.

Ready to Expand The DEH-P3000IB gives you all the basics, but there's plenty of room to grow. In addition to the iPod Direct feature, it's compatible with Pioneer's Bluetooth adapter, USB adapter, XM and Sirius satellite radio tuners, CD changer, and more. Start out small and add more features as you need them.
What's in the Box Pioneer DEH-P3000IB, remote control, sleeve, trim ring, wiring harness, installation hardware, operation manual, installation guide, warranty sheet

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Jensen 1.5 DIN In-Dash CD Player (CD615X) Review

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(More customer reviews)had it for a few years now and It does everything it is ment to.

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JENSEN CD615X CD Receiver

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