Pioneer Premier FH-P800BT - Radio / CD / MP3 player / USB flash player - Double-DIN - in-dash - 50 Watts x 4 Review

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(More customer reviews)This head unit is a great option for someone who wants an in-dash iPod (particularly iPhone) solution, but doesn't want to buy a more expensive navigation unit. The simple looks won me over initially, and if you've ever shopped for head units, you know that most on the market look absolutely ridiculous, and are apparently intended to be as obnoxious and blinky as possible. Although one major knock on the appearance of the FH-800BT is that the blue illumination is extremely bright, even after you enable dimming. Bright blue LED's are the bane of modern electronics. Its saving grace, however, is that you can actually shut off the display completely while it is operating, which is brilliant for long-distance late-night drives.
If you have ever used a Pioneer head unit, you will be immediately familiar with most of the settings. EQ, subwoofer, cross-fade, etc. are all there. Some Pioneer units have an adjustable parametric EQ, however this unit has a more straight-forward 7-band EQ. Otherwise, it's typical Pioneer, down to the trademark beep.
The sound quality is excellent all-around. Radio, CD, iPod, and Bluetooth A2DP all sound fantastic. There was a touch of hiss on Bluetooth audio at high volumes, but I think this is unavoidable. The "Audio Retriever" function supposedly mathematically restores audio lost from MP3 compression. It definitely makes a noticeable difference in the high frequencies without much detectable distortion added, but I think it's more a matter of personal preference.
iPhone connectivity is superb. I was able to pair the unit to my iPhone 3GS without a hitch, download the phone book, and make and receive calls without any problems at all. The included microphone is a little on the large side if you are trying to hide your install discreetly. However it works very well, and I had no trouble being heard on the other end at highway speeds, even though my car is not particularly quiet. Goodbye bluetooth headset! One minor note is my iPhone occasionally declares that the cable is not intended to be used with an iPhone and asks to be put into airplane mode. I disregard this message, and all features appear to work flawlessly.
A few things are completely unforgivable on this unit:
For example, "Telephone" REALLY does not need to be accessible via cycling through the "Source" button when there is a dedicated Telephone button right next to it.
The feel of the center knob is a bit flimsy, and center-clicking generally requires two-fingers to avoid pushing the knob left/right/up/down unless you push it dead center.
I wish they just added a few more dedicated buttons instead of burying features in the center-knob. There is a lot of empty space on the face of the unit, which would be great to have things like radio preset buttons (or phone quick-dial buttons). And since there are no dedicated radio preset buttons, why do they bother having 3 sets of FM presets? Couldn't they just put 18 presets in one place instead of forcing me to cycle through? And why does Audio Retriever need a dedicated button? That's a set-and-forget feature.
The iPod control, while generally very good, has a few nags. The unit allows you to alternate between "Song Shuffle", "Album Shuffle", and "Off" (buried in the center-knob functions), however when you tap the dedicated Shuffle button it seems to always jump back to "Song Shuffle". Hitting the button again does not turn shuffle off (as expected), but instead just re-shuffles your entire iPod and starts playing again. This is really a shame because I prefer to listen to my iPod on Album Shuffle mode, but the unit insists on jumping back to Song Shuffle. So instead, I leave Shuffle off. It's easy enough to browse for the albums I want anyways.
All in all, this is a very good head unit that is marred by a few flaws. If you can put up with the usability issues, then I highly recommend it. Otherwise, if you don't mind spending the money, I would look into a more fully-featured unit with navigation.

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In-dash AM/FM, CD, MP3, WMA player with Remote Built-in Bluetooth technology supports hands-free calling with a compatible Bluetooth phone iPod interface cable included for iPod controls, charging and playback For the best fit, Pioneer ADT-VA133 required and sold separately Bluet dot-matrix display Wireless remote control included Blue button lighting Power Output: Peak: 50 watts x 4 channels RMS: 22 watts x 4 channels CD Text Display MP3 ID3 Tag Display (Title/Artist/Album)

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Pioneer VSX-519V-K 5-Channel A/V Receiver (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Pioneer VSX-519V is an entry level 5.1 receiver made by Pioneer. Yet, don't let the fact that it is the cheapest 5.1 receiver they carry turn you away. This product has plenty bang for its buck. The receiver has an excellent build and a sleek look to it, but that is not all. The receiver has a plethura of connections ranging from hdmi, optical, digital coaxial, component, analog video, and of course and antenna hookup. The only hookup missing is s-video. The receiver handles video signals well. I cannot discern any degredation of video quality when compared to a direct video hookup to the television. Now moving onto the real reason someone would buy this, surround sound. This receiever can power my Bose Acoustimass Series I speaker system very well. It gets very loud and there are no signs of the speakers being underpowered. For volume control there is a knob on the right front side you can turn. The sound level ranges from 1 to 80. Which does strike me as a bit odd why only to eighty, why not a hundred instead? You can also adjust the volume with the included remote. The remote is very substantial and lets you control any and every setting the receiver has. The remote takes 2 AAA batteries to work; a pair is of course included. Functions, there are many effects and settings you can change on the receiver but most are uneeded and will most likely be overlooked. An example of these includes the settings for different types of music such as rock and classical. You are better off just leaving these options alone. However is you are interested the manual is very thorough and describes this receivers features in much greater detail. All you need to know is this receiver supports Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS, and Dolby Prologic II for your stereo encoded sources. When you play a DVD that supports say DTS the receiver will automatically detect this and switch to that setting. So for movies, television shows, videogames, and music this projector has it covered. However there are a few downsides. The receiver does not support HDMI passthrough for audio sources. This means you can't hook all your audio souces up and then run them through one HDMI and have it transfer all your audio signals through that one hdmi cable. Only more expensive receivers support this feature. It also has no upscaling feature, which is no surprise for a sub [...]receiver. And finally the reason I give it 4/5 stars instead of 5/5. The receiver is advertised as having 5x110 watts for a total of 550 watts and 110 watts per channel at an excellent .05% distortion level. This is not entirely true. While it may be true in some respects it is a bit deceiving. In the manual it states "continuous average power output of 80 watts* per channel, min., at 8 ohms, from 20Hz to 20 000hz with no more than 0.2%** total harmonic distortion. So it makes you wonder if you one can really trust wattage and distortion levels. It may be able to push a 110 watts a channel, but at continuous average power at 20hz-20,000hz with .05% distortion, it seems not. Anyway if you are looking for an entry-level home theatre receiver for your 5.1 system and are on a budget look no further.

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Designed specifically as a high definition A/V control center, the VSX-519V-K features HDMI connectivity for sources such as Blu-ray disc players and HD gaming. And with an output of 550 watts (110 watts per channel at 0.05% THD), the VSX-519V-K provides more than enough power for a high impact experience.With portable audio devices now becoming a primary source of music, convenient connections like a front mini input allow you to expand the capabilities of your iPod or other portable music player. And with innovations like Advanced Sound Retriever improving the quality of compressed audio files and auto level control providing consistent sound output from all two-channel sources - the VSX-519V-K will ensure your compressed music files are played at maximum fidelity.

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Pioneer BDC-2202B 5x Blu-ray/DVD/CD Combo Drive (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Pioneer BDC-2202 this is currently the cheapest Blu-ray drive, but it does not burn Blu-ray discs. It burns DVDs and CDs only, and reads Blu-ray discs, DVDs, and CDs. For some people that may be enough, since Blu-ray burning is still impractically slow and expensive.
The drive requires serial ATA (SATA) interface, but does not come with a SATA cable, which you need to connect the drive to your motherboard.
Pioneer's web site has a list of compatible motherboards for this drive, which you may want to see before buying the drive. Mine is on the list, but I still had to update its SATA drivers before I can burn successfully.
Bundled software includes WinDVD 8 LE (which plays Blu-ray movie discs), Ulead VideoStudio 11 SE, and Ulead Burn.Now SE.
I tested with seven Blu-ray movie discs -- "Flightplan," "Memento," "Apocalypto," "Descent," "Basic Instincts," "The Untouchables," and "Dog Day Afternoon" -- and this drive played them all successfully on PowerDVD Ultra.
To play Blu-ray movies (and HD DVDs, for that matter), your PC needs to be fast enough and equipped with HDCP-compliant graphic card and monitor.
I can burn CDs and single layer DVDs with no problem. But I cannot burn dual layer DVD+R ("Matrix" brand bought from shop4tech), not even with Nero Buring Rom. I'll have to try other brands of media.
EDIT 8/11/09:
Last year I found 2 brands of dual-layer discs that I could burn with this drive:
Verbatim 95310 8.5 GB 2.4X Dual-Layer DVD+R, bought at Amazon, and
Matrix DVD+R Media 8.5G 8X Dual Layer Bulk (Item SKU: MATDL+R8X/B), bought at [...].

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Pioneer 5x Blu-ray player / 12x12 DVD RW +/- / CD / CD-RW drive in a retail box with a black bezel. No software included.

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New Pioneer DV 420K - All Region Free Multi System / Multi Region 1080p DVD Player with HDMI Upconverting & USB Review

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(More customer reviews)When we moved to the USA, we had a shock. In the UK, multi-region DVD players are common, with cheap models retailing for the equivalent of $50 or less in every supermarket. Add to that the fact that 90% of TVs will play NTSC signals, as used in the USA and Asia, and playing discs from other countries is as easy as can be. Over here, most TVs will only display NTSC, and not the PAL signals used in Europe. Also, the vendors have severely locked down DVD players by region, so American consumers can't play foreign DVDs.
Well, I brought with me a collection of 150 DVDs from the UK, Europe, Hong Kong, China and Japan. I refuse to buy them again, since in many cases I picked the best version available. Even if I did plan to re-purchase them, many are simply not available in an American, Region 1 disc.
Although players are available on the cheap in the UK, I spent a little extra on a Pioneer player in 2003, which is still in use by a family member now. It had a great picture quality on our widescreen CRT TV, and played any disc I threw at it - even a badly authored disc which many other machines refused to touch. This made a Pioneer player the obvious choice now we needed a new unit.
But some things had changed: We needed a player suitable for a 42" 1080p HDTV, rather than a 28" widescreen CRT. The size and the nature of the display is much less forgiving when it comes to picture quality. It also needed to convert PAL colours to NTSC whilst upscaling the image (and not downscaling it first). This meant there was an element of the unknown when it came to picking our player.
I am happy to report that this player works perfectly. It is built as well as you would expect a $90 player to be built, so don't expect a 20lb chunk of metal. The remote is the same layout as my 7-year old player in the UK, and it has one of the most logical button layouts I've used. Even the on screen menus and displays match that old player. They may not look fancy, but they tell you everything you need to know.
The player is a Japanese version, designed for tourists. It will output PAL or NTSC, and it works on American and European voltages. Change the power cable and you can use this in the UK without a step converter. It's truly an international DVD player.
Using HDMI, Pioneer's Kuro link is available. European users will remember this from the SCART days -- when you power on the player it switches your TV input automatically to the just-activated unit. The manual claims it only works with Pioneer TVs, but my Philips TV has a similar function (as used by the Philips Blu-Ray player attached to it), and it works just the same on my TV. There are other connections on the back of the player, but I see no reason to use them over HDMI. One downside is that there's no HDMI cable included.
So... picture quality. I'm comparing this to the upscaling performed by my Philips Blu Ray player. Obviously I could only test US, Region 1, NTSC DVDs on that player, so the comparison is by no means complete. Regardless, upscaling from 480i to 1080p is of a very high quality, even if detail levels pale in comparison to HD. My Japanese version of Kill Bill Vol. 1 looks great, with the bright colours blaring out at us. Switching to The New World - Director's Cut shows that the upscaling features of this unit outstrip the $100 Philips Blu ray. That player exhibited quite a bit of Haloing and edge enhancement without adding details. Those effects are still present, but much less obvious.
The player will, however, show up low quality discs. My HK R3 edition of House Of Flying Daggers looks atrocious. Pretty much unwatchable. It's a low quality transfer of a visually difficult film, so this should come as no surprise.
On to PAL discs. Out of the box, the player outputs to 480p. Taking a DVD with a vertical resolution of 576 lines and downscaling it as such, the picture quality is nasty to say the least. If you are stuck with a SD NTSC TV, at least they will play. The good news is that with the HDMI set to output at 1080p, the player does not downscale to 480 before upscaling to 1080 - it takes the 576i signal and directly converts it to 1080p! This means that PAL discs look incredibly sharp. With 20% more vertical detail to work with, the upscaler can produce incredibly good images for your HDTV.
I tested the UK DVD of The Incredibles, which has as perfect a transfer as DVD is capable of, and it looked stunning. The chase sequence through the jungle looked as good as I have ever seen it. Compared to NTSC DVDs, this was a revelation. Following this, I tried an old edition of Father Ted on DVD. Produced for TV in a 4:3 ratio, I expected to see numerous interlacing/combing effects, but the show looked as good as one could expect of a 15-year-old TV show filmed on video tape, and no real problems were apparent. We followed this with an episode of Spaced and an episode of The IT Crowd, both produced in 16:9, and in the case of the latter, very recent. They looked great.
In fact, the only thing giving away the conversion process was a slight judder to the end credits of all three TV shows. While watching fast motion, this was not evident. Raiders Of The Lost Ark looked good, regardless of the action on screen.
One note regarding colours -- my TV is already set up to display Blu Ray and HDTV with pretty accurate, natural colours. This unit was rather dark out of the box. We set the HDMI colour to Component and made minor Brightness/Contrast adjustements using a THX Optimizer, but things still appeared a little dark on PAL discs. The solution? We adjusted the Gamma setting to -3 and it solved all our problems.
There is more to this player. It will record your CDs to a USB drive plugged in to the front of the unit. I haven't tried that one yet. Also, it will play DivX and AVI movies from USB, CD or DVD. AVI rips of some UK TV shows and the Berlin premier of the restored Metropolis both looked better that on a computer monitor, thanks to the upscaler's help. The playable formats are very limited, but it's a nice extra feature.
So, in conclusion: if you have many foreign DVDs, buy this player. Even if you don't, it's worth it as a dedicated DVD player, since it has better upscaling that the average supermarket Blu-Ray player. Well worth every penny, and it could only be improved by including an HDMI cable in the box.

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VIDEO Dual-Layer/Single Layer DVD-R**/DVD/DVD-R/DVD-RW***/DVD+R/DVD+RW Compatible, SVCD/VCD/CD/CD-R/CD-RW Compatible, DVD PAL, DVD NTSC, DVD Region 0,1,2,3,4,5,6, HDMI Terminal for Digital Audio/Video Out HDMI Upscaling (to View on 1080i/1080p) WMV (Windows Media? Video) Compatible Official DivX? Certified Product Compatible with All Versions of DivX? Video (including DivX? 6) with Standard Playback of DivX? Media Files 108 MHz/12-bit Video DAC PureCinema 2:3 Progressive Scan I/P Simultaneous Output USB Input for Compressed Video (DivX/WMV) and JPEG HD JPEG Playback Video Adjust Function with Sharpness/Brightness/Contrast/ Gamma/Hue/Chroma Level Control Zoom Function AUDIO FEATURES 96 kHz/24-bit Audio DAC USB Input for Compressed Music Playback WMA (Windows Media? Audio)/MP3/MPEG-4 AAC**** Compressed Music Playback Compatible DTS? 2-Channel Decoding Dolby? Digital Output Dialogue Enhancer Virtual Surround Sound Equalizer (Rock/Pop/Live/Dance/Techno/Classic/Soft)

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Pioneer DV-120K-K Region Free DVD Player with USB - Karaoke - and DivX playback Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this DVD player this week and its quite sleek and plays all those DVDs which were not playable on my samsung DVD player...so very happy about the performance. The only draw back is that it doesnt have HDMI but connected it with the component output cables. Picture is crisp and sound quality is good...controls are easy except that the batteries seem to be a loose fit in the remote so make a rattling sound. I have yet to try out the Karaoke, USB and CD ripping functions..will discover it at my leisure. For now, im quite satisfied with the output.
Cheers

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When it comes to a DVD player, it pays to know your limits. That is, unless you've got this Pioneer DV-120KE Region Free DVD Player. It plays DVD discs from around the world on any compatible TV. This home DVD player connects to your TV and is capable of progressive scan. It also plays audio CD - even with encoded MP3 or WMA files. Plan to travel in Europe, Asia, and Africa? It's dual volt capable. Talk about mobility!12-bit/108MHz DAC (for Progressive Scan Video Output) DVD-RW (compatible w/CPRM), DVD-R Capability JPEG Photo Viewer (FUJI COLOR CD / KODAK CD Compatible) 192kHz/24-bit Audio DAC for Superb Sound Quality Component Video Output (DVD, Video CD) Virtual Dolby Digital with SRS TruSurround DTS Digital Output Dolby Digital Output Twin Wave Laser Pickup New Advanced GUI with Set-up Navigator Zoom FunctionFront Panel Cursor KeysHigh Speed Loading - Faster by 30%High Speed Resume -Faster by 50%10-bit Video Signal DAC for high-quality DVD pictures 192KHz/24-bit Audio DAC for superb sound qualityTwin-Wave Laser Pickup for CD/Video CD/CD-R playbackDolby Digital and dts Digital OutputsPioneer Exclusive Viterbi Error Correction for Superior Reading AccuracyPersonal Modes (Audio and Video Settings)Still Play (Field or Frame with Auto) this information copied from WGCStill Step Play Forward and ReverseProgram Play (CD Track, Video/Chapter, Title)Slow Motion PlaybackAdvanced GUI (Graphical User Interface) with Non-Stop operationProgram Memory (Chapter/Title) (DVD)Resume Play (DVD, Video CD)Condition Memory (DVD)Continue Play Memory (DVD, Video CD)Dual-Volt Capable - 110-240 50-60 hertz volts auto switchingUnit Dimensions -420 x 49.5 x 226.5mm; Weight -2 kg Outputs -RCA (Composite, most common cable that has yellow white and red) Connection; Component Video (Y, Cr, Cb) Output - Cable optional (not included); Com

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Pioneer AVIC-N2 - Navigation system with DVD player, LCD monitor and radio Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this item a few days ago and installed it myself. Let me start with a whole-hearted I LOVE IT!
Ok, details.
The Installation
I am not new to car stereo installs, and I thought this install was pretty easy, if longer than most. But then, there's about 5 times as much to set up, so no surprise there. I am assuming you know how to snake wires/cables all throughout your vehicle, from the battery under the hood to under your seats to the white reverse lights on the back of your car. If you've got that down, the hardest part is really just figuring out which wire on your ECU is the vehicle speed-pulse line. Other than that, it's all just busy work; a splice here, a t-tap there, and you're done!
It are a *lot* of wires, though. (Hey, what did you expect?) :)
The Video
Amazingly enough, it's visible in daylight, only becoming unwatchable in direct sunlight! The screen's display is adjustable enough such that it can be viewed in nearly any angle, and the "Wide" button even allows you to select a "zoom" level such that any movie you own will use as much (or little) of the screen as you want.
The Audio
While not as customizable or pro-audio as my last deck, the Pioneer DEH-960MP, I actually like the sound out of this one better. I still have a little tuning to do on my amps for the mids and lows, but the highs are much crisper than I could ever get out of my last deck.
The Navigation
I have no basis for comparison, but after playing with this thing for an hour or so, I had it all down pat; it's pretty easy and intuitive. As far as usefulness, well, it's gotten me around areas I already know very well with plenty of skill, so I'm confident that when I try to navigate someplace I don't know that I will be just fine.
Gripes
The intelligence of the unit in figuring out if you're moving or not is too good. I've heard about and think I like the AVIC-N1's relatively dumb parking-brake sensor better. I know it's illegal (and really just plain dumb) to watch a DVD while driving. But what about my passengers? I have the self-control to just not look at the screen, but now I don't even have that choice; the AVIC-N2 watches the speed (and, I'm thinking, its accelerometers, too) to know when I'm moving, and it blacks out the A/V, no matter how much little Billy was enjoying "The Incredibles."
(Here's a hint, though; plug the rear-display video output that's meant for an extra LCD mounted in the back seat into the rear camera video input. Then whenever you want to see a video up front while the vehicle is in motion, just view the rear-camera. Granted, it's squished to plain-old TV 4:3 because the nav map snippet still shows on the left, but it's better than nothing!)
Also, the IP-Bus is pretty much useless for some older components. Verify that any IP-Bus components you want to buy work with the AVIC-N2 before buying them! I had a Delphi XM tuner installed in my car and hooked up to my Pioner DEH-960MP and it worked wonderfully. On the AVIC-N2, I could get the audio over the IP-Bus via the "Aux" source, but I have no controls... I don't know about you, but having my XM Radio stuck on Channel 53 for the rest of eternity isn't acceptable. The newer XM tuners from Pioneer do work, though; I also bought their XM NavTraffic tuner. It hasn't arrived yet, but I'm willing to bet that it works and will be very, very cool.
Overall
This thing has got a coolness factor of, well... let me put it this way: After getting all this installed (I have an iPod and a PS2 hooked up to it, too... ) I have decided that I'm just plain the coolest person I know.
Party in my car, you're invited... :D

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Designed for installation into your car, Pioneer AVIC-N2 Multi-Function Navigation System includes a touch-screen for navigation as well as a DVD and CD player along with an AM/FM radio with optional XM capability. The AVIC-N2 provides accurate detailed route guidance for the entire United States and Canada including Alaska and Hawaii. Within seconds, the system's extremely fast processor calculates multiple routes and provides directions to any destination via electronic map and voice prompts. Powered by TeleAtlas mapping, the system uses a massive 12-million points of interest (POI) database with more than 248 different categories so consumers can search for the nearest gas station, ATM or restaurant. As users are guided along their route, points of interest are overlaid onto the map, which is particularly helpful when driving in unfamiliar areas.Easy-to-recognize brand icons are used to identify hotels, restaurants, banks, gas stations and even specific chain store locations. Composite A/V Out

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Pioneer PD-F407 25-Disc CD-File Changer Review

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(More customer reviews)The PD-407 is an awesome disc changer but there is one major item that could be there and should. A Remote. This model is not supplied with a remote there is a brother version of it that is the PD-507 and badabing it has a remote so if you plan on using the PD-407 with a Pioneer reciever which has a control out jack then it is for you but if you do not have that or do not feel like getting up to make your selections manually then go with the big brother version the PD-507. But overall for the buck dollars this product is worth it.

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Keep the music playing with Pioneer's PD-F407 25-disc CD player. The slot-loading changer helps you organize and get creative about how you listen. In addition to its standard features (play, repeat, 32-track programming), the PD-F407 has a few that are more unusual--and perfect for a CD jukebox. "Best play" is a one-touch trick that lets you commit any 15 tracks to the PD-F407's memory. Just hit the BEST button while a track is playing and the player will automatically store that track in memory. Later, on hitting "best play," the unit will play back all 15 tracks in sequence.Another cool feature is "previous-disc scan," which simply plays the opening ten seconds of the last 15 discs played. The PD-F407 also lets you create up to 3 custom files, or groups, with no limit to the number of CDs in each file. This is a terrific way to file discs by genre or by favorite artist.When you hit play after having hit stop or turned the unit off, it will begin playing the last disc before shutdown. What's more, your programmed sequences are preserved even when powering down thanks to Pioneer's memory hold feature. Select random playback to let the player choose selections from among all 25 discs, from a single disc, or from a designated "custom" file. A "Hi-Lite" button plays a 10-second portion of the first track on each disc. There are also many variations on all of these programmable features, depending upon what mode you are using at the time.

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Pioneer AVIC-F500BT 5.8-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been using the F500BT for a few weeks after using a Nuvi 760 for years. I already upgraded to Firmware 2.0. Here is how the F500BT compares to the Nuvi
Cons:
- Routing engine not as good as the Nuvi. Very prone to give U-Turns when I miss a turn even though I disabled them. Worse is that it doesn't know if the U-turn is illegal or not. Besides the U turn issue, most routes offered are not that bad in "Economical"
- Touchscreen not very responsive. Not as good as the Nuvi.
- Not as easy to use as the Nuvi in general.
- MSN does not work unless you use a big ugly harness. You also need to connect a ebrake signal for to avoid the menus getting locked out.
- Battery life of 30mins
- Does not auto dim the screen when switching to night maps.
- Does not tell you the side of your destination. The Nuvi does.
- Only 1 TTS voice in English. Not great, but not horrible either.
- Voice recognition doesn't work very well
Pros:
- Nice glossy look with a big screen. Looks way more expensive than $199
- Map and menu hard buttons are very convenient to have
- GPS reception seems to be as good as the Nuvi. I get reception indoors
- A lot more information is displayed on the map compared to the Nuvi
- Plays AVI movies
- Lane Assist on freeway junctions. A MUST HAVE.
- Maps are very smooth map animation when routing. Much better than the 760, which was always 2 seconds behind and when making turns it would lag for 3-4 seconds
- Voice does not stutter unlike the Nuvi 760
- Very easy to hack and goes from good to almost great after hacking. I also have TomTom Navigator and Garmin XT loaded (more on this later)
- 3D buildings are pretty cool.
- Pairs with my Palm Centro with no problems. My phonebook does not dissapear. BT performance way better than that of the NuviYou can head to avic411.com forums and learn how to modify the Pioneer software aka IGO8 (its very easy). You can also add new maps schemes, and enable speed camera warnings, add extra 3D buildings, load international maps, etc. You can even hack the unit so it runs Tomtom and Garmin XT. However, these 2 don't have the same software as the PND counterparts, so I use the Pioneer software anyways. With the hacks I now get the current house number at my position, so I can easily know which side of the road my destination is on. I also increased the font size of the data displayed on the map. Overall, its a very good deal at $199.


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The Pioneer AVIC-F500BT on-dash navigator offers an advanced, all-in-one solution for adding large-screen navigation, multimedia capability, and hands-free calling to your vehicle without removing your factory radio. Simply mount this road-ready travel companion on your dashboard and exercise convenient control over your music, phone, and navigation.

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Pioneer AVIC-Z120BT 7" In-Dash Double-Din Navigation CD/DVD/MP3 with Pandora iPhone streaming Review

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(More customer reviews)[*** UPDATE 9/9/2010 - It turns out that firmware version 2.003, which I just installed tonight, fixes the bug where you have to press OK before your phone connects to the AVIC-Z120BT. I tested this out and it works as expected now. ***]
I got this AVIC-Z120BT unit a few days ago and installed it in my 2009 Nissan Frontier. The install did take a while; but, I had several quotes by some car audio installation places and I decided I'd be better off doing it myself and saving the money. So far, I am absolutely loving having this system in my truck!
In the attached video, I tried to go over some of the main features of this unit. I'll also try to cover most of the same material here for people that don't want to spend the time to watch the video.Here are the things I'm loving about this Pioneer navigation system:
1) The sound quality is very good. The radio reception is also exceptional for both AM and FM.
2) The media source selection is great! This unit supports playing from CDs & DVDs (including MP3s from either), SD cards with either video or music, iPods (using an additional interface cable), USB keys, or the internal AM/FM tuner. You can also add an HD radio tuner, although I didn't add that feature. Personally, I love that I can stick an SD card with all my music in this unit and it is always available to me without having to mess with an FM transmitter or hook up my phone to the receiver.
3) The navigation system itself is very good. The maps are up to date in my area, and it looks like new maps can be downloaded from Pioneer when they are available. It has all the standard nav features, like being able to adjust the scale or change the top of the map to be either North or to be inline with your current heading. It also offers turn-by-turn guidance, waypoints, and can be controled using voice commands - although I haven't played with this much.
4) The Bluetooth interface on the receiver is amazing! It automatically downloads the contacts from my phone whenever it turns on and then I have access to all of my contacts through the nav system. Even though my Android phone does NOT support voice dialing over Bluetooth, I can now use the voice dialing feature of this receiver and it automatically dials my phone.
5) The voice interface in general is very good. It handles everything from voice dialing to switching inputs - even when I'm driving down the highway. The included mic works fine for phone calls in the truck, although it does sound like I'm talking on a speaker phone (which I basically am when using this system).
6) Incoming calls on this system work very well. A small overlay pops up on the screen that lets you answer incoming calls, hang up, etc... It also mutes (or turns down) the currently playing audio during the phone call.
7) The backup camera is a great addition. It switches on automatically when the truck is in reverse, and it can also be used in conjunction with the map view - which will be great for towing.
8) The system boots fairly quickly. The backup camera and previously selected music source are available almost instantly, where the navigation system and other controls are available after about 15 seconds. My Android phone typically takes about 45 seconds to connect from the time the system first starts up.
9) I should have shown this in the video, but the screen tilt can be adjusted if you need it to angle up a bit. In my truck, I don't need it to tilt at all; so I tend to forget about that.
10) The interface looks great and is very easy to use! The system also looks great in my truck.
11) You can set an anti-theft password through a 'secret' interface, and the system will prompt for the password if the backup power is ever cut. I think this is a dubious 'anti-theft' feature since the system could easily be stolen and the thieves wouldn't find out about the password until they were back at the secret lair :). I guess I would have the satisfaction of knowing they probably couldn't use it...Although I absolutely love this Pioneer nav system, there are some quirks in the firmware that I hope will be addressed by future releases:
1) [*** UPDATE - This is fixed in firmware version 2.003. ***] When booting the system, you need to press OK on the warning screen BEFORE the system connects to your phone. Otherwise, you won't be able to voice dial until the car is turned off and back on again. If the system boots up into the map screen, this is pretty easy since the prompt will show before the map is displayed. If, on the other hand, the system boots into the media mode, the prompt won't even display until you manually switch to either the home screen or the navigation system - and it can be easy to forget until you need to make a call...
2) The AM and FM presets are named based on the text being broadcast by the station. That makes no sense in my case, so I end up with presets with names like "ive,". I wish that could just be turned off and I could just have the frequencies displayed - or it would also be great if I could name the presets myself. Normally, I don't mind remembering the preset numbers - but this interface doesn't really lend itself to that. Hopefully this will be fixed/changed soon!
3) I wish this system would show album art for songs that are on the SD card. I called Pioneer and verified that isn't supported in the current firmware.
4) On bright days, the display tends to be a bit washed out - even on the brightest setting. It's still visible, but just barely. I may end up getting my front windows tinted to help out with this.Overall, I really love this system and would highly recommend it if you want an integrated nav/bluetooth/multimedia system in your vehicle. The combined feature-set that this added to my truck wouldn't have even been possible a few years ago; and, the Pioneer pulls it all off with a very nicely integrated user interface. There are some quirks in the firmware, but I think they should all be easily addressed by future firmware updates - I just hope Pioneer does us all the favor of actually updating the firmware!
I will update this review to reflect any changes in my opinions, or if new firmware versions are released.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer AVIC-Z120BT 7" In-Dash Double-Din Navigation CD/DVD/MP3 with Pandora iPhone streaming

Pioneer's new flagship AVIC-Z120BT integrates sophisticated navigation capabilities as well as new groundbreaking features, including a revolutionary 3D touch slide interface, Pioneer MusicSphere and ECO Graph. In addition to built-in navigation capabilities, the new double-DIN AVIC-Z120BT features a large motorized 7-inch WVGA hi-resolution touchscreen display, a 3D graphics accelerator, DVD playback, built-in Bluetooth1for hands-free calling and music streaming, USB connectivityfor iPod/iPhone connectivity, a micro SD card slot, a back-up camera input, and is SIRIUS XMsatellite and HD Radioready.


Sophisticated Navigation and Groundbreaking Features
AVIC FEEDS for iPhonecompatible
Bluetooth Hands-Free
Bluetooth Audio Streaming (A2DP and AVRCP)
Navigation destination entry byVoice Control (Address Search, POI selection by category or brand name)
USB Direct Control for iPod/iPhone and USB Devices (Optional Cable Required for iPod/iPhone)
Advanced Sound Retriever to restore your compressed media to near CD quality
XM and Sirius Radio Ready
3 Hi-Volt (4V) RCA preouts for adding on external amplifiers
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.
DVD/CD Player
Supertuner IIID advanced analog and digital processing assure superior imaging, less distortion and noise, and stronger, smoother broadcast signal reception.
AUX input to easier plug in your portable media devices
Back-Up Camera Ready

The Last Word in Navigation The line of AVIC-Z products have long been considered the last word in navigation, and this year, the AVIC-Z120BT stays true to its Pioneer heritage with its high performance features. Out of the box, this systemoffers a comprehensive map database from Tele Atlas, covering the entire United States, Canada, Alaska and Hawaii, enabling users to route to millions of destinations including more than 12 million points of interest (POIs). The built-in Text-to-Speech engine clearly pronounces turn-by-turn direction and street names to ensure smooth travels. The AVIC-Z120BT also offers a wide variety of map views tailored to different driving experiences. For example, "Rear View" allows you to watch your cargo in tow with your optional back-up camera while simultaneously being able to view the map. High-resolution 2D and 3D maps provide renderings of nearby landmarks and terrain to help you navigate the world around you. The Z's high-powered graphics processor and precision-guided GPS sensor deliver stunningly detailed mapping with amazing accuracy. Pioneer's AVIC-Z120BT takes convenience to the next level with voice-activated navigation. You can simply input an address by voice or find a place to re-fuel by saying, "Find the nearest gas station" or "Find the nearest McDonalds"

Enjoy All Kinds of Media Built to navigate, but born to entertain, the AVIC-Z120BT offers audio and video playback from the most popular formats. Whether you're watching DivX files on DVD, H.264 video on SD card or iTunes AAC files on CD, there are dozens of playback options for your favorite media. You will also appreciate the Z's ability to simultaneously entertain your front and back seat passengers with two different audio and video sources using Dual Zone functionality. You can also access your favorite Pandora stations through your iPhone.

Ditch the Headset With Built-in Bluetooth Take incoming calls through the AVIC-Z120BT, and be heard clearly without a headset courtesy of Bluetooth technology. Connecting your compatible phone is easy and gives you instant touch screen access to your contacts. You can also dial a contact with the sound of your voice by simply saying "Call Jack Smith."

Your iPod (and iPhone) Will Thank You On top of being an exceptional navigator, the AVIC-Z series delivers an iPod experience that blows away FM transmitters or cassette adaptors. Even at the first glance, you will fall in love with the easy-to-use touch screen controls for your music and brilliant 7-inch display for your videos. Album art is also beautifully displayed. With the optional cable (CD-IU50V) connected to your iPod, you will notice how easily you can find songs, videos, artists, or playlists with a few simple taps of your finger. Pioneer has also created powerful searching tools such as Link Play and Alphabet Search to help you find content faster. The AVIC-Z120BT also features voice-activated control of your iPod. Simply say the name of an artist, album, playlist, or genre to bring up the next song.

Customize and Colorize This all-new AVIC-Z120BT features a revolutionary touch screen interface that let's you build your own home screen with the navigation, multi-media and Bluetooth functions that your use most. Simply drag and drop a function's icon in the menu to create up to 15 shortcuts within your home screen. You can further customize the navigation receiver by adjusting button illumination color to match the interior of your car, or by uploading your own boot-up screen photo.

The Freedom of Speech Navigation functions, iPod audio control and hands-free Bluetooth calling can all be controlled with the sound of your voice. Voice-activated control over your navigation system not only performs in-car tasks with greater speed, but helps you keep your eyes (and attention) on the road ahead.

MusicSphere Pioneer's new MusicSphere for the AVIC-Z120BT allows you to easily create instant playlists from the music in your iTunes library. MusicSphere uses an advanced plug-in that works with iTunes to intelligently construct playlists from your massive music collection by analyzing attributes such as feeling (bright, energetic, gloomy, relaxing calm), rhythm pattern, Beats Per Minute (BPM), and more. Playlists are stored on your iPod or iPhone and accessed through the AVIC-Z120BT's MusicSphere interface.

ECO Features For eco-friendly consumers, the system also features the second generation ECO Driving function with new features that provide driving status reports and the driver's impact on the environment with visual images on-screen. Through Pioneer's proprietary AVIC FEEDS PC software, the unit can estimate the fuel cost of trip routes as well as the vehicle's CO2 emissions through detailed Drive Reports. Through a proprietary fuel consumption algorithm, AVIC FEEDS can also log and archive driving data and analyze driving habits to generate various reports with suggestions to improve fuel efficiency.

ECO Graph New to this generation of eco-conscious features, the ECO Graph feature provides a view in addition to 2D and 3D, which divides the map view screen with a new graph to provide drivers with a visual representation of their environmental impact. Additionally, when a route is set, the unit will calculate a Drive Score based on driving efficiency which factors abrupt stops and accelerations and idle time.

HD/SAT Radio Ready The AVIC-Z120BT gives you plenty of room to expand your broadcast options. With optional tuners, experience the vast channel selection of XM Sirius Satellite Radio and HD Radio.

What's in the Box AVIC-Z120BT Main Unit, Installation Hardware, User's Manual

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Altec Lansing iMX2 Portable Speaker System for XM2go Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Had problem with unit w/in 3 mos of purchase. Was finally able to make contact with company after several WEEKS of trying. Even their customer support line disconnects you when you try to keep holding and don't leave a message. And when you leave a message, it must be deleted, because they don't return calls.
Product was replaced w/ refurb unit missing parts. Now I can't get ANYONE!
Altec Lansing is a poster child for extremely poor customer service. They have your money, and you have, well, a product with their name on it, for as long as it works. Had I known this prior to purchase, I wouldn't have purchased. It's that simple.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Altec Lansing iMX2 Portable Speaker System for XM2go

Frustrated with your broken-down CD/radio boombox? Turn to the iMX2 portablespeaker system, which lets you take your XM satellite radio receiver with you wherever you go.Built for XM2go receivers--including the Delphi MyFi, Pioneer Airware, and Tao models--therugged, shock-resistant iMX2 system is ideal for listening in the garage, at the park, or just aboutanywhere else. Simply deposit your receiver in the system's built-in docking station and you'reset. Once docked, the system produces rich, crystal-clear sound with elegant highs and crisp,non-distorted lows. And thanks to the built-in charging system, your XM2go receiver will befully juiced each time you remove it from the dock.
Other details include an advanced digital amplifier that delivers more than 24 hours of batterylife (requires four AA batteries), superior MaxxBass technology for quality bass without asubwoofer, a compact design that's easy to carry, and an auxiliary input that connects to a seconddevice, such as a portable CD or DVD player. The iMX2 measures 8 by 5 by 1.25 inches (W x Hx D), weighs 15 ounces, and is backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box iMX2 portable speaker system, home antenna cable adapter, 3.5 mm stereo cable, power supply,protective carrying bag, quick-connect instructions, user's manual.

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Pioneer AVIC-X920BT 6.1-Inch In-Dash Double-Din Navigation A/V Receiver with DVD Playback, Built-In Bluetooth and Widescreen Display Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For the new flagship from Pioneer, I'm very disappointed in the navigation. The deck has great sound quality, and great iPod integration, complete with album art and the ability to quickly browse artists or songs, even with 6000 plus songs on your iPod. The NAV system is useless and a real disappointment. A 2 year old $100 Garmin stand alone GPS performs light years ahead of this. I actually just came back from a 3 state road trip using both a $100 Garmin and this Pioneer. Four times on the trip, the Garmin said turn left, and the Pioneer said "turn right". The Garmin was correct with the short and faster path all 4 times. Every trip I've used the Pioneer with has the estimated arrival time about two hours later than actual arrival time, and it doesn't adjust until the final few miles of the trip. Completely inaccurate, bad directions, no speedometer. I could go on, but suffice it to say it's BAD BAD BAD. I'll probably be selling this one on eBay when someone finally comes out with a good iPOD interface AND good nav systems.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer AVIC-X920BT 6.1-Inch In-Dash Double-Din Navigation A/V Receiver with DVD Playback, Built-In Bluetooth and Widescreen Display

Pioneer's double-DIN AVIC-X920BT integrates sophisticated navigation capabilities with groundbreaking features, including a revolutionary 3D touch slide interface, Pioneer MusicSphere and ECO Graph. In addition, the AVIC-X920BT features 4 GB of Flash memory, a large 6.1-inch WVGA touchscreen display, a 3D graphics accelerator, DVD playback, built-in Bluetooth for hands-free calling and music streaming, USB and iPod/iPhone connectivity, a microSD card slot, back-up camera input, and more.

Enjoy All Kinds of Media The AVIC-X920BT offers audio and video playback from the most popular formats. Whether you're enjoying DivX files on DVD, MP3 audio on SD card, or iTunes AAC files on CD, there are dozens of playback options for your favorite media.
You can also access your favorite Pandora stations through your iPhone.
Ditch the Headset with Built-in Bluetooth Take incoming calls through the AVIC-X920BT and be heard clearly without a headset, courtesy of Bluetooth technology. Connecting your compatible phone is easy and gives you instant touchscreen access to your contacts. You can also dial a contact with the sound of your voice by simply saying, "Call Jack Smith."
Audio User Interface Revolution with 3D A new user interface features dynamic shortcuts for all built-in or connected media sources, more prominent album art display (when applicable), and improved display of audio track data. The intuitive touch slide control is utilized for audio/video source selection and for searching through new media, such as iPod/iPhone content, with a new and improved ABC Search and dual-speed scroll for List Searches. 3D animation makes the user interface a completely new, easy-to-use, and intuitive in-car experience. The AVIC-X920BT also features a customizable home menu, which allows users to drag and drop up to 15 function icons into the home page display for easy one-touch access.
MusicSphere Pioneer's new MusicSphere for the AVIC-X920BT allows you to easily create instant playlists from the music in your iTunes library. MusicSphere uses an advanced plug-in that works with iTunes to intelligently construct playlists from your massive music collection by analyzing attributes such as feeling (bright, energetic, gloomy, relaxing calm), rhythm pattern, beats per minute (BPM), and more. Playlists are stored on your iPod or iPhone and accessed through the AVIC-X920BT's MusicSphere interface.
Navigation at Its Best The AVIC-X920BT offers a comprehensive map database from Tele Atlas, covering the entire United States and Canada, enabling users to route to millions of destinations, including more than 12 million points of interest (POIs). Additionally, the unit features enhanced voice recognition, including the capability to input destination addresses by voice--you can simply input an address by voice or find a place to re-fuel by saying, "Find the nearest gas station" or "Find the nearest McDonalds," and so on.
ECO Features For eco-friendly consumers, the system also features the second generation ECO Driving function with new features that provide driving status reports and the driver's impact on the environment with visual images on-screen. Through Pioneer's proprietary AVIC FEEDS PC software, the unit can estimate the fuel cost of trip routes as well as the vehicle's CO2 emissions through detailed Drive Reports. Through a proprietary fuel consumption algorithm, AVIC FEEDS can also log and archive driving data and analyze driving habits to generate various reports with suggestions to improve fuel efficiency.
ECO Graph New to this generation of eco-conscious features, the ECO Graph feature provides a view in addition to 2D and 3D, which divides the map view screen with a new graph to provide drivers with a visual representation of their environmental impact. Additionally, when a route is set, the unit will calculate a Drive Score based on driving efficiency, which factors abrupt stops, accelerations, and idle time.
Your iPod (and iPhone) Will Thank You On top of being an exceptional navigator, the AVIC-X series delivers an iPod experience that blows away FM transmitters or cassette adapters. Even at the first glance, you will fall in love with the easy-to-use touchscreen controls for your music and brilliant 6.1-inch display for your videos. Album art is also beautifully displayed.
With the optional cable (CD-IU230V) connected to your iPod, you will notice how easily you can find songs, videos, artists, or playlists with a few simple taps of your finger. The AVIC-X920BT also features voice-activated control of your iPod. Simply say the name of an artist, album, playlist, or genre to bring up the next song.
HD/SAT Radio Ready The AVIC-X920BT gives you plenty of room to expand your broadcast options. With optional tuners, experience the vast channel selection of XM Sirius Satellite Radio and HD Radio.
What's in the Box AVIC-X920BT main unit, installation hardware, and user's manual.

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Pioneer DEH-P4000UB In-Dash CD/MP3/WMA/iTunes AAC/WAV Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is my review i did for Crutchfield since i purchased it there, but i also do so much shopping here, it made sense to share my review on this product:
Fantastic value
Written By patrick, Upstate NY on Saturday, March 29, 2008
I purchased this unit a few weeks ago after some extensive research to
find something under $200 that not only fit my car with no/minor
modifications, but also had a USB input (rear), at least one auxiliary input,
support for aac, at least two 4v preouts, and a remote. This fit the bill
nicely.
Thanks to the included harness (not included from Amazon) I had this installed in about 15 minutes (not
including soldering or crimping). I've done quite a few installs in the past
so this was a piece of cake for me, but beginners will have no trouble
installing this unit with the included accessories and easy directions.
I use this unit with my 4GB flash drive and will be using it with my 30GB
wifi unit which will be here next week. If Pioneer made a unit just like
this without the cd drive, I would have bought it instead. Absolutely no
need for CD's in the car (all of my CD's are ripped upon purchase to FLAC
then converted as I see fit).
Sound quality is subjective of course, especially when you're listening to
compressed files, but being an audio enthusiast, I can tell you that this unit
plays my VBR mp3's as well as my Nero aac's as well as any other digital
audio player I've used and sounds as well as expected without onboard
amps and component speakers. This is definitely a good base for upgrades
in the future.
I'm a big fan of the wireless remote since I'm able to browse files/tracks
with almost no glancing at the unit itself.
Pros:
*Good sounding unit and ready for future upgrades
*Scans and plays my flash drives quickly with almost no wait between
tracks
*Display very readable in almost any lighting situation.
*Works well with ID3 tags.
Cons:
*The multicontrol knob would be cumbersome to use if i needed to use it,
but it works. It moves in all directions, but isn't flimsy. Learn to use the
included wireless remote.
*It would be nice to have a display option of Artist - Title using the ID3
tags, but you only have the options of Filename (I don't name my files
Artist - Title and I don't care to see what extension the file is), Folder, Artist,
Track, Comments. Not a deal breaker, but since the information is there,
I'm sure Pioneer could fix that.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer DEH-P4000UB In-Dash CD/MP3/WMA/iTunes AAC/WAV Receiver

Pioneer's DEH-P4000UB CD receiver allows you to connect and control a variety of media devices, including your iPod, through its built-in USB input. The vibrant display renders 16 characters for artist and title information, while the user-friendly control knob makes it easy to access menus and scroll through your files. The receiver plays MP3, WMA, and AAC files that you've burned to a disc, and includes a front auxiliary input for easy connection of optional audio sources. The amplifier packs plenty of power with 50W through 4 channels, and built in high- and low-pass filters to optimize speaker performance. Add to that a wealth of expansion options, and you have a highly competitive receiver for the price

Detachable Faceplate The DEH-P4000UB features a detachable faceplate with an OEL 16-character display.
CD/MP3/WMA/AAC Playback In addition to CDs, enjoy playback of MP3, WMA, and AAC audio files burned to CD or on a USB device, 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.
Advanced Sound Retriever Hear the detail, warmth and clarity, the way the artist intended it, from all of your highly compressed MP3, WMA and AAC files stored on USB memory device, iPod and portable digital players. By restoring data (especially higher frequencies) that tend to get lost in the digital compression process, Pioneer's Advanced Sound Retriever technology enhances audio reproduction nearly all the way up to 20 kHz frequencies.
When Advanced Sound Retriever is "ON," the high frequency range is compensated to match the frequency response curve of the original sound.
USB Direct Control for iPod and more Pioneer's DEH-P4000UB is ready to roll with capability for direct connection to your iPod. USB 2.0's speed and capability allow an elevated iPod experience in the car, and nearly limitless expandability for portable media players and USB memory devices
File search and access are extra-quick. The headunit keeps song, artist, time and album information displays very clear and user-friendly, and control is intuitive through the 7-Way Rotary Commander. The system's wired USB connection provides direct digital signal transfer from the iPod for clean, clear sound. In addition, Pioneer has developed the following new features to make using your iPod in the car extremely easy and convenient:
Link Search--While listening to a specific artist 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.

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-P4000UB has this input on the front panel.
Dial in Your Sound Use and customize the 3-band parametric equalizer, or change loudness settings to get the perfect sound. The DEH-P4000UB also features built in high- and low-pass filters to optimize speaker performance.
Wireless Remote A wireless remote is included for use while watching the road.
Available Bluetooth Wireless Technology Use the available CD-BTB200 Bluetooth Adapter and Bluetooth-enabled cellular phones for easy, safe, and hands-free operation, including talking via the headunit's microphone and your vehicle's speaker system. The system automatically mutes any other audio during incoming or outgoing calls.
Full-Featured High Performance The DEH-P4000UB is smartly designed to expand your system, customize your experience, and provide superior sound quality and easy operation.
Three RCA Hi-Volt preouts for adding on external amps and speakers simplify system expansion.
Two-Way Crossover with separate High and Low Pass settings.
Built-in MOSFET 50 W x 4 amplifier for excellent sound quality, minimal distortion and efficient power handling.
Supertuner IIID advanced analog and digital processing assure superior imaging, less distortion and noise, and stronger, smoother broadcast signal reception.

What's in the Box Pioneer DEH-P4000UB, remote control, trim ring, wiring harness, installation hardware, operation manual, installation guide, warranty sheet

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Pioneer AVIC-F700BT In-Dash Navigation Audio Receiver with CD Playback and Advanced Voice Controls Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pioneer has acknowledged that the first release of this system had issues ... freezing up, parking break warning for no reason, lack of proper brightness, etc. But they issued an upgrade in July of 2008. THIS UPDATE FIXES EVERYTHING.
I have this unit, I used it before the update (lots of problems -- all clearly explained in multiple posts all over the internet). But I downloaded the firmware, installed it, and now it works AWESOME. I truly have to give it to Pioneer for acknowledging their error and spending time to listen to owners and fix it.
I love this unit. I hook up my Iphone 3G and watch podcasts, listen to music, and everything. I have SM radio for it and I use the GPS all the time. I use the bluetooth with my iphone and the call clarity is fantastic.
I'm serious when I say this is a great value and much better than the D3 unit it replaced, but you have to install the firmware. Do that and I'll love it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer AVIC-F700BT In-Dash Navigation Audio Receiver with CD Playback and Advanced Voice Controls

The Pioneer AVIC-F700BT car stereo marries solid entertainment capabilities with advanced navigation. Its flash-based GPS system comes pre-loaded TeleAtlas maps of the US and Canada, featuring more than 12 million points of interest and robust user routing options.
Built-in Bluetooth allows you to make hands-free calls on compatible devices, and Pioneer's voice-recognition software lets you use voice commands to control your phone or iPod (with separate iPod adapter). Hugely expandable, with options for iPod connectivity, MSN Direct, HD radio, XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio, and more, the AVIC-F700BT also includes a USB interface for quick connection to iPod music players, portable media players and USB memory device. Additionally, SD memory card support means you can insert cards filled with additional Points of Interest or compressed audio and video for your use and enjoyment. Link all your devices together into one seamless experience.
5.8-inch Widescreen LCD The AVIC-F700BT features a 5.8-inch widescreen color LCD with WVGA (800 x 480) resolution, perfect for navigation via GPS, or simply navigating your audio files.
A New Class of Navigation No more hassling with map discs. Now you don't have to worry about discs being misplaced, damaged, lost, or stolen because we've done away with them for the F-Series navigation line. Pioneer has taken the entire TeleAtlas Database that was previously on the two-DVD set, compressed it down, and stored it internally on flash memory.
Touch panel key operation--It is possible to operate the navigation and audio functions by using the touch panel key.
2D and 3D map view modes--Various types of screen displays can be selected for navigation guidance
A variety of Points of Interest (POI) information--More than 100 types of POI categories are included in the database. You also can create your own customized POIs and categories.
Auto reroute function--If you deviate from the set route, the system will re-calculate the route from that point so that you remain on track to the destination.

Freedom of Speech The AVIC-F700BT offers a new generation of voice recognition capability for controlling iPod playback and making calls hands-free via connected Bluetooth-enabled cell phones. The technology accepts and recognizes conversational phrases and language, filters out superfluous sounds and phrases, and if the user doesn't give enough information in the command, the unit will ask additional questions to clarify the request.
In Touch, Hands-Free The AVIC-F700BT comes with built-in Bluetooth. Now you never need to miss a call, even if your tunes are cranked up or your phone is buried in your bag.
Mobile Media Pioneer has created a line of Navigation systems that make it easy to play various digital and audio formats like: CD-R/RW discs, Portable Media Players like iPod, USB memory devices, and SD Cards. The AVIC-F700BT can play a wide range of files types as well, such as MP3, WMA, iTunes AAC, and MPEG-4 video files.
Make it Personal Personalize your drive. AVIC FEEDS freeware contains POI Creator, Driving Report, and Picture Editor Applications. You never know where the road will take you, but our POI Creator can help you get started on the right path.
Blending In Like its predecessor, the AVIC-D3, the new AVIC-F700BT allows you to change the illumination color to match your car. Select from among 32,768 different colors to match car interior and dashboard lighting.
Seeing Is Believing The old WQVGA displays that most Navigation units use are 480 x 234 pixels. However, the WVGA display is much higher quality at 800 x 480 pixels. Images become sharper and more defined, just like our maps and menus on these units. The display's enhanced GUI (Graphic User Interface) has also advanced, making system control and management effortless.
iPod Control Made Simple With the new CD-IU230V cable, you can directly control your music and videos from your iPod. Fast and easy control through USB, the AVIC-F700BT also features iPod Album Art display, Alphabetical Speed Search, and much more.
AM/FM Radio Always have your favorite stations at hand with 18 FM and 6 AM user presets.

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.
Adding Another Set of Eyes For safer parking, try using the ND-BC2 or ND-BC20PA backup cameras. The system automatically displays images shot from a connected camera as the vehicle shifts into reverse.

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 AVIC-F700BT has this input on the front panel.
What's in the Box Pioneer AVIC-F700BT, wiring harness, installation hardware, operation manual, installation guide, warranty sheet

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Pioneer MVH-P8200 Multimedia AV Receiver with 3 In. Color Display Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)i wrote this review for the Pioneer MVH-P8200BT which is the exact same product but with built in bluetooth. i edited out any bluetooth mentions, so everything else here applies.
* it looks nice
* it sounds nice (multiple audio options: full eq, bass boost, low pass filter etc)
here are the cons:
while it's refreshing to have a nice clean sparse interface in a car audio system, inside it's unnecessarily complex with navigating media. like a nokia phone, it seems the software was an designed by hardware guys who treated it as an afterthought.
* you really need to hit dead center of the dial to hit the center button. it's too often that i end up selecting left or right because i was a bit off.
* while there is a way to 'bookmark' certain menu options in a custom quick-shortcut menu, it's not as quick as it should be. you still need a button press, a knob turn, and another button press to access the menu. it would have been so much helpful if there was a dedicated shortcut menu button.
* when browsing an SD card or a USB drive, you can only browse one type of media (music, video, audio) at a time. if you want to switch media it's a button press, several knob turns to the bottom of the menu, another button press to the AV mode, where you can switch to video, music, or pictures.
* i used this with the external HD radio unit (GEX-P20HD). it works fine, and the reception is great. unfortunately for some bizarre reason only one line of radio id text shows up at one time. to show more information you'll have to (you guessed it), button press, knob turns to the display menu, button press, then select 'artist' or 'song' or no text. why do i have to do all that just to find out the artist or the title? all the other audio sources show all this information at the same time.
* as reported before, you can't use the remote as a substitute for the rotary dial so the majority of functions are useless with the remote.
* also as mentioned, there is no artwork support on MP3s on SD card or USB. album art is for iPods only!
* SDHC cards are inserted behind the faceplate which you have to detach to remove (which btw, only knob and buttons part of the face detaches). not that big of a deal unless you have a bunch of SD cards you want to swap on a regular basis.
here are other oddities that i discovered on my own:
* USB won't charge my iPhone if i have the source at SD card. but it will charge in any other mode.
* there's an option to have a four background wallpapers. three by pioneer and one jpg you can import from a memory card. they are nice. but if you have any of these background pictures set, there's no way you can view any pictures or video. the crazy thing is that it pretends that there's nothing wrong and the only thing you'll see is the filename of the picture or the video. so if you turn on the wallpaper and you select a video, the audio plays, but the only thing that's shows up on the screen is the filename. if you're in slideshow mode, you'll just see the filename of the picture change at certain intervals.
i thought it was the way i was wiring the safety parking brake wire. maybe it thought i was driving so it was blocking the video for my safety. i spent a few hours messing around with it before i figured out i did nothing wrong. the pioneer customer support rep told me this was a known quirk and it's been that way with several pioneer units with no plans for a fix. i can definitely live with this limitation but it's not mentioned anywhere in the manual! argh so frustrating.
* it does accept SDHC cards even though they won't admit it. i thought maybe the reason SDHC cards were not officially supported was because it takes a really long time to do the initial scan, but then i inserted a 16GB USB memory drive and it took almost a minute to scan!
* and maybe i shouldn't use the word 'initial' together with the word 'scan' because it scans the card or usb memory EVERY TIME you select it as the source. EVERY-TIME. that means even though it would be nice to leave 16 gigs of music indefinitely attached to the unit, every time i want to switch to it from another source i'll have to wait 30-60 seconds. this is an absolute dealbreaker for me.
* the second dealbreaker is that there is no expandability for a second auxiliary source. there's an add on adapter (CD-RB10) to add stereo rca inputs to the rear of the unit. even though it's listed on pioneer's product page as being a supported accessory (as of this writing), it doesn't work at all. it fits, but there's no option in the software to select it as a source. this was all confirmed by a pioneer customer service rep.
i'm kind of sad. for something that looks like it has tons of potential, the software underdelivers and makes it half assed.


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"Mech-free" receivers are all the rage lately, as more and more consumers migrate their music and media collections to hard drives rather than physical media. The MVH-P8200 from Pioneer is one of the company's first mech-free receivers, and has plenty to offer the digital-centric crowd. Enjoy direct control of your iPod, with simple navigation and search features. Play back MP3/WMA/AAC audio files, DivX video, and even JPEG images from USB devices or SD memory cards. You can even tag songs heard on the radio for later purchase. It's all conducted via the simple "Rotary Commander" control and simple user interface displayed on the unit's three-inch display.


MVH-P8200 Features
Smart Interface for Quick Access Pioneer's new user interface has a minimal yet powerful design, and scales to accommodate modern media sources easily. Tailor it to your own preferences with the customizable home menu, putting your favorite features right at your fingertips.
USB Input / SD Memory Card Slot Connect USB thumb drives or other devices and enjoy playback of your digital audio and video files. Ditto for SD memory cards. This makes it a breeze to quickly grab some media from your computer before a big road trip, and enjoy hours of entertainment on the road.
iPod Direct Control (CD-IU50V required) Connect your iPod directly and experience exceptional sound quality while easily navigating through music, videos and album art on the AVH-P5200BT's screen. Say goodbye to the annoying static of FM transmitters and other iPod half-solutions.
Simple Search for iPod lets you quickly search your iPod/iPhone with alphabetical search by Song, Artist, Album or Genre categories.
MP3/WMA/AAC Playback Play back three of the most popular digital audio formats:MP3, WMA, and AAC. The MVH-8200's screen displays track info, and makes navigating directories/folders a breeze.
Video/JPEG Playback for Non-Stop Entertainment The MVH-8200 features a three-inch color display designed to take full advantage of all of your media. Play music videos and more from your iPod/iPhone, or from SD memory cards/USB devices. The MVH-8200 can decode Divx (AVI or DIVX extensions) video. You can even display JPEG photos using the Digital Photo Frame feature.
Auto EQ Automatically tailors acoustics by fine-tuning frequency bandwidths plus front/rear speaker digital parametric equalization. Result: smooth sound full of subtle nuance and clarity. Requires optional CD-MC20 microphone.
Customize Your Colors The MVH-P8200 will accommodate your taste or mood. Select from six colors (blue/violet/red/amber/green/white) for the display, and 112 colors for key panel illumination.
Connect, Tag, and Download Have you ever heard a great song on the radio, but couldn't remember what it was called or who sang it when you went to go look for it later? Now you don't have to worry about missing out on great music. iTunes Tagging gives you the power to "tag" all of your favorite songs without having to scramble for a piece of scrap paper in the car, then later preview or purchase music at iTunes Music Store. Works with stations transmitting RDS data.
Bring Your Music to Life with Advanced Sound Retriever This year you can hear the detail, warmth, and clarity the way the artist intended it, from all of the highly compressed MP3, WMA and AAC files playing on your CD player. By restoring data that tends to get lost in the digital compression process, we can make your music sound close to CD quality.
Supertuner IIID AM/FM Tuner Pioneer's legendary Supertuner IIID combines the best of digital and analog tuner technologies to reduce distortion to bring you exceptional FM and AM performance. If you live in an area where reception is weak, you'll hear a big improvement in signal strength. And when you're near tall buildings, Supertuner IIID reduces the effect of multi-path noise, which occurs when the signal is reflecting off of the buildings.
Always have your favorite stations at hand with 18 FM and 6 AM user presets. And when you're somewhere new, let the tuner do the work for you by activating the Best Stations Memory (BSM) function. The tuner will seek out the 6 strongest stations in the area and set them into the tuner presets.
MOSFET 50W x4 Amplifier for the Power Hungry Compared to conventional power supplies, the MOSFET amplification circuit is smaller and more efficient, delivering power with less distortion and absolutely zero on/off switching noise. And that doesn't just mean a boost in volume: it means that your music will be cleaner at higher volumes because you're not pushing the limits of the amplification circuit. Clean, efficient power that will rock your vehicle.
For those who'd like a bit more power, three 4V RCA preamp outputs are also included for system expansion (front/rear/sub).
MVH-P8200 Basic Specs

What's in the Box Pioneer MVH-P8200 Receiver, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Owner's Manual

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