Kenwood Kdc-Bt945U CD/AM/FM/USB Receiver with Bluetooth Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Like the previous review (which I didn't read), the bluetooth audio will only play on the front speakers, and the second tech support guy I spoke to gave me the same answer as in the previous review. Oddly enough, at first the unit worked great, with full sound for almost two days, when it switched to front speaker operation only. The first tech support guy I spoke to was unaware of the "front-speaker limit", and provided me with a long list of things to try to correct the issue. After trying them, without success, I called back and I was connected to the second tech guy who told me it shouldn't have worked in the first place. So buyer beware, but I'm hoping to return it.
EDIT: The above is my original review. It DOES work will all speakers, for BT audio and hands-free. It's just that the settings for this are somewhat hidden. After spending some more time with Kenwood tech reps, I was told that there must be a defect, so I was referred to a local repair facility. This was an authorized retailer/repair - Suburban Audio in NJ near Philly - and the repair guy there knew exactly what setting was off and I had it fixed within minutes.
The proper setting can be found only while the radio is in BT hands-free mode (page 48 of the pdf manual). The setting to adjust is "Bluetooth HF/Audio", where you can select "Front" or "All". Even though the manual describes this for voice, is applies to both voice and audio streaming.

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ALPINE CD PLAYER MP3 CDW AAC WMA USB - CDA117 Review

Average Reviews:

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

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Pioneer DEH-P5200HD CD Receiver with HD Radio and iPod Direct Control Review

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(More customer reviews)For the past 4 years I've been using a Pioneer DEH-P6700MP car stereo which is almost identical to the Pioneer DEH-P670MP. I really liked the Pioneer as it seemed to really be able to liven up my 1998 Toyota Corolla factory speakers and had several features I regularly used and loved. I decided it was time to upgrade recently as my old Pioneer was having difficulty playing CDs while the AC was on, and it was making ticking sounds with many of my CDs. I decided right off the bat I was going to stick with Pioneer.
I spent a few days researching units and the main thing I kept noticing with many of the new 2010 Pioneer CD Players was the choice of going with one that had HD Radio or going with one that had Bluetooth functionality. It doesn't appear you can get a Pioneer with both. I decided to go with the HD Radio functionality due in part to the talk about how FM broadcast quality was greatly improved. (I'll post a small rant on this at the end of my review.)
It seems like all Pioneers have the ability to read MP3 CDs still which is great, but one of the nicer additions is the USB port on the front. You can plug in your iPod, Zune, or USB thumb drive and play music off it instead of burning a CD or MP3 CD. It also works for charging USB devices. I tried plugging my Black Berry 8350i into the USB slot, but it would not recognize it as media and would only charge the phone. Another input on this Pioneer head unit is the aux audio input jack on the front of the face that you can plug into with a male to male stereo audio cable. An unannounced features this unit has that will be useful for many is RDS support. The unit will display the song/artist when listening to radio stations that broadcast this information.
Installation: I thought going from one Pioneer to another would be a breeze and that the stereo wire harness would be the same as my old Pioneer. Just to be sure I contacted Crutchfield whom said many stereo manufacturers use the same harness for several years. Unfortunately I want to confirm in my review that the one from my DEH-P6700MP and the one in this new DEH-P5200HD are not the same. They look similar, but they are wired like a mirror image of each other and will not fit each other. *A note to the beginners, if you've still got a factory stereo in your vehicle, do yourself a favor and buy a harness adapter so you do not have to cut the factory wiring in the dash. That way if you ever go to sell your vehicle or you decide you do not like the stereo, you can just disconnect the harness and put the factory stereo back in.
I've been using the Pioneer DEH-P5200HD for a few weeks now and I like the unit a lot. Many of the various equalizer settings are the same as what was available on my old unit, and MP3 CD playback is about the same as well. Having the USB slot on the front is extremely convenient and I use it frequently to plug in a 8gb USB thumb drive full of songs. When you pull out the drive and plug it back in, the unit remembers where you were at in the last song and picks right back up. One major thing that takes some getting used to is the control knob on the radio. It seems to control everything in that one knob and it takes time to get used to. The remote control will help ease you into things as all the buttons are easily spelled out on it. It's also worth noting the remote is identical to my previous Pioneer remote and both were even cross-compatible.
Pros:
-Same fantastic EQ options Pioneer is known for. Includes bass frequency filtering options.
-USB & Aux input on the face
-USB input plays immediately when you plug in a USB drive, it also remembers what file and where it was at when the device was last plugged into it.
-iPod control from the face or remote
-RDS support for showing titles of songs from broadcast radio
-No lights and animated character distractions flashing all over the display.
Cons:
-Face detaches to the left side instead of flipping down which may be harder to remove depending on your dash
-HD Radio is not much of an improvement in quality of FM radio.
-USB input when reading from a USB thumb drive appears to read the folder order from last to first. (Song order is also affected if you add more songs to a folder later.)
-Control knob is an awkward all in one with a bit of a learning curve.
Do you remember upgrading from a tube TV to a flat screen? Do you remember the difference in picture quality? HD Radio is NOT that same upgrade. The HD FM radio broadcast quality is almost the same as what you've heard for years except now you don't get static, instead you get cutting in and out for seconds at a time when the signal starts getting weaker. Sometimes you hear the radio DJs talking about how much better their station sounds in HD, but the truth is there isn't much of a difference. I've read AM broadcast is hugely improved, but I have no interest in most talk radio programming so I have not tuned into any of it.
I'll try to come back and update this review once I've had some more hands on time.
*UPDATE 5/21/2010*
HD FM Radio: I've had this unit installed for a month now and have spent more time with the HD FM Radio functionality. I have turned off the blending mode that combines the HD and regular FM signals and find HD reception to be bad. I live minutes outside Houston and the reception on most the FM HD stations is extremely poor. For HD when the signal gets weak, the broadcast just cuts out all together. When I go downtown the signal is usually exceptional, but at 20 miles away from one of my frequent stations, quality becomes more miss than hit. When I drive to the southeast side of town, most the HD stations are unavailable at all. If you live inside a large city and are close to the radio stations you might enjoy HD radio, but for those of you who live in suburbs or you are far from the radio stations FM HD Radio is probably not for you.
Sound quality: I have finally decided this unit out performs my old Pioneer in sound quality. One of the custom features you can set and adjust that makes this possible is the ability to filter low bass frequencies from your 4 regular speakers. For those that like to turn up their music really loud sometimes, this can help you from blowing a speaker and also get rid of some of that extra distortion you can get from turning up the volume too much. That's not to say you can't still blow a speaker, but it should help.
Other than the HD Radio and the occasional issue with the all in one control knob accidentally getting pressed in when changing the volume, this Pioneer is a great unit. I'd definitely buy another Pioneer car stereo, they have not let me down yet. I'll update this review again if I come across anything new or something worth updating.
*UPDATE 6/22/2010*
USB Input Reading: I have finally found out what the order folders are read from USB flash drives. Apparently all folders and subfolders are read from the flash drive based on the order in which they are copied to the drive. While you would think this wouldn't be an issue, it can be an annoyance for those with multiple folders. If you select and copy multiple folders at a time to a flash drive, Windows seems to want to copy the folders from last to first. It does the same thing if you copy a folder with subfolders in it. Also if you go back and add more folders later, those will play after all the other previously copied folders.
Song playback order is also affected by the order in which they are copied. If you go back later and add songs, they will play after the previously copied songs in that folder. If you are like me and have purchased multiple albums from an artist and want to play them from oldest to newest, you'll have to copy the folders to the drive in the order you want them to play. If all this file order talk sounds like too much, the good news is that you can burn a MP3 CD with folders and they will be played in alphanumeric order without any special copying order or anything. For those of you with iPod, none of this order playback should be an issue since the iPod is actually playing the songs and sending the music to the receiver.

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Get hooked on HD Radio with Pioneer's DEH-5200HD. Enjoy crystal-clear reception with no distortion, and tag the songs you like for later purchase at the iTunes music store. You'll also enjoy playback of WMA/MP3/AAC files from disc or USB devices, optional direct iPod control, and room to grow--easily add Bluetooth and SAT Radio, or use the two preamp outputs to build a system with external speakers and amplification.


DEH-5200HD Features
Built-In HD Radio Now listen to the radio in the same unmatched fidelity as your digital music with HD Radio. Your FM stations now with CD-quality sound, AM stations now with FM-quality sound, and crystal-clear reception with no audio distortion. Enjoy new music and programming with no subscription fee.
Fed up with your Bluetooth headset? Here's a better hands-free solution. Use the available CD-BTB200 Bluetooth Adapter and Bluetooth-enabled cellular phones for easy, safe, and hands-free operation. The unit acts like a speakerphone, channeling the sound through your car speakers which makes the call sound better. It also automatically mutes your music so that you'll never miss a call. Optional CD-BTB200 adapter required.
CD-R/RW Playback Play back your favorite CDs and burnt CD-R/RW discs in the slot-loading CD player.
MP3/WMA/AAC Playback Don't let your favorite music downloads languish on your computer hard drive. Burn them to a CD-R or CD-RW and play them right on the car stereo. Enjoy hours of your favorite tunes MP3, WMA, and AAC audio content.
You can also just throw some files on a USB thumb drive and insert it directly in the front panel USB input.
iPod Made Easy It's easy! Simply plug your iPod directly into the unit using the optional CD-IU50 iPod cable, and you are ready to rock and roll. Listening to an artist that you just can't get enough of? Now you can hold the "List" button down and it will pop up folders containing that specific artist, album, or genre. You can also have your passenger control your music directly from the iPod.
Connect, Tag, and Download Have you ever heard a great song on the radio, but couldn't remember what it was called or who sang it when you went to go look for it later? Now you don't have to worry about missing out on great music. iTunes Tagging gives you the power to "tag" all of your favorite songs without having to scramble for a piece of scrap paper in the car, then later preview or purchase music at iTunes Music Store.

Bring Your Music to Life with Advanced Sound Retriever This year you can hear the detail, warmth, and clarity the way the artist intended it, from all of the highly compressed MP3, WMA and AAC files playing on your CD player. By restoring data that tends to get lost in the digital compression process, we can make your music sound close to CD quality.
Supertuner IIID AM/FM Tuner Pioneer's legendary Supertuner IIID combines the best of digital and analog tuner technologies to reduce distortion to bring you exceptional FM and AM performance. If you live in an area where reception is weak, you'll hear a big improvement in signal strength. And when you're near tall buildings, Supertuner IIID reduces the effect of multi-path noise, which occurs when the signal is reflecting off of the buildings.
MOSFET 50W x4 Amplifier for the Power Hungry Compared to conventional power supplies, the MOSFET amplification circuit is smaller and more efficient, delivering power with less distortion and absolutely zero on/off switching noise. And that doesn't just mean a boost in volume: it means that your music will be cleaner at higher volumes because you're not pushing the limits of the amplification circuit. Clean, efficient power that will rock your vehicle.
The DEH-5200HD is also ready for expansion, with two sets of 2V RCA preamp outputs (front, rear/subwoofer) for system expansion with external amps/speakers, and a two-way crossover with separate high and low pass settings.
Get Plugged In Use the built-in AUX input for connecting any digital portable player and other external auxiliary devices. For extra-convenient access, the input is on the front panel.
Dial In Your Sound Tweak the sound to your liking with the on-board five-band graphic EQ. A Loudness feature ensures ample low-end even during quiet listening, and standard balance/fader controls let you adjust the stereo image to suit your vehicle and preferences.
DEH-5200HD Basic Specs

What's in the Box Pioneer DEH-5200HD In-Dash CD Receiver, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Owner's Manual

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Sony MEXBT5700U CD Receiver Bluetooth Hands-Free and Audio Streaming Capability (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this product from a cheaper source, but use these reviews to determine which head unit to buy. The MEX-BT5700U had all the features I was looking for at a decent price. I have a '92 Toyota Pickup with a manual transmission, so Bluetooth calling was my top priority (safety) as my state hasn't implemented handsfree calling laws yet. My calls at highway speed (windows up) were clear and my caller only noticed a slight hum/noise and reported I sounded very clear. This was using the external mic provided on default settings for the gain and noise cancelling.
Note: if an external mic is provided with ANY head unit(this one comes with an external mic)USE IT, DO NOT bother with a head unit that you cannot add or use an external mic....proper mic placement is key. I placed my mic on the steering column in front of my gauges.
Pairing was simple, and iPod control is built in so you DO NOT need the separate iPod controller Sony sells for the other units. I also purchased the HD-Radio unit, but haven't installed it yet.
The controls, and layout are decent, but some functions take multiple pushes of a single button to reach, or spin the dial....this can be a bit tough while driving. I figure after some use I will figure out what buttons do what and how many times to push to get to a function. In my opinion, no head unit is completely intuitive but I believe this unit provides a reasonable logic to it, but could most certainly be improved like every other head unit on the market.
I recommend this unit to anyone looking for hands free calling, and iPod control. For the iPod control, all you need is your iPod USB cable, plug it in and the unit recognizes it and takes control. The unit can control the iPod, but nothing beats holding the iPod in your hand and selecting music the way you are used too. Looking at the screen you will still see the Artist Name and Song Title displayed even when in 'passenger mode'. Again, I haven't read a single review of any unit that has 'excellent' iPod controls.
Four stars because, no head unit is perfect, and Sony could probably spend more effort in making the controls more intuitive.

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Sony's MEX-BT5700U receiver offers plenty of modern features and room to grow. Enjoy hands-free calling with your cell phone or wirelessly play back tunes on your Bluetooth-enabled audio devices. Connect, control, and charge your iPhone, iPod, or MP3 player. Play back hours of music from single CDs loaded with MP3, WMA, or AAC files. Or grow your system by adding HD/SAT radio and external amplifiers/speakers.

Hands-Free CallingThe MEX-BT5700U features Bluetooth connectivity for making hands-free calls, complete with an integrated microphone (or use the included external mic). It also features audio streaming with compatible devices, and will display music metadata if included. Bluetooth profiles supported: HFP, A2DP, PBAP, and AVRCP 1.3.

Flip-Down DisplayAn enhanced display gives you and your passengers up to four lines of music and phone-call data on a bright, full-motion fluorescent display, while the flip-down faceplate keeps your CDs and stereo secure.

MP3/WMA/AAC Playback With DM+Multi-format playback lets you play CDs, CD-Rs, or CD-RWs loaded with hundreds of MP3, WMA, or AAC songs, for hours of music on a single disc. Sony's DM+ restores the fidelity lost in compressed digital audio files, so you always get CD-quality sound.

4V Front, Rear, and Subwoofer Preamp Outputs with LPF/HPFExpand your system with 4-volt front, rear, and subwoofer pre-outs. Add amplifiers and other components, while improving the system's dynamic range, reducing system noise, and providing powerful volume. Built-in LPF/HPF (low-pass filter/high-pass filter) functionality gives you the power to customize the sound outputted to your external amplifiers and other custom components, dialing it in just right for your gear and vehicle.

Quick-BrowZer with Jump Mode and Zappin TechnologySony's Quick-BrowZer lets you search and select songs by category, including artist, album, genre, or playlist. Jump Mode gets you closer to the song you want by allowing you to fast forward through a music category in 10 percent increments. With Zappin, you can play music in six-, nine-, or 30-second clips until you find the song you're looking for.

Satellite Radio/HD Radio-ReadyThe MEX-BT5700U integrates seamlessly with satellite radio Sony Bus adapters (sold separately), so you can receive digital satellite radio broadcasts. HD Radio capability lets you receive digital audio broadcasts when used with an optional HD Radio tuner.

Front Auxiliary InputThe front auxiliary input lets you connect almost any portable audio device to your car's sound system.

USB 1-Wire for iPod and other USB devicesUSB 1-Wire lets you directly connect, charge, and control your digital music player via the USB jack in the front of the unit, as well as view metadata like song title and artist on the front display.

The Passenger Control feature lets your co-pilot control your iPod via a connected wire as they scan through your music, artist, and album information that is conveniently shown on the receiver display, so you can keep your hands on the wheel.

EQ3 Stage 2 and 52W x 4 High PowerThe MEX-BT5700 delivers 52 watts of peak power to all four speakers, for bass-pumping sound.

Wireless Card Remote Included The included wireless card remote (RM-X306) lets you control the basic functions of your Sony Xplod system while keeping your eyes on the road.

What's in the Box
Sony MEX-BT5700U receiver, wireless card remote (RM-X306) with battery, front panel case, wiring harness, installation hardware, external Bluetooth microphone, and documentation.

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Clarion Mobile Electronics FZ501 - Bluetooth USB Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've owned the FZ501 for a few weeks now, and overall I'm pretty happy with the purchase. For the $130 I paid, it's a crazy good value. You just don't find good receivers at this price that include iPod and Bluetooth capability. I'm surprised so many receivers still include CD players. Who still uses those?? :) Just keep in mind there are some compromises that go along with the low price.
Pros:
-If you like simple, minimal design (and I very much do), this is a great looking unit. The single silver nob with a light blue glow behind it should blend nicely into most cars. Blue is all you get, however. You can't change colors. That minimalist approach also means you have to spend some time learning all the ways to push (up, down, left, right), twist, and click that big button to get things done. Once you get your head around it, it's fine. But if you want separate buttons and nobs for features, this isn't the amp for you. It's a bit like learning the iPod for the first time. You do a lot with a small number of controls.
-Solid, low noise amp. I drive a semi-noisy sports car with a big engine. This puts out plenty of power to the 6 stock speakers. The sound that comes out is clean and clear, with no distortion that I noticed.
-Digital radio tuner pulls in stations well and puts out good sound
-Front facing USB/iPod connection and Aux jack are very handy and easy to use. I like the way a small plastic door slides to hide/reveal them, keeping the design clean.
-It works with the newer iDevices, including the iPhone 4. If you want iPod/iPhone compatibility, be sure to do your research before buying. Just because it says it supports iPods doesn't necessarily mean it will support your device - always check.
-Overall, the Bluetooth features work well. It pulls in your phone directory and displays the name of the caller when you get an incoming call. It will connect automatically to your device, so you don't even need to think about it. And it lets you play music if your phone/device supports A2DP. One issue tho: you can't just tell it to support audio only(for example, if you prefer using your bluetooth headset for calls). That was an issue for me when I'd get a call on my iPhone; it would default to using the speakerphone built in to the receiver when I wanted it to go to my headset. You can pretty easily push a button on screen to change you 'source' to the headset, but that's a hassle when you're driving. On the audio side, it's amazing how you can just turn on your car, it links to your player, and you can just start playing music without fiddling with settings. Keep in mind tho: no matter what Bluetooth stereo or device you use, the sound will not be as good as a wired USB or Aux connection. Even if you're not an audiophile, if you crank up the volume very much, you'll notice the difference in quality. It's not _bad_, it's just not as good as a wired connect.
-If you have steering wheel controls, the optional interface adapter works very nicely. Being able to change volume / mute / go to the next track on my iPod was nice. However, when using the radio, the track skip buttons just changes the frequency up/down, not the presets. What brilliant person thought to set it up that way??
Cons:
-You have to use a button on the remote to change the display from the radio station or track playing to see the clock. Seriously. If you just want to look down and glance at the time, keep that remote handy. It boggles my mind why they made that choice.
-The display itself is somewhat minimal. It has to scroll a bit to give you full song titles / album names / etc. It would have been nice for them to incorporate a bigger display that shows more at once. (Like the clock!)
-It only supports Sirius, not XM Satellite tuners
-No rear USB/iPod connection for folks that want to keep cables discretely hidden.
-No removable face plate to discourage theft.
-The inability to separate headset and music functions on Bluetooth mentioned above.
-I had some occasional Bluetooth drops or the connection didn't happen automatically without turning the unit on and off. The fault could be with the stereo or my iPod. Overall, this has been a pretty rare problem.
-The steering wheel control limitations mentioned above (thought that might be partly the fault of the 3rd party that makes the steering wheel interface cable).
Bottom line, I definitely recommend the FZ501 for the price.

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Clarion's FZ501 is a mechless digital media receiver receiver packed full of connectivity options, with a unique single multi-way controller, direct iPod/iPhone control, front USB and AUX with sliding cover, and built-in Bluetooth for hands-free operation and audio streaming. It also offers room to grow, with two pairs of 2V preamp outputs on top of its 50W x 4 MOSFET amplifier, and the ability to add HD or SIRIUS satellite radio.
A mechless digital media receiver receiver packed full of connectivity options. Click here for a larger image

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Sony DSXS200X digital media receiver with iPod Direct Control via USB Review

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(More customer reviews)The iPod that I used testing this receiver was the newest generation iPod Classic 160gb.
---UPDATE---
What is the difference between the s200x and s300BTX? Nothing in appearance, or sound. They are the exact same thing except the s300BTX has bluetooth, that is it.
---UPDATE---
Here is my situation (this may similar to yours):
I wanted a new car stereo that:
1.
----Controlled the iPod while bypassing the internal iPod DAC---- (Digital Audio Converter)
- which, in newer models (basically everything past the iPod Video 5.5g), has an inferior Cirrus chip (much discussed about with loss of quality outputting your media sound files). The s200x has a 24-bit DAC that outputs a life like sound quality (testing with ALAC--apple lossless) that just does this. More on this point: if you want your car stereo to bypass iPod's DAC (a must for any audiophile, or for the absolute best sound quality), then you will have to control the iPod through the stereo itself. Moreover, if you want to use your iPod/iPhone as a controller, you can just insert the USB sync cable into the front of the Sony. However, if you use the latter method, you will no longer be using the DAC bypass, resulting in lower quality audio from the DAC of the iPod/iPhone.
2. Almost as important as #1, and directly ties into above:
----A fairly intuitive navigation of the iPod through the receiver----.
The s200x loads up almost instantaneous (possibly 1 or 2 seconds), and changes tracks even quicker. Actually, it feels quicker using this receiver than it does using the iPod itself. Moreover, you can control everything, and I mean everything, from the remote. This helps because the dial in the middle of this unit is hard to press, and harder to press correctly (meaning, in the absolute middle). It navigates just like the iPod does through its own program. You can also search by Letter, so that you can limit tedious scrolling.
3. Again, as important as the above two:
----The ability to see the display in daylight----
Although sunlight directly on this device does saturate the brightness a bit, it does not enough so that you cannot read the display. More succinctly: when exposed to direct light, the whites are not as white and the blacks are not as deep, however the most important aspect still retains: The Display is readable in daylight.
4.
----Having a fairly sophisticated EQ. ----
Much to the chagrin of Alpine's x305s, this device lets you fine tune your sound environment within your car, without buying two hundred dollars worth of extra equipment, while not being inferior in sound. Yes, the Alpine has the Burr-Brown (name brand) DAC. Will you tell the difference if your sound files are converted, ripped, or compressed well? No.
So while you get nothing from Alpine without extra money when wanting to tailor your sound, the s200x from Sony will let you adjust Time Delay from your speakers (adjusted for the distance you are away from each speaker), the full spectrum of frequencies (low, mid, high), and your speaker's ability to either act as a subwoofer, or not (have 6x9's in your back seat but no independent sub? The s200x will let you turn those speakers into a sub, and a sub only).
5. And finally, not as important, but still a constituent with the s200x:
----Price----
Needless to say, you cannot go wrong with the features, and quality, of the s200x for well under 200$. Alpine's color display? Not much more than a low resolution LCD screen (the navigation and presentation of the s200x is much more fluid and appropriate).
What is more is that the 'iPod Tray' that I am sure you have read about, is a must, and a new standard. It is as ingenious as it is innovative. In light of the plethora of hanging 'USB' cables plaguing many a car, the Sony is like going completely wireless.
Oh, if you have not already figured it out by now this DOES NOT comes with a CD player. Hence the 'Digital Media Receiver' title. However, with the iPod tray, your Media Player takes it seat appropriately where a CD player would have went. Needless to say, you have never had a CD player that could play, or have access to, in less than a second, 20,000 lossless quality music files.
As I was looking around at every available receiver on the market, each one had a downside. Alpine did not offer anything to adjust the sound (except if you...ya know), Kenwood's controls were awful (which was the receiver I was replacing), and Pioneer did not offer a 24bit DAC and/or navigation was sluggish. With all of those features lacking in every other device, I, in a moment of serendipity, happened to discover the s200x.
What will your receive with the Sony S200x? Exactly what you want, and nothing less.


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The DSX-S200X Digital Media Receiver by Sony features a USB Tune Tray that connects and stores your iPod behind the sleek flip-down faceplate, eliminating visible wires. A second front USB input allows you to connect additional devices4. Plus, the DSX-S200X boasts innovative audio technology features like Advanced Sound Engine to create the ideal in-car sound experience.

Dynamic Sound
Flip-down Face with Front USB Input The large 4-line OEL display makes it easy to read song information and the front USB 1-wire input lets you connect, control and charge your iPod, iPhone, Walkman player or other compatible USB device.

Integrated Tune Tray The Tune Tray compartment lets you easily connect, control and charge your iPod, Walkman player or other compatible music devices via the USB 1-Wire input. Your player is secured inside, eliminating unsightly and distracting wires.

Dual USB 1-Wires Inputs Features dual USB 1-Wire inputs for iPod, Walkman player and other compatible music devices. Directly connect, charge, and control your compatible digital music player via the USB jack in internally and in the front of unit.

Intuitive Search Features Use Quick-BrowZer feature to find music by artist, album, genre, song or playlist. Jump Mode allows you to fast forward through a category in 10% increments while the ZAPPIN feature can play a 6, 9, or 30 second intro clip to help you find a specific song.

SensMe Application Music Channels SensMe application can organize your music into playlists that perfectly match your mood, scene and location, making it easier to choose the music that fits the moment.

Advanced Sound Engine The Advanced Sound Engine uses EQ7 equalizer, adjustable LPF/HPF crossovers, Listener Position calibration, DM+ advanced sound restoration, Rear Bass Enhancer, and Dynamic Loudness volume leveler to create an ideal in-car listening environment.

High-Powered Expansion Whether using the internal 52W x 4 high power amplifier for your speakers or the 4 Volt Front, Rear and Sub RCA preamp outputs to feed an external amplifier, you can dial in the output for optimum sound.

Wireless Remote/Illumination The included wireless remote lets you control the basic functions of your DSX-S200X Digital Media Receiver while keeping your eyes on the road. Selectable blue or red key illumination compliments vehicle interior lighting.

Satellite Radio/HD Radio Ready The DSX-S200X integrates seamlessly with Satellite Radio and HD Radio using Sony Bus adaptors so you can receive digital satellite radio or HD Radio broadcasts.

Radio Data System Radio Data System (RDS) feature displays radio broadcast information such as artist, title, and album when listening to compatible AM/FM stations.

What's in the Box
DSX-S200X Digital Media Receiver, RM-X172 Wireless Remote, XA-50IP USB Connector for iPod, Installation Hardware, User's Manual, Installation Manual

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Sony MEX-BT2800 In-Dash CD Receiver MP3/WMA Player with Bluetooth Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Wireless bluetooth audio streaming and calling are the killer feature for this deck. If you have a smartphone (I have an iPhone) you can beam your music and phone calls through the deck. Pairing was a simple one time process. Now, whenever I get in my car, my iPhone auto-pairs with the deck in 10-15 seconds. The iPhone beams my music to the deck. The quality is very good. I can't tell the difference between bluetooth and my aux cable, and I have quality aftermarket speakers installed. Controlling the music is done through the phone itself, the way it should be (trying to control your iPod/iPhone music through the deck is a pain in the ass. I have yet to see a deck that accomplishes this in way that isn't extremely clumsy, slow, and unintuitive). So, to be clear, I just scroll through my list of songs on the phone and when I press play (on the phone) I hear the sound through the car audio system.
If you get a call during a song (or podcast, or whatever), the music will fade out gracefully and you'll hear a ring through your car speakers. One press of the volume knob answers the call. You don't have to speak into your phone. There is a microphone in the faceplate of the deck. There are two settings for low and high sensitivity on the mic. The default is low, but I found that high sensitivity works better in my car, but it probably picks up more road noise. The call quality is good. My friends can't tell the difference between a call through the stereo and a normal call. When you're done with the call, the music will fade in gracefully right where you left off!
In conclusion, this really is the ideal solution for both hands-free calling and music in your car. It works better than I hoped. I haven't used the radio, the CD player, or any other feature, so I can't comment on those. But really, who cares about any of that stuff? All that matters is the quality of the bluetooth interface, and this deck has that. There's no need to spend a small fortune on a fancy, flashy deck. The smartphones of the future will have better music streaming, podcasting, voice controls, navigation, hd radio, etc. than any deck. Companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Google have a massive technology lead over car deck manufacturers. My advice is to get a good phone and a cheap deck with good bluetooth like this.

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Sony's MEX-BT2800 offers a basic way to add a Bluetooth receiver to your vehicle. Make hands-free calls or stream audio from your compatible devices. You can also play back CDs and CD-R/RWs, along with MP3/WMA files. A front auxiliary input is great for connecting external devices, or you can add full iPod control with a Sony adapter (that goes for HD/SAT Radio as well).

Detachable Faceplate The MEX-BT2800 features a detachable faceplate for added security, with a 1-line, 13-segment LCD display and blue control illumination.
Bluetooth Functionality The MEX-BT2800 features Bluetooth hands-free with an integrated microphone (or through an external microphone), as well as audio streaming functionality using your compatible Bluetooth music device.
MP3/WMA Playback Play CDs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs, including discs loaded with MP3 and WMA files.
Optional iPod Control Easily add the ability to connect, charge, and control your compatible iPod device directly from the receiver.
Satellite and HD Radio Ready The MEX-BT2800 integrates seamlessly with satellite radio Sony Bus adaptors (sold separately) so you can receive digital satellite radio broadcasts. HD Radio capability lets you receive digital audio broadcasts when used with an optional HD Radio tuner.
Radio Data System (RDS) The Radio Data System (RDS) feature displays radio broadcast information such as artist, title, and album.
Front Auxiliary Input The front auxiliary input lets you connect almost any portable audio device to your car's sound system.
EQ3 Customize the sound with Sony's EQ3 feature, which includes 7 preset tone curves and a 3-band equalizer.
What's in the Box MEX-BT2800, Installation Hardware, User's Manual

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Pioneer DEH-33HD CD Receiver with HD Tuner Built-In and iPod/iPhone Control Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I elected to install this radio myself in my wife's Nissan. Since she had a previous Pioneer model installed, I hoped this new one would simply plug into the old harness and pop into the original mount. I was wrong on both counts. Although extremely similar, the mechanical mounts were different, but it didn't take long to replace the mounts. The electrical connectors were totally different, which required me to cut off the old connector and splice in the new one. That wasn't difficult either, but took about 30 minutes to splice the 11 wires into the old harness, after digging out the Nissan manual to confirm the color codes. Total installation took me slightly longer than an hour.
But the really hard part was figuring out how to use the radio. My wife is the primary user of that car and radio, but I glanced at the instructions and they made little sense to me. When she tried to read them, she had the same conclusion. Fortunately, she was able to find some videos on Youtube that explained the operation of the radio. This is the main reason I gave the radio 3 stars for "ease of use". Once my wife went through the videos, it was probably easy to use for her and she might rate it higher.
As far as the performance of the radio is concerned, all I know is my wife loves it and says it works great. I've only been in her car once since I installed it for her and it sounded good to me as well. We've had no issues with it so far, but haven't used the CD player yet. The main reason we bought it was for the USB port to plug her iPod into.

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With both an auxiliary and USB input on the front, Pioneer's DEH-33HD is a flexible player that lets you enjoy your music from a variety of sources. It is fully compatible with iPod and iPhone, allowing direct control via the CD tuner, and ready to play back your CDs and digital files. On top of that, it offers built-in HD Radio with iTunes tagging for later purchase. Still need more? Add Bluetooth or SAT Radio with Pioneer adapters.
A solid receiver with HD Radio, playback of digital media/CDs, and room to grow. Click here for a larger image

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Blaupunkt Bluetooth-/USB-Interface - Car audio Bluetooth adapter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Excellent service from the seller, it got on time to the adress. I totally recommend both the product and the seller.
Thank you.

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

Average Reviews:

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

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Sony CDXGT550UI MP3/WMA/AAC Player CD Receiver with iPod Direct Control via USB Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm quite happy with the unit after a couple days. Surprised at how well it integrates with my iPhone (3GS) for music. It has two modes for using with iPhone, the default is it blanks the IPOD on the phone and you get full IPOD control on the deck (browse by artist-album-song). If you prefer you can set to 'passenger' mode which turns on the ability to control songs from the iPhone rather than the deck. Pandora works. You can navigate and do whatever you want on the phone while playing music through the deck; something two different 'geeks' at BB told me it couldn't do. Charges iPhone good. Cons - Silly triple beep I can't figure out how to turn off when ignition turns off, supposed to remind you to remove the faceplate - sheesh. No simple bass/treble adjustment for the wife, have to adj EQ from what I can tell.

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The Xplod CDX-GT550UI by Sony lets you play music from a variety of sources with superior sound quality. Connect, charge, and control your iPod, iPhone, Walkman player or other compatible digital music players with USB 1-Wire, an innovative feature that also displays song title, artist and track data.

Explosive Sound
Detachable Face With Front Auxiliary InputThe easy-to-read single line LCD display shows clock, station ID and track data when playing back your digital MP3/WMA/AAC files. The front auxiliary input lets you connect almost any portable audio device to your car's sound system.

MP3/WMA/AAC PlaybackMulti-format playback lets you play your MP3, WMA, or AAC songs. Hear digital music files in their original vibrancy with DM+ (Digital Music Plus), a Sony codec enhancer that reproduces detailed frequencies from compressed audio files.

Front USB 1-WireConnect, charge, and control your iPod, iPhone, Walkman player or other compatible USB devices via the USB 1-Wire jack in the front of the unit. You can also view metadata like song title and artist on the front display.

Intuitive Search FeaturesThe Quick-BrowZer feature lets you search and select songs by category, including artist, album, genre, or playlist. Jump Mode gets you closer to the song you want by fast forwarding through the music categories in 10 percent increments.

ZAPPIN track sampling searchThe ZAPPIN feature lets users play music samples in 6, 9, or 30-second clips until you find the song you're looking for.

Passenger ControlPassenger Control lets your co-pilot control the music playing from your iPod device via connected USB 1-Wire, and as they scan through your music, artist and album information is conveniently shown on the receiver display.

Satellite/HD Radio ReadyThe Satellite and HD Radio ready feature lets users connect and control your optional Satellite and HD Radio tuners to the integrated Sony Bus system to receive broadcast signals, providing device control directly from the receiver's front panel.

Advanced Sound EngineThe Advanced Sound Engine uses EQ7 equalizer, adjustable LPF/HPF crossovers, Listener Position calibration, DM+ advanced sound restoration, Rear Bass Enhancer, and Dynamic Loudness volume leveler to create an ideal in-car listening environment.

RCA Outputs for External AmplifiersWhen you're ready to expand your system, the CDX-GT550UI offers front and selectable rear or subwoofer preamp RCA outputs for external amplifiers. Set the built in electronic HPF/LPF crossovers to improve sound quality and reduce system distortion.

Wireless Card RemoteControl your Xplod CD receiver while keeping your eyes on the road with the included wireless card remote (RM-X151).

Blue or Green Key IlluminationSelectable Blue or Green key illumination helps complement the existing vehicle dash lighting so you locate buttons quickly during evening playback.

What's in the Box
CDX-GT550UI Receiver, Remote Control, Sleeve/Trim Ring, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, User's Manual, Installation Manual

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Kenwood Excelon KDC-X794 In-Dash CD MP3 WMA Receiver with Remote Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)At first I was skeptical about this deck after receiving it and ultimately wrote a bad review. In the following weeks I've determined this is the best deck I've ever owned. my only huge complaint was the slowness of viewing the folders off a USB device. Then I found a forum where someone had modified the kenwood music software into something simple and great. If you buy this deck you must visit [...] and download the improved version of kenwood's software. Sound quality is superb and the only thing lacking in the head unit is intuitiveness and a dedicated mute button on the deck :P. ALSO there seems to be some sort of glitch with the deck. If you remove the faceplate, start up the vehicle and put the faceplate back on, the deck will not read ANY USB device until it's reset with the reset button. You must put the faceplate back on BEFORE starting the vehicle. strange I know but it's something I can live with.

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JVC Car KDHDR30 In-Dash CD Receiver with HD Radio Tuner Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been interested in HD radio for about a year and a half now. Over that time, I had installed two external HD radio tuners in my car. The first was Visteon HD Jump directly connected to my AUX in line through a JVC KD-SX75 head unit. When I sold that car, I bought and had the JVC KT-HDP1 installed in my new car, connected to the cars' head unit by an FM transmitter. After using these, I wanted to get a head unit with an HD Radio tuner built in, as well as having an input for an MP3 player.
I wish I had found this product much earlier than I did. This unit is ready for what I currently have, as well as ready for and will control iPods, XM and/or Sirius satellite radio, Bluetooth, and a JVC CD changer through the head unit out of the box, though you'd have to buy those products separately.
HD Radio on this is a great feature. In addition to AM and FM signals sounding better because of HD Radio, most stations display the track titles and artists of the songs (it's helped me find several songs to buy). Some stations also broadcast "sub-channels" of additional content. One problem here is that when there is a sub channel available, there is no indication of it. The only way to know it is there is to press the up or down buttons on the dial.
The CD drive is able to read MP3/WMA CDs (provided they aren't protected music files) which allows you to put about 12 CDs onto 1 CD. One complaint of mine is that you can't browse folders on the CD, going from one folder to another plays the first song of the folder. I must say the factory stereo of my new car spoiled me on this.
The AUX input on the front was a great addition to this product. I have my MP3 player attached to it, and it sounds good!
I brought this into Circuit City and had it installed by them, and am very happy with their installation. I'm not comfortable getting into the car to do this myself.

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Alpine iDA-X305 - Radio / digital player - Full-DIN - in-dash - 50 Watts x 4 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This review will be pretty in depth, but will focus primarily on the important things. I'm going to start with the iPod/iPhone stuff first, since I would imagine this is a big reason why many people are looking into this deck.
I will preface this by saying I bought this because I needed a deck that could play music from my iPhone 3G.
*****
UPDATE: I can confirm that the iPhone/iPod 3.0 OS Software is compatible with this deck. In fact, it makes the experience a TINY bit easier because the iPod app no longer launches when you plug in your iPhone/iPod, which means you can be doing something on your phone and not worry about it getting exited when you plug the phone in. It still switches the source to iPod/iPhone, but at least the iPod application on the phone doesn't launch.
*****[iPod/iPhone/USB Stuff]
*******************
This deck supports an impressive amount iPods, iPhone 2G and iPhone 3G, Flash Drives, and most likely many other USB based players. It has a USB port in the back of the unit that screws in to avoid it coming unplugged during normal road bumps, etc. The USB cable they provide you with is nice and long. In my case, it would run almost all the way to the back of my SUV (Buick Rendezvous). It comes with a special iPod/iPhone connector that will charge the iPhone while you play music. Using a normal iPhone cable does not work, the deck gives you an error and throws a fit.
The iPod/iPhone functionality is very solid. It offers most all the sorting types of the iPod (Album, Artist, Song, Playlist) and even will show album art. Though the album art shows up fine when it is smaller, changing the view type to the album art only screen results in blurry/pixelated art work. I was slightly disappointed that there is no "Genius" functionality here, but that feature is pretty new, even to the iPod.
You can advance songs, go back a song, pause, and turn on song or album shuffle on the deck itself.
I personally find it difficult to use the deck to scroll through music, because of how unresponsive the knob is. Turning the knob is very similiar to setting your 10 speed bike to the highest speed. Even though you are pedaling REALLY fast, the tires are moving at a slower pace than if it were at a low speed. If you turn the dial really fast, it only advances 2, 3, maybe 4 spaces on the screen. This makes it hard to scroll through lots of artists, albums, or songs.
Additionally, plugging the iPhone or iPod touch into the stereo cuts off your use of the iPod application, so controlling the song play through your iPod (which I would prefer) is not possible.
Here is the bad part: it is very inconsistent and stubborn when it comes to recognizing my iPhone. If I have the iPod application up and running, then I plug it into the stereo, it will either give me an error on the deck, or tell me the device was not made for the iPhone. This means I have to close the iPod application, then plug it in to the stereo. This wouldn't be so bad, but it also seems to react differently based on whether or not a song is playing, paused, or no activity whatsoever. If I am playing a song when I plug it in, all sorts of crazy stuff happens and I end up having to unplug and replug and then pause and then quit out of the iPod app, and unplug again, then replug before it will work.
Again, wouldn't be so bad, but I find myself spending alot of time just trying to get a song playing instead of just plugging it in and driving.
Also, there is no option to not automatically switch to the iPod source when I plug in the phone. This sucks because if I just want to charge my phone, it will automatically switch the radio to the iPod source, forcing me to push source again to get back. This wouldn't be so bad, but I sometimes listen to Pandora Radio Application through my stereo, and if I am listening to it on my headphones while walking to my vehicle, plugging it into the stereo causes the application to quit, effectively cutting off my music, forcing me to relaunch Pandora and wait for it to buffer my song again. (This may be a personal problem, but it is relevant). It would be nice to turn off Auto Switch as far as the source goes.
Other than no Genius support, not being able to control from the iPhone/iPod itself, and the auto source switch, the iPhone/iPod functionality works well. I just wish I could get in my truck, turn it on, plug in my phone and leave. Instead, getting a song going is a chore. I end up sitting in my truck fidgeting with the deck instead of getting on the road.
[General Use]
***********
You WILL need to read the manual (comes on a CD in the box) in order to figure out some of the functions of this stereo. Though some of it is pretty straight forward, other functions are hidden, or are a string of button presses and knob turns to get to. They managed to make even simple tasks like setting a station preset slightly difficult.
I found it strange this unit does not support RDS, so you will miss out on the useful information that radio stations have to offer in the way of song artist and title, etc..
The clean face plate comes at the price of having to use menus to get to everything, but I expected as much, and boy are there alot of menus.
Two of the front buttons are dedicated to functions that are not even built into the deck itself, so this is kind of frustrating, especially since these addons will cost you upwards of $150 each. It seems like something better could have been put in those 2 slots (but maybe it's just me who may not be buying both addons).
All the buttons and knobs are easy to use and control, though I wish the knob itself was a little bit "stiffer." Turning the knob has inconsistent functionality. Turning it very slowly ensures you advanced to the next item in a list with every tick (clicks are very close to each other), and turning it very quickly has mixed results (sometimes it will advance you only 1 list item, sometimes a few more). Whatever the case, it is cumbersome to scroll through long lists, even with the inclusion of the "percentage" scrolling type set on, which lets you advance to a specific percentage in your music list, etc. This is kind of useless, since I don't memorize, or care to memorize what percent Metallica or any other artist is at...
Additionally, the ring of the knob can be pressed in and turned a quarter of the way to the right or left. This functionality has different uses depending on what menu, feature, or functionality you are using from the stereo.
All buttons are easy to press and sturdy. The face plate itself is very light (a good thing in my opinion) and only the button portion comes off, the LCD stays attached to the unit, making it easier to carry, but the screen itself may still be enough to tempt somebody. The back button is pretty useful and works well, especially when you are new to this unit, because you WILL venture into the wrong menu several times.
You can change the color of the interface from Blue to Red, as well as change the background using the ones built into the unit, or via a flash drive by downloading wallpapers from Alpine's media website.
[Sound]
*******
The deck sounds great. I can crank it up pretty loud (with lotsa room to go higher) and everything still sounds crisp and clear. There is a ton of room for turning volume up and down on this unit, so you will be able to find the volume level that is JUST right all the time. Has separate controls for subwoofer volume and all the fun equalizer stuff you could want (gotta look in the manual for how to do it).
[Expandability]
************
This thing can do pretty much anything you need, but it will cost you big money. It is ready to accept HD Radio, Sirius Satellite, Bluetooth Connectivity, and even an Imprint Sound Processor... but each accessory will cost you $150 plus. It is great they have support for these things, but they are expensive and probably could have been included in the stereo itself, especially when you consider the price tag this baby has. I knew it didn't come with these things when I bought it, but still, when they dedicated 2 of the very few buttons on the face plate to items that are not available in the unit by default, it is kind of frustrating.
There is no CD player built into this unit.
[Final Word]
**********
This is a great unit and has much to offer in the end of owning something fresh and great looking. It definitely stands out and has a nice LCD screen that is put to pretty good use. I wish you could adjust the size of the text on screen, as I like to have more words on screen over having it be more readable.
I hope there is a firmware update to add in genius functionality for the iPod/iPhone and fix the difficulties that can occur with plugging the phone in and getting it to be recognized.
I would definitely suggest this unit to anybody looking for a good deck that supports iPhone/iPod and is looking for ease of use and nice LCD screen space and use. Although it can be a difficult adjustment changing songs with the deck itself, it is stille very likely the best implementation of iPod/iPhone use in a deck to date. Hopefully we will see a firmware update that lets you control the unit from the phone.
If you are looking for expandability, then this is also your unit. You can do pretty much anything you feel if you are willing to pay the price for the addons. It has a nice lengthy USB and all the connections you need for your iPhone or iPod.
*************
* 4/5 Stars
*************

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Alpine CDE-121 Car Stereo CD/MP3/AAC/WMA Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this radio a month ago at best buy, and it works great. it has quite a few features, but they take a little while to get used to. you can simply put a flash drive into the front and it reads the music files on it, and the display flows smoothly. the usb also charges your devices, which makes it convienient for cell phones/ipods/zunes/mp3's. Aux connection works well. It has subwoofer level control, as well as bass level control, making it a great radio to add to your audio improvement in your car. in my opinion though, it would be well worth the extra $6 to just buy the radio from best buy (my total was $117.99 after tax) and not have to worry about the hassle of shipping/vendors/etc. overall, it is a great radio, great quality/brand name, and works efficiently, lots of positive features, especially for the price.

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

Average Reviews:

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

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Alpine CDA105 / CDA-105 / CDA-105 CD Receiver MP3/WMA Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)My old Alpine stereo was still going strong, but this one had so many cool new features that I had to buy it. And I am very, very glad that I did.
It has the usual Alpine virtues: intuitive controls, perfect sound, etc. But some new features make it special:
#1 new feature: USB port on rear of unit. Attach an iPod, iPhone, memory stick, or like me, a 500 GB Buffalo MiniStation Cobalt hard drive. Have your entire music collection at your fingertips!
#2 new feature: Imprint! This automotive version of the Audyssey processor has worked miracles on the sound of my system in my truck. The PXA-H100 processor plugs directly into the back of the CDA-105 and should be considered a must-have accessory. After an hour of setup (stepping through the menus) I was shocked at the level of improvement in the overall sound. Before, it was a good-sounding car stereo. Now, it is the best sounding car stereo that I've ever heard. Wow! Really, this is a life-improving feature.


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