Sony XNV-660BT 6.1-Inch WVGA In-Dash A/V Receiver with Bluetooth, USB, Satellite/HD radio ready, and Integrated Navigation from TomTom Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pros: Start-up is under 5 seconds, Nav, DVD player, IPOD integration is great for the most part, Blue tooth, radio tuner has many presets and even has ability to search regular FM for genre specific stations (great for traveling). Buttons are large and it feels very user friendly and there aren't a lot of layers to get through when trying to switch through your sources.
Cons: Sirius Satellite radio integration is not good! It only displays 1 line and 8 characters and scrolls. In order to get all the information typically provided by satellite radio you need to hit the Display button 4 times (while waiting for scrolling time) to get the radio station name, song name, artist, and channel number. This is just not acceptable at this price level. Sony's website states "seamless" satellite radio integration, I don't quite understand that.
Second con is with the IPOD, but when your listening to a song and you want to go back through the layers to the album then artist etc, it doesn't let you. It will make you start at the beginning of your library and have to dive back into the artist then album to get back to where an ipod would normally go with one click. Kind of difficult when you just want to change albums by the same artist or even when you want to skip from track 2 to 10 without pressing seek 8 times.
Last con I care to discuss, SENSE ME software is only written for windows, and I don't have a windows computer, leaving this function of the radio completely useless for me.
This radio is going back this week, as I have called Sony and they have no answers for any updates in the future. Check my video review out as it was too big for amazons site:
[...]

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The Sony XNV-660BT A/V Receiver with Navigation delivers incredible audio and video picture quality and integrates navigation from TomTom. With the most accurate maps and over 1 million more miles of road in the US than others, plus features like USB 1-Wire connections and Bluetooth technology, you're ready for the road trip of a lifetime--not to mention your daily commute.

Incredible Audio/Video Picture Quality
6.1-Inch Touchscreen Display High-resolution TFT (WVGA) 6.1-inch touch screen display that will inform and entertain you, making everything easier to control with gesture command and on-screen touch buttons. Separate audio and video power supply circuits provide added clarity.

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

Integrated Bluetooth Technology Taking calls and enjoying streaming audio has never been easier with the XNV-660BT A/V Receiver with Navigation featuring Bluetooth technology. Connect compatible devices and easily choose between Hands Free and Phone Book Access or Audio Streaming.

Plays DVDs/CDs and Digital Files The XNV-660BT A/V Receiver with Navigation accepts just about every digital format you'd want on the road. The XNV-660BT can playback CD or DVD and MP3/WMA/AAC/JPEG/MP4 (Simple Profile) CODEC files.

Satellite Radio/HD Radio Ready The XNV-660BT integrates seamlessly with Satellite Radio and HD Radio using Sony Bus adaptors so you can receive digital satellite radio or HD Radio broadcasts.

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

Integrated Navigation From TomTom The Sony XNV-660BT A/V Receiver with Navigation features TomTom navigation and delivers incredible audio and video picture quality. TomTom is the only company to incorporate real world, real-time feedback, providing the most accurate maps available. Preloaded Maps of US and Canada TomTom navigation provides the most accurate maps with over 1 million more miles of road in the US than other GPS brands.One Year Free Map Updates Ensuring that the digital map content remains completely up-to-date. Included in the box provides 4 verified US and Canada map updates for the first year.TomTom Home Software TomTom Home makes it easy to get new software, download new maps, access free content and more. Simply bring the exclusively designed TomTom Navigation Module from your car and connect to your computer via USB.IQ RoutesTomTom IQ Routes Technology puts the driving experience of millions of TomTom users into your maps to shave time off even the shortest trips. Calculates the fastest route possible based on time of day. With TomTom IQ Routes you'll always drive the smartest, most efficient route. IQ Routes saves you time, fuel and money.
Traffic isn't the same during Monday morning rush hour as it is on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Heavy traffic, rotaries, traffic lights, and even pedestrians can slow you down. The route you need changes depending on the day and time, so the shortest route isn't necessarily going to be the fastest. With TomTom IQ Routes you'll always drive the fastest route.

Advanced Lane Guidance* TomTom Advanced Lane Guidance gives you extra clarity when navigating difficult junctions by showing you which lane to take, so you won't miss your turn or have to make sudden, dangerous lane crossings. Photorealistic images and a pulsing green arrow indicate exactly which lane to use, so you can go confidently.

Spoken Street Names When driving to your destination, the XNV-770BT will announce turn-by-turn directions, including street and place names.

6 Million Points of Interest Preloaded with the locations of millions of gas stations, restaurants, hotels, hospitals and more.

QuickGPSfix GPS data that predicts satellite positions and enables quicker GPS pick-up. Faster satellite pick-up means quicker start to the journey.

Help Me! Emergency Resources Menu Comprehensive Help Me! menu to assist in any emergency. Quickly obtain address information to the nearest help location (hospital, police station, etc.). First aid guide also provides info on what to do if an accident occurs.

*Feature only available in the US and Canada

What's in the Box
Sony XNV-660BT A/V Receiver with Navigation, RM-X170 Wireless Remote, CD-ROM (Application Disc), Installation Hardware, Microphone, Navigation Module, User's Manual, Installation Manual

About TomTom Founded in Amsterdam in 1991, TomTom has established itself as a global leader in navigation by being an innovative company with a strong brand, clear customer focus, and high quality products and services.
TomTom is the world's leading navigation solutions provider with navigation products sold in 30 countries and in over 20 languages. To further our commitment to car navigation, TomTom acquired Tele Atlas maps in 2008 so we can continually provide the most up-to-date maps and intelligent routing.

We have our own mapping company! Did you know that every year roads change by up to 40% in high-growth areas? Tele Atlas manages this by using the world's most comprehensive systems to identify and incorporate these changes into our maps with unprecedented levels of speed and accuracy. All TomTom devices benefit from the Tele Atlas advantage--more coverage, more points of interest, and more freshness and accuracy.

Why TomTom? At TomTom, we believe that personal navigation should be as easy and safe as possible. We develop smart technology that gives you straightforward solutions, innovations to make life easy.

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Pioneer AVH-P3300BT 5.8-Inch DVD AV Bluetooth Receiver with iPod/iPhone Control Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First of all, the reason why I had purchased this item was because it had bluetooth and it was navigation ready on sale for only ($359). If the price is listed higher then $359 don't get it. Just wait for the price to go down. The higher end models that are twice as expensive and do not even include bluetooth or navigation ready. As soon as I had this item installed,
I was very impressed by the sound quality (you can custom tune the EQ), and I love how it's very simple to use. And it just came out as well.
It comes with a microphone where you can set it anywhere you want in the front of the car to talk into and it has the iphone function where you can dial numbers and view your phonebook through the screen. The touchscreen sensitivity is pretty good, not the best, but pretty good. I would rate the touch sensitivity 3.8 of 5 stars because its the push technology. I'd give the iphone's touch sensitivity 5 of 5 stars.
This system has a new feature called APP MODE which is awesome because you can view and control any of your applications from your iphone 4 or itouch through your head unit screen. The only downside to the APP MODE is Pioneer makes customers buy a specific cable for that feature to work. You need the Pioneer CD-IU51V which costs like $50.00 bucks. Not the Pioneer CD-IU50V. Total Rip-Off but its cool to own.
This unit comes with a remote control but it's really uncomfortable to use because it's so tiny and its hard to get a grip while driving. I would recommend you go on Pioneer's website and purchase a remote control separately (it's around $19-$29).
What's cool is that it can read SD cards. You can put pictures, movies, music, and etc. I prefer using an SD card over an ipod because ipod's require a long cable. Its just a pain to pull out the cable and then hide it every time you step out of your vehicle so that nobody see's it and tries to rob you.
Also, make sure you let the installer know that you want this head unit bypassed so you are able to watch movies as you drive. (Not that I recommend anyone doing that, but maybe for the passenger to watch and get comfortable with). If you don't get the head unit bypassed, videos will not play unless you are parked. I did the bypass myself and it doesn't take more than 5-10 minutes if you know what you're doing. In order to bypass it, you are going to need a Standard Bosch Relay (can be purchased at any electronic store for a few bucks or less). You do not want to get it bypassed by using a switch (let the installer know you don't want it done this way) because then you are going to have to turn the switch on and off every time you get in the car.
What I also like about this unit is that it will read almost any type of dvd video format. Also, you can go on itunes and burn 600 songs onto a dvd disc (format it as data disc), and it will play beautifully, all 500-600 songs. I recommend again, if you want to watch movies on screen from your itouch or iphone 4, you need to purchase the USB cable that pioneer has to offer (Pioneer CD-IU51V). NOT THE Pioneer CD-IU50V. You need the Pioneer CD-IU51V.
If you have any questions including which EQ setting sounds best, how to install or bypass, where the best place to set the microphone, etc. Let me know. Hope this review was helpful.

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Pioneer's AVH-P3300BT adds Bluetooth hands-free calling to the long list of features on their 2011 multimedia receivers, complete with 10-key dialing via the 5.8-inch widescreen touch display. Pioneer's improved touch interface lets you customize things to your preference, and easily enjoy your favorite DVDs and CDs, USB thumb drives, and SD Cards full of your favorite files. You'll get direct control of your iPod or iPhone, and Pioneer's Advanced Sound Retriever to put some life back into those compressed audio files. Pioneer's Auto EQ feature lets you use the CD-M20 microphone to further optimize the receiver's EQ for your vehicle. And when it's time to grow, add GPS navigation, satellite radio, and more with Pioneer add-on devices.
A versatile touchscreen DVD receiver with wide media support. Click here for a larger image

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Jensen jLINK-USB iPod Connecting Cable for Jensen/Phase Linear Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Although I hate to buy separate attachments, this cable is the real deal. Works great with iPhones/IPods, and my friends purposely bring their IPods just to watch movies/music in the car. I would say the only flaw is that the cable rarely cuts off everynow and then. Meaning, when I watch a movie, the movie would shut off and then come back on due to the connection between the iPod/iPhone to the console. Overall, Great product to buy and recommended to impress your peers :).

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Pioneer AVIC-X910BT 5.8-Inch In-Dash Navigation A/V Receiver with DVD Playback and Bluetooth Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Bought the X910BT for my car, we enjoy traveling the back roads of Arizona and the southwest. Having the Nav system installed in the car makes things very easy - no hassle connecting the various devices, cables running all over, taking it down and putting it back up when making stops, and little "suction circles" on the windshield that thieves look for. Now I only have to fuss with the radar detector. Startup time on the unit is really not a problem, my Garmin would often take several minutes to startup, the AVIC is typically ready to go in about 1 minute. The bluetooth connection takes a little longer and the unit is very sluggish until the bluetooth connects. After the bluetooth is connected, the X910BT is very responsive.
It's a very easy unit to operate after you get used to it. My previous GPS was a Garmin unit, and I really got spoiled by their features. A few things I can complain about with the X910BT:
- Voice recognition on bluetooth - just doesn't seem to understand what I'm saying, either by name or number. I usually end up selecting the contact off the screen instead of telling it who to call. After the call has started, it works great, incoming sound is loud and clear. One person told me I sounded kind of muffled on their end, but they did not have any problem understanding me.
- Route planning is a bit of a pain if you're like me and like to take the back roads. When we travel, we like to stay off the interstate as much as possible. Disabling the Highway option makes for some very long trips as it will try to route you way out of the way to avoid highways. The AVICFeeds software is ok and I have used it to generate POIs for route planning, but it is tedious and not as easy to use as Garmin's MapSource. AVICFeeds also has a 300 item limit on POIs it can import, which means getting creative if your have a file with a large number of locations, such as those found on POI-Factory.com.
- The volume knob is really small and hard to grasp. I picked up a press on knob from a guy on AVIC411.com and it works great, easy to grasp and works the way it should have from the factory.
- The maps are very limited in the speed limit data they have. One a recent trip Southern California, we were being tailed by a CHP on one of the backroads. We were doing a reasonable speed, but the AVIC did not have any speed information for the road we were on. Additionally, many of the major surface streets in the Phoenix metro area also do not have any speed limit info available. It was very rare for the Garmin to not have speed limit data available.
I have the Sirius option installed, it works great and I listen to it more often than FM or my SD Card. I used the factory installed Sirius antenna lead to connect to the X910BT with no problem. I was able to transfer my new car subscription over and they even waived the $15 transfer fee. I also found a nice flat spot under the dash to put the GPS antenna where it is hidden and out of sight. I do not have any extra objects laying on my dash or on my roof as giveaways to what I have in my car. I ran the microphone up inside the front pillar, under the roof liner and used velcro strips to attach it to the rear view mirror. It's almost completely out of sight unless you know what to look for.
I really like he X910BT and would not go back to the portable Garmin GPS, though we still have it for use in our other vehicles and when we are hanging around planning a trip. It's great having the GPS built-in, many times we are out running around and decide to go someplace, we can enter whatever we want to find right in the GPS and it tells us where it's at.


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Pioneer's AVIC-X910BT is an in-dash navigation receiver with DVD Player and Bluetooth. Get fast, easy-to-use in-dash navigation, talk hands-free with built-in Bluetooth, and control your iPod or iPhone directly. Voice control allows you to play music from your iPod and make hands-free Bluetooth phone calls just using your voice.

Key reasons to upgrade from AVIC-U310BT:
DVD Video, DVD-R/RW Playback
MSN Direct built-in
3D Hybrid Sensor (Gyro & G-Force) for enhanced positioning
DivX video playback on CD/DVD


Navigation Beyond Expectation The AVIC-X series of receivers are ideal for those looking for a refined navigation experience with the latest in media and connectivity options. Out of the box, this system comes with 12 million points of interest and an extensive map database to help you find your next destination.
On the Map The easy-to-operate Pioneer Navigation system has built-in maps that put the world at your fingertips. This includes major points of interest, such as restaurants, ATMs, gas stations, entertainment venues and more. The built-in Text-to-Speech engine clearly pronounces turn-by-turn direction and street names to ensure smooth travels. The AVIC-X710BT also offers high-resolution 2D and 3D maps with renderings of nearby landmarks and terrain to help navigate the world around you.
AVIC Feeds The system's database is fully expandable with AVIC feeds, Pioneer's PC application, which lets you create custom trips and your own points of interest.
Voice Control The Z-Series offers convenient voice-activated navigation, which allows you to simply say an address or find nearby points of interest.

AVIC FEEDS for iPhone now available Unleash the power of your Pioneer navigation system with the AVIC FEEDS for iPhone application. Find a destination, then transfer it to your Pioneer navigation system for turn-by-turn routing.
Bridge the Gap Start Planning your route before you even step into your car with the free AVIC FEEDS app. Now you can seamlessly use your iPhone with your Pioneer navigation receiver. Simply find your destination with the built-in Google Maps interface and transfer it via Bluetooth for easy, turn-by-turn directions.
Picture Yourself There The AVIC FEEDS app also allows you to use the geo-tag data in your photos to be routed directly to places you've visited. The built-in GPS feature of iPhone 3G and 3GS has the ability to embed geo-tag information in the photos you take with its camera. AVIC FEEDS allows you to save destinations by reading these geo-tags. You can also use AVIC FEEDS to create destinations from geo-tagged photos that are sent to your iPhone.

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 adaptors. Even at the first glance, you will fall in love with the easy-to-use touch screen controls for your music and brilliant 5.8-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-X710BT 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.

Ditch the Headset with Built-in Bluetooth Take incoming calls through the AVIC-X910BT, 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."

Get Connected with MSN Direct Access up-to-date information with the built-in MSN Direct tuner on your AVIC-X910BT. MSN Direct is the ultimate in-car convenience, offering news, traffic, stock quotes, weather, movie times, and gas prices. Because MSN Direct can work seamlessly with system�s navigation, you can be routed directly to a theater after finding the right show time, or have traffic flow overlayed on your route.
Enjoy MSN Direct free for the first three months when you purchase the AVIC-X910BT.

The Freedom of Speech Your iPod audio functions and hands-free Bluetooth dialing 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.

Media Mogul Built to navigate, but born to entertain, the AVIC-X910BT offers audio and video playback from the most popular formats. Whether you're watching 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.
From Disc Play back DVDs and DVD-R/RWs, CDs and CD-R/RWs, and burn discs with all your digital media, since the AVIC-U310BT also plays back MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV and DivX files from CD or DVD.
From USB Device If you don't feel like burning CDs just throw the MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV files you want on a USB device and enjoy.

Sound Minded Just because the AVIC-X710BT features a robust navigation platform, doesn't mean it holds back on sound quality. With 3 sets of RCA pre-outs, MOSFET50 power and a 3-band parametric equalizer, you can build a massive system with massive sound.

Expanded Listening The AVIC-X710BT 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-X710BT Main Unit, Power Cord, Extension Lead, RCA Connector, GPS Antenna, Microphone, User's Manual, Installation Manual

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Sony XAV-62BT 6.1" In-Dash Double DIN DVD/MP3/WMA/AAC Receiver with Built-in Bluetooth and iPod Control Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)[Second update: I have now come to hate and despise this unit and am negotiating a trade-in. It is a really excellent unit if you don't care about these three things:
1) It "navigates" an iPod by ALWAYS starting at Music. I have 160 GB of music on my iPod. If I'm playing (say) a Richard Thompson album and want to listen to a different album of his, on the iPod I would click Menu to show the tracks on the current album, click again to show his list of albums, scroll to the next album, click to list its tracks, and click to play. The Sony requires a minimum of 86 screen-taps to do the same thing. I say "a minimum" because the real number is approx 100: the screen doesn't register every tap. Yes, I can choose to control the iPod directly, but that reduces this unit to a very large and expensive volume control.
2) There is NO WAY to shut off the lawyer-noise. EVERY time you turn it on, you have to tap to promise you won't ever touch it while driving. Given a likely life-span of 5 years for the unit, that's ~10,000 taps. I doubt the screen is even rated for 10,000 taps on the same spot.
3) If you don't turn it on, it runs constant, dangerously-distracting commercials about its features. I already bought the damn thing, so why the commercials? Clincher: There is NO WAY to turn this off.]
Pros:
Excellent pre-amp audio quality.
Really good equalizer.
High-resolution touch screen.
Excellent, automatic Bluetooth connectivity.
Cons:
[See above, plus]
Runs INCREDIBLY hot, even when not using the onboard amps.
iPod/USB connector only on front.
It at first failed to see USB keys and iPods.
If you're using a subwoofer, you lose the separate front and rear pre-amp outs, so you cannot fade front-to-rear. Surprisingly, I don't miss this.
Poor steering wheel control integration (probably not the Sony's fault).
Too much upfront lawyer-noise: it won't play anything until you promise you'll be good and never touch it (yes, Mom: I promise...)
I avoided Sony audio equipment for many years due to poor audio quality. But I recently put myself in the hands of Charles at Systems Unlimited in Redmond, WA. (The name is not a misnomer: when I arrived he had a brand-new Bentley in the shop, getting a truly unlimited system installed.) I was very surprised when he recommended this new deck, but I trusted him, and now trust him implicity: the Sony sits at the centre of a very high-end audio system, and doesn't embarrass itself. It takes line-level Apple Lossless output from my 160GB iPod, feeds it to a Genesis Profile 4 amp which in turn feeds ultra-clean watts into two sets of Focal speakers.
I was upgrading from a decent Pioneer head unit that had driven the Focals directly (because I busted my budget buying them). I expected an improvement; I did NOT expect such an utter transformation. I put my sneers-at-technology bagpipe-playing friend and girlfriend in the car and played a pibroch at a realistic volume level: I think I might have shut them up forever, but I won't be able to tell until they get their jaws back in place. My system now sounds better than easily 99.9% of cars on the road, and is so incredibly clean that listening fatigue doesn't exist.
(Note: Most or perhaps all of the audio improvement is no doubt from the Genesis Profile 4, not the head unit. I never used the Pioneer's pre-amp outputs, so it's not a fair comparison.)
My other big concern about the unit is how hot it runs. I'm going to see if it is possible to disconnect the internal amps altogether: without them, it'd probably only pull 10-20 watts.
(But my real BIG concern is that I so obviously now need an extreme subwoofer upgrade to match the rest of the system.)


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Kenwood DDX514 6.1-Inch Wide In-Dash Monitor with USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Rotary volume control and front disc loading (instead of flip down or motorized flip) was the selling point for me.
I bought this head unit to replace the factory stereo for my FJ Cruiser. I
also purchased the HD Radio module(HT300) for this radio. I gave it three stars for
the following reasons:
a. USB Drive - I bought it mainly to have all my music on a USB drive which would
be very convenient(No more changing discs). The Kenwood manual says that it will sort the files
alphabetically if it is on a USB drive, and it will sort the files by the order
in which the files were put in if it was any other usb device(like a regular mp3
player). However, my biggest disappointment was that this head unit does not
sort the files alphabetically on my USB drive. This head unit puts the newest files/folders
at the end of the list and the oldest at the beginning. It's tedious
to find the desired file/folder you want to play when you are driving as you
have to go through the list one by one, since it is not listed in alphabetical
order.
I contacted Kenwood USA's technical support. I told the representative about this issue and told him
if they had a fix for this. The guy just told me that it's not really a problem. Yeah right!
After searching online for a few hours, I found a workaround that will work with this head
unit. Search for DriveSort and install this on your computer. It's a freeware so you don't have
to worry about purchasing it. This software can arrange the files in a USB drive and places them
in alphabetical order.
Note: When you turn on this head unit, it will scan and index all the files
that is in the UBS drive before it will start playing. The more files you have,
the longer it will take. I currently have about 5.7GB worth of music and it
roughly takes about fifteen seconds to load up before it starts playing.b. MP3 files with album art - I purchase a lot of my mp3 files online and most
of them come with album art. If you play an mp3 file on this head unit that
has album art, the music will play immediately, but it takes about 2-4 seconds
for the album art to load on the screen. I personally don't care about the
album art, BUT while the head unit is still loading the album art on the
screen, ALL THE CONTROLS ARE ON HOLD. This means that you can't change a
track, adjust the volume or go to another screen as long as the album art is
still not loaded on the screen. This is a real PAIN as some of the mp3 files
are louder and while the album art is still loading, you can't lower the
volume!c. Graphics - You can load up your own custom background if you choose to.
However, the text on the screen will just block your background image. There
is no option to turn off the text on the screen or turn off the screen. The
only work around with this is to put your background picture on EVERY folder
you have music on and set it to play a slideshow.
Also, the text fonts/graphics could be better.d. Preouts - If you have a 4 channel amplifier, a sub and want to use fading, this
might be a little problem. You only have 2 sets of preouts. 1 set for the
front and 1 set for the rear or sub. The built in crossover that comes with this head
unit is great, but you are limited to set the rear crossover setting as a
rear speaker or a sub.
There is a workaround for this. You can use a speaker output to rca converter
for the rear speakers. You will then be able to use all the builtin crossover
settings (front, rear, sub).e. User Interface - The user interface is decent enough. It's not a steep
learning curve. It might take a little while to get used to, but it's no rocket science.
You will be able to operate this head unit without reading the manual thoroughly.f. HD Radio - I bought the HD Radio kit for this head unit. There is a
difference in sound quality between the analog broadcast and digital broadcast.
However, HD radio quality is still not CD quality, but close. From my experience
on this module, it made the analog receptions stronger. Even stations that had a weak
signal came in a whole lot better. As if it wasn't weak anymore.g. Equalizer - The head unit comes with built in presets and you can have a
custom setting. I have Polk Audio speakers all around and the built in
presets were just to bright for my taste. (I listen to a lot of smooth jazz).
Setting the custom Eq was not easy. The custom Eq contains 3 bands; Low, Mid
and High. Now the tricky part is you have to select the center frequency for
each band. One for your lows, one for your mids and one for your highs. Then
you can adjust the level.Personally, I would have preferred a custom 5
band or 7 band graphic Eq over this. You will have to spend quite a bit of time
to get it right for your taste.
However, If you really want a defined sound for your car, I would recommend purchasing
a 13 band equalizer.h. Manual - The manual that comes with this head unit is very broad. It
doesn't go in to depth with details. It does not give you examples. It merely gives
you the button or the icon and what the button/icon does.
Other than those mentioned above, the unit works fairly well. The response
time when changing to different screens or menus is not super fast, can be sluggish
at times, but it's nothing unbearable.
This my first head unit that has a built in USB port with it. I can't compare
it to other head units that have USB ports as I do not have experiences with them.*** NOTE for installation of a subwoofer ***
If you are going to install a subwoofer with this head unit, you would want to
change the rear preamp setting to SUB to maximize the functions that come with
this head unit. You can ONLY change this setting when the head unit is on STANDBY.
Press the SRC button and scroll down until you see Standy then select it. You can go to the
system setup and change the rear output from rear to sub. Then go to audio setup then
turn the subwoofer setting to on.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kenwood DDX514 6.1-Inch Wide In-Dash Monitor with USB/iPod Direct Control/DVD Receiver

The DDX514 offers innovative and convenient entertainment features like USB Direct Control for iPhone/iPod and front aux input for portable media players. The 6.1-inch touchscreen is easy to read, and with Variable Color Illumination, you can even match the deck's illumination color to your vehicle's dashboard lighting.

6.1-Inch Touchscreen with Variable Illumination The DDX514 puts intuitive control right at your fingertips with a fixed 6.1-inch QVGA TFT Active Matrix Display and powerful, easy-to-use graphical user interface. Customize the unit's front panel illumination with the new variable illumination palette of colors--match your interior tones, dash lighting, or whatever tickles your fancy.
Enjoy Your Favorite Media The DDX514 is a media powerhouse, letting you play your favorite CDs and DVDs, along with several digital audio and video formats. The unit accepts DVD, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, VCD, and CD-DA discs. It plays back AAC-LC, MP3, and WMA audio files; MPEG1 and MPEG2 video files; and can display JPG images. Throw your files on a disc or a USB device and enjoy them in your vehicle wherever you are.
And, of course, you still can listen to the AM/FM radio. Use Auto Memory to automatically add stations with good reception to presets, or enter them manually. The DDX514 displays FM radio text when available as well as traffic information, and it allows you to enter station names.
Seamless Connection with iPod Video/Audio Connect an iPod using the optional KCA-iP301V cable to enable full video (for iPods with video capability) and/or audio control. You'll supply power to your iPod as well as charge it while you enjoy your music.
USB Direct Control You can enjoy your favorite music, video, or images from USB devices like flash drives or MP3 players. When connecting a USB device, playback starts automatically. When a battery-powered USB device like an MP3 player is connected to this unit, it also gets a charge, so it's ready to go with you when you exit the vehicle.
Input and Output In addition to the iPod and USB support, you can use the DDX514's front auxiliary A/V input to connect external audio/video sources like video game systems.
The unit also features an A/V output for sending content to an additional screen in the vehicle.
For audio output, the DDX514 has two sets of 2V RCA pre-amp outputs for system expansion (in addition to the on-board 50W x 4 amplifier).
Bluetooth Ready Add the optional KCA-BT200 to enjoy hands-free phone operation or to listen to audio stored on Bluetooth devices.
Hands-free operation of your Kenwood entertainment system allows you to keep your hands on the steering wheel, allowing you better concentration on your driving. Advanced Bluetooth technology provides wireless connection and operation of Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as mobile phones and even phones that can stream music via A2DP.
Navigation Ready Add the KNA-G510 for a full GPS navigation package. Equipped with the latest Garmin navigation technology, the KNA-G510 includes advanced mapping of the United States and Canada and more than 6 million points of interest right at your fingertips. The KNA-G510 is ready for XM Live Traffic feeds. Simply add the XM chip set tuner, subscribe to XM radio, and receive constant traffic and weather conditions with continuous, real-time updates--24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
HD and Satellite Radio Ready The DDX514 allows you to enjoy SIRIUS (requires CA-SR20V cable + Sirius Tuner) or XM (requires KCA-XM100V + XM Mini Tuner) radio in your vehicle. Enjoy a multitude of channels featuring music, news, talk shows, sports, and traffic information with CD quality sound.
You also can add an HD Radio tuner. When you connect an HD radio tuner, features of the unit are disabled and changed to HD Radio tuner features.
Rear Camera Input The DDX514 is ready for a rear camera, allowing you to monitor behind your vehicle as you back up.
What's in the Box Kenwood DDX514, sleeve, trim ring, wiring harness, installation tools, installation manual, operation manual, warranty card.

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