Archive for October, 2010
A month or so ago I purchased a new car, MK4 VW Golf 1.9 TDI. Not being brand new, I wanted to make some changes to make it feel more like mine. First thing I noticed was the out-dated sound system in the car. Despite being a 51 reg, it came with a tape deck of all things and a 6-disc CD changer. Ugly, boring and outdated. I wanted something a bit snazzier. I had seen other Golfs with single DIN units, meaning there was a horrible gap in the dash board. Opting for double-din was the only logical choice. Most double din units are expensive and incorporate a DVD player or sat nav of some sort.
I wasn’t after that, just something to play MP3 CD’s and the radio. When i saw this one though, i fell in love. The sexy fascia, blue lights and jam packed features made it a must buy.
The pioneer FH-P80BT comes with a number of cool features. First off, filling my needs, its MP3 compatible, but better than that, it has an input (at the rear (which i ran into the glove box)) for a USB. So you can plug pretty much anything into it, in theory, ipods, phones, MP3 players. I opted for a 2gb USB flash drive, now I have loads of music at my finger tips with ease. You could in theory, (as ive seen elsewhere on the internet) attach a USB external hard drive to it and thus have many gig’s of music at your disposal. If you so chose. which is nice.
Next function worth mentioning is the blue tooth hands free. The unit comes with a mic and sufficient wire to install it somewhere suitable in your car, as long as you’ve got nimble fingers. Once programmed, it works a treat. You can actually set it up to regonise and search for your phone automatically. I have mine setup that way, told the phone to treat the unit as a trusted source, now whenever i get in the car and turn the ignition on, the unit searches for and registers my phone automatically. You can also download your phone book to the CD player and use it to dial numbers that way, using the fascia buttons and the large convenient dial.
Clearly the sound is a big point on any upgrade like this. Let’s be honest, you are forking out good money, you want good qaulity. Pioneer does not disappoint. This unit has amazing sound quality, even with my standard VW speakers and no extra amp or subwoofers (yet). Its lovely and I can’t fault it. A vast improvement over the standard VW unit in every department, looks, sound, features.
The manual and user guides included make it an easy install. I was a bit worried about it, having never done it before, but its an adventure doing something like this yourself, so i bought the necessary keys, removed the old decks, unplugged the power from the battery (its recommended you disconnect the negative power lead on the battery BEFORE you start the installation), then it was just a case of working out what wires go where, its not as scary as you might think.
One thing to mention here. The standard arieal cable on the car, would NOT connect to this unit, you need to buy a seperate adapter, but it was only £5, so i was happy to do so, to keep the wife happy with her radio listening. Installs easily. Screws into place and a fascia covers it over nicely. It wouldnt be easy to steal, by any means.
comes with a remote control, but its a big one and im not sure what to do with it really so its sitting in the glove box. you can however buy a little steering wheel attachable remote from Pioneer which works with every pioneer unit. Its handy, but on reflection not completely necessary. The big silver dial on the front acts as both a skip, select and volume changing device, all in one. Its so easy to use, my wife has no trouble.
Id recommend it to perfect strangers, nevermind my friends.
Pioneer FH-P80BT video review
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Clarion has introduced the new CZ500E designed for lovers of connectivity and a perfect sound quality in cars.
Above all, the Bluetooth module that allows you to connect your phone directly to the car, allowing them to use the radio as a hands-free kit thanks to its external microphone.
This feature also allows you to browse your phone book contacts. And thanks for reading streaming of music stored in your phone you can take advantage of a wider repertoire of music during your travels. The new CZ500E is much more than just a radio, is a true multimedia unit that allows you to drive safely!
But everything is npn.
The new radio CZ500E Clarion offers connectivity without limitations. Owners of an iPod, iPhone, or another device such as a USB key, can listen to all their music in your car!
The radio also provides, in front of a mini auxiliary input jack that lets you connect another device. The radio allows playback of MP3 and WMA file formats, parallel to the AAC format.
The M-Bass EX, which accentuates the ultra low frequencies, is associated with a full parametric equalizer: in addition to the three preset equalization patterns, Beat-EQ function allows you to customize the level and frequency range of low, medium and high of each model for an optimal result and in harmony with your tastes.
4-volt preamp outputs on 6 channels, a low pass filter and a direct control of the volume of the subwoofer will ensure compatibility with future system updates. Finally, the interface “hub and spokes” blue, gives an elegant and clear and nice ergonomics.
CZ500E The radio is available in major centers in cars and in stores specializing in radio at a recommended price of 219 Euros. Beat-EQ lets you customize the level and frequency range of low, medium and high of each model for an optimal result and in harmony with your tastes.
4-volt preamp outputs on 6 channels, a low pass filter and a direct control of the volume of the subwoofer will ensure compatibility with future system updates. Finally, the interface “hub and spokes” blue, gives an elegant and clear and nice ergonomics.
CZ500E The radio is available in major centers in cars and in stores specializing in radio at a recommended price of 219 Euros.
Compare prices of Clarion CZ500E on Bestproductsreview.net
Click here to check price of other Clarion car radio
Click here to check the price of all car radio
Bluetooth ® wireless technology with the included USB adapter lets you make phone calls and stream music with your hands free, offering both security and convenience. With front and rear USB ports, you can easily listen to your music from your iPod / iPhone, USB devices, with crystal clear sound generated by the amplifier power MOS-FET and the DAC 24 TI / Burr-Brown. The variable color lighting offers 30 preset color choices – Customizable to over 30,000 variations. Other features include Front AUX, HS-IVi tuner and 3-band parametric iEQ. You can also listen to DAB radio with an optional tuner.
JVC presents its news for the range of entertainment systems in cars. KD-R901 is the new tuner that comes with a USB Bluetooth adapter and a wired microphone. Other features include full-featured set of two convenient USB ports that let you play music stored on a wide range of media, including Apple’s iPod and iPhone, sizes MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV/WMA-DRM, a front AUX input for connecting other audio devices and an illumination function that allows you to choose from 30 predefined colors and from more than 30 000 variants to adapt the KD-R901 to the interior of your car or your personal taste.
For those who suffered the Bluetooth, you can connect the adapter to the rear USB port and use the front door for your iPod or any other MP3 player. For those who do not always use Bluetooth instead, you can insert the Bluetooth USB adapter into the front USB port or use both USB ports for different music media.
In addition to the iPod / iPhone, you can connect a portable HDD or a USB flash drive, or a digital audio player for playing audio files MP3/WMA/AAC/WAV/WMA-DRM. The tunes will always be available even if a huge storage USB. In fact, using the menu / back and volume control knob you can skip folders, and can be accessed quickly and easily to all audio files.
Beyond the ability to have fun safely with hands free calling while driving or with voice dialing of phone numbers, you can also activate music streaming el’avviso of receipt of the SMS. The wireless functions work even if the phone is in your bag or pocket. The microphone cable can be connected in different ways, providing clear communication for Bluetooth phones.
The model KD-R901 also serves Phone Book Access Profile, which allows direct access to the phonebook of the phone without the need to transfer numbers to the central unit. With the Smart Display, the tuner alerts the user via a Bluetooth phone with a color change the phone’s display, which automatically becomes blue and flashes to notify the receipt of a call.
The price is around 250 Euro including VAT.
