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Swap your OEM receiver for something a bit more versatile. The BV7320 plays a variety of disc formats, including DVDs, CDs and VCDs. You can also enjoy your WMA/MP4/MP3 digital files, whether from burnt discs or via the receiver’s USB port or SD Card slot. Video looks great on the 3.2-inch screen, and you can easily add a rear view camera to your vehicle.
Boss BV7320 3.2-Inch Monitor
The single-DIN BV7320 features a drop-down, detachable front panel with a 3.2-inch widescreen TFT monitor. The brilliant monitor features a 1440 x 234 resolution, and an on-screen display that makes navigating features a breeze.
Boss BV7320 Enjoy Your Media
The BV7320 will play back your DVDs/SDVDs, SVCDs/VCDs, CDs, CD-R/Ws, and WMA/MP4/MP3 files. The ESP anti-skip mechanism ensures your music or video isn’t interrupted by any bumps in the road, and playback features such as a mute function, intro scan, and last position memory are all included.
When listening to digital files, enjoy full ID3 tag display of artist/track info.
Dial in the sound with separate bass and treble EQ controls, along with balance/fader.
Boss BV7320 USB and SD Connectivity
The BV7320 features a front-panel USB port and SD Card jack, so you can instantly switch out USB thumb drives or SD cards with a fresh batch of MP3 tunes/podcasts/etc.
Boss BV7320 AM/FM Radio
Enjoy your favorite radio programming with the PLL-synthesized tuner, featuring 30 station presets for instant access to your preferred stations, and switchable USA/Europe radio frequencies.
Boss BV7320 Auxiliary Input
The convenient front-panel auxiliary input (3.5mm mini jack) is a great way to enjoy audio from your iPod, MP3 player, or other external audio devices.
Boss BV7320 Power and Expandability
The BV7320 provides 50 Watts through four channels to start, and if you’d like to expand your system, use the front/rear and subwoofer preamp outputs to add external amplifiers.
Boss BV7320 Rear View Camera Input
Add a rear view camera for safety and convenience when your vehicle is in reverse.
Boss BV7320 Remote Included
A wireless remote control is included for convenient control of the system.
Boss BV7320 – What’s in the Box
BV7320 Receiver, Wireless Remote, Mounting Hardware, User’s Manual
Boss BV7320 user review
I purchased this radio for my 1991 Ford Explorer. I will admit a was a little iffy about this radio but so far it has worked perfectly. The radio works fine its very easy to install and the cd/dvd player works great. To make the dvd player work you have to plug the parking brake green wire to the parking break system but if your like myself you have no idea what that is. I just went online and searched for a bypass for boss radio parking brake wire and it simply told me the answer, went outside and tried it worked great. 
So thankful for technology and blogs! Other then that one thing that bugged me is the when you turn up the radio there is a clicking noise which is quite loud. If you like myself I hate the clicking noise, but you get used to it. The screen for movies is very good quality! When you plug in the ipod through USB it syncs with the deck but the letters are very small, its a little difficult to read but if your like myself once again I just go through the folders not knowing whats going to play and just listen to what song comes on. Its kinda fun Overall radio works perfectly have had no problems and would definitely suggest this to anyone, you definitely get more for your money!
Boss BV7320 video review
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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.
I would recommend it to perfect strangers, nevermind my friends.
Pioneer FH P80BT video review
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With the XM onyX, it’s easy to enjoy Satellite Radio in any vehicle. Do-It-Yourself Installation with PowerConnect is quick and effortless: Just plug it into your vehicle’s power adapter socket to enjoy live Satellite Radio directly through your FM radio. The large color display and other advanced features maximize your listening experience. You can even personalize onyX to match your vehicle’s dashboard with selectable display screen colors and trim rings. Add accessories to enjoy onyX in the home, office or anywhere in between.
XM XDNX1V1 Onyx Large color display
View artist name, song title, and channel information on a clean and simple color display.
XM XDNX1V1 Onyx Customize your display
Choose the backlight color theme that matches your mood or your vehicle dash lights. You can change the color of the display screen to one of 6 color themes: Blue, Red, Amber, Yellow, Silver, or Teal.
XM XDNX1V1 Onyx Personalize your radio
Choose the trim ring that reflects your taste or complements your vehicle interior. The Trim Ring surrounds the Select button on the radio. A total of three trim rings are included with the onyX, including the one that is already installed.
XM XDNX1V1 Onyx Improved audio connection options
Use the included Aux In Cable for the best sound. For vehicles with a cassette player, you can use a cassette adapter. If you have neither, the new PowerConnect technology transmits via FM, so you can receive audio through your vehicle’s stereo system.
XM XDNX1V1 Onyx Enhanced real-time channel guide
Browse programs, artists, and songs playing on other channels, without having to change the channel you are on.
XM XDNX1V1 Onyx Favorite channel presets
Save and enjoy fast access to up to 10 of your favorite channels. Each favorite channel can be assigned to a number button.
XM XDNX1V1 Onyx FM preset button
Store and quickly access FM channels that give you the best audio reception when using PowerConnect.
XM XDNX1V1 Onyx One-Touch Jump
Directly access traffic or weather of the 20 most congested cities, or use it to go back to the previous channel to which you were listening.
XM XDNX1V1 Onyx Parental controls
Easily lock and unlock channels with mature content.
XM XDNX1V1 Onyx Complete PowerConnect Vehicle Kit Included
Color-coded connections make it a snap to install, and a wire guide keeps your cabling organized.
XM XDNX1V1 Onyx Universal docking capability
Add accessories for your home, office, additional vehicles or even outdoors.
XM XDNX1V1 Onyx What’s in the Box
XM onyX Radio, PowerConnect Vehicle Kit, Magnetic Mount Antenna, Aux In Cable, User Guide, Quick Start Guide, XM Channel Guide
XM XDNX1V1 Onyx user review
I’ll start with my short satellite radio history. I’ve had XM radio for about six months now. My first radio was an XpressR, which was very good and had lots of bells and whistles, but definitely showed its design roots in the early 2000’s and was slow to navigate. Some jerk broke into my car and took that one. I replaced it with the XpressRC, which was a nice update to the XpressR, and much faster, but I kept having a problem where it would regularly lose all my presets and settings, so I returned it and replaced it with the XM OnyX.
I decided not to go with the SkyDock because while it is a cool idea, one thing I love about satellite radio is not having the need to hook my iPhone/iPod up every time I get in the car to have some tunes. With a regular XM radio, I get in the car and drive and I don’t need to do anything else. Wanting to try a newer model radio model instead, I went with the XM OnyX. I could barely find any reviews or anything online, so it was kind of a shot in the dark.
The OnyX is a solid radio with a nice design. I’d say it is more attractively designed and has better build quality than my two preceding radios. It comes with some color accent rings you can swap out, which is an interesting idea, but the color choices are only glossy black, matte silverish-white and matte blue. I wish there was a glossy red in there, but really even having that choice is a unique idea I shouldn’t complain about. The display is full color, however instead of seeing full-color channel logos and graphics, the only color you see is the background and text colors. While it is much more minimalist than the XpressRC, I will go out on a limb to say that I prefer the solid color background of the OnyX to the unnecessary flashiness of the XpressRC. Having the blue or red background looks really nice while in use in my VW Rabbit. Combine this with the design of the radio and it is a very attractive aesthetic upgrade for my car as opposed to the eye sores some other satellite radios can be.
Navigation is quick and simple. Up and down buttons change the channels while left and right flip through the categories. You have ten one-button presets. The only unneccessary button for me is the FM button because I use auxiliary input. I have always preferred a less-is-more approach to electronics, so I appreciate a design that isn’t littered with buttons and functions that you don’t use often.
Sound quality seems loud and clear. The aux signal is noticably louder than my Xpress radios. When I flip back and forth between XM and FM, the volume seems about the same, which wasn’t true with my previous radios.
When comparing this radio to the Xpress’s, I have to bring up the lack of bells and whistles. This radio is more basic. It does not have artist/sports alerts which were convenient on the Xpress’s. There are less display options, but the display is well laid out and is safe to view while driving (enough info, but not too much). There is no live pause or any buffer to rewind through– I never really made good use of that feature on my Xpress’s. There are no stock quotes or sports scores, which is fine because that is what my iPhone is for. It does not come with a remote which I don’t care at all about because I use it in the car and just use the online streaming at home. So really of all those things, the only thing I would have liked to have seen in the OnyX would have been the artist/sports alerts.
All in all, the XM OnyX is a solidly designed and attractive XM radio that I would recommend to anyone who wants to experience XM in their car. It is not the flashiest radio, and will not blow you away with features, but it is probably the best basic car radio that Sirius XM produces.
XM XDNX1V1 Onyx video review
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The double-DIN BV9560B from Boss Audio Systems is an affordable way to add DVD entertainment to your vehicle. Enjoy playback of DVDs, CDs, SVCDs, and VCDs. Includes both a USB port and SD/MMC card slot for quick enjoyment of digital media (MP3/WMA/MP4) as well, along with an AM/FM radio with 30 presets. A side panel auxiliary input and rear A/V input let you connect external multimedia devices, and you can expand your system with front and rear preamp outputs and a rear-view camera input.
Last, but certainly not least, the BV9560B is Bluetooth-equipped, so you can make hands-free calls with your compatible cell phone.
Boss BV9560B Built-in Bluetooth
Make and receive hands-free calls thanks to the BV9560B’s Bluetooth technology. If your phone features voice dialing, you can use a connected microphone to access that feature as well.
Boss BV9560B 7-Inch Touchscreen
The BV9560B features a 7-inch, color TFT touchscreen. Your widescreen video will look great thanks to the 1440 x 324 pixel resolution and high brightness.
Boss BV9560B DVDs and More
Enjoy playback of your favorite DVDs, CDs, SVCDs, and VCDs in the slot-loading DVD player.
You can also play MP3/WMA audio or MP4 video from a disc, or directly from a USB or SD card.
Dial in your sound with the treble, bass, balance, and fade controls.
Boss BV9560B AM/FM Radio
Listen to your favorite radio programming with the AM/FM Radio with PLL synthesized tuner.
Instantly access your favorite stations with 30 presets.
Boss BV9560B Plenty of Connectivity
Use the auxiliary input to connect external audio devices, such as iPods and MP3 players, or use the rear A/V input for external video components (game systems, etc.).
The SD/MMC card slot and USB port let you play back your MP3/WMA or MPEG4 files if you don’t feel like burning a disc, so you can quickly switch out your favorite tunes on the fly.
Boss BV9560B Room to Grow
The BV9560B delivers 85 x 4 watts, enough to get things shaking–but if you want more, you can always expand your system thanks to dual (front and rear) RCA preamp outputs.
You can also add a rear-view camera for added safety and convenience.
Boss BV9560B Wireless Remote Included
Control the action with a handy remote.
Boss BV9560B What’s in the Box
Boss BV9560B Receiver, remote control, USB cable, installation hardware, user’s manual, and warranty card.
Boss BV9560B user review
Great unit for the price. It does everything it says. Surprisingly, the bluetooth works better than some more popular brands. The interface is extremely cheesy. I seriously laughed when I first saw it. Also the loading time seems a bit slow whether it is a cd or dvd.
The sound quality is better than expected. My old system was alpine type-r with 3 v12 amps (i know good sound). The only reason I gave this product 4 stars is because you really cannot beat the price. The rear view camera works flawlessly, sounds great, and has a great picture. There are some small features that are annoying example… when a call comes in though bluetooth when you end the call the track on the sd card starts from the beginning again. It is rather annoying, but overall I am pleased with my purchase.
Boss BV9560B video review
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With both an auxiliary and USB input on the front, the DEH-3300UB 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.
CD Receiver
Featuring a detachable face with a 10-character LCD display and red key illumination, the DEH-3300UB is a versatile player that lets you enjoy music from a variety of sources, starting with CD. Play back your retail CDs, burnt CD-R/RW discs, or digital audio files from data discs.
USB and Auxiliary Inputs
Connect a USB thumb drive or other device for direct playback of MP3, WMA, or WAV audio files. It’s a handy way to grab some tunes before you hit the road. A standard auxiliary input is also provided, so you can connect pretty much any MP3 player or other device for your enjoyment.
Enhanced iPod/iPhone Connectivity
Connect your iPod or iPhone to the USB port, and enjoy music playback and basic controls (track up/down, fast forward, rewind, pause, repeat, and shuffle). Connected iPods will also get a charge, so no worries about depleting your battery.
AM/FM Radio
Tune into your favorite stations with Pioneer’s Supertuner IIID technology, complete with 24 presets.
Advanced Sound Retriever
When you’re listening to compressed music files, Pioneer’s Advanced Sound Retriever automatically “upscales” the audio to be near CD quality.
MOSFET Amplification
Powered by Pioneer’s MOSFET 50W x 4 amplifier, the DEH-3300UB serves up serious performance with minimal distortion, for great sound regardless of the source. A single preamp output with low-pass filter is provided for those who want to add an external amplifier with subwoofer or additional rear speakers. Alternately, With direct sub drive, you can connect the subwoofer directly, without the need for an extra amplifier.
What’s in the Box
Pioneer DEH-3300UB Receiver, Remote Control With Battery, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, Documentation
Pioneer DEH-3300UB CD Receiver user review
I bought and returned this unit. The main reason is because the screen is too bright, and the brightness cannot be adjusted. That means it cannot be adjusted in the menu and there’s no illumination wire on the connector that can be controlled by the headlight setting.
The screen is very bright. Excellent on a sunny day but glaringly bright and distracting at night. The black background of the display is even washed out by the brightness to the point where it’s not quite black when the unit is on.
Also this unit is lacking a High Pass Filter. My speakers were getting distorted at moderate to high volume levels. A HPF would solve this. This feature existed on its predecessor, the 3200.
Also lacking is the EQ. The 5-band graphic EQ from previous models has been replaced with a 3-band bass/mid/high.
On the plus side the mechanics on the 3300 are excellent. The buttons have a great tactile feel and there is plenty of grip length on the control knob. I tried out the 3200 in the store and the 3300 by comparison has better buttons.
But the brightness of the screen and lack of HPF were the real deal-breakers for me. I returned it and bought one of last year’s models, the DEH-5200HD.
As for the DEH-5200HD it is an excellent unit. It has a HPF, which stops the speaker distortion and helps the overall sound quality. Plus the 5-band EQ allows for better fine tuning, and the brightness is adjustable. Finally, I found I really like the HD radio feature as it opened up additional FM channels that I didn’t have access to before.
Overall I’d recommend buying a 2010 Pioneer model instead of their 2011 models. The 4300 also lacks a HPF, but at least the brightness can be tuned to 1 custom setting. It wasn’t immediately clear though from my reading if the 4300 allows for a preset low/high setting. That could make switching brightness tedious.
Pioneer should always have a HPF and low/high brightness setting at the very least. In addition they should have an illumination wire on all their radios so brightness is set to low/high automatically when the headlights are turned on/off.
The DEH-5200HD is a better unit in my own experience, and based on looking at the specs their other 2010 models are a better choice than the 2011 models since they have removed the HPF and brightness settings.
Pioneer DEH-3300UB CD Receiver video review
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LG LCS 500 UR Part radio.
When listening to an RDS station sometimes, if the signal becomes weak, the unit will tune to another station entirely different (but display continues to indicate the previous station).
If you store a station, for example RAI-RADIO1 frequency 92.1, and then you try to retrieve it from another city (where RADIO1 has a different frequency).
The radio does not find more (not even try). You need to search by hand (yes, I know there are settings options in this regard. I set correctly).
LG LCS 500 UR Audio portion.
Designers should seek advice at the LG an audiophile. There is no loudness. The device has a filter XDSS, but if you using the tone controls are disabled. Similarly, there are some presets like “Jazz”, “Pop”, “Russy” … that are triggered automatically if an MP3 track is labeled with that kind (genre = Jazz, for example).
The most stupid thins I’ve ever seen (luckily you can exclude.)
LG LCS 500 UR CD Playback
When playing audio CDs you will hear a hissing sound (non-mechanics, from the speakers!). That hissing sound is slight, but noticeable.
LG LCS 500 UR General Purpose.
The keys need to be pressed for time a bit ‘too long, in my opinion. When driving, you do not have time / desire to keep your fingers on the car for longer than necessary (and I do not mean to “Long press”, which refers to special functions).
Would have liked to turn on the radio without having to put the picture.
The remainder of the operation is smooth, but in my opinion, this car stereo to be avoided – the same price are better products.
It seems that LG has no experience of radio, and at the same price are devices that * works *.
I might add that I went on the LG website to get help or at least report the problem. I have not received a reply and also read the privacy policy, I felt teased. Too bad, because I liked the LG and now I have changed my mind.
LG LCS 500 UR video review
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For those wanting a top end car phone system that has the lot, you won’t get better than this!
At £200 it isn’t cheap, but then for the features and quality, you won’t be disappointed.
I bought this from Halfords and the install in my Mondeo was perfect. There are no trailing wires, and the system really looks professionally installed. The screen sits connected to my dash and looks great! It is a colour screen 2.4inches big and has a good resolution and quality.
If you have an iPhone then this is exactly what you’re after. Leaving my bluetooth on, it connects everytime once I’ve started my engine and has a great range of functions. Using the supplied remote (which sits nicely behind my steering wheel and can’t be seen – I didn’t want it attached to my steering wheel for all to see), I can dial numbers, go through my call list, go through an A-Z and with one touch of the green button, voice activated dialling… This works WAY better than I thought. If I say ‘Home. Mum and Dad’ it picks it up everytime without fail. I have tried it on many names and no fault once, in fact its the only way I phone people now. The call quality is fantastic, it obviously mutes the music and comes through on the car speakers. Not once have I had a drop out. The mike picks up my voice well and people often don’t realise I’m driving.
The party piece is the iPhone part to be honest. Leaving bluetooth on is great, but the kit comes with three connections that sit where you want (most go for the glove box, but my Mondeo has a mini glove box next to the steering wheel which is perfect for me!) them to.
The three connections are an iPhone connector, usb and line out (allowing any MP3 player). Everyday I just plug my iPhone in and not only does it charge it, I can select any music off the phone. It is perfect in every way and I no longer turn my car stereo on. I’ve connected a 4GB memory stick as well and that works just as well. The screen itself has a menu system which allows every tweak you could imagine. Another bonus, is the screen has an SD card slot allowing more connections! So you can connect a usb, SD card, iPhone and any MP3 player with a headphone connection! You can edit the pictures on the screen itself, change the font size, have random tracks, bass treble etc etc.
The sound quality is a good as my car stereo was so I’ve got no complaints there!
This system really does do everything in terms of music playing! For anyone with an iPhone, it’s unbeatable.
Although at first I thought it was expensive, I now feel, for what it offers, it’s great value. I no longer need to worry about driving and talking and my phone is always hidden away and being charged!
Highly recommended!
Parrot Mki9200 video review
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Kenwood’s KDC-MP145 is a quick way to add WMA/MP3 playback to your vehicle, along with a front input for your portable music player. This CD receiver keeps it simple, delivering playback of your digital files from a data disc, AM/FM radio, a preamp output for expansion, and quality Kenwood sound on a budget.
Kenwood KDC-MP145 Removable Faceplate
Like many modern car stereos, the faceplate of this model can be removed and taken with you, to help deter theft. The control panel is equipped with an easy-to-read, one-line, 11-digit flourescent display for easy control and navigation.
Kenwood KDC-MP145 CD and WMA/MP3 Playback
Enjoy your favorite CDs and CD-Rs, or burn a disc of WMA or MP3 files and enjoy hours of music on a single disc, along with ID-3 tag display for artist and title info.
Kenwood KDC-MP145 FM/AM Tuner
When you feel like letting someone else control the programming, switch to the radio. Store your favorite stations as presets for instant access–mixed preset tuning allows both FM and AM stations to be preset on the same preset band.
Kenwood KDC-MP145 Front Auxiliary Input
Listen to external audio devices like MP3 players using the front auxiliary input, which is illuminated so it’s easy to find in the dark.
Kenwood KDC-MP145 Room To Grow
The KDC-MP142 features one 2V preamp output for system expansion. It includes a rear/subwoofer switch with a subwoofer level and adjustable low pass filter, so you can send just what you need for your system.
Kenwood KDC-MP145 System Q Sound Control
Five factory pre-set equalization curves (Rock, Top40, Pops, Jazz and Easy, plus a flat setting) and three speaker matching curves (OEM, 6×9, 5/4 plus a flat setting) can be combined for extreme sound-shaping flexibility. The preset curves include midrange contouring, giving music more clarity and presence. The preset curves can also be combined with the unit’s bass, midrange and treble controls allowing users to personalize the sound to their particular taste.
Kenwood KDC-MP145 Bass Boost
Handy for listening at lower volume levels (or for those who just like a lot of low-end).
Kenwood KDC-MP145 What’s in the Box
Kenwood KDC-MP145, Wiring Harness, Installation Tools and Hardware, Owner’s Manual, Warranty Card
Kenwood KDC-MP145 user review
I bought this player for just $54 from amazon (plus $20 shipping) & it definitely beat my expectation as far as sound quality is concerned.
My review is mostly based on the comparison with Pioneer 1900MP player that I owned previosly.
Pros:
Great sound quality.
The cheapest among the great brands such as Pioneer, Sony, Alpine, Kenwood itself,..etc.
Plays various formats esp wma. This played wma files (each 2hr duration) that wasn’t recognized by my old pioneer.
Pause button – My old player had it only in the remote control. To stop the music in my old player, I either had to hold the power key few seconds or change it to AUX mode.
btw this (MP145) does not come with remote control, however I don’t need one for something that I can reach with my hands!
Cons:
Couldn’t read display during sunlight.
When you are at the last song in a folder, the “NEXT” button does NOT take you to the first track of the next folder.
Control buttons (1-6) are a bit too small.
No power off button. Have to press SRC twice (from CD mode) to switch it off.
Audio controls where a bit confusing initially but now I got used to it.
Search operation – This player has got a “One folder level up” button, just like windows explorer, which is very useful when you play a music CD with complex sub folder system. However most of the CDs that I have only has folders at one level. So to browse the folders, I have to press the Search button, then press “Folder level up” and turn the knob left or right to browse. My old pioneer had buttons for going folder up/down which would be more convenient for this situation. (btw the band button skips folder in Fwd direction).
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A 2-DIN multimedia headunit with seven inch touch screen interface and built in navigation. It will play DVD and CD of course as well as decoding DivX clips and movies and has a 4GB flash memory. It has rear USB connection for iPhones or iPods. The front is motorised and tiltable and conceals a CD/DVD mechanism’s orifice and SD card slot. It was tested on CD, DVD, and an iPod Touch 4th Gen 64GB.
This a true tour-de-force headunit that can do it all. For one, you want to connect the grass green wire with the pale red stripe around it like a pallid Coral snake, to Earth. You are supposed to connect this to the handbrake as Clarion cannot (like any car maker too) be seen to be recommending you use it to see moving pictures while driving. However, the law is clear, you HAVE to pay due care and attention to driving and you really should be able to let a passenger in the front watch while you pay attention to what you are sat there for, after all. You are a fool if you cannot.
The really clever thing is the dual zone. You can see navigation on the screen and listen to the radio but at the same time the DVD can be running and feeding a set of screens or one of the Clarion Overhead Monitors in the rear. You decide what gets fed where and rear seat passengers can thus use headphones (included with the OHM 1588 I have here to test that needs me to do some woodwork on my test bench to accommodate it!)
I did find the GUI a little clumsy and while it is cool that it picks up the albums and the id tags of iPod tracks that are done with collaborations – like Shirley Bassey on the Propellorheads’ Decksanddrumsandrockandroll, that does mean listing it as a separate item. Which tends to increase the tickle strokes on the touch screen. Also, on a thousand pound machine, leaving the remote control as an optional extra when you can see the unit is built for it, with the infra red eye showing as a little red plastic square on the front, is a little parsimonious. Likewise, it is a shame that such a potent item can only use iPod video as such if you have the special extra £46 lead that gives you red/white Audio RCA outputs and a single yellow composite video output to plug into the great mass of wires around the back. But as iPod video is ‘supposed’ to be for parked use only, I guess it might be better than having all included at £1,100.
The capabilities of this machine are tremendous, I played with it a bit but I reckon you would have to live with it for a while to really get to grips with all it can do. Again, while I applaud the environmentally friendly motive, having the manual as a CD to upload to your PC was a tad awkward for sitting in the car with!
But that’s a whinge really, as in all honesty, it is pretty intuitive and it didn’t take me long of mindlessly stabbing at the screen to work out how to do what I wanted.
This is a luxury item I could see being the perfect one-box solution for a family people carrier. I cannot wait to have a go on the little brother of this machine, though. Far less flash with no motorised whizzy bits but a newer Graphic User interface. This DOES have navigation as a major part of its coolness and comes with the GPS antenna as well as a microphone for the hands free Bluetooth.
This machine has everything!
Overall 8.6
Sound Quality 9
Appearance/Display 9
Ease Of Use/HMI 7
Features 10
Value For Money 8
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The KD-R210 is a bare-bones solution, with playback of CDs, MP3/WMA files from disc, and a front-panel auxiliary input, but it also offers room to grow. Add a rear speaker setup or subwoofer with the switchable preamp output, or connect JVC Bluetooth or HD/SAT Radio modules for more functionality as you go.
Detachable Control Panel
The KD-R310 features a detachable face for deterring theft, along with a standard DOT display and LED backlit illumination.
Separated Variable Color
Personalize your stereo to match your vehicle’s interior illumination colors. Separated variable color lets you use two separate colors from a choice of over 30,000 options to create your own color scheme.
CD, MP3, and WMA Playback
Enjoy your favorite CDs or throw in burnt CD-Rs. You can also listen back to MP3/WMA data CDs, which allows you to throw hours of music on a single disc, with ID3 tag display of artist and track info.
A 24-bit analog-to-digital converter provides a solid sound base, and you can perfect it with the three-band EQ. For quiter listening, a Loudness function is provided, to ensure you still get some low-end and dynamics.
AM/FM Radio
The KD-R310 features an AM/FM radio, with 6 AM and 18 FM presets, for quick access to your favorite stations.
The HS-IVi tuner features higher sensitivity, thanks to three IF bandwidths (wide, middle and narrow). It also includes AM Noise Canceller plus upgraded IF filters that help avoid the distortion caused by interference from adjacent stations.
HD/SAT Radio Ready
If you’d like to add some serious entertainment options to your vehicle, add an optional HD or Satellite radio solution from JVC to take advantage of XM/SIRIUS programming or HD features like Multicasting or iTunes tagging.
Bluetooth Ready
You can also add the JVC KS-BTA200 Bluetooth adapter to enjoy hands-free calling, voice recognition, phonebook transfer, and other great features for your cellular device.
MOSFET Power
You’ll get plenty of volume with the built-in 50W x 4 MOSFET amplifier, along with clean, efficient power and performance.
Add a Sub
The included 2.5V subwoofer out is perfect for adding some serious low-end. A level/frequency control lets you dial it in from the receiver, and it’s switchable to a rear output rather than sub.
Auxiliary Input
A 3.5mm front-panel aux input lets you connect most any device, such as MP3 Players or iPods/iPhones, for enjoyment through the receiver.
What’s in the Box
KD-R310 Receiver, Wireless Remote, Sleeve/Trim Ring, Wiring Harness, Installation Hardware, User’s Manual/Intallation Manual, Warranty Info
JVC KD-R310 user review
I installed this unit into my 1993 Ford Escort LX. I got it to work on the first try and it has many awesome features! The only complaints/suggestions I have is a nice cloth pouch to store the detachable face plate in would be a nice addition and also an A.M. P.M. on the clock to allow for automatic day/night color scheme changes instead of having to change it manually. Overall excellent product. Would recommend!
