Kenwood 9960

Audio: Great
Navi: Great
Ipod: Pain in the ass

 

I have Kenwood DNX 9140, I love the unit, few things you should know before buying one!

It takes 20-30 sec to start up, that the only down side of the unit.
Also i dont use apple product so I cant comment in that department.

Ok here are the good parts.

Garment GPS Free updates!!!!
I put my music and videos on external hard drive.
If you want to watch videos, the unit is very picky on file format of video, I have a hard time to get a program that will convert videos files. If you have one please share a information in that department.

External Hard drive and USB flash drive's
~ If you plan on using HD or USB flash drive, make sure its formated to FAT32
if its NTFS that drives will not work!!!!!

Other than that, I really enjoy my unit, has lots of options that you could setup and play with, Also it has a great EQ, and you could setup your crossovers straight from the unit depending on what you like more, either setup things up at the amp or the unit its self.

Also it has 3 sets of RCA at 5V...

Over all i'm really happy with the unit. Cant really ask for more!

 

Avic-Z
The Nav is great
I very much enjoy mine

 

My AVIC Z-1 is about the only piece of audio gear that hasn't given me some sort of grief. It just keeps playin' my tunes... The screen is big, but not as sharp as some others in the Pioneer line. The touch aspect works well. Voice command does not. BT is really good; I don't have any echo on either end. Navi updates? Yearly, and the discs are about 100 dollars to update the internal HD. Or, you can get your drive upgraded/updated for a bit less. It's kind of a moot point now, as Google maps is on everybody's cell phone. Plus, GM shows traffic updates- that's indespensable to me! I keep my eye on the Navi, and just glance at GM traffic at the beginning of my trip, just so there's no suprises. My Z is quick to reroute though. It starts up pretty quick. Music comes on quick, then there's a generic loading screen, a warning screen and then the map pops up, and it's spot-on. The mod to watch movies while moving, as well as mess with other screens was dead easy. There's a decent crossover and sub controlls, as well as graphic and 3 band parametric EQ with adjustable Q. The DSP is kinda cheesy, but you can defeat it, or just get used to it. It has a small fan that's just barely audible at idle. It has camera input, as well as video input. I had a gameplate hooked up to it when I had my truck, and that was kinda neat. I don't use an ipod, so I can't comment on that.

This is THE place to learn all about Pioneers:
AVIC411.com

The Z's are getting cheaper on Ebay nowdays. The BT's are the hot ones.

 

I have heard the 900bt alpine and the new 910 because my friends are upgrade whores... It's actually a better unit both in terms of improved functionality and sound levels (more quiet on the 910). However.... Alpine's navigation system has always been an issue, despite them improving it from the blackbird days. I like the pioneer navi better. I would have to say Alpine's ipod integration is pretty spot on. Got no complaints about that.

Overall my vote goes to the Pioneer if you don't care about ipod integration and if you're not going to expand with a processor, but if you do intend to do so, I'd go with the Alpine.

 

I HATE the Pioneer units. I say go with the 9960.

 

Clarion NX501

Nav - great (lane guidance -handy)
iPOD - good (direct connect, rear USB - cable provided, unlike other brand that require $$$ for iPOD cable)
Audio - pretty good (3 band eq, not as good as pioneer 7 band eq)

Price about $700

 

Since U have the Navi unit and if U like the Map software, U shld consider getting the DQX. I also have a china navi but once I add in the DQX the sound quality became great.

 

What exactly is the DQX?

My china navi ipod placback is terrible. The cd playback is a bit better, but I can notice details in songs completely missing. It's pretty annoying, and I wonder if it's more the processing inside the navi.

 

WOW quite a bit of responses here! Thanks guys.

Well I was sort of hoping there was a clear cut favorite here. I noticed some people are for or against either pioneer and kenwood...But not many had much to say against the Alpine INA-W900BT which sort of puts it ahead of the pack for me. I have seen some videos and I like how quick it is.

Can anyone comment on that unit a bit more?

 

I just bought the INA-W910, I love it. Very expensive but easy to use. Built in HD radio, Bluetooth. Screen is very bright. I had a few hiccups with it but they were minor and easily fixed. (The first time I loaded a DVD into it, it got stuck but i got it out and haven't had a problem since. If you have the cash I would recommend it.

Another thing is its quick boot up time. Also there is no delay when navigating through the menus.

 

Thanks for the input.

From what I understand, the 900 is the same as the 910 but no built in HD radio and TMC. I think I can live without those for a few hundred cheaper.

How do you feel the navigation performs? I think I have seen some negative comments on that. Also the sound quality?

Thanks

 

I just used the navigation to get me from Pittsburgh PA to Ocean city MD. Got there flawlessly. One thing I did notice was sometimes if I stopped at a gas station it would get a little screwy. I would have to get back onto the main road and have it recalculate the route. For example, i stopped at a Valero and when i jumped back on the main road US 50 it told me to take a random left turn when i knew i had at least 40 more miles left on that road. I figured it out, it was still thinking i was making the left onto the main road from the gas station, but it quickly recalculated and got me back on the main road. Wasn't really a big deal since i was in the middle of nowhere really.

I bought my unit for $1070 open box. (no flaws, nothing. looked brand new and had all accessories and wires from crutchfield)

As far as sound quality I think it's great. I upgraded from an 9887. I have Type R components in the front of my 2008 Silverado Ext cab. and Type R coax in the rear power by and PDX-F4. They are loud and clear and sound amazing in my opinion.

Im not sure about the 900, but the 910 has a "GPS dashboard" It gives you extremely accurate current speed, Max speed, Average speed, Altitude, and all kinds of other cool info.

 

One other thing.. If you get the 910 and use the h100 sound processor for some reason kills the nav voice when you come up to a turn. music gets quite and you don't hear anything. Needs a software patch or i'm just doing something wrong, but i don't think i am.