Comparing Double Dins (navs)

[UCF52 10+ year member]

Okay, I am purchasing a new car and would like to start picking/buying gear that will be used in the build. I am pretty set on doing a double-din nav system, but I have no idea what is good and what isn’t. I have tried to search for comparisons, but come up empty for the most part. I have gone through a few reviews, but was curious if somebody could provide a little more input; if anybody has any comparison links that would be great.

What I would like the unit to have… well… ipod will be used pretty exclusively. bluetooth would be nice as well as Sirius satellite radio. The navigation is not too important as I really doubt I will get a lot of use out of it. I would like the screen to be as sharp as possible, but I know that theses units usually don’t carry this trait. Are there any other features I should keep my eye out for?

I have come up with a list of units that seems to fit the bill as far as requirements and price:

Alpine w205

Eclipse AVN6610

Eclipse AVN5510

Pioneer Avic D3

Kenwood DNX7100

JVC AVX800

I have had the chance to play with the w205 and the 5510. To be honest I wasn’t really impressed wit either; especially the 5510. The screen layout/display looked cheap, like Jensen in-dash cheap. Maybe I am too picky or are there units out there with a better display (resolution)? The Alpine seemed to be a little nicer, but I still am a little fuzzy on what comes with it and what needs to be added on. Obviously bluetooth, Sirius and the ipod cable are separate, but as far as basic functionality is there anything it is missing?  I think the nav is separate.

Anyways, the car is a 2003 Infiniti G35 Coupe. I will be doing components/amps/sub as well. Unfortunately, the dash kit for this vehicle is a hefty $250. I can get the Metra kit for $80, but have read that the quality is a bit below par. With that in mind, I don’t want to spend too much on this unit. Like I said the navigation is not important, more or less the user interface is my main concern. I can get killer deals (closer to 70% off msrp) on the Eclipse units as well as the Pioneers and the JVC.

If anybody could shed a little light or breakdown my decision it would be greatly appreciated. I am just looking for somebody to point me in the right direction. I have never owned an in-dash, so I am not sure if there are any major things I should be informed of. Once again thanks for any input you guys can give.

* cliffs - trying to compare double din nav units.

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[Towncar 10+ year member]

I like the d3 alot. It is very user friendly, and gives you alot of features for the money. One thing I dont like is its dvd navigation, but still pretty unbeatable for the price..

 

[UCF52 10+ year member]

I like the d3 alot. It is very user friendly, and gives you alot of features for the money. One thing I dont like is its dvd navigation, but still pretty unbeatable for the price..

I think I am going to go with the D3. After reading up a lot about it, playing with it at work today, and getting good discounts on it, it seems like the most logical choice. Do you have one? What really stood out on it? What did it noticeably lack? Basically any other useful info on it?

 

[inapontiac 10+ year member]

Alpine w205 = The best way to add navi to this unit would be the alpine b200. The newest portable navigation from alpine that docks inside the 205. it comes with built in bluetooth. the navigation on this one isnt as good as it should be. the routes it tells you is the route most likely to be taken, more popular routes. not the quickest.

Eclipse AVN6610 = really good navi that is built in, has dual dvd slots so you can watch a movie and still have navi, highly expensive

Eclipse AVN5510 = same as above but has a cd drive and a dvd drive. both run off Map Dvds.

Pioneer Avic D3 = no experience with

Kenwood DNX7100 = navigation through the menus is easy

JVC AVX800 = no experiecne

 

[UCF52 10+ year member]

Alpine w205 = The best way to add navi to this unit would be the alpine b200. The newest portable navigation from alpine that docks inside the 205. it comes with built in bluetooth. the navigation on this one isnt as good as it should be. the routes it tells you is the route most likely to be taken, more popular routes. not the quickest.
Eclipse AVN6610 = really good navi that is built in, has dual dvd slots so you can watch a movie and still have navi, highly expensive

Eclipse AVN5510 = same as above but has a cd drive and a dvd drive. both run off Map Dvds.

Pioneer Avic D3 = no experience with

Kenwood DNX7100 = navigation through the menus is easy

JVC AVX800 = no experiecne

Thanks for the rundown. Price on the Eclipses is irrelevant... I can get them both for under $900. I just didn't like them when I auditioned them. The display seems very cheap (looked really similar to the Jensen right next to it).

Things I would like to have (and work well):

Display/ease of use

iPod integration

Bluetooth

Sirius

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

The eclipse has the built in nav maps which is nice.With the pioneer if your using the cd/dvd slot and you want to look up something on the nav you have to insert a disk.Which means stopping in the middle of a movie or cd and restarting.I have an N-1 and love it other then that fact.I have also dealt with a Kenwood ddx6019 with the garmin based nav that is also built in and has easy upgrade via fire wire or memory card.The D-3 also has a smaller screen then the others.My personal choice would be the Eclipse or a Kenwood model.

 

[UCF52 10+ year member]

The eclipse has the built in nav maps which is nice.With the pioneer if your using the cd/dvd slot and you want to look up something on the nav you have to insert a disk.Which means stopping in the middle of a movie or cd and restarting.I have an N-1 and love it other then that fact.I have also dealt with a Kenwood ddx6019 with the garmin based nav that is also built in and has easy upgrade via fire wire or memory card.The D-3 also has a smaller screen then the others.My personal choice would be the Eclipse or a Kenwood model.

Were you satisfied with the display/screen/user interface on the Eclipse units? Maybe I am just picky, but I was really dissatisfied with the 5510/6610. I really don't think I will be to affected by the nav issue with the D3. I use my iPod 100% of the time for audio and really doubt I will watch movies while I am driving. I am trying not to spend too much money especially on something I will not take full advantage of (i.e. navigation).

Avic D3 (BNIB, Authorized, 4 year warranty) = $600

Eclipse 5510 (BNIB, Authorized, 4 year warranty) = $800

Eclipse 6610 (BNIB, Authorized, 4 year warranty) = $975

Kenwood DNX7100 (BNIB, Unauthorized, No warranty) = $1000

With my dissatisfaction of the Eclipse units and the higher priced/unauthorized Kenwood, the Pioneer seems to be the most logical choice.

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

The kenwood I used had a 6.95in screen compared to the 6.1in on the pioneer with the picture quailty being about the same.The nav system in the pioneer has more POI's I believe at 12 million but this is because they use the cd's to store the info rather then hard drive.Pioneer's are pretty user friendly compared to the kenwood which requires more complex keystrokes to acess functions.Basically pioneer is one touch access.Either would do the smaller screen is deffentily a draw back compared to 7in.When they are that small every litlle bit helps.

They are all pretty good and if you can get a good deal on the d3 go ahead.

 

[blazeplacid 10+ year member]

I had the D3 and the AVn 5510

The 5510 has more sound options but thats it

The Nav on the D3 is 40x better.

Has way more POIs and has telephone look up and you can do that both ways . Phone number first of business first and it will give you the phone number.

The ipod control is about the same.

Xm or Sirus in the D3

And you can customize all the screens even the start up.

I have my start up screen differant,nav and audio screens all set up

Its a really great unit if you use an ipod.

The only thing is the NAV disk which I dont mind since I dont have a rear monitor or kids.

I dont see why people nag about that so much?

Is everyone driving with a DVD playing ?? no music?

 

[audioarsonal 10+ year member]

I listen to xm most of the time.But when I am traveling I like to pop in a dvd and that is usually when I need nav as well.So it does kinda sucks, even if your listening to a cd you still have to put the nav disk in to find anything!

The phone number feature is tits I use it constantly, but it won't find people's houses only business.

And no its more for the "coooooool" factor.....hahahaha

 

[Johnnyi 10+ year member]

Were you satisfied with the display/screen/user interface on the Eclipse units? Maybe I am just picky, but I was really dissatisfied with the 5510/6610. I really don't think I will be to affected by the nav issue with the D3. I use my iPod 100% of the time for audio and really doubt I will watch movies while I am driving. I am trying not to spend too much money especially on something I will not take full advantage of (i.e. navigation).
Avic D3 (BNIB, Authorized, 4 year warranty) = $600

Eclipse 5510 (BNIB, Authorized, 4 year warranty) = $800

Eclipse 6610 (BNIB, Authorized, 4 year warranty) = $975

Kenwood DNX7100 (BNIB, Unauthorized, No warranty) = $1000

With my dissatisfaction of the Eclipse units and the higher priced/unauthorized Kenwood, the Pioneer seems to be the most logical choice.

Where are you finding those prices??? 6610 for $975 and 4 year warranty? that is very low! as well as the other prices. Where are those prices from??

 

[Towncar 10+ year member]

I think I am going to go with the D3. After reading up a lot about it, playing with it at work today, and getting good discounts on it, it seems like the most logical choice. Do you have one? What really stood out on it? What did it noticeably lack? Basically any other useful info on it?

I dont own it, but I use it everyday at work, so I deal with it on a everyday basis. Only thing i can think that it lacks is the screen size, it could have been slightly bigger, but its not a big deal to me.

 

[UCF52 10+ year member]

The kenwood I used had a 6.95in screen compared to the 6.1in on the pioneer with the picture quailty being about the same.The nav system in the pioneer has more POI's I believe at 12 million but this is because they use the cd's to store the info rather then hard drive.Pioneer's are pretty user friendly compared to the kenwood which requires more complex keystrokes to acess functions.Basically pioneer is one touch access.Either would do the smaller screen is deffentily a draw back compared to 7in.When they are that small every litlle bit helps.They are all pretty good and if you can get a good deal on the d3 go ahead.

I was looking at the screens today and I think i would be happy with the 6.1.

I had the D3 and the AVn 5510
The 5510 has more sound options but thats it

The Nav on the D3 is 40x better.

Has way more POIs and has telephone look up and you can do that both ways . Phone number first of business first and it will give you the phone number.

The ipod control is about the same.

Xm or Sirus in the D3

And you can customize all the screens even the start up.

I have my start up screen differant,nav and audio screens all set up

Its a really great unit if you use an ipod.

The only thing is the NAV disk which I dont mind since I dont have a rear monitor or kids.

I dont see why people nag about that so much?

Is everyone driving with a DVD playing ?? no music?

Yea, these are the reasons why i think i want the D3... I will be using iPod exclusively, nav isn't a big deal, and I would like to have a decent screen (resolution/interface).

Where are you finding those prices??? 6610 for $975 and 4 year warranty? that is very low! as well as the other prices. Where are those prices from??

mmm, can't really say, but just know that you don't have access to it, so you are not missing out on anything that you could take advantage of.

I dont own it, but I use it everyday at work, so I deal with it on a everyday basis. Only thing i can think that it lacks is the screen size, it could have been slightly bigger, but its not a big deal to me.

Same here. And the screen is fine for me. I just need something to fill a DD mounting size and I don't think I want to do a single and a pocket in a G35... I just don't think it will look right after seeing so many pictures of the DD's installed.

 

[Johnnyi 10+ year member]

mmm, can't really say, but just know that you don't have access to it, so you are not missing out on anything that you could take advantage of.

c'mon share! I want a deal too. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[AVSTANG02]

Alpine really failed hard on the w205 and the nav unit.