Seagate FreeAgent Theater HD Media Player STCEA101-RK Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Seagate FreeAgent Theater is now cheap because it is old technology and it shows. It is not a bad player for old-school video formats, but the picture is composite like an early years DVD Player, not HD. The firmware is slow, ugly, and buggy. The newer Theater+ model has HDMI, networking, and HD picture, but it is not worth the much higher $ investment (currently over $200 with hard drive and dock). The new firmware is still a D+ at best. I recommend using a netbook with an HDMI port as a media server instead. A netbook will work flawlessly as a media server and you will enjoy all the other PC fuctions it can do for you.

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The easiest way to move your photos, movies and music from your PC to your TV. Share and enjoy your memories in a comfortable, social environment such as your living room. With two easy steps, you will be viewing and sharing your favorite photos, movies and music in no time! With its unique dual-docking system, setup the device once and never hassle with cables again. Simply place the FreeAgent Go portable hard drive (sold seperately) into the PC docking station and it automatically copies your photos, movies and music from the PC to the drive. Then docking the FreeAgent Go portable hard drive into the FreeAgent Theater media player, connected to the TV, puts your entire media library at your fingertips with 1080i High-Definition playback and crystal clear Dolby Digital 5.1 audio surround sound support. With the front-mounted USB port, you can also plug your digital camera, USB flash drive or external USB hard drive directly into the FreeAgent Theater and enjoy the same high-quality viewing experience. Navigating through your media library is intuitive with the FreeAgent Theaters user interface and compact remote control. Share your memories like a pro with easy to customize slideshows, transitions, background music and zoom feature for both pictures and movies. Share and experience your memories in comfort with FreeAgent Theater.

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JVC KW-AVX800 7-inch In-dash Multimedia System Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this unit specifically because I wanted certain functions. After extensive research, I found that this device said in the product specs that it would do everything I wanted. While technically true, it performed so poorly in some areas that I in the end was disappointed. I have now tried several units trying to get these functions, including this unit. Ultimately, I returned this unit, though because it was not good enough at all of the things I wanted it to do. If you do not care about some of the things I do (or you care about other things - for example, for me DVD playback was irrelevant, so I did not even try this out), the unit might be fine for you.
Keep in mind, in order to do a lot of these things, you need to buy a separate breakout box or adapter that is not included in the price. Here is a list of what I wanted it to do & how it did:
1.Bluetooth integration. Fantastic. Best voice dial integration on any product I tried. There is a dedicated hard button to turn on voice dial that can be accessed no matter what mode the unit is in. Call quality was also good. It also accessed and played in a very good quality my music on my bluetooth smartphone. Truly, best in breed, and if all you care about is bluetooth integration, then this unit is for you.
2.Ipod integration. Not so good. Although the unit is touch screen, instead of listing items on the screen and letting you touch them to select, it instead only goes through one item in a menu tree at a time & then you have to hit an "enter" button that is not marked as enter. It looks like they took a non-touch screen interface & used it in this unit instead of writing one to take advantage of the touch screen capabilities. Worse, it sometimes looses time scyc with my latest generation ipod (I tried both a new 8 gb nano and a new 80 gb classic & had the same problems). Basically, the time would come up with "00:00" quite often, and then stay there. Because the unit continually thinks you are at the beginning of a track, it will not let you rewind. This can be a problem with books on tape or podcasts. This happened at least a few times per week. My installer said JVC was aware of this problem.
3.XM integration. OK but not great. It suffers from the same annoying lack full touch screen integration that exists for ipod, albeit to a much lesser extent. You can, for example, select a preset by touching the channel. However, my xm presets would often disappear from the preset list. What I mean is that the slot for the preset would be there, but the channel name would be missing. This happened almost daily. My installer said JVC was aware of this problem.
4.Control of unit from factory redundant controls on steering wheel. Poor. I wanted to be able to control basic functions on the unit from the factory steering wheel controls so I would not have to take my eyes off the road. Sometimes it worked, sometimes (often) it did not. Volume down refused to work most of the time.
In the end, item 1 was great, item 2 was below average, item 3 was OK, and item 4 was poor. On balance, not good enough for me to keep.


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Sony DVPFX705 Portable DVD Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Sony DVD player gave a great picture, but I have to admit along with the other reviews the volume is too low. I used it on a recent trip. My brother and I both brought our DVD players. His was a $150.00 low end name brand. We shared each others players. His volume was twice as loud as the Sony, but the picture was half as good.

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Keep everyone entertained during road trips with the Sony DVPFX705 portable DVD player, which features a bright 7-inch LCD screen, lithium-ion battery for three hours of power, and an included car power adapter. Dual headphone jacks let two people listen to the entertainment on the go, and it also offers built-in stereo speakers. In addition to playing DVD movies and CD audio discs, it's also compatible with DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, and CD-R/RW disc formats as well as MP3 music and JPEG photo file formats.
The DVPFX705 can connect to a TV for a larger viewing experience via composite and S-Video outputs. It also features 5.1-channel Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound capability as well as virtual surround sound from two speakers.
What's in the Box DVPFX705 DVD player, lithium-ion battery for player, remote control two AA batteries, AV cable, AC adapter, car power adapter, printed instructions

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Yamaha RX-V3800BL 7.1-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I confess, I am a electronic consumer nut. After "getting by" on SVHS and component hookups for my electronic equipment, I bit the bullet and started looking for a receiver that had enough HDMI inputs, enough SVHS inputs, an input for my iPod and RCA-phono/USB-phono, LAN and computer. Previously, I had a Pioneer VSX-9500, then a Yamaha model with about 5 SVHS inputs, and a Denon AVR 4802R with 7 SVHS inputs. After a couple of months of searching through the usual suspects, including the other brands I have had, I settled on the Yamaha RX-V3800 in black because it allowed me to do enough of what I wanted to do from my shopping list I mentiond earlier.
First of all, I was surprised to find that all the receivers I looked at had downsized their number of connections from four years ago when I bought my Denon receiver. I was having to look at receivers costing 2 to 3 times as much as the RX-V3800 before I could find one with as many inputs, and I found even Yamaha's RX-Z11 had the same number as the RX-V3800, and it ran almost $5,000.00. Then, I thought about it... what were the inputs I really used most of all: SVHS, BluRay, HD-DVD, DVR, DVR-VHS combo, CD player, cassette, and phono. There was one input remaining that I was able to use with a junction box for ED-Beta,Laser Disc, XM radio, and an DVR-R recorder, so the Yamaha RX-V3800 would do without me having to compromise too much.
But, let's get to the machine and all of it's pluses:
The sound... It is terrific! With my previous system, I had to gerry-rig the side speakers using a quadraphonic synthesizer, but the RX-V3800 has the following speaker connections: left-front, right-front, center, left-side, right-side, left-rear, right-rear and sub-woofer. My previous set-up had a rear-center, and after reading a little, I found you could hook-up a rear center by using the RCA connection labeled "Single (SB)." (There's a "SURBACK PRESENCE" that can be used, also, but it was designed for when you only wanted one rear channel). When you set-up the speakers, Yamaha has a special optimizer microphone you plug into the front of the unit and it balances your speakers based on where you have the microphone placed.
The four HDMI inputs are great, too, because it allows me to have the best picture and sound from my BluRay, HD-DVD, Satellite Receiver, and DVR-VHS unit.
The Internet radio is easy to use, and it is programmed with plenty of stations. The selection of stations with the Yamaha remote is easy and the sound is wonderful.
The iPod Yamaha YDS-10 dock option is a must if you have an iPod. Quite frankly, I probably won't use my phono, now, except to make digital recordings of out-of-date vinyl recordings because of the ease of operation of the iPod through the docking station, especially if you have the 80 or 160 GB model of iPod with all the music they can hold.
The XM set-up with the XM Extreme is nice and integrates smoothly. I, actually, use an older XM radio through two RCA inputs, but with the XM Extreme directly connected, it is easier to use.
The computer set-up is not as easy as the manual would make you believe, but it is easier if you do the following: Make sure your PC has XP Service Pack Two or Vista on it AND you have Windows Media Player 11 installed, have your 232 Serial Ports between the computer and the Yamaha RX-V-3800 connected, and have a networking guide for your operating system. Once you have those done, you go into Windows Media Player, select "Library" at the top, and then select "Media Sharing" to allow the tunes on your PC to be shared with your receiver. For other PC's on your LAN, it would be best for you to already have those tunes shared, but if you connect an iPod, that might not be necessary. While I am at it, I will say this about Media Player ll: once you've checked the right boxes, it does a good job.
Overall, I am extremely pleased with the Yamaha RX-V3800. I did think that they could have done a better job with the manual... for example, in setting-up the PC, you start reading the instructions and it refers you to two other sections of the manual, and when things just didn't seem to jell, one finds that later in the manual, they show you how to do the set-up more thoroughly and manually, if needed. That said and done, though, I would buy this receiver again. I do wish it had more inputs, but then again, most people don't have as much to hook-up as I do. If there were a four-and-a-half stars rating, I would give it, but I'm stuck giving it only four.

UPDATE: It is two months after first doing this review, and I still love this receiver. I bought a great pair of outside speakers that look like rocks, HiFi Works 30020 HFW 6.5-Inch Rock Speakers (Pair), and use the "Room 2" with the X-10 Powermid remote extender, X10 POWERMID Remote Control Extender Kit PM5900. This set-up is wonderful! I sometimes have the iPod play outside, while inside they are watching TV on the HDTV. One caution, when setting-up the "Room 2," it will ask you what is the initial volume you want the "room" to have. I had not paid that much attention to those dB settings on the volume you get across the screen of the TV, and the first time I used Room 2, you could hear the music over a block away... Those speakers didn't flinch and their tone was terrific! (Unfortunately, our house was so sound proof, I didn't know I was blowing-out the neighbors.) Using the X-10 remote control extenders really is a blessing. If you use the extenders in other areas of the house, be sure to have your remote receiver up close to the Yamaha.

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The Yamaha RX-V3800 7.1-Channel Network Home Theater Receiver offers high-end sound and video quality to take your home theater experience to the next level.It provides 980 Watts of total power, pushing 140 Watts to each of its 7 channels.This advanced home theater receiver introduces new technologies and features including 3D CINEMA DSP, the latest HDMI 1.3a specification support, upscaling to 1080p, full support for high definition audio formats signals, Adaptive DRC and Adaptive DSP Level, YPAO Auto Setup with Quick Start, and multi-zone custom installation support and Network Receiver functions.High quality components, crystal clear sound and video clarity, and cutting edge technologies will make the Yamaha RX-V3800 the cornerstone of your home theater experience.

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Clarion VZ309 3.5-Inch Single-DIN Multimedia Station with USB Port Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)To put it politely, I have been disappointed by the performance and feature set of this receiver. In fact, I thought it was so bad that this couldn't have been a product developed by Clarion. I think this is a re-badged Clarion which was designed/engineered by a low-tier manufacturer. The fact that the HD Tuner that works with this receiver doesn't work with any other seems to point in that direction too. But this is a review, so I will be specific about it.
Usually, people write the positives and negatives when writing a review. I will do the same. So, here's what I like about it:
1. Looks: It is a handsome looking deck. I am not a fan of the flashing LEDs and rotating colors. This has very minimalistic and simplistic, OEM type design that complements the rest of the dash.
2. Build quality is great. Definitely does not look like a made in China item that you can buy at an auto parts store.
3. Nice, large screen - crisp and clear.
4. Sounds is good, although nothing earth-shattering for a 200W amp.
5. HD Tuner works well, get stations fast and clear.
Now, before I list the things I don't like about it, let me explain something. A lot of people will mention a LACK OF FEATURE as a negative. I kind of find it unfair. I mean, before you buy something, you should know what features it has or doesn't have. For example, this receiver doesn't have Bluetooth. Now, it will be unfair for me to say this is a bad receiver because of that.
On the other hand, things that are wrong with it, or designs that are inconvenient can be fairly mentioned in the list of CONS. So, I will start with it:
1. If you start your car before you attach the faceplate, the receiver will remain turned off. You have to press the power button to turn in on - every time. With most receivers, if you turned off your receiver before you remove your car keys, it will remain off until you turn in on manually. Same way, if you left your receiver turned ON, and turned the car off (remove keys), it will come on automatically next time you turn on ignition and put the faceplate. This doesn't do that. Very inconvenient.
2. The "power"/ON button is not lit when the unit is off. So, coupled with the issue #1, it is a major inconvenience at night. You come in, start the car, put the faceplate back on - and nothing. Now you will have to blindly look for the power button to turn it on.
3. If there is a CD/DVD in the drive, it will always start in the CD/DVD source, regardless of last source you were listening to when it was turned off.
4. USB slot is also not lit, so, inserting a USB drive at night takes a few tries.
5. Most of the buttons have more than one functions. One function is printed right on the button, the other function for the same button is printed right below it. However, ONLY the button is lit, not the print below it. For example, the power button also acts as the mute button. But when the receiver is on, only the power symbol is lit, not "MUTE" which is written right below it. It is true for all buttons with more than one functions.
6. The dreaded DVD-loop issue. If you switched to a different source or turned the unit off while playing a DVD, next time it will only loop in the chapter it was last playing. Definitely a bad programming issue.
7. If you "mute" the unit while playing a CD or songs from USB, the mute will be automatically canceled and sound will come back on after the next song comes on. Really annoying - specially if you are on the phone with someone and suddenly the music comes on. I know this is not meant to be or that it is not a feature because the mute symbol stays on the display, even though the sound is heard. Again, bad programming.
8. The faceplate anchor design is merit-less at best. It has two plastic anchors sticking out from the unit where the faceplate latches on. These are plastic anchors about 1" long and they are just sticking out. If one of the breaks, the whole unit is useless. I will post a pic to show what I mean.
9. Absolutely no display customization. What comes with is what you get - and what comes with it is nothing. You can't change the display color/wallpaper/font/size - nothing.
10. USB operation is ridiculous at best. It shows all the songs in one list and the only way to navigate through them without the remote is to go up and down, which is painfully slow. You can go folder to folder using the remote. With the "UP" and "DOWN" symbols being not lit, it's inconvenient at night.
EDIT: I discovered that you can press and hold the up or down button to navigate from folder to folder. No mention of this in the manual.
11. If your mp3 folders have a pic such as an album art, this unit will get stuck at that, and it will ask you to put the parking brake on to view it - instead of just not showing the pic and moving on to the next song. If you have a lot of albums, you will need to manually remove all the album arts from the USB drive.
12. In the USB mode, it "eats" about 1 sec from the beginning of a song when it moves starts the next track. It's not as noticeable with the songs that start slow, but clearly annoying when a song starts out loud or with a beat, for example, Michael Jackson's Billie Jean. Don't know if this applies to CD tracks too.
13. It will recognize only 512 songs total in your USB drive. Now-a-days people have their whole music collection on a single chip. 512 songs limitation sets you back to 1999.
14. A lot of the DVD operations can only be performed using the remote. There are buttons on the faceplate that are inactive during DVD play which they could have easily put some functions on.
15. It is not compatible with all USB drives. I don't know which ones are okay but I have a USB drive that works fine everywhere but this gives me an error saying "UBS Bad".
16. No dedicated button for "search", meaning fast forward or reverse. So, if you want to FF a song or DVD chapter, you will have to press and hold ">>|" for about 5 secs and then it will do it only at 2x speed. Do the same again (another 5 secs) to go 4x. If you let go before that, it will just skip to the next song or chapter - and you will have to do it again.
17. The internal clock loses time like crazy!! It would be half to a minute behind in just a week.
18. No permanent brightness setting for the screen. All you have is Normal -> Dim -> Off, using the Dim button. You can't set the brightness to your liking. To make matter worse, the setting using "Dim" button is temporary. Once the unit is re-started (turn off/turn on), it goes to full brightness.
19. Finally, THIS UNIT IS SLOW!!! Navigating through songs or tuning stations, skipping songs, switching sources - much slower than even the cheapest receivers out there.
Now, some of things that I would have love to see and I could expect in a $400 receiver:
1. This unit should have been AT LEAST bluetooth ready.
2. It has this huge, rotary volume knob which is also used for Bass/Treble settings by pushing it. I think this would have been more useful is this was programmed to be used as "Enter" button, and putting the "Bass/Treble" settings in the settings menu. Now, the "AS" button acts as enter which is not even lit.
3. When the ignition is on and the faceplate is not on, there is a little triangle blue LED that flashes to show where to enter CD/DVD. I wish this LED would blink all the time so it would act as a theft deterrent.
4. When you enter the "Settings" menu where you can change equalizer/loudness etc, the music stops. So, you have no way to instantly compare the effect of different EQ or loudness settings. Wish the music didn't stop.
5. The faceplate carry-case/box is CHEAP!!! They should have included a little better case.
Like the title says, the only thing that makes things even is the ultra-low pricing of Amazon, which sometimes even include a free HD tuner. Otherwise, for more price I would suggest getting something else.

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Clarion's VZ309 is a true multimedia station with a DVD/ CD receiver; USB connector that supports playback of MP3, WMA and JPEG files; front AUX inputs for portable audio players; and optional iPod audio and video playback (CCUIPOD2). The brilliant 3.5 inch display lets you control it all. All this in a small one-DIN package.

Enjoy a Wide Variety of Media The built-in optical disc drive is compatible with DVD-Video, DVD+/-R, DVD+/-RW, CD-DA, HDCD, CD-R and CD-RW, so you're assured access to a wide variety of visual and musical entertainment.
You can also play back MP3/WMA files from disc, complete with ID3-Tag display of artist/track info on the screen.
3.5-inch LCD Screen The 3.5-inch LCD displays operational status of your iPod, CD and DVD playback, radio functions and more. It offers maximum usability within minimum dimensions.
iPod Playback Just connect your iPod to the VZ309 using the optional CCUIPOD1 to control your iPod from the source unit. Please see the Clarion website for iPod models that can beconnected.
Front USB Input Grab a USB drive with some of your favorite MP3/WMA tracks and enjoy them right from the front of the unit.
HD/SAT Radio Ready You can connect optional tuners and enjoy the benefits of high-definition and XM satellite radio.
AM/FM Radio Catch up on the news or listen to your favorite stations. Get quick access to your favorites with 18 FM and 6 AM station presets.
Auxiliary Input Use the front 3.5mm auxiliary input to connect external audio devices like MP3 players, etc.
Rear AV Output A rear AV output allows you to send your signal to a second monitor in the back seat.
Dedicated Rear vision Camera RCA Input Add a rear vision camera to see the area behind your vehicle, for added safety and convenience.
Room to Grow With 50 Watts through four channels, and a 24-bit D/A converter, the VZ309 gives you great sound to start. But it also includes 6 channels of preamp output and a subwoofer volume control, so you can easily add external amplifiers and build a monster system.
Remote Included A full-featured remote control is included.
What's in the Box VZ309 Source unit, Mounting bracket, Removable face plate case, Trim plate, Remote control unit, Battery (CR2025), Owner's manual, Installation manual, Installation hardware

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Sony DVP-NS575P/S Progressive Scan DVD Player, Silver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had this player for about a week now and am reasonably happy with it. I bought this player to replace my 3 year old Sony DVD player that couldn't read my burned DVD-R or DVD+R media.
Not a problem with this unit -- I've thrown DVD+R, DVD-R, and DVD+RW disks at it and it's had no issues whatsoever, nor has it had any problems reading the several Netflix rental DVDs I've thrown at it. So far, so good.
The picture on my 4:3 tube TV is excellent, as you'd expect, although it seems slightly darker than what I'm accustomed to, even after fiddling with the various cinema modes.
Startup time to read DVDs is definitely longer than with my 3 year old player although if it buys you the ability to read almost any disk format, it's not a big deal if you have to wait 10-15 seconds to get started.
The multi-disk memory is an excellent feature, allowing you to remove a disk and play others and when you put the disk back in, the player will take you right back to where you left off.
The only disappointment so far is that when presented with a moving, intricate picture with fine lines, the lines tend to 'wiggle' as the picture moves. (This is noticeable in the rails and fine lines of the buildings in the opening of Mystic River as the camera pans across them). My 3 year old Sony did NOT have this issue but my understanding is that this is a very common issue with DVD players.
Given that this is an (...)$80-$90 player that will do progressive video (which I'm not using yet) and seems to be happy with whatever media you throw at it, I'd suggest giving it a shot.
October 04 update -- the "wiggling lines" problem I noted in Mystic River turned out to be very unusual -- I think I've only noticed it in one other movie out of the 50 or so I've watched since writing this review. It's not a big issue.

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Sony's amazingly affordable and feature-rich DVP-NS575P/B DVD player is everything a budget-savvy music and movie lover could ask for. The progressive-scan DVP-NS575P/B plays just about any disc out there--including DVD-Video, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW--as well as spins your digital photos and MP3 files burned to CD-R/CD-RW discs. It will also play discs recorded in the DVD-VR format (which grants more flexible recording and editing options than do standard DVD-RW/+RW or DVD-RAM formats).
Sony's Precision Cinema Progressive (PCP) system uses specialized algorithms to detect image changes at the pixel level, as opposed to the scan-line level, resulting in a picture more faithful to the film or video source.

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Coby TF-DVD500 Ultra-Portable DVD Player with 3.5-Inch LCD Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It's rare that a device says what it does and does what it says. This is a perfect companion on the train, in the car or anywhere you might find yourself trapped with time to kill.
I'll admit the screen is small, but since most of the story of a movie is told by the dialog, it's more than adequate for following the action and enjoying the movie. I got my unit to pass the time on the train, and it is the perfect device for that.
Because it is the same size and shape as a CD player, you can put it in your lap and look just as though you are listening to CDs - there is no flip-up screen to call attention to yourself.
The rechargable battery gets through anything hollywood has to offer, and it recharges quickly. This is a great companion to a TIVO that records DVDs. You can keep up with all the regulars you know and love from your favorite TV shows, or buy entire seasons on DVD and enjoy at your leisure. You already know what Jerry Seinfeld looks like, so a 3.5" screen is just fine - it's the jokes that we're interested in, anyway.
The size is perfect if you want to put it in your jacket pocket, or slide into your shoulder bag. This is my new best friend.


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Occupying little more space than your average portable CD player, Coby's spiffy little TF-DVD500 DVD player has its 3.5-inch TFT liquid-crystal display mounted right atop its sturdy lid. The affordable player can provide CD music and back seat DVD entertainment for your car using a supplied DC power adapter or full-featured entertainment for your home or office through its AC power adapter and audio/video hookup cables.This is a portable whose attachable battery pack is actually an asset even when you're running the player indoors off AC power: the battery pack serves as a viewing stand, offering adjustable height and viewing angles. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery runs for about 2.5 hours between charges.The player offers compatibility with DVD-Video (both NTSC- and PAL-formatted region-1 and all-region discs), audio CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3-encoded music discs, and even recordable CDs brimming with your JPEG digital photos.
An onscreen display simplifies setup and operation; you can view setup options and commands in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese. Playback options include frame-by -frame slow motion and multiple-angle viewing (with applicable discs). The TF-DVD500 also includes stereo headphones and a slim remote control for hassle-free operation in tight quarters.
What's in the Box DVD player, battery pack, remote control, remote batteries, audio/video cables, power cord, AC power adapter, DC vehicle power adapter, stereo headphones, a carrying bag, and a user's manual.

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Sabrent TV-USB20 USB 2.0 TV Tuner/Video Capture Box with Remote Control Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was overall pretty sattisfied with the product. It came with the tuner, all neccessary drives, remote control (which I never used), and WinDVR to capture footage with.
It did pretty much what it promised, allows you to capture from any analog device such as a VCR or anything with Compostite Out jacks. Only problem is that the actuall tuner itself does not have an audio in left and audio in right, therefore forcing you to buy a audio composite to stereo 3.5mm jack. Another problem was the ability to only capture in the resolution of 720x480(unless you buy other expensive capturing programs). I recommend getting the free program Virtualdub and compressing to divx after you capture as many codecs drop frames when trying to compress while capturing(at least on my computer[2.2gHz proccessor])
Overall, I'm satisfied with the purchase and do recommend it IF you can't or won't afford anything better. Now, I leave you with a list of Pros and Cons.
Pros:
1. Captures decent-to-good looking quality video if configure right.
2. Great for getting all that old VCR footage on the computer and on to a DVD
3. Very simple to install, and comes with capturing program. Though VirtualDub is highly recommended.
4. Three video inputs - RF signal, Compostie, and S-video!
5. External device, so you don't have to open your PC.
Cons:
1. Composite audio to stereo 3.5 mm jack needed for sound.
2. Extremely large files unless compressed with VirtualDub afterwards.
3. Can only capture in 720x480 resolution. Unless expensive programs are bought.
4. I guess you get what you pay for but quality could be a bit better.

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The Sabrent TV-USB20 USB 2.0 TV Tuner/Video Capture Box with Remote Control can receive TV and capture video when installed on your notebook or PC.
In its compact and stylishly designed box, you can bring the device with you and have a mobile TV station wherever you are. Television is captured at 704x480 (NTSC) resolutions, creating video that can be stored on a hard disk and can be played back later. Videos can be saved in MPEG-1, MPEG-2, or MPEG-4 format. You can use Personal Video Recorder functions such as time-shifting and pausing live TV.
The device also captures stereo audio at 16 bits with either a 24 Khz or 48 Khz sampling rate. With the A/V sync feature, video and audio can be captured at the same time. An additional feature lets you capture 704x480 still images from a video source.
The Sabrent TV-USB20 features a USB 2.0 interface that provides high bandwidth for video and, for convenience, requires no external power source. S-VHS and composite inputs let you connect DVD players and VCRs.
System Requirements Windows 2000 SP4 or Windows XP SP2, Pentium III 800 MHz, 64 MB, DirectX 9.0C, USB 2.0 port, CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, 500 MB of available hard disk space.
What's in the Box TV-USB20 USB 2.0 TV tuner/video capture box, remote control, driver CD-ROM, and batteries.

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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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Jensen VM9312HD Multimedia Receiver with 7-Inch Touch Screen and HD Radio Tuner (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Well the Jenson has all you could want, an HD tuner (by itself outside msrp is 150$) so this is a cheap radio and tuner. Everything works great but i have to keep telling myself its not an ipod as the menu control sucks. its not really scrolling rather you see pages of music. you can not use folders on cds as they just combine it all. radio is spotty and it switches to analog more than i want and won't stay on digital only after i turn off the car (it resets to automatic ...). The biggest flaw is the cd player hissing and volume. the volume always resets when you turn on the system and it is really too loud though i set the master volume to 0. There is always hissing when the song is playing very soft. These things combine make me want to go with a better brand but heck i paid 100 bucks for installation of HD already and i do not think this tuner will work with other sets so it'll cost too much to take out and in. I might as well keep it...

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The Jensen VM9312HD multimedia head unit is a great way to break into mobile multimedia. This single DIN unit is iPod compatible, SAT ready (via SDA sold separately) and navigation ready (sold separately). It features a 7-inch touch screen and plenty of expansion options. Make those long drives more bearable for everyone.

CD/DVD Player Enjoy your favorite DVDs when parked, complete with wide and normal aspect ratios. You'll get a great picture in a small format with the 7-inch TFT active matrix LCD, complete with anti-glare coating for when the sun's still out.
The VM312HD plays DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW, SVCD, and VCD discs. In addition you can dig into your digitized collection, with support for MPEG1 and 2, XviD, AVI, MP3/WMA and JPEG files burnt onto a CD or DVD. With MP3/WMA files, you get full ID3 tag compatibility for displaying track info on-screen, directory search and more. Throw in a DVD with up to 1500 tunes and enjoy hours of listening.
Built in HD Radio Tuner HD Radio technology allows CD-quality digital broadcasting of your local AM and FM radio stations. HD Radio broadcasts can include multiple channels on the same frequency, which is called multicasting. With multicasting, you can receive up to three additional multicast channels: HD2, HD3, HD4. With your VM8013 radio, you will receive HD Radio digital broadcasts automatically when tuned to a station that offers HD Radio technology.
Satellite Radio Ready With a subscription to XM or Sirius satellite radio, you'll enjoy access to a ton of of music, news, talk shows, sports and traffic information with CD quality sound throughout the USA.
And of course there's always normal AM/FM radio. Tune into your favorite stations instantly with 18 FM and 6 AM presets.
MediaLink It's all about connectivity. The VM312HD gives you an under-dash interface for connecting your many gadgets. A 3.5mm auxiliary input is provided for external audio devices like MP3 players. Two AV inputs (RCA) are provided for use with game consoles, navigation consoles, camcorders--you name it.
And what gadget would be complete without a little iPod love? Grab the included jLinkDirect cable to attach your iPod, and access an easy, intuitive interface for iPod navigation. Pull up your favorite artists, songs, playlists, etc., in an instant. Watch clips or photos on the LCD. Best of all, while your iPod's connected it'll be charged, so when you step out of the car you can keep the tunes coming.
Room for Growth In addition to the aforementioned MediaLink inputs, the VM312HD has a number of options for expansion. A rear-view camera input will come in handy if you need a little help parallel parking. The two composite video outputs are ready to be sent to additional screens.
If you're after more power than the VM312HD's 13W x 4 channels, the front, rear, and subwoofer RCA line outputs allow you to send your signal to external amplifiers.
What's in the Box Jensen VM9312HD, Cosmetic trim ring, Wiring harness power/speaker, Mounting hardware, Single DIN sleeve, HD Radio Module, HD Radio Module connecting DIN cable, Remote Control, Parking brake sensor extension wire, Media Link Module, Mounting hardware for HD Radio Module, Owners Manual, Quick Start Guide

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Toshiba SD2800 DVD Player with Component Video Output, Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)We bought this DVD player about 6 months ago...so happy with it we're making sure to buy the same one as a gift. It's simple to hook up and understand, and very easy to use. One feature that we LOVE and that not all DVD players have, is that if we shut the DVD player off, it automatically restarts at the same spot we left off. My son's DVD player (another brand) does not do this...it's very inconvenient to have to remember where you were and fast forward to that spot if you don't watch a movie all the way through.

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Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD 5.8-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Double-Din DVD Multimedia A/V Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Edit 2/2/10: After several months of use, I am revising my review to give this radio 4 stars. I still think it is the best out there today, but am subtracting a star to account for some poor design flaws on it with the way they integrate with the Bluetooth and Sirius units.
The Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD is a touch-screen Double DIN aftermarket car stereo. It has a 5.8" full color widescreen face, front auxiliary port for connecting an IPod or other device, a front USB port for connecting a USB flash drive, and it can play DVD-R/RW, CD-R/RW, DivX, MP3, WMA and AAC files. The Pioneer AVH-P4100DVD 7-Inch In-Dash Double-DIN DVD Multimedia AV Receiver with Widescreen Display is the same exact radio, except it adds a bigger screen (7") by removing the physical buttons to the side, and it adds a subwoofer preamp output.

INSTALLATION AND DVD BYPASS: Double DIN means that it is roughly twice the size of a conventional car stereo, so before ordering, you need to make sure it will fit in your car. The best way to do this is to go to Crutchfield's web site and determine if it will work on your vehicle. The unit itself comes with the receiver, mounting screws, manual, a stylus pen, front mounting cover, and a power cable. I found it fairly easy to install. The power cable it comes with just has bare wires coming out of it. In addition to the radio, you will want to buy a mounting harness and mounting bracket for your vehicle. The harness looks just like the one that comes with the stereo, but it is designed to clip into the factory harness that's in your vehicle, to make it easy to remove the stereo. If you don't have one, you'll have to connect all of the wires by hand, and disconnect each one to remove. The mounting bracket is designed to make sure you radio fits correctly in your specific vehicle. I purchased both the harness and bracket from Crutchfield. My only problem with installation, is that it comes with a long green wire that is supposed to be connected to your emergency brake wire. This is necessary, because the unit has a safety feature that requires the emergency brake to be applied in order to play DVDs. My emergency brake wire was extremely hard to get to, and once I was able to finally remove the center console and find it, it was buried and almost impossible to access. I don't suggest doing this, but if you have the same problem and want to get around this issue, or if you want to be able to watch DVDs without having to engage the brake, then you need to connect this wire to an auto relay switch. Go to Radio Shack and buy a momentary push button switch, part number 275-1548. Cut the green wire coming out of the radio harness from the receiver, close to the end of it, maybe 5 inches away from that red clip. Strip the wire, and run it through one of the holes on the relay switch. You can solder it or just wrap it with electrical tape. Buy a standard 16 gauge wire from Radio Shack and connect it to the other hole on the switch, then connect the other end of it to a grounded connection on your vehicle. I just wrapped mine around one of the mounting screws for the radio. I stuffed this wire out of site under the dash and pull it out when I need it. Alternatively, you can just cut the green wire directly in half, and use the half you cut instead of having to buy more wire at Radio Shack, but I wanted an extra long wire in case I ever want to move it. Now, when you play a DVD, the warning screen will come on. Just press the button on the switch and it will go away, since it tricks the receiver into thinking you have engaged the parking brake. Be sure to check with your local laws, as having the DVD player on while driving or bypassing this may be illegal in your area. It may also void insurance claims. I definitely do not recommend ever watching a DVD while driving.
FORM FACTOR: The radio itself is beautiful. It fit flush with my dash and looks gorgeous. There are only a few buttons on the left hand side, and I didn't even realize they were buttons until I looked at them closely. They control volume, forward/backward, source, mute, and power. I like having these physical buttons, especially for volume and mute. If I get a phone call or need to hear something, I want to be able to instantly mute the radio without having to fool around with a touchscreen. It's very nice to have a radio that doesn't have 15 buttons all over it and looks cluttered. Customization is easy with the radio. You can select from several different colors, which will change the LED colors on these physical buttons and on the touchscreen menu buttons, so that it matches your car's LED colors. You can also choose from seven factory background screens, three of which are animated videos. The animation on the videos is very subtle and doesn't distract you. Plus, when you change the LED color, it actually changes the color of the background videos to match it, which is really cool. If you don't like these, you can use your own image from a CDR or USB drive. The screen contains a dimmer option, so when you turn on your lights, it automatically dims. This is pretty nice, but can also be annoying. I like to use my lights during the day, and while the screen is still readable, it can be hard to see. Fortunately, you can completely adjust the dimmer options through the settings.
TOUCHSCREEN: The touchscreen is very easy to navigate and done very well. The menu system is very intuitive and set up a lot like a computer. There is a back button and an escape button to get you through the menus. Seeking through a song can be done in three ways. You can hold down the physical forward/backward buttons on the unit, you can do the same with the touchscreen forward/backward buttons, or you can use your finger to slide a progress bar back and forth, the same as you would do with a video file on your computer or with an IPod. This is great because a 30 minute song can start, and I can just press the end of the progress bar with my finger and it will immediately skip to the end of the song (or whatever position I press on the bar). From what I can tell, it will scroll exactly like a computer and stop at the exact position you touch. A lot of touchscreens would have "segments" or 5-10 seconds, and stop on whichever segment you came close to. But with the AVH-P3100, it is segmented into 2 second increments, so you can have much more accurate scrolling. This is the only instance where I can see the stylus being of any use, but I have fairly large fingers and don't have any problem with the scroll bar. My main gripe with the touchscreen navigation, is with the up/down scrolling. This is used when navigating radio/satellite stations, song tracks on a CD, or file folders on a USB/IPod. There is no page up/down feature, so if five folders are displayed and you press the down arrow on the scroll bar, or if you press anywhere below the current position on the scroll bar, it will move the list down by one, instead of down by five. This is a major oversight in my opinion, and will affect the way you setup your folders. I have one folder on my USB with 80 subfolders. That means if I want to scroll through every folder in the list, I have to press the down button 75 times. Now you can put your finger on it and simply drag the arrow down to move quickly, but it goes kind of fast, and paging through the list would be so much more convenient. Also, since it only displays five lines at a time, it means you have to scroll one time to view all six of your radio presets.
USB: USB is the main reason I purchased this radio, and works well, with a few faults. First, it takes about 10 seconds when I start the car or select the USB source, for it to "read format." This is possibly because I am using a 8Gb drive with over 1000 songs on it, so it's acceptable to me. My main problem with the USB feature, is the way it organizes the folders. They do not appear alphabetically. I am not sure what method it uses, but like a lot of MP3 audio devices, it just seems to throw them up in the folder list in whatever order it wants. It will use the same order every time, but you can't trick it by copying a folder you want to appear at the top first, or adding "01, 02, 03, etc" in front of your folders/file names." There is probably a workaround for this, but I have no idea what it is. I think it would make more sense if it just listed the folders alphabetically. It does read ID3 information very well, however it cuts off anything after a certain character limit. It would be nice if it scrolled sideways through long song titles/artists to show you the full ID3 information, but for about 95% of people's music, this won't be a problem, and for the other 5% you should have enough of the title to figure out what it is. However if you don't have ID3 tags on your music, it can be a problem. For example, if you have a folder with 10 songs in it labeled "DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince - Greatest Hits - Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble," and there are no ID3 tags, it is only going to display the first part of the filename until it reaches the character limit. So your list on the screen will have 10 songs on it that all say something like "DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fr." Additionally, the USB drive is going to stick out 3" or so from the unit, so unless you remove it every time, you have to be aware of it and careful not to break it off. It doesn't bother me at all though. (Edit - I recently purchased elago Mobile Nano II USB 2.0 microSDHC Flash Memory Card Reader (Black) for it, which only sticks out about 3mm from the unit and is awesome. Get this and a ...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD 5.8-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Double-Din DVD Multimedia A/V Receiver

The Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD in-dash double-DIN DVD multimedia AV receiver features a 5.8-inch widescreen display and plays back DVD video, DivX, and MP3/WMA/iTunes AAC. It also features iPod direct control (CD-IU50V required) and is Bluetooth-adapter ready (CD-BTB200 required).
Now Playing in a Dash Near You This is what drive-in movies were supposed to be. Audio/video players improve on CD players by adding a large touchscreen. With features like touch-slide control and improved iPod interface, taking your favorite movies, music, and other media on the road is better than ever.

I Can See Clearly Now The 5.8-inch widescreen touchscreen on the AVH-P3100DVD allows you to enjoy all of your music and videos in style. Sick of having to search through your music song by song? Now you can scroll through your music at the touch of a finger.

iPod Made Easy Simply plug your iPod directly into the unit using the CD-IU50V iPod cable, and you're ready to rock and roll. Touch-slide scrolling, alphabetical high-speed search, album art, and improved link search make it easy to find your music.

Bring Your Music to Life Hear the detail, warmth, and clarity the way the artist intended it, from all of your highly compressed MP3, WMA, and AAC files. By restoring data that tends to get lost in the digital compression process, Pioneer can make your music sound close to CD quality.

Smooth Operator Controlling your movies and music has never been easier. With a smooth swipe of your finger on the touch-panel display, you can fast forward and rewind audio/video content. (Note: The touch-slide fast forward/rewind function is not available on iPod.)

Now it's Personal Select among five display colors and 112 key panel illuminations to match your car's interior lighting, color, and design. You even can set your favorite JPEG file as wallpaper. Parked with no place to go? Now you can enjoy a slideshow of your photos on a CD or USB device.

Get the Blues Fed up with your Bluetooth headset? Here's a better hands-free solution. Use the available CD-BTB200 Bluetooth adapter and your Bluetooth-enabled cell phone for easy, safe, and hands-free operation. The unit acts like a speakerphone, channeling the sound through your car speakers, which makes the call sound better. It also automatically mutes your music so that you'll never miss a call. (Note: CD-BTB200 adapter is required.)

Other Features The AVH-P3100DVD also includes features that are designed to expand your system, customize your experience, and provide both superior sound quality and easy operation, such as:

built-in AUX input for your media devices;
two RCA high-Volt pre-outs for adding external amps and speakers;
built-in MOSFET 50 W x 4 amplifier for excellent sound quality, minimal distortion, and efficient power handling; and
supertuner IIID advanced analog and digital processing to ensure superior imaging, less distortion and noise, and stronger, smoother broadcast signal reception.

What's in the Box Pioneer AVH-P3100DVD, wiring harness, installation hardware, operation manual, installation guide, warranty sheet

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Pioneer AVIC-F700BT In-Dash Navigation Audio Receiver with CD Playback and Advanced Voice Controls Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pioneer has acknowledged that the first release of this system had issues ... freezing up, parking break warning for no reason, lack of proper brightness, etc. But they issued an upgrade in July of 2008. THIS UPDATE FIXES EVERYTHING.
I have this unit, I used it before the update (lots of problems -- all clearly explained in multiple posts all over the internet). But I downloaded the firmware, installed it, and now it works AWESOME. I truly have to give it to Pioneer for acknowledging their error and spending time to listen to owners and fix it.
I love this unit. I hook up my Iphone 3G and watch podcasts, listen to music, and everything. I have SM radio for it and I use the GPS all the time. I use the bluetooth with my iphone and the call clarity is fantastic.
I'm serious when I say this is a great value and much better than the D3 unit it replaced, but you have to install the firmware. Do that and I'll love it.

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The Pioneer AVIC-F700BT car stereo marries solid entertainment capabilities with advanced navigation. Its flash-based GPS system comes pre-loaded TeleAtlas maps of the US and Canada, featuring more than 12 million points of interest and robust user routing options.
Built-in Bluetooth allows you to make hands-free calls on compatible devices, and Pioneer's voice-recognition software lets you use voice commands to control your phone or iPod (with separate iPod adapter). Hugely expandable, with options for iPod connectivity, MSN Direct, HD radio, XM and SIRIUS Satellite Radio, and more, the AVIC-F700BT also includes a USB interface for quick connection to iPod music players, portable media players and USB memory device. Additionally, SD memory card support means you can insert cards filled with additional Points of Interest or compressed audio and video for your use and enjoyment. Link all your devices together into one seamless experience.
5.8-inch Widescreen LCD The AVIC-F700BT features a 5.8-inch widescreen color LCD with WVGA (800 x 480) resolution, perfect for navigation via GPS, or simply navigating your audio files.
A New Class of Navigation No more hassling with map discs. Now you don't have to worry about discs being misplaced, damaged, lost, or stolen because we've done away with them for the F-Series navigation line. Pioneer has taken the entire TeleAtlas Database that was previously on the two-DVD set, compressed it down, and stored it internally on flash memory.
Touch panel key operation--It is possible to operate the navigation and audio functions by using the touch panel key.
2D and 3D map view modes--Various types of screen displays can be selected for navigation guidance
A variety of Points of Interest (POI) information--More than 100 types of POI categories are included in the database. You also can create your own customized POIs and categories.
Auto reroute function--If you deviate from the set route, the system will re-calculate the route from that point so that you remain on track to the destination.

Freedom of Speech The AVIC-F700BT offers a new generation of voice recognition capability for controlling iPod playback and making calls hands-free via connected Bluetooth-enabled cell phones. The technology accepts and recognizes conversational phrases and language, filters out superfluous sounds and phrases, and if the user doesn't give enough information in the command, the unit will ask additional questions to clarify the request.
In Touch, Hands-Free The AVIC-F700BT comes with built-in Bluetooth. Now you never need to miss a call, even if your tunes are cranked up or your phone is buried in your bag.
Mobile Media Pioneer has created a line of Navigation systems that make it easy to play various digital and audio formats like: CD-R/RW discs, Portable Media Players like iPod, USB memory devices, and SD Cards. The AVIC-F700BT can play a wide range of files types as well, such as MP3, WMA, iTunes AAC, and MPEG-4 video files.
Make it Personal Personalize your drive. AVIC FEEDS freeware contains POI Creator, Driving Report, and Picture Editor Applications. You never know where the road will take you, but our POI Creator can help you get started on the right path.
Blending In Like its predecessor, the AVIC-D3, the new AVIC-F700BT allows you to change the illumination color to match your car. Select from among 32,768 different colors to match car interior and dashboard lighting.
Seeing Is Believing The old WQVGA displays that most Navigation units use are 480 x 234 pixels. However, the WVGA display is much higher quality at 800 x 480 pixels. Images become sharper and more defined, just like our maps and menus on these units. The display's enhanced GUI (Graphic User Interface) has also advanced, making system control and management effortless.
iPod Control Made Simple With the new CD-IU230V cable, you can directly control your music and videos from your iPod. Fast and easy control through USB, the AVIC-F700BT also features iPod Album Art display, Alphabetical Speed Search, and much more.
AM/FM Radio Always have your favorite stations at hand with 18 FM and 6 AM user presets.

Best Stations Memory Setting your radio presets can be a real pain while you're driving--especially if you're in an unfamiliar area. So, let the tuner do the work for you by activating the Best Stations Memory (BSM) function. The tuner will seek out the six strongest stations in the area and set them into the tuner presets.
Adding Another Set of Eyes For safer parking, try using the ND-BC2 or ND-BC20PA backup cameras. The system automatically displays images shot from a connected camera as the vehicle shifts into reverse.

AUX-In Connection Use the built-in AUX input for connecting any portable digital player or other external auxiliary devices. For extra-convenient access, the AVIC-F700BT has this input on the front panel.
What's in the Box Pioneer AVIC-F700BT, wiring harness, installation hardware, operation manual, installation guide, warranty sheet

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Pioneer Avh-P5100Dvd 7-Inch In-Dash Touchscreen Single-Din Dvd Multimedia A/V Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)this unit does what it's suppose to do. this is the first ipod radio in my truck i've owned. let me say this unit may be easier to work and go through your music then the ipod itself. a friend hooked up his ipod classic to it with thousands of songs, and found anything you wanted in the snap of your fingers. the video podcasts and dvd's played just like a dvd player, it played great. you can adjust the picture sizing several different ways. this 7in screen gives me a bigger picture to look at my video podcasts vs the ipod touch screen. i haven't really read the manual that comes with it, although the manual looks very detailed to tell you everything about the unit. i've figured almost everything out just by playing with it, very easy to use. the one concern i had about listening to music from my cd's to music stored on a ipod was sound quality difference between the two. the sound my mp3 player on my home stero unit was a lower sound than my cd's. so when it was first installed, i played some music from a cd i like, and from the same music from the cd on my ipod player. i'll say i was very happy with the sound i got from my ipod compared to the cd. the loudness, and bass boast on the pioneer makes a big difference. plenty loud enough, and the quality is very good. i've had it for a month, and i'm loving it. the place i got it installed had the same unit for $679.00 and amazon had it for $482.00. by the time i bought the unit, the remote, and the ipod cable, and the install, it came out the same price as what the car store was selling it for. very happy with my purchase.


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The Pioneer AVH-P5100DVD In-Dash DVD Multimedia AV Receiver with 7-inch Widescreen Display and Detachable face.
Now Playing In A Dash Near You This is what Drive-In Movies were supposed to be. Audio/Video players improve on CD Players by adding a nice large touch screen. With features like video control and improved iPod interface, taking your favorite movies, music, and other media on the road is better than ever.
Safe and Secure The AVH-P5100DVD has a fully motorized flip-out 7-inch wide touch screen, allowing it to fit in the same amount of dash space as your radio. This unit also has the added benefit of having a fully detachable face, increasing the security of both the player and your car.
Use your iPod in the car, without the added headache It's easy! Simply plug your iPod directly into the unit using the CD-IU205V iPod cable, and you are ready to rock and roll. Touch slide scrolling, Alphabetical Hi-Speed Search, Album Art, and improved Link Search make it easy to find your music.
Your Personal Touch Give your player a more personal touch. Select among five display colors and 112 key panel illumination to match car interior lighting, color, and design.
Fed up with your Bluetooth headset? Here's a better hands-free solution. Use the available CD-BTB200 Bluetooth Adapter and Bluetooth-enabled cellular phones for easy, safe, and hands-free operation. The unit acts like a speakerphone, channeling the sound through your car speakers which makes the call sound better. It also automatically mutes your music so that you'll never miss a call. Note: Optional CD-BTB200 adapter required
What else does this model have to offer? The AVH-P5100DVD also includes additional features like built-in AUX input for your media devices. Features that are designed to expand your system, customize your experience, provide superior sound quality and easy operation.
2 RCA Hi-Volt preouts for adding on external amps and speakers simplify system expansion.
Play your MP3, WMA, iTunes AAC and even DivX files from CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, or USB Device.
Built-in MOSFET 50 W x 4 amplifier for excellent sound quality, minimal distortion and efficient power handling.
Supertuner IIID advanced analog and digital processing assure superior imaging, less distortion and noise, and stronger, smoother broadcast signal reception.

What's in the Box Pioneer AVH-P5100DVD, wiring harness, installation hardware, operation manual, installation guide, warranty sheet

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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)I'm still getting used to this one, so I'll update in a month or so and perhaps adjust my rating. But in the meantime...
Pros:
Excellent pre-amp audio quality.
Really good equalizer.
Excellent high-resolution touch screen.
Excellent, instantaneous Bluetooth connectivity.
Cons:
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.
It (bizarrely) doesn't have separate front and rear pre-amp outs, so you lose the ability to fade. 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.
The jury is still out on how well the Sony navigates the iPod. I ditched the Pioneer because I could spend five minutes drilling down from Music to (say) Postal Service, but if I then wanted to switch to the Pretenders, I had to drill down from Music again. 160 GB of music means an awful lot of drilling...
[Update: I'm starting to get an awful sinking feeling: this Sony seems to be just as stupid at navigating as my old Pioneer and in exactly the same way. What's saving its stars right now is that it also allows me to control the iPod directly, but I may yet knock another star off or even return it: the start-up screen of lawyer-noise is also getting annoying...]
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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Pioneer AVH-P5000DVD 1 Din DVD Multimedia AV Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Great head unit! I bought this to replace an Eclipse AV8132 that recently got destroyed. This unit is much more intuitive and easy to use, far more versatile with the number of inputs and seems to be a much higher quality product to boot. Everything is set up to be as easy to use as possible. Flash memory and iPod control are plug-and-play. It simply couldn't be any easier! The only reason this got 4 stars rather than 5 is because it only has 2 sets of outputs. One more pair and this unit would be perfect!

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Sony XAV-60 6.1" inch In-Dash Touchscreen DVD/CD/MP3 Receiver Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you want an in dash DVD unit without navigation, then this stereo is perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! . The touch screen is smooth and the interface is very easy to navigate around. When you plug in your iPod via usb cable you can control it via the touch screen. This is probably my favorite feature because its so easy and functional. The DVD picture quality is excellent and it plays DVD movies and music. Another great feature is that you have a USB in put that allow you to connect any portable thumb drive with wma or mp3 formatted music and simply play it. to top it off the crossover system in this unit is phenomenal

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Sony's XAV-60 is perfect for someone who wants competitive audio performance, wide connectivity and format support, simple controls, and striking video.

6.1-Inch Display The double-DIN XAV-60 features a 6.1-inch WVGA TFT touch-screen display (with 17:9 aspect ratio), for great video and easy navigation of system features.
USB 1-Wire for iPod, iPhone, and Other USB Devices USB 1-Wire lets you directly connect, charge, and control your digital music player via the USB jack in the front of the unit, as well as view metadata like song title and artist on the front display.
SensMe Intuitive Music Application With 12 tone analysis that keeps your music in tune with your mood, the unique SensMe application will automatically choose the mood of each song such as slow, fast, acoustic, electric, major, minor and so on. Depending on how you feel, the receiver will play songs by the mood that you have selected.
Multi-Channel Audio Enjoy multi-channel playback with Advanced Sound Engine featuring Center Speaker Optimizer (CSO) for virtual 5.1 processing and Intelligent Time Alignment (ITA).
Multi CODEC Playback Multi-format playback lets you play DVDs and CDs, along with MP3/WMA/AAC audio files, JPEG images, or MPEG-4 video.
Satellite and HD Radio Ready The XAV-60 integrates seamlessly with satellite radio Sony Bus adaptors (sold separately) so you can receive digital satellite radio broadcasts. HD Radio capability lets you receive digital audio broadcasts when used with an optional HD Radio tuner.
Sony EQ7 Further dial in your sound with this 7-band equalizer, featuring seven preset tone curves and individual level adjustments.
Power and Room to Grow The XAV-60 delivers 52 Watts through four channels, and features 2V front/rear/sub preamp outputs. A built-in LPF (Low Pass Filter) and HPF (High Pass Filter) work to deliver overall better sound.
iPod Audio and Video The XAV-60 supports iPod Audio/Video playback via the optional RC-200IPV iPod video cable. Hook it up and enjoy your iPod content anywhere, anytime.
Rear Camera Input Use the dedicated rear camera input for the optional XA-R800C, for convenience and added safety while in reverse.
What's in the Box Sony XAV-60 Receiver, Installation Hardware, User's Manual

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