iPod Access Speed

[glangri2]

Has anyone got any experience on the iPod access speed offered by the current offerings from the big makes ?

I put a JVC Double Din Touch Screen unit in my Alhambra last summer, and although it has got all the features I want, it is SO SLOW, when accessing an iPod.

Finding an album while driving is verging on dangerous.

I am in the market for a Leon at the moment, and want to install a system that will give me iPod control and Bluetooth hands free.

I have heard that Pioneers are quick, but what about the likes of Kenwood, Alpine, Sony etc etc

I am not particularly brand Loyal, so any advice would be welcome................. but I won't be going with JVC.

The Kenwood KDC-W7544U is top of my list at the moment. It looks like you can get it for a good price online, the BT add on module is easy to install, and the illumination can be tweaked to match perfectly to the Seat Red.

Cheers
Gary

 

[mt audio]

alpine x range can be done to same illumination and imo are THE quickest for ipod functionality

 

[glangri2]

Has anyone got a picture of an Alpine iDA-X305 in a Leon?

It sounds good on paper, but I'm not sure of the styling

 

[Mashburn]

Click the link in my sig mate.

It's the 303 model but think they look pretty similar.
iPod speed is fine can scroll through albums, artists, etc, but you can buy a high speed cable to make it even faster.

 

[glangri2]

OK

Total change of direction now.

The LCR I ended up getting has got the Factory Sat Nav, so I am in the market for a Double Din Unit now instead.

I love the look of the Alpine iXA 304. But it is digital media only, so is VERY expensive for a Radio with iPod input. Add on a Bluetooth kit, and it isn't far of the price of a Kenwood or Pioneer with Nav !

So now I am torn between a Kenwood DNX5240BT, and a Pioneer AVIC-F710BT.

Anyone got any opinions on them?

I like the fact that the Nav on the Kenwood is by Garmin, so I know that it will be good and will supported.
I like the fact that the Pioneer has an SD slot, looks a bit nicer.

I think that I am going to have to find a store that has both wired up for Demo, and spend a while playing with them.

Features aside, I want a Nav System that is as good as my wife's portable TomTom, is quick t boot up first thing, and has got fast (read - Safe) iPod navigaion.

 

[mt audio]

the avic 710bt has a very good high quality screen compared to the kenwood.i have always liked them more than the kenwood models but as you say the kenwood does have garmin satnav (identical to hand held garmin satnav)

i dont know what the start up speed is like on the 710 but the old 900bt was very slow however the 710 and 910 are basically the previous models with tonnes of bugs fixed such as slow start up,bluetooth errors.the older pioneers were very temperamental.never had any issues with the kenwood.

the pioneer satnav is called navigate which is teleatlas mapping (same use as tomtom)

i know halfords have the kenwood unit you are looking at on display but im not so sure on the pioneer 710,think its the 910...

 

[glangri2]

Do you know anything about the Nav features on the Pioneer?

I went into Halfords today and they had the Pioneer F900BT and the Kenwood 5240 on display.

I much prefer the look, HMI, and the screen of the Pioneer, but in Nav mode I couldn't get it accept more than 4 characters of apostcode.

I thought that 7 character postcode searches were the norm now !

The Pioneer took the first 4 characters, then I had to choose the road name from a pull down list.

OK, it still gets you there in the end, but it is no where near as easy as other systems I have used - Like my TomTom, or the Factory fit one in my previous car (Ford).

 

[mt audio]

99% sure it is full post code search,if i remeber correctly you have to input the space after the first bit but make sure you get the 10 range, the 700 and 900 are riddled with bugs

 

[glangri2]

Pioneer AVIC-F710BT

I got a message on a different forum, suggetsing I had a look at

AVIC411.com

There is a lot of useful/interesting/scary info on there - mainly in relation to the 700/900 rather than the 710/910.

Still haven't got a Yes/No answer to the Postcode question though !

 

[mt audio]

what i said above IS correct input postcode in this format
AA11 1AA
NOT AA111AA

 

[glangri2]

I tried it on an F900BT in a dealer today and it worked as well.

Thanks for the tip MT-Audio

Think I am going to go for a 710.

I asked the dealer if he could match the price I had seen it for on the web. When I told him what that price was he said 'No way, that is less that I can buy it from Pioneer for, without VAT!"

Cheers
Gary

 

[glangri2]

I got the AVIC F710BT, and generally I am very pleased with it.

Nav System boot up could be quicker, and it would be nice to have more control over the display colour scheme, but overall it is a good piece of kit.

And back to the topic of my original post - The iPod Access speed is absolutely fine. It is so much faster than my JVC unit.

 

[mt audio]

keep looking at the pioneer site as there are always firmware updates available for the units

 

[glangri2]

keep looking at the pioneer site as there are always firmware updates available for the units

Will do.

I guess that it is a fairly straight forward job to update the firmware !

 

[MrBen2k7]

Alpine iDA-x305, as requested.

Sorry, iPhone camera is poo....

 

[glangri2]

Head Unit Fitted

Here is the unit installed

And I thought that I would have a go at making a Custom 'Boot Up' Screen.

 

[mt audio]

liking it

got a firmware update for it?