JVC KW-NT1 review?

Anyone here have hands-on with this unit? Been researching it and it looks good. Likes: detachable face, can download POIs from Google Maps Dislikes: no voice dialing, no rotary volume knob. Just curious if anyone can report personal experiences like screen brightness/clarity or other good or bad things.

JVC KW-NT1 Double-DIN Navigation with 6.4" Widescreen Receiver with Detachable Touch-Panel Monitor, DVD/CD/USB/SD Card, iPod/iPhone/USB 2.0/Bluetooth

http://www.amazon.com/JVC-Navigatio...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1245972635&sr=1-1

 

RAYLO --

About the JVC KW-NT1 GPS navigation unit.

I own it now and I was like everyone else when I was trying to decide which model to buy. There were NO reviews online ANYWHERE other than the video reviews from Sonicelectronix and Crutchfield (but they both did an okay job).

I am satisfied with my purchase. I bought it mid June 2009 for $675 plus tax. You can get one on ebay for ~$700 w/o tax.

The screen is nice, but when it is really sunny outside, the DVD video seems washed out because of the touchscreen layer. The GPS, radio, and ipod/iphone screens look fine. It's just the DVD playback that is not bright enough under extreme sunlight. When the sun is a bit more forgiving, like during sunset, the brightness is fine. And when your car is under any shade, the brightness is fine. Overall, the resolution and colors look good and the brightness adjusts to your headlights.

On other notes... The left side controls are touch sensitive, not physical PUSH buttons.

If you have a USB cord connected to the front, it'll block some of the screen view, depending on the height of the unit.

The bluetooth function works great with the iphone. Fast and responsive.

GPS options include 2D and 3D angle views. Includes useful Points of Interest (POI) locations with phone numbers you can easily dial to over bluetooth.

I have not installed HD radio, Satelite radio, or a Rear view camera.... So I can't comment on that.

I did not install this unit myself... .... So I also can't comment on that.

If you decide to keep your steering wheel controls, you'll have to buy a separate module. Using it will take some getting used to. --- This is NOT the fault of JVC, but of the makers of the steering wheel controls module/adapter. The steering wheel control module is a little slow for the volume control. Instead of a light push or tap of the steering wheel buttons, you'll have to give is a medium/hard push. Or you can hold the button down, but then the volume increases rapidly until you release the button.

Pros:
--Detachable faceplate - for added security. Includes soft case pouch for faceplate.
--Easy slot loading disc access - No motorized CD/DVD tilt (my personal preference).
--Works with iphone. Fast load times. Takes under 10 seconds to load.
--Fast GPS. Fast SD card reads. Fast iphone controls. Fast CD/DVD reads.
--FRONT AV and USB ports - USB charges the iphone while being able to use.
--Reads burned CD and DVD+R discs.
--Allows album art from iphone and SD cards.
--GPS reads out street names. GPS shows split screen detailed turns and directions. Has GPS voice lane guidance ("get on the left lane" , "prepare to turn left", etc.)
--Can listen to music while being directed by the GPS navigation voice
--Can play audio books at normal and above average speeds.
--Has a simple adjustable equalizer settings
--Reads my Sandisk 16GB (class 2) SD memory card - this is not official by JVC though

Cons:
--No volume knob.
--Low brightness in DVD video playback under extremely sunny days. --Doesn't automatically tag song or band names from the RADIO.
--No real time traffic GPS updates.
--No video playback from an SD card.
--No button color light choices (a choice of blue, green, or red would have been nice). No screensaver choices or customizable menus.
--Removing the faceplate takes getting used to. Not a big deal...
--I had problems updating the firmware software through the SD card slot
--must remove faceplate to access SD card slot
--must keep SD card in the slot if you plan on adding your own customizable Points of Interest (POI) locations.
--Speed limits are not always displayed... depends on your city


Overall, I really like the unit. This is my first GPS in-dash unit. I would recommend it. Do not pay retail prices for this model or any model. I would try calling different local car audio installation shops and see if they have it in stock. Places like Walmart, Crutchfield, and Sonic Electronix overcharge! This model is not available at Best Buy, Frys, or Mobile One.

I give it a 9 out of 10. A+

The overriding decision for me to buy it was:
-- IPHONE compatible
-- built-in Bluetooth
-- fast loading times (music, GPS, startup time)
-- DETACHABLE FACEPLATE
-- no motorized CD tilt mechanism
-- front USB input

I hope this helps!

 

Crutchfield.com has good detailed specs including their own review under the "HANDS-ON RESEARCH" tab. So please check that out if you haven't researched this model yet.

I am not affiliated with them , but they have a good website. If only they could be more competitive with their prices...

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KWNT1/JVC-Arsenal-KW-NT1.html?search=JVC+Arsenal+KW-NT1&tp=20212

I have this unit for a TOYOTA CAMRY '06

 

Another review is here:

http://blog.sonicelectronix.com/?p=377#comment-2097

 

Excellent review! That's exactly what I was looking for. You hit most of my concerns and added a couple more (no video playback from sd card - I hadn't thought about that). I still need to research it to see if my Motorola RAZR is compatible for BT. Does your JVC manual have a list of compatible phones?

The DVD video playback in bright light doesn't concern me... in fact I can't imagine why I'd ever want to watch a DVD in my car when I have big LCDs at home and laptops for hotels and such. I am also looking at the new line of Pioneers (X710BT specifically). They have a volume knob and voice controlled dialing... but no detachable face. So..... I am probably going to get one of these JVCs and install it myself. This won't be a difficult install at all.

One feature I haven't seen in any of these (or in any of the stand alone portable GPS units) is a POI warning function that will give an alert when you get within a chosen distance of a POI. Reason I want this is our county has installed a load of speed cams and it is very easy to forget and get zapped where the limit goes from 40 to 30. I have seen stand alone GPS enabled warning boxes with cam POI databases but it would be great if the mainstream GPS makers would include this functionality in their firmware.

 

Yes I had seen the Sonic review and the Crutchfield info pages. Not that helpful. Sonic does have a make an offer deal so I may try that before going to the eBays and such.

 

The Motorola Razr is not mentioned in the manual. My guess is that it is compatible.

The JVC website has the manual available for download in PDF format.

Here's the link:

http://resources.jvc.com/Resources/00/01/16/LVT1982-001A.pdf

Note: it is a large file ~ 16 MB

I personally like to watch DVD concert videos during my drive. (which might not be legal in most states)
You'll need to override the parking brake indication.

 

Well, I ordered one of these today... and a Pac-swi-jack, and a pioneer camera, and the Scosche 2009 Tacoma install kit w/harness, and a sub wiring kit. H/U and sub wiring kit from HookedOnTronics and the other pieces from several other vendors. Not one stop shopping like at Crutchfield but much better prices.

I really had a hard choice between this and the new Pioneer x710BT. But the detachable face monitor beat out the Pioneer's rotary volume knob and voice dialing. Voice dialing won't do any good if it gets stolen. :-/ I'll probably get everything in a week or so and get the install done soon after. I'll post a review when done.

 

I installed my KW-NT1 today.... I don't have time for a full review now but I do like it. Plenty of power, decent screen, Nav seems to work fine. I also put in a Pioneer BC2 backup cam. That works well, too.

Also installed a PAC SWI-JACK. Install went well but the programming.... It looked like it took everything but while some functions work most don't. At least the volume up and down work which is all I really use anyway.

Only 1 real issue... The bluetooth calling works fine with my Motorola Razr VE20 but I can't transfer my phone book to the JVC. I think it is more a problem with my phone than the JVC. I get the JVC ready to accept them but there is no menu selection in the phone to actually do the transfer. And there seems to be no way to make manual address book entires in the JVC. So I am stuck with redialing numbers I have dialed manually or calling back numbers saved form incomings. Anyone know a workaround for this?