Anyone have the JVC kw-200 arsenal?

Anyone have this head unit? How do you like it?

 

It's got all the bells and whistles. I've never been a fan of JVC products. But if you like it, and it suites your needs, go for it.

 

Honestly I don't know much about stereos and never thought about updating but I want to plug my phone in so kinda had to. Hopefully I like it! Read nothing but good reviews on it.

 

I'm sure this HU will make you happy. It has a lot of features and looks really sharp.

 

I don't have this unit but I've had a couple of JVC arsenal headunits, including one that I use now in my other car. They're good with a lot of features but IMO JVC is not the same since Kenwood bought them. Their decks used to have cool features like multicolor screens, touchscreens, etc on their DIN sized decks but now they're just like everyone else.

 

Great advice.

Reason why they are not as good, is because Kenwood wants to push Kenwoods. Which the new line of Kenwoods are really nice.

 

That makes sense, even though when I was shopping for a double din for my Tacoma the Kenwood decks didn't have what I was looking for (bluetooth, front usb and aux connection, and HD radio) without breaking the bank so I ended up with a Pioneer that has been rock solid so far.

 

I have a 2004 Taco 4x4 and installed a Kenwood X896 2-years ago. Every single day since then, I have regretted installing this terrible unit.
#1 - you can NOT read the display in any of its million colors, so what good is all that color variety. If it is between 6:00 a.m. and midnight, you can forget trying to read that screen! Oh, unless you turn on the clock function which actually uses the full screen height. You cannot use the full screen height to display anything else but the clock! So, if you need a multi color clock for your car; this is for you!
#2 - in the Taco you can forget about trying to change a radio station while driving with anything but the remote. There are no pre-set buttons on the radio face, only a toggle to scroll to the next station. And by the way, you can scroll by rocking the button but it only scrolls to your programmed stations. If you want to tune to something new, plan on pulling over and spending a couple minutes digging through complex menus to select manual tuning mode. I lost my remote once and was just going to pitch the whole stereo. Unfortunately I found the remote a couple days later so I am stuck with this stupid thing.

I recommend a Pioneer unit, or a nice double DIN JVC which is very clear to read. I would avoid those modern touch screens with the fancy graphics, there is no way you will be able to touch any point on the screen while you are bouncing down the road in your Taco; those things are for the Lexus types.

 

Wow that is a lot! Sounds like you need to "accidentally" chuck the remote out the window sometime

No but I did order one of those fancy tough screen ones, I read a ton of good reviews on them and my friend has the older model and loves it, it is JVC so thats a good brand I hope? Got it today and seems like a good unit! Will have to wait until after christmas though to install it, busy until then so my friend and I can.

 

Installed yesterday and LOVE IT. Does everything I want it to do and more, plus the microphone I am told is pretty good quality for hands free calling. Highly recommend!