Best DVD player/Navigation for under $1000

Im in the market for a dvd and navi for the truck. Ive been looking at the Eclipse AVN726e for a while now. I am very biased to eclipse since it is what I ran back when I was big into car audio 6 or 7 years ago, but I want to get some other opinions.

I really want a good media center type head unit, easy to use, easy ipod controls. I have seen where some you can put a background display on it, thats pretty cool. Also want to have bluetooth for my phone.

So lemme know what you guys think is the "best" headunit out there for under $1000

 

I just got the Clarion VX409, I have heard some good reviews, I got it on sale for $199, I am sure there are better out there though. I am waiting on everything else to hook it up.

 

btw Im going off of Amazon prices... so me saying 1000 from there is really like 1500 from crutchfield most of the time.

bump!

 

anybody had experience with the Pioneer AVIC-Z110BT ?

 

My current favorite option for a do-over is that Pioneer AVIC-Z110.

I have a Kenwood DNX-5120. The Kenwood is a good unit, but I've outgrown it and now need the features of something more like that Z110.

The Alpine units have what to me is a big advantage with their ability to bypass the iPOD DAC so you can play lossless CD rips, but Alpine's NAV is notorious for sucking and they apparently lockup, etc.

The Kenwood 9140 is next in line, but the Pioneer is cheaper with just as strong a feature set.

Sonicelectronics has the AVIC-Z110BT for $999 right now. Someone on another forum said they got it on Amazon for like $999 authorized, so they could use Pioneers $200 mail in rebate that they have through the end of the year, so $700!!! If I could afford it...

 

thanks for the info dreamnz

after reading up on the Z110 last night for like 3 hours i think i am just about sold on it. gonna keep researching for a little bit tho and make sure im making the right decision. that 200 rebate would be NICE too... how do i make sure i get that? authorized?

 

What have you outgrown about it? That Kenwood unit is what I am looking at buying by the end of the year.

 

Check this link on Pioneer's site for details. It also has a link to show authorized dealers...

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/P...avigation-Systems/Fall+2009+Navigation+Rebate

 

I say DEFINITELY go pioneer over all aforementioned brands. Especially with your past in car audio.

 

1. Only 2 sets of RCA outs. (also low voltage) This was a problem for me when I amped all 4 doors and added a sub. I had to use the 2nd set of RCAs for the sub and the first for all four doors. I lost front/rear fade capabilities and the ability to use different crossover points for my fronts vs rears when using the HU's crossover.

2. Only a single video input. I use it for my backup cam. I'd like to add a Sarotech portable media player to play lossless music files. In order to do so, I need a 2nd video input in order to control the interface.

3. Need more equalization capabilities. 5120 is only 3 band.

4. Time allignment - no capabilities.

The Kenwood DNX-9140, Pioneer Z110BT, and the Alpine W505 have all of that stuff and much more.

I use my ipod as my main source of media. A while back I got hold of some Focal demo CDs and my system sounded amazing. So it made me realize that the quality of the recordings is really important. Now I want a solution for ripping my music CDs in lossless format and playing it without going through the iPod's DAC. That's where the Sarotech thing comes in, but I'm stuck for now due to the 5120's limitations.

 

Okay, I'm okay with all of that. Thanks for the feedback. You scared me there for a sec.

 

Reason's i would go Alpine or Pioneer.

And to dreamnz you should have used the rear RCA's to feed both the sub and rear 2 channels. In a way just splicing the Sub into the rear 2 channels. Most mono amplifiers have RCA outputs as well so you can run RCA's to the sub then to the 4 channel amp. This would give you back all your lost capabilities.

 

Great insight here. Would this work if you had components up front and using the deck internal amp to drive those? Currently, in another vehicle, I have a 4-ch amp driving the front components and a sub. The deck is driving the rear coax. Prolly not the conventional way to do it.

 

The problem with going that route is that if I faded my rear speakers out, I'd also fade out my sub.

I ended up going with a sound processor and that took care of all of my problems except the need for a 2nd video input.

 

Thanks for the info, looks like on Amazon all the venders that are on the authorized list are selling it for $1,399.. so you'd be payin $1,199. The cheapest on amazon is $999 unauthorized. What are the other advantages for it being authorized? I cant afford over 1000..

 

Here is the cheapest place to get an avic110
Goto www.6ave.com and find the unit.
http://www.6ave.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=PIOAVICZ110BT
then click price grabber. it is being sold for 998. 6ave will match it. they are authorized pioneer so you will get the 200 rebate on top of that (if it has not expired).

either way 998 is a steal for that unit

bear

 

woohoo i ordered the avic 110. Thanks for the help guys, ended up paying 1,059 with the extended 3 year warranty, not sure if Im going to be able to get the rebate yet.

Now I just got to order the metra dash kit off Amazon and a wiring harness

 

Actually, that would be $800 ($999-$200=$799)

Edit: Bad link

 

thats not the same head unit.

 

Ya, missed something there. The post I was commenting on included something else that took another $100 off using a Bing discount or something or other. Anyways after looking at it, Amazon's z110 is through discount jungle who I don't think is authorized, so it doesn't seem to stack up anyway you put it.

I'm sure you can still pull off a Z110 for under 1k. All the big boys should be showing off the new stuff at CES soon and there is likely a model there that will become #1 on my wish list, though I doubt it'll be sub-1k.