Yes, another one of *those* threads...

After reading these boards up and down, it would seem that the three best options for a double din navigation unit are:

Pioneer AVIC-D1
Eclipse 5435
Kenwood DDX-7015 w/KNA-DV4100

From what I can tell, all three are fine units, and that's why I'm having a little trouble making up my mind. I'm going to list the pros and cons that I've seen for each and I'd love to be corrected if I'm wrong or hear some different viewpoints from those who actually have the units installed.

Pioneer AVIC-D1
Pros

• XM NavTraffic
• Highest resolution screen of the three Update(7/3/05): This might not actually be true. I found a source indicating that the Kenwood DDX7015 has the same resolution of 336,960 pixels.
• Newest map data
• Enhanced XM Sattelite controls on screen
• Most Points of Interest in its database
• Known to work correctly (i.e. automatically not by manual switching) with backup cameras and bluetooth phone addons

Cons

• No DVD Playback without separate DVD player

Comments: (Update: 07/02/05)There is detailed review of this unit here. The review is mostly negative however there are a few intelligent rebuttals (and a few not so intelligent) in the thread following the review.


Eclipse 5435
Pros

• ESN Security
• DVD Playback

Cons

• ?

Kenwood DDX-7015
Pros

• Lots of success stories on these boards
• Available Voice Activation (I have no idea how well it works though)
• DVD Playback
• Update(7/3/05)Higher resolution screen than the Eclipse (same as AVIC-D1)

Cons

• Oldest of the three and there is supposedly a replacement out already but I'll be damned if I can find it for sale anywhere.
• Most expensive by a significant margin

If any of the above is incorrect, or if you have something to add, please let me know by replying below and I'll update the list. I do have a few questions for those who already own these units

What can you do with the navigation while the vehicle is in motion? Everything? Only change the zoom level? Do the unit require you to stop (even put the parking brake on) to do some things?

I can only find demo units of the Pioneer and Eclipse units locallay and even then, they're 95% disabled while in the store so I have no idea how good or bad the naviagtion interfaces are. If anyone has been able to compare working models, I'd love to get your feedback. A couple of folks have posted about how many features the Eclipse has and that they'll need to read the manual a half dozen times in order to figure out how to use them all. That doesn't sound encouraging. I'd prefer something a little more intuitive.

I'd also like to hear any feedback regarding your success or failure with the map data available on each unit. is it fairly up to date? Is it missing streets that are 5 years old? etc.

As you can see, I'm most interested in the navigation aspect of the units. In terms of sound quality and appearance, I'm sure all three would meet my needs.

 

Watter I install eclipse navs everyday for car dealers and I have found them to be extremely easy to operate. I rarely talk to the actual customers (delivered to the dealer) so we depend on its ease of use. The Eclipse is the ONLY one to carry a 3 YEAR warranty! As far as sound quality goes the 5volt output will also kick the sh out of the other 2.

 

I don't know too much about sound systems. Can you explain what a 5volt output is and why it's better?

 

5v out yields a higher signal and ultimately a lower noise floor. this is only a factor if you use external amps and not the power from the head unit. I currently own the eclipse and am very satisfied. I had the Kenwood and found it to sonicly be inferior, and i did not want to add the expense of a separate navi, plus find another spot in my 04/150 to house a single din device. I find the screen res to be fine. I do fully understand how Eclipse is listing there res. I think they are doing it per color ( RGB video is red,gree,blue) so i think it's a bit misleading. But all in all the one device ( pioneer, eclipse) seem a much more "polished" install. I DO NOT like that the eclipse does not have a true sub out. and no way to set a cross over point. but again if you dont use external amps this is not an issue. I have still het to see if you can play a movie on the video out to say some rear screens, while listenig to CD or Sat radio, but i dont see how it would work with the menu's I have seen. I hope this long reply helps in some way.

 

You can groud the parking brake wire on any of the units except alpine which will let you do anything you want while you are moving. I like the seperate dvd nav unit on the kenwood because you never have to remove the nav dvd its always there ready to go. The kenwood also has dual zone control meaning you can output the movie dvd player to rear screens and speakers and play cd/sirius/fm radio on the front speakers. Unfortunentally the ddx 7015 is discontinued (good luck finding it anywhere) and the nav drive has been on back order for 3 months now (supposed to be in this tues). There are releasing a new head unit soon that does the same stuff for cheaper.

 

Well, yes and no... 100mV output vs 1V vs 2V vs 5V output is simply changing the gain of an op-amp that drives the preamp outs based on some HU schematics I looked at. Technically speaking, there's no reason why they can't drive 12V output swings just as easily unless I'm missing something. It's accomplished by a couple of resistors in the simplest form. There's no decrease in noise floor that I can see since the noise floor is normally what it is. Obviously, the more layers of amps, coupling, and attenuation in the path, the lousier your signal gets. The real advantage is a huge increase in signal-to-noise ratio. :-)

I'm not sure why everyone doesn't just use the higher signal output levels at the outset. I surmise it has to do with adhering to a common and widely-accepted 'standard' input level, esp. since 100mV was the norm for years.