I've got a bit of a dilemma here and I'm looking to you guys for a bit of help.

I sold the OEM nav that I had in my truck because I decided it would be easier to integrate an aftermarket system with an aftermarket headunit vs. an OEM headunit. I definitely want navigation, satellite radio (XM or Sirius; doesn't really matter), high volt pre-outs, iPod control, DVD playback, and a 7" screen. Of all the units that I've looked at the only ones that have really caught my attention are these Eclipse units. I do not want a Pioneer or Kenwood. Between these two units I'm having a real hard time deciding based from a "cost for what you get" stand point.

Pros to the AVN6620.......
~ Nice price @ ~$600
~ Nice EQ features (7 band parametric EQ and time alignment)
~ VSS wire connection for NAV system
~ Green lighting to match the OEM dash lights

Cons to the AVN6620.......
~ "Old school" looking interface
~ DVD based navigation
~ Outdated NAV maps
~ iPod interface box required
~ Bluetooth box required

Pros to the AVN726E.......
~ Much clearer screen
~ Nice looking user interface
~ Direct iPod control out of the box
~ Very nice map system design (over 16 million POI's too!)
~ Flash memory NAV (very fast)
~ Bluetooth built in

Cons to the AVN726E.......
~ Price @ ~$1299
~ EQ features were downgraded (3 band parametric EQ and no time alignment)
~ No VSS wire connection for NAV
~ Only red/blue lighting so it won't match the dash lights

One thing that I'm not sure about on the Eclipse units is this....... I'm used to have a HPF/LPF on my headunit and the only thing I can find on the Eclipse units is a LPF on the subwoofer setup menu. When you select a frequency for the LPF to be set at does it automatically turn on a HPF for the other speakers connected to the deck? It won't matter once I get my other amp installed but until that time I don't want my door speakers trying to reproduce bass frequencies. Maybe someone with an Eclipse unit can clarify this?

Link to the AVN6620:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_099AVN6....html?tp=20212

Link to the AVN726E:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_099AVN7...e-AVN726E.html

 

Gotta ask why no pioneer or kenwood? I have had both and loved them, non nav but great head units.

 

I've never really cared for the user interface on the Kenwood units and I think you're paying for the Garmin NAV more than anything.

As for the Pioneers I've had several and they have all screwed up on me. In my '03 F150 I had a DEH-P8500MP and the motorized faceplate went out on me. I put an AVIC-D3 in that truck after that and the touchscreen eventually went out on it. Then I put a AVIC-Z1 in my '06 Dodge and it screwed up as well -- it would only output sound on the right channels of the truck; nothing on the left channels. I put an AVIC-F700BT in my '08 F150 and in my wife's '09 Mustang GT. I sold mine before anything happened but the one in her car is having touchscreen issues and the user interface is VERY slow to respond. Lots of people have good luck with Pioneers (and that's all I've owned up until this point) but I've only had bad luck with them so I'm wanting to go a different route this time around.

One of the main reasons I'm leaning towards Eclipse is due to the fact that I'll get a 3 year warranty as well. That is if it's purchased from an authorized dealer.

 

Hey 08, hear's an alternative for you




This is a JVC KW-NX 7000. They have a newer version of this out now w/ built in bluetooth . Does everything you want it to. Was talking to a guy at the local audio shop who normally has the latest and greatest Kenwood in his car, but his boss made him put this JVC in instead and he told me that the navigation in the JVC was more accurate than the Garmin that is in all the Kenwood models, which really surprised me cause I thought the Garmin was the best nav out there. This guy at the shop still wants to put the new Kenwood 9140 in his ride because that's what he's used to. I've had my unit now for almost a year and a half and it has performed flawlessly. There's more pics in my gallery if your interested.

 

Thanks for the heads up! That JVC is pretty nice. I looked at them a good bit but couldn't find a lot of information on the quality of the NAV system so I decided against it.

Amazingly...... I ended up going with the Kenwood DNX6140 contrary to what I was talking about before. The user interface is not quite as nice as the Eclipse but it does have a little better EQ features and the NAV is probably more accurate since it is equipped with Garmin. The main thing I did not like about the user interface was that every time you select an on-screen option there is a little "target" that shows up wherever you press the screen; I don't know why that annoys me so much but I figured out how to turn it off so I'm good there. The other thing I did not like was the low voltage on the pre-outs but if that becomes an issue I'll figure something out.

 

Also......

The Kenwood only has a 6.1" screen vs. the Eclipse units that have a 7" screen but I'm used to using a Pioneer with a 5.8" screen so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

I also forgot to mention one of the biggest determining factors for me and that is the fact that the DNX6140 is FULLY compatible with the iPhone3G -- address book, iPod functions, send/receive calls, etc. Most units can only send/receive calls with the iPhone3G but this one does it all.

 

Yeah, you probably wouldn't be happy with what I have then as far as the iPod features are concerned. I don't have an iPhone or iPod but from what I've read, the iPod interface is pretty slow with the JVCs, plus you have to purchase an iPod adapter for the H.U. I do have an 8gig sd card that I have loaded w/ tunes that works awesome in my unit so I'm pretty happy with that. I have been looking at the Kenwood 9140 so I can give the wife the JVC, but when talking to that fella at the audio shop, he informed me that the Kenwood doesn't have a slot for an sd card and that I would have to have an iPod instead which to me really sucks cause I'm pretty impressed with the new Kenwood and I don't want to have to get an iPod. That's one of the main things I like about mine, it has 2 sd card slots, one for media and one for updating the nav system. I don't know, I may wait it out and decide later. Glad to hear your happy with what you got, that's the main thing, and you certainly can't go wrong with Kenwood. I, like you, have had some Pioneers in the past that have crapped on me, so I wasn't going that route. I've been a JVC person for the last 11 years or so and have been very happy with their stuff

 

I've seen and used both and I have to say that I like the maps on the 726E better so this is the one I would go with. I installed the 6620 for a buddy of mines with an F150. If you need the blue tooth device let me know I have one brand new in the box never used and I will work something out with you just pm me

 

i have the 5510, which is basically the same thing as the 6620. i am happy with it, but i would ditch it in a heartbeat for the 726 due to toch response time and clarity. you can buy updated maps for the 6620 eventually. i have the latest one in my 5510, but it is based on 07 maps. the 726 can be had on ebay for under $1k.

 

I have the JVC. I've had it a year and a half with no problems.

 

Here's mine