Is there a way to connect my mp3 player (not iPod) to the D3 unit?

Ya, buy a cable from radio shack and connect it to that hole on the front of the D3. Or to the RCAs in the back if you would rather

now will the sound quality be the same like the iPod?

Yes, there is.

You can connect it to the front panel of the D3 with a headphone plug, i believe its 1/8"..... Just pick up the cable. It will have an 1/8" plug on both sides. (the same plug on your headphones)

I think theres also an auxillary input at the back of the unit as well where you could use a 'y-cable'. It has a 1/8" plug on one side and rca (red and white) on the other side.

Close enough. Unless you have ears like the chick on Terminator

Let's say I use the RCA plugs in the back, where will the wiring come out to connect to my mp3 player? Sorry for my newb questions, I just want to make it look like a clean install. The less wires, the better.

The wires will come out wherever you route them. That's entirely up to you.

Is there a way to connect my mp3 player (not iPod) to the D3 unit?

Depending on the player (or rather if it shows up as a drive in 'My Computer' and if the way it stores music is human readable, unlike the iPod) you could use the CD-UB100 USB adapter (connects over IP-Bus). Though the interface is horrible (at least on the Z2) it's still a nice way of skipping folders/tracks on the head-unit and charging the player without having to handle the device while driving. If you plan on doing any searching however, don't bother. That and I haven't heard anything as to how it works on the D3. Just a thought.

Otherwise, RCA to 'headphone' is a safe bet.

CD-UB100 USB = YUCK!!!

If the interface was (a lot) better, I would have just bought a 20 or 30 gig USB hard drive for 1/10th the price of my ipod to put my music on and called it a day. But yeah... it's pretty terrible.

now is it possible to listen to the radio and navigate at the same time?

now is it possible to listen to the radio and navigate at the same time?

Pioneer has an FAQ specifically on that topic:

"The AVIC-Z1 is not able to do that. This is true because it does not have an option Entertainment mode button to allow you to switch the video display on front. The reason the AVIC-N1 and AVIC-N2 can do this, because they have the Entertainment button on the face plate and it will allow to switch video display on front."

now is it possible to listen to the radio and navigate at the same time?

 

Pioneer has an FAQ specifically on that topic:

 

"The AVIC-Z1 is not able to do that. This is true because it does not have an option Entertainment mode button to allow you to switch the video display on front. The reason the AVIC-N1 and AVIC-N2 can do this, because they have the Entertainment button on the face plate and it will allow to switch video display on front."

I'm asking about the D3 unit...

Simply, yes.

now is it possible to listen to the radio and navigate at the same time?

 

Pioneer has an FAQ specifically on that topic:

 

"The AVIC-Z1 is not able to do that. This is true because it does not have an option Entertainment mode button to allow you to switch the video display on front. The reason the AVIC-N1 and AVIC-N2 can do this, because they have the Entertainment button on the face plate and it will allow to switch video display on front."

 

I'm asking about the D3 unit...

LOL!!! you're right. Sorry, I missed that.

n/m

and for those who use pioneer HUs, how do they compare to eclipse when talking about sound quality...?

Similar if your amps accept the lower preout voltage

and for those who use pioneer HUs, how do they compare to eclipse when talking about sound quality...?

I have a JL 500/1 and a 300/2 amp...

so the amps work, but will the lower voltage output have any effect on the sound quality/loudness?

You just have to have the gain a little higher on the amps, is all.