Hey all. New here and planning on getting an Avic-Z1 soon. I've searched for comparisons to the Eclipse AVN-6600 for a while but cant find any good flat out comparisons so Im looking to see if anyone else on this board did a similar comparison. Im leaning heavily towards the Z-1, only downsides are that the new ones cant be unlocked as opposed to the Eclipse (I hear it just requires a grounded wire to unlock it all). It will be going in a 07 Avalanche, so im not sure if the Eclipse or Pioneer work well with this type of vehicle. I hear the iPod interface is slow as well which is a big thing for me as I love having my iPod with me. What all features cant be used when the vehicle is in motion? If anyone can help with this it would be great. Thanks.

hey that eclipse...thats the newwest one out rite? cuz i did play with it for like an hour at circuit city..and i really liked it alot and i woulda actually bought that one instead if it wasnt over 2k$....

As much as I hate Alpine, the latest Alpine unit looks about a thousand times better in that it allows you to upload MP3, play MP3's off DVD, hook up any USB music player, et. al.

If I had it to do over I might actually go for the Alpine just because Pioneer has annoyed me so much with it's ham-handed interface design and purposeful crippling of the Z1. There is no excuse for going out of your way to make your product LESS usable and I will remember this consumer unfriendly attitude in all my future electronics purchases.

Pioneer has moved to the "worst-of-the-best," supplanting previous paria Alpine, and it will take some serious making up to move them from that spot.

Cirbirus said:

As much as I hate Alpine, the latest Alpine unit looks about a thousand times better in that it allows you to upload MP3, play MP3's off DVD, hook up any USB music player, et. al.

Which Alpine is this?

mystikarkitect said:

Im leaning heavily towards the Z-1, only downsides are that the new ones cant be unlocked as opposed to the Eclipse

new bypass was just released for the newer z1's... check the home page

GnatGoSplat said:

Cirbirus said:

As much as I hate Alpine, the latest Alpine unit looks about a thousand times better in that it allows you to upload MP3, play MP3's off DVD, hook up any USB music player, et. al.

Which Alpine is this?

From everything I checked its a single DIN DVD player that needs both an external amp and external monitor just to utilize the DVD movies. No navigation.

Unless there was a different one I missed.

I'm glad I have the Z1 instead of this.

-Litos

The alpine IVA-W200?
http://www.alpine-usa.com/en/products/p ... g=en&tab=F

That looked nice. Problem is the nav system is external and another $1600 on top of the W200 price.

Yeah, IVA-W200's navi is external and is DVD-based, not HDD-based.
The LCD is also 6.5" vs. 7".
You also can't upload MP3's and the USB interface is a $150 add-on.

What does everyone think of the Kenwood unit with it's additional nav system add on. The nav system is made by Garmin so I would assume it's pretty nice. There is a japanese kenwood model that was at CS this year that is a double din unit but that isn't suppose to come out for a few years still. It was pretty sweet! Had nav system that used satellite maps like google.

vastmax said:

mystikarkitect said:

Im leaning heavily towards the Z-1, only downsides are that the new ones cant be unlocked as opposed to the Eclipse

new bypass was just released for the newer z1's... check the home page

I kept hearing about the newer Avic Z1 Mine was made may 2006 so is my unit the Newer Z1? I also recall reading on this fourm about changes on the z1 from April 06 what changes were made from this date to present???
thanks

Pennybags said:

What does everyone think of the Kenwood unit with it's additional nav system add on. The nav system is made by Garmin so I would assume it's pretty nice. There is a japanese kenwood model that was at CS this year that is a double din unit but that isn't suppose to come out for a few years still. It was pretty sweet! Had nav system that used satellite maps like google.

Hey penny you talking about the Kenwood HDV-770 Car Navigation System I don't know if it will come out in the U.S. though. God Bless

Pennybags said:

What does everyone think of the Kenwood unit with it's additional nav system add on. The nav system is made by Garmin so I would assume it's pretty nice. There is a japanese kenwood model that was at CS this year that is a double din unit but that isn't suppose to come out for a few years still. It was pretty sweet! Had nav system that used satellite maps like google.

Hey penny you talking about the Kenwood HDV-770 Car Navigation System I don't know if it will come out in the U.S. though. God Bless

That one looks amazing. They are going to need a 100 gig drive for all that building information :)

guys. I have been away for a while and have the "old" Z1. What changes did they make on the "new" one other than yo have to bypass differently? just curious.

maxse said:

guys. I have been away for a while and have the "old" Z1. What changes did they make on the "new" one other than yo have to bypass differently? just curious.

As far as we can tell, absolutely nothing.

FYI, the alpine IVA-W200 is nice however a few notes:

Screens are a very plain boring blue, just buttons and text really, not much for graphics
iPod integration is awesome and REALLY FAST
Cannot search GENRES via Alpine interface
Bluetooth module is crap, it's considered a source via AINet, so if you are using your ipod and your phone rings, it won't ring through the stereo, you have to manually switch sources to the bluetooth unit and answer the call...really lame.
Easily bypassed with a PAC TR-7

HeavenSoldier said:

Pennybags said:

What does everyone think of the Kenwood unit with it's additional nav system add on. The nav system is made by Garmin so I would assume it's pretty nice. There is a japanese kenwood model that was at CS this year that is a double din unit but that isn't suppose to come out for a few years still. It was pretty sweet! Had nav system that used satellite maps like google.

Hey penny you talking about the Kenwood HDV-770 Car Navigation System I don't know if it will come out in the U.S. though. God Bless

I doubt the US version will have building info like that. Japanese units are starting to integrate that which is awesome, but thats way too much info for all of the US...maybe major cities like DC, NY, Chicago etc, but I doubt you'll see anything like that for all of the US for quite a long while.

Either way though that unit looks sweet.

I did a price check with Crutchfield. The Alpine unit with nav, bluetooth, iPod and XM radio is over 3 grand. That does not even include the USB add-on with is another 150! The same features with the Z1 are only about 2500 minus the mp3 add-on. To me that is not even close. I do not feel that the mp3 capability, a smaller screen and faster iPod usability is worth it. Not to mention you now have to find a place for nav unit. The kenwood looks great. I would really consider his unit if available. I think I will be plenty satisfied with my Z1 for now.