In all fairness.... I think we're just on the teetering edge of a technology curve that would be just mind blowing as far as car audio....

Some would call it the "bleeding edge"....

Unfortunately, every manufacturer seems to be greedy..... Allot like Apple, that releases a revamped product every year, to keep the sales up.....

Nobody wants to dump out the baddest and most logical equipment in one go(quick buck)..... They intentionally degrade the features/performance to keep the product alive$$$$$

As it stands now... an IPad would be(or is the best)for a great foundation of a complete navi/audio system....

Sooo,

I just recently bought a 2007 TB and am looking to upgrade. I had a 7200HD in my old blazer and am looking for something full sized, HD, DVD, Nav .. Ever since I got my first DEX-P1R I've sworn by Pioneer HU's and Infinity's for the speakers but after reading this thread I'm starting to wonder if I should look elsewhere. I'm not looking to wait until 2012 and if I'm going to be spending a boatload of money on a HU I want it to be worth it ...

So I guess here I'm now also asking what your thoughts are. I see that this thread is titled doesn't understand customer needs. Does this mean I shouldn't be going with a top of the line pioneer right now?

Sean

What are the features you wont by priority.

What are the features you wont by priority.

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Sound quality

-Ease of use/integration (menu, gui, factory feature compatibility)

-Reliability (parts, components, quality, history of malfunction, etc)

-HD reception/clarity

-LCD display quality / Touch screen responsiveness

-EQ complexity/configuration (a. easy to choose tuned defaults b. easy to fine tune beyond)

-Navigation usability. (I don't want to shell out cash for a system that's going to go obsolete for something I can buy or replace and hang from the windshield. If I'm going to shell out a few extra benjamins on a HU I don't want to find it obsolete or less than helpful down the road when I can easily use my 3gs for the same; if so I can easily buy a DVD only unit and I'm back in the same predicament but in terms of that discussion.)

----

The list is probably not accurate and I could think of other stuff but it's late and it's that time.. But I'm curious as to any thoughts anyone might have, below is my original response prior to the quick 'list'....

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TBH I'm actually looking forward to new features i've never been able to afford myself prior. Addition of navigation (why have one if it doesn't work well right?), DVD system (the TB comes with a rear monitor so I already have one and I'd like to add the feature to the front), ease of use with my iPhone 3GS (my 7200HD has this but it's pretty clunky and not very user/+driver friendly), and lastly upgraded HD quality and pandora radio; I like the idea of being able to find/listen to secondary HD channels along with the use of free pandora.

I'm a computer guy so nothing peeves me more than a system or a GUI that's not responsive when I engage a task/function/or button push. I'm not going to dynomat my entire interior but I will be expecting a crisp and superior sound quality (something like a pair of new 60.9cs's (or the like) along with my pair of 1262W's that I already own (no need to upgrade until dead/blown/gone). I'm going to assume that out of competition that most "premier" HU's today are going to offer like quality in general. I don't listen to rap on the norm but I can and do, typically I'd go for rock/country/metal (yeah i know).

I already own a kappa 4 and I'm going to scrap the MB i have for my subs for a kappa one most likely (I like the size of 'em and so far I haven't had anyone sell me on anything else - willing to listen and entertain the argument/thoughts though =D ).

That all being said one might be able to say that any top of the line HU would fit for me and I wouldn't know the difference .. Maybe in many aspects but I'm very familiar with GPS technology and I am an avid user with handheld (flight/marine) garmin/magellan devices. I like that kenwood uses built in garmin technology. I'm not sure how well the Pioneer line holds its own but I've read more unhappy reviews than blown away reviews recently. I like that the newer decks seem to work well with BT music but all I've found thus far regarding steering wheel controls (mfgr) seem to be guaranteed to work with 2005 and pre-2005 systems - I'd be quite annoyed to buy my system and hookup my ASWI-PS to find out things don't go well or god forbid my seat warmers or climate control quits or ticks of the HU somehow.

~S

Well most of your priorities fit with the Pioneer units. There are a lot of complaints on this forum about how the HD option works on these units however. But what ever you do don't buy these units for the navi. Especially if you have already spoiled yourself with other navis in the past. The link below will give you a pretty detailed outlook on the issues regarding the navi in the Pioneer units. Just keep in mind however, the unit it is compared to also has issue you may not like.

http://www.kenwoodforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=897

Thanks for the reply and read. It's really kind of sad but I think I'm going to give the kenwood a go (not 100% yet though). I guess my next question then is (sorry not trying to hijack the thread) but I've read by far MORE awful reviews about the GM VT-GMOS-04 and have read that the scosche swc1 is a much better alternative (though I can't find many true comparisons). In a TB specifically can anyone give me any quick tips/advice regarding those two (I'm still deciding between the Z130 and the 9960 - so paired with either).

Just be sure you understand the 9960 has issues as well that many of the members of Kenwood forums are not happy with. Also if your considering the Z130 you might want to consider the DNX9980HD as the alternative to the 130.

Aha, you're right and my apologies. I'm still getting the 120/130 mixed up. And had been looking at the 9960/9980 today. I think i'm just undecided yet so far and really need to look deeper into the differences between the 120/130. I don't think i've quite gotten those two down and I think that a good bit of the bad reviews on the 120 that I've read might not apply to the 130 (nav excluded?).

I may be behind on it(actually I know I am).... But is there any hardware changes from the 120 to the 130?

I can see that the bezel on the 130 is somewhat more attractive....

But I suppose my main question is.... is it just more of a software upgrade?

I may be behind on it(actually I know I am).... But is there any hardware changes from the 120 to the 130?

I can see that the bezel on the 130 is somewhat more attractive....

 

But I suppose my main question is.... is it just more of a software upgrade?

Other then the built in HD Radio Tuner, it appears to be the same.

Other then the built in HD Radio Tuner, it appears to be the same.

WOW.. out of all the cool things they could possibly build in the z130bt, they pick the one add on I have and hate... IMO they should've built in the new msn direct replacement and let us 110/120 user's get the add on.

List price shows less on the 130

i have 110 upgraded to 120 and use mostly for music and video. But when comes to navi i use f500..far more reliable and option to just add city or intersection unlike 120 where i have to know street name and city for it to work.

Ok folks new info on the traffic tuner compatibility with Z110/120/X920 units once they are upgraded with the Z130/X930 software do out this summer. The response from Pioneer is now that they do not officially support the traffic tuner with the previous units but they are not saying it wont work. Just that they don't officially support it on the previous units. So, what that means is that we will see for our selves when the new tuner and software upgrades are released. To me, this is better news.

Ok folks new info on the traffic tuner compatibility with Z110/120/X920 units once they are upgraded with the Z130/X930 software do out this summer. The response from Pioneer is now that they do not officially support the traffic tuner with the previous units but they are not saying it wont work. Just that they don't officially support it on the previous units. So, what that means is that we will see for our selves when the new tuner and software upgrades are released. To me, this is better news.

is the rumor regarding the loss of VR still true, aka after updating you lose the ability to speak commands?

is the rumor regarding the loss of VR still true, aka after updating you lose the ability to speak commands?

No, X920's that upgrade will keep VR. The X930 is missing the VR Hardware.

No, X920's that upgrade will keep VR. The X930 is missing the VR Hardware.

that's good news, but odd in that why would they bother to code for a hardware device that didn't use the coding? Are they actually trying to be sympathetic of x920 owners?

bluetooth works great on mine..