In dash nav stereos

[Bad Moose]

I know nothing about stereo systems let alone nav systems. My wife has had two vehicles with factory vav systems and me likey. I have an 03 King Ranch and have learned with a little modification that it can be done. So X-mas is comming up and I want one. I just want to get the right one the first time. So which ones are the best. I would like to stick in the $800 range, which I think is reasonable for what I want.

Here's one that I like, with my limited knowledge, I think this is a fairly good one.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Clarion+-+50W+x+4+Apple%26%23174%3B+iPod%26%23174%3B-/Satellite+Radio-/HD+Radio-Ready+In-Dash+DVD+Deck/2363646.p?id=1218323019387&skuId=2363646&st=navigation

[K80]

This is what I would get with the money.

Alpine INA-W900BT INA-W900 navigation receiver and Bluetooth adapter at Crutchfield.com
(http://www.crutchfield.com/p_500INAW90B/Alpine-INA-W900BT.html?tp=20212)

I take it you don't want a fold out unit? If that doesn't matter I would get this.

Clarion NZ501 Navigation receiver at Crutchfield.com
(http://www.crutchfield.com/p_020NZ501/Clarion-NZ501.html?tp=20212)

I just installed a similar clarion in a friends dodge. They are nice and user friendly. I'm not too familiar with fords but I would rather bolt in a fold out.

[Bad Moose]

I'm learning. I would like it to have Nav, Sirius Sat, and Ipod.

[UNBROKEN]

I'm a huge Clarion fan and run a clarion head unit now. My old DVD head unit was a Kenwood Excelon though so that's all I have experience with for those types of head units...it was super easy to use though and worked flawlessly for years...the double din unit fit great in my ford dash too.

[High Cotton]

I had a pioneer D3 for a few years. I liked it pretty well. It was reasonably priced, easy to use, and dependable.

[bbbxcursion]

I'm on my second pioneer double din. Both units have been great to work with.

[High Cotton]

I just thought of something worth considering during your choices. Stay away from anything motorized. Anything that has to move or flip to load a disc or expose the screen will at one time or another give you trouble. That was one of the reasons I liked the D3.

[Bad Moose]

I'm a mechanic so simple is better. Like the thought of less moving parts the better.

Now what is a double din?

[High Cotton]

A single din is the smaller factory radio openings. If you went in to best buy and just bought a real plain cd player it would most likely be a single din. A double din are the larger square looking radios. Your ford has a double din. IMO stay away from the chain stores. Go to independent stereo retailer. From my past experience you will deal will more knowledgeable people and the install quality will be much better.

[Bad Moose]

Ok, next stupid question can I do the install myself? or am I better off leaving it to the pro's? I have installed radios before never thought it was that hard, just had to get the adapter right the first time.

[Bad Moose]

I'm a huge Clarion fan and run a clarion head unit now. My old DVD head unit was a Kenwood Excelon though so that's all I have experience with for those types of head units...it was super easy to use though and worked flawlessly for years...the double din unit fit great in my ford dash too.

What Clarion model do you have now?

[joelc79]

I just installed a Kenwood DNX6180. I bought it through an ebay store. I have researched and researched the F out of double din nav radios and it is the only one i would ever purchase. I wanted Garmin Navigation, its the best interface and the easiest to use. I pair $750 delivered with install harness and satelite radio cables. Pioneer, Clarion, and Sony GPSs suck c o c k! Garmin/Kenwood is the only way to go.

[jkidd_39]

I just installed a Kenwood DNX6180. I bought it through an ebay store. I have researched and researched the F out of double din nav radios and it is the only one i would ever purchase. I wanted Garmin Navigation, its the best interface and the easiest to use. I pair $750 delivered with install harness and satelite radio cables. Pioneer, Clarion, and Sony GPSs suck c o c k! Garmin/Kenwood is the only way to go.

Let us know how it works out. I heard that they are super laggy and the touchscreen sucks sensitivitywise

[Bad Moose]

Let us know how it works out. I heard that they are super laggy and the touchscreen sucks sensitivitywise

So which brand do you like? I keep hearing Kenwood has the better nav. Pioneer is a winner also. Clarion is up there also, but not many opinions on it.

[jkidd_39]

TBH I'm in the same boat. I don't know who is the go to guys at this time.

I've been out of the audio game for 5-6 years. When I was in the game Alpine and Eclipse were the tops..

[Dboy11]

If you do decide to install the double din, you will have to do some trimming to make it fit. You will also need the trim piece. I had a pioneer in my old superduty and now its in my tacoma

[Bad Moose]

I read about the trimming. How muc do you have to trim. I sounded like about a 1/16 to 1/8 along the sides.

[UNBROKEN]

What Clarion model do you have now?

Mine doesn't have anything you want. No GPS no DVD no iPod no nothing...not even a built in amp. LOL
The bells and whistles are great...just not what I want in a head unit.
My DRZ9255 is perfect for me though. It does things the bell and whistle head units can only dream about and sound twice as good doing it.

[Dboy11]

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/GPS-Navigation/AVIC-Z130BT

This is the one that i have and you are going to have to trim it, not too terribly much but just be prepared for it. I cant remember if there was anything else really to it or not.

I know that the one I have is more than you want. Ive got the bluetooth on it, ipod connection, av cord, satellite radio and it has gps and plays movies.

[joelc79]

Laggy...not at all! This has signal faster than my portable gps unit. The Sirius radio works perfectly as well. The toch screen is the same mfg as almost every other tablet and phone these days. It works all as it should, i would definatly buy again. FYI it is also very user friendly, garmin screen is the same as the portable and all icons are large.
I will post up some pics later.

[Bad Moose]

I stopped and started to ask questions today. I kind of found out they all are great. As I narrowed down what I primarily wanted for, navigation, found that Kenwood was the best for that due to the Garmin partnership. I know I like the nave in the Ford's (microsoft) and I also like the navi in the wife's Nissan of which I have no idea what it is. So is there any Microsoft navi radios? If not I am probaly going with a Kenwood DNX6180. I learned about the speed also and Kenwood is noticably slower, but how much do you really notice it?

[Bad Moose]

Laggy...not at all! This has signal faster than my portable gps unit. The Sirius radio works perfectly as well. The toch screen is the same mfg as almost every other tablet and phone these days. It works all as it should, i would definatly buy again. FYI it is also very user friendly, garmin screen is the same as the portable and all icons are large.
I will post up some pics later.

Please post pict's and any hurdles you had installing it.

[Bad Moose]

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/GPS-Navigation/AVIC-Z130BT

This is the one that i have and you are going to have to trim it, not too terribly much but just be prepared for it. I cant remember if there was anything else really to it or not.

I know that the one I have is more than you want. Ive got the bluetooth on it, ipod connection, av cord, satellite radio and it has gps and plays movies.

Thank you! The step down from it also looks like it would be what I want though.

[joelc79]

i forgot to take a few shots today. All this laggy slow talk confuses me. I cant type any faster on it, as soon as i select "GO" or a feature as in "TUNER" or what ever your doing...its there. the DNX6180 is the middle of the road for the DNX series. you could save some and go a model down. They take off features like bluetooth, rear camera, and so on.
I think Ford vehicles uses MOTIVE, they are on Ebay as well. Look nice, but who, what, are they i have no clue.

[Dboy11]

Thank you! The step down from it also looks like it would be what I want though.

Hey I got mine for free so whichever you want to pay for is mine with me brotha!

:woohoo:

[joelc79]

here ya go, if anyone wants to see something specific let me know. It has an icon menu that you scroll through like any touch phone or tablet. just put your finger on there and slide to the next. You go through an initial touch sensitivity test when you first set it up. it works flawless.
http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww273/joelc79/IMG-20111113-00629.jpg

http://i727.photobucket.com/albums/ww273/joelc79/IMG-20111113-00627.jpg

[joelc79]

photobucket is acting up... if the main menu is not available i'll try it again later

[DieselHardware]

Do you have to have a cd in the deck for using the navigation?

[joelc79]

nope, in this model it is updatable throught the usb port. In the next model up you have a sd card

[Bad Moose]

Do you have any pict's farther back? How much was trimmed on the dash to get it to fit? I am assuming you have it in your truck. Because of the navi I am probally going with Kenwood. (85%) That and I have had good luck with Kenwood in the past.

[joelc79]

i can load a pic this week some time. You don't have to trim anything, you do have to have the oem nav dash bezel. I bought it from steve white motors in Hickory, NC. They are sponsors on CF i know...maybe on here too. They are about the cheapest for oem add on's.

[Bad Moose]

I just dropped the order for a Kendwood dnx6180. I got the dash kit, wiring harness, Ipod cable, and Sirius kit. Do I need anything else? It's for the truck in my sig.

[joelc79]

don't think so, good luck bud. ur going to love it!

[Bad Moose]

Thanks, I hope so.

[High Cotton]

I don't know if they still have it or not, but when I had mine there was a wire you had to splice for the tv to work while it was in gear. Do some searching now and get that figured out so when you do the install you have it figured out. No, I didn't watch a movie and drive, but it kept others in the truck entertained while on trips.

[Bad Moose]

This thing will play movies?????

[High Cotton]

This thing will play movies?????

It should. I looked it up and it says DVD receiver. The pioneer D3 I had played DVD's.

[joelc79]

Yes it does, my installer charged me $20 to instal the wire with a relay so i can do the same. Other wise it is hooked up to your e-brake cable and you have to press the e-brake to watch.

[High Cotton]

Yes it does, my installer charged me $20 to instal the wire with a relay so i can do the same. Other wise it is hooked up to your e-brake cable and you have to press the e-brake to watch.

Did you have it installed at a chain store or small independent shop?

[Bad Moose]

Huh! No chit! So all you have to do is supply power to the e brake wire?

[High Cotton]

You have to trick the unit in to thinking the ebrake is engaged all the time. If you google it, you should find a how to somewhere.

[Bad Moose]

Just found it. Just have to put the wire to ground.

[joelc79]

small shop, but Best Buy said they will do it as well.

[High Cotton]

I have always had better dealings with small independent shops. Theres a place here in Memphis called soundwaves. They're the only people I deal with anymore.

[Bad Moose]

Giggity, giggity the new set up has arrived at the doorstep. Now I have something to do this weekend.

[High Cotton]

Weekend sheesh, I would be out there now lol.

[Bad Moose]

Adapter wiring done. Now it's getting harder and harder to wait for the weekend.

[Bad Moose]

It's in!

[joelc79]

is it everything i promised or what...looks good!

[94ttss]

Looks great! I'm between the 6180, 6980, or the 9980, the only thing that scares me is all the bad reviews of them being slow and freezing up. Who did you buy it from?

[Bad Moose]

is it everything i promised or what...looks good!

Yes it is! Thankyou!

[Bad Moose]

Looks great! I'm between the 6180, 6980, or the 9980, the only thing that scares me is all the bad reviews of them being slow and freezing up. Who did you buy it from?

I bought it from Crutchfield. It is a refurb for $620 total package for me was about $730. The reviews scared me but when you actually compare to the other brands you don't notice much of a difference. I chose performance over speed. The Kenwoods use Garmin. I wanted mainly for Navigation on long trips. All the other functions are a cool bonus. I have only used it for about two hours with no problems beside operator control stupidity. :doh: lol

[94ttss]

Which model did you end up buying?

[Bad Moose]

Dnx 6180

[Bad Moose]

Updating to 1.6 firmware speeds it up a little.

[joelc79]

Kenwood DNX6180 6.1 GPS Navigation/DVD Receiver, Bluetooth (http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_33443_Kenwood-DNX6180.html)

this is who i purchased from, i found them on ebay and called them. they had kick A customer service.