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Review 3 of 5
Price Paid:
$1469.00
from Ebay Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 Pioneer Avic-N1 Summary:
After installing all of the necessary wiring for my Avic-N1, it was time for the big moment of truth. I turned my ignition switch to the "on" accessory position, and the unit's buttons glowed blue against the black face. But then it began to move, and I realized that there is something inherently cool about watching a full 6.5" color LCD screen slide out horizontally and raise into position from a dash. The system comes with a detailed user's guide for the many functions, but the operation is overall very straightforward. Touchscreen key operation definitely has its place with in car video navigation systems, as demonstrated by this unit. Yeah... we know it can play Burned CD's MP3, DVD's, has a built in radio, and can be used with optional satellite radio, TV tuner, and more. But more importantly, how good is the navigation system? For the wary consumers...
I live on the far outskirts of Kansas City, in a neighborhood that is about 10 years old. But as I zoomed the map scale in to an appropriate level for displaying my hometown, I could see every street in my neighborhood, down to the cu-de-sac. But more importantly, what a new user of this product should understand is that this system has a learning phase which it will undergo immediately after installation which will optimize navigation performance. Internal sensors in the unit read vehicle speed generator pulses, it has an internal electronic compass, and gyros that detect every movement of the vehicle. Through a learning process, these sensors will become calibrated for the vehicle in which the system is installed. The best positioning accuracy will take place after this learning phase is complete, and its status is continually available.
Beyond this, the system also offers audible route guidance. The Avic-N1 will speak to you in a soothing female voice through your car's front and rear speakers. What's also cool is that the volume level of the route guidance is set independently of the setting of say, the volume of the radio. This is only one of many small features, but things like this say a lot about the attention to detail that went into the engineering of this product. I could ramble on all day about all the cool features this system has to offer, but one thing I will say for all other gadget lovers out there like me... you're gonna love this product. It makes the most advanced in dash MP3 player look almost as mundane as the antiquated casette deck. The initial MSRP price tag for this item is high, but with a little patience a good deal will come your way. Strengths:
1. Accurate navigation system complete with vehicle dynamics sensory apparatus.
2. Navigation, Video, Audio, and touchscreen operation all rolled into one convenient package.
3. Will fit in any standard 1 DIN slot (Hideaway unit makes this possible) Weaknesses:
Well there are always ways to keep adding and adding to the improvement of a product, but where should one stop? For now, this is as good as it gets. Maybe the only inconvenient aspect of this product is that one of the two supplied DVD ROM map disks must be in its drive for unrestricted use of the navigation system. The "Memory Mode" map is very selective about which scale can be stored into memory. Similar Products Used:
Pioneer DEH P8400 MP
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