It seems that a lot of people have installed the Alpine unit. A local shop here in Orange County strongly recommends the Pioneer system (maybe because it is more expensive? )

What is the recommendation from those that have done it and/or others who have reviewed both?

 

I've had two shops recommend the Pioneer system. It's a little newer and has voice command abilities, which I'm not sure the Alpine has.

Eventually, I want to put in the Pioneer system and a 7" Farenheit screen. I just haven't gotten things together yet.

 

Comparing Alpine and Pioneer I'd take Alpine in a second. Pioneer might have some cool features but gets killed but Alpine in sound quality. I personally think Alpine's NAV is easier to use but that's trival compared to the sound quality difference.

 

thanks for your input ...

I assume that the sound you mention is the directions given by the unit?

 

this is qirex's or he at least posted a pic of it. is this an alpine screen? also, if you get the alpine nav what is it - a screen but do you need to install a din thing? i am going to have an alpine 7897 filling up one din in the dash but would love to get something that filled up the other din and i didn't know if the nav systems aftermarket were trunk installed type deals or boxes or if they were to be indash? i don't want to get one of the ones where the screen comes out of the unit b/c i already have a headunit. or is that what you are talking about? thanks

haha i want the oem navigation, alpine 7897 headunit, alpine DVD player, and get a Nav-Tv conversion to use the screen for TV/DVD video. that would be tight.

 

i really wish that alpine made a dvd/nav that didn't come w/ a monitor attached so i could use my regular headunit/receiver and add the nav which allowed use of DVD video and nav but i guess pioneer does that...

 

they do

check out their website



Alpine

 

yeah its an alpine screen...

the actual unit is installed in the cubby behind the driver.

The alpine has 3x more POI than the pioneer.

While the pioneer allows you to watch dvds and has voice input....

voice input works for **** on my mac g4 so....

and the alpine has this nice technology that has smart logic on your entries....basically it searches its database on the fly so you never have to type in the ENTIRE street/town name. Also I hear its calculations are WAY faster than the stock nav...

 

that sounds good - i just wish the alpine allowed you to watch dvds like the pioneer!

 

get a second DVD in the back, or a DVD/CD/MP3 head unit or throw a PS2/XBOX in there for game + DVD!

 

why dont you just get the best like the kenwood kvt-911

 

I just bought a Pioneer Nav system on ebay for $900. I like that it has the ability to play DVDs also. The voice control isn't bad either.

 

I would like to recommend Kenwood's DVD Navigation system. It's the only aftermarket system that has TOUCHSCREEN control. Try inputing an address via remote control on the Alpine or Pioneer and you'll understand the difference.

 

The only problems I saw with touchscreen are that the screen gets constantly dirty, and that I'm not sure it will work well in cold weather. Admitedly, if you can refrain from touching the screen until the car is warm, it should remove that problem.

The Kenwood system looks pretty good otherwise.

 

Alpine, Kenwood, and Pioneer all use the same software from Navigation Technologies (NAVTECH). I sell all three of them at my store and the Alpine is the easiest to use next to the Kenwood which is touchscreen.

Wait a few months and get the new Alpine IVAD900 in dash video screen with DVD all in one. It has over 1.15 million pixels and is bad ***! I saw it on display at the CES show out in Vegas.

Pioneer makes a good piece but longevity is their weakest link.

 

did you see the directv in dash satellite system for car lcds?? do you know when it is coming out?

 

maxima dave - do you have any specs or pics of the system? that is exactly what i have been waiting for. i have a cda7897 and love it but in a 350z or other 2 din system, i wanted to fill up the hole w/ something else but didn't want to mix brands and i love alpine. i liked the alpine navigation and screen but didn't like how youd have to buy another drive and another din module for dvd movies. this new thing sounds great! does it come w/ a screen or is it just a receiver/dvd/etc.? any specs or pics would be appreciated!

 

also,
did alpine offer any multi-disc changers in dash? kenwood and clarioin and eclipse seem to have these but alpine only has receivers and monitors and it would be so cool if alpin eoffered an Ai-Net changer in dash that fit in 1din or anything else. thanks

 

I have seen a copy of Alpine's 2003 lineup. The current model NVEN852A (Nav system) is carry over for this year and the retail price has been reduced to $1699.00 (normally $2K). Alpine currently doesn't over any multi-disc in dash changers for the U.S. market yet. If you want a multidisc changer do the CHAS634 6-disc changer.

If you want to do an Alpine double din setup do the CVA1006 in dash motorized monitor with the indash DVA5205 DVD/CD player underneath it. The Nav piece would mount underneath your seat.

You can also download the new 2003 catalog from Alpine's website.
www.alpine1.com

Personally I'd wait for the new IVAD900 in dash 7" monitor with CD/DVD/MP3 playback with over 1.15 million pixels!

Dave

 

Keep in mind that Pioneer just released a new DVD with US/Canada info. I THINK it's the only change between the AVIC-9DVD and the AVIC-90DVD, but I have not yet confirmed that.


You can get the AVIC-90DVD from etronics.com for about $1200. The upgrade disc by itself is about $200-$300.


I hope there aren't any other hardware differences between the two models.