Multimedia Systems - Navigation is the Source

by CAE, Aug 01, 2007

There are a plethora of navigation products on the market - and we're not even talking about all the portables produced by companies that you thought had nothing to do with navigation. If you're looking for a quick cost-effective option, you can certainly buy a PND (personal navigation device) as an adequate solution. But nothing in this world is free. There's a reason why you pay only a few hundred dollars for something that you have to stick onto your windshield. Never mind that attaching any device to your car's window is aesthetically abominable (and illegal in some states). The real problem here is that portables just don't measure up in terms of performance. Satellite acquisitioning times on a portable can take forever. For general consumers, buying a consumer electronics product is a lot less scary than a head unit that requires going to a specialty shop. Certainly we recommend getting products installed professionally (if for nothing else than the warranty), but people shouldn't feel inhibited by any fear related to installing in-dash navigation units.

Installing a navigation unit is far less complicated than it appears on the surface. Any patient DIYer brandishing the proper install tools should be capable of connecting one. The word "patient" is employed because you won't find the extra connections needed to complete your installation at the factory radio wire harness - you might have to dig through a few additional harnesses to find the correct wires. These extra connections generally consist of a parking brake, backup light and speed pulse wires. The latter two connections help a nav system perform accurately, while the first ensures certain functions are performed safely (at a stop) without distraction, thus keeping the manufacturer's legal team out of court. Fortunately for the DIYer, most manufacturers keep a thorough database of vehicle wire color combinations and a location to find them in your specific vehicle, making the hunt a little less painful.

Besides these three wires, a navigation system requires a GPS antenna. While it's best to locate the antenna in an uninhibited area outside the vehicle, most will work well behind the windshield, atop the dash.

The question of bypassing the safety measures so that all of the navigation functions are available while the vehicle is in motion is a thorny issue, one that manufacturers have thought seriously about. Can it be done? The answer to that is yes and no. Over the years, navigation systems have become more sophisticated and now rely heavily on the speed pulse wire and GPS to indicate movement, shutting off key functions of the nav when sensed. So what about the "yes" portion of this answer? Glad you asked. By bypassing, or grounding the parking brake wire, newer car-specific navigation units don't suspend these functions until the vehicle reaches a certain speed (typically limited to under 5 mph) or the vehicle moves over a certain distance - a foolproof design that keeps lawyers happy. Ultimately, bypassing the safety guard is really a worthless measure.

Below are reviews of navigation products from the major aftermarket manufacturers, some DVD-based nav units and others that have hard drives for storage of map data. Rather than simply focusing on the navigation element of these head units, we looked at the overall package with a focus on how well the products worked for navigation. While there are significant differences between the various units (DVD vs. HDD, differences in menu setups, ease of use, etc.), we feel that consumers and enthusiasts will want to consider the products as a whole. Considering the healthy price tags, buyers should look at everything they're getting before buying.

Some redundancy of function controls can be a great convenience to consumers. Clarion's double-DIN head unit has just the right balance between virtual and real buttons. On the panel you'll find access to Source, Map, Menu, Band, an individual button for quick access to iPod and one for audio adjustments. On-screen, while in navigation mode, you have two simple buttons, "Navi" and "AV". It doesn't get much simpler than that.

By hitting the Navi button on the current location map you can call up the navigation shortcut menu. From there you can input a destination, go over route options and search nearby POIs. It's all very well thought out. The Destination menu is less so. We would've preferred having a single screen for destination options rather than having to hit "Next" to access previous destinations, for instance. The main menu page for destinations provides access to direct address input, Address Book, Points of Interest, a separate key for Nearby POI, Home and Phone Number.

Around town the NAX970HD always kept us on course. There were no major routing issues and re-routing was very quick. The map itself is attractive and, partially due to that, is easy to read, even in 3-D view mode. While trying to find anything through the POI database could be frustrating depending on what we were looking for, it was no more so than on most other navigation systems. The problem is probably more attributable to changing POIs and the difficulty associated with keeping them up to date than anything else - just ask the map data companies.

The NAX970HD is also compatible with the VRX775VD (which retails for the same as the double-DIN we used), but we preferred the more factory look provided by the MAX675VD. It's an excellent multimedia source; and when used in conjunction with the DVH940N for a surround sound setup you can truly maximize the capabilities of the unit. We loved the ability to set individual speaker gain level, set crossover points for the different speakers and adjust the delay on the center channel and surround speakers. Basically you need to go through only a couple of windows to make these adjustments. And overall, that was the high point for the combined products we reviewed. In a car you want to be able to quickly make changes on your nav/audio system and Clarion made it easy to keep your eyes on the road, instead of searching for items on the screen. - Ben Oh Grade: B+

In the end, the Kenwood DNX7100 is a great overall value. It may not be the best presented system with its somewhat outdated looking graphics; but given it's ease of use and all of its features, combined with a brilliant price tag, this isn't a product to overlook as a navigation system and media source. - Ben OhGrade: A-

Aside from the access limitations when recording tracks from a music CD to the 24GB music server (you can't use any other source concurrently, including nav), the audio/video section proved very worthy. Users are privy to a 7-band EQ, crossovers, complete subwoofer control and a host of other features making it a nominee for content champion. And to sweeten the deal, JVC allows connectivity for a surprising amount of goodies such as Bluetooth and iPod interface, to name a couple.

I like the unit for its complete feature content, connectivity and unique approach to otherwise standardized functions. Unfortunately, I was a bit put off by its small screen and navigation routing. If your needs weigh more heavily on the former, place this unit on your "check out" list. - Casey ThorsonGrade: C+