In dash Nav/Media question double din vs flip out screen pro/cons please

[parkerbink]

I am getting an in dash NAV/DVD video hu for the Land Cruiser. I am looking for input of the pro/cons of the single din fold out vs a dd.

The primary benefit I see of the single din is stealth. Can people that have these or similar units please share your experience?

Gracias

[92 mtechnic cabrio]

I'm under the impression that single-din fold out screens' mechanisms fail too easily, leaving you with a screen that sits out of it's hiding slot anyway.

[Mtriple]

I'm under the impression that single-din fold out screens' mechanisms fail too easily, leaving you with a screen that sits out of it's hiding slot anyway.

Agreed, I've had a few and I really like the DD versions better. They look so close to factory in most cars. If you have a DD opening, I would definitely go with a DD unit. I'm shopping around for my daily driver right now, I think I'm going to go with the Alpine.

[parkerbink]

Thanks. I figured as much.
I got a Pioneer AVIC-D3 which looked factory. This is not my truck but it is close to what it will look like in my truck


The one I got failed immediately & I became aware of it's limitation: If you are using nav you can't use the disk drive for anything else as it needs the nav DVD

I am leaning towards a Kenwood DX8018 because for slightly more it has a stand alone nav unit under license from Garmin and needs no disks. It is upgradeable so future construction or other areas not included are no problem.



Thanks!

[Tom@POLIZEI]

I've had the Alpine D300 (flip out) for a few years now and love it!

The Alpine has metal gears driving the mechanism, very well made. And the pulse touch screen cannot be beat.

[parkerbink]

I've had the Alpine D300 (flip out) for a few years now and love it!

The Alpine has metal gears driving the mechanism, very well made. And the pulse touch screen cannot be beat.

I searched for this unit and only see it used, no nav & no nav available to connect to it. Looks like a nice system though. Thanks.

Luke, can I get your input please?

Do the Kenwood flip out units have plastic gears like the radios?

I like the stealth concept but I also like the look of the double din units they look much better, given a choice of the two I will go DD unless I can find one that has excellent durable flip out mechanisms.

[Mtriple]

I searched for this unit and only see it used, no nav & no nav available to connect to it. Looks like a nice system though. Thanks.

Luke, can I get your input please?

Do the Kenwood flip out units have plastic gears like the radios?

I like the stealth concept but I also like the look of the double din units they look much better, given a choice of the two I will go DD unless I can find one that has excellent durable flip out mechanisms.

It's now called the 310:

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-en/products/product.php?model=IVA-D310

Alpine offers 2 types of navigation, the Blackbird, which is a portable unit that you can dock in the vehicle and will integrate with any of the Alpine A/V units. They also offer the 872 which is designed to be installed in the vehicle. It's a bit more sophisticated and has a few features that the Blackbird does not. I've had both and they work very well. I currently use the Blackbird, but I have only used it as a stand alone unit. I have the docking station and external antenna, and as soon as I purchase the IVA-W205, I will install it in my truck. I used the Blackbird on a trip to Colorado in March and it worked flawlessly.

I have also owned the Kenwood, but it was the first generation DD unit. It worked well but the menu system was crude and often difficult to navigate. The picture quality on the screen was also nowhere near as good as the Alpine. I have no experience with Kenwood's navigation.

And as mentioned, Alpine's pulsetouch is very cool. And with regards to the gears on the flip outs, even the metal gears can strip...

[Tom@POLIZEI]

My friend had the Blackbird in his E39. The traffic feature is very cool and I like the interface a lot.

[Tangent]

I have an AVIC N1 in my E46 and if I was going to replace it, it would be with a double-din equivalent. While I like the stealth nature the single-din offers, it's sometimes annoying having to open the display to get to features instead of just being able to go straight to it. Also the fact that the open display blocks the HVAC vents is annoying, especially in hot weather when I really need that cold air.

If I was going to replace it, it would be with the AVIC-Z2 or D3. (Z2 if cost was no object...) Double-din, all the same features as the N1 plus fully customizable illumination to match the instrument lighting, and some other cool features like alerting you to when a saved favorite song is playing on another XM channel.

[parkerbink]

I looked at the Alpine and the unit is great. I already have a Stiletto 100 so another external, docked device is not really something I want. I already have enough to worry about loosing, getting misplaced or forgotten (at least once a week I leave the house without the Stiletto)

The Pioneer is great (I had the D3) and would have kept it even though it has to have the NAV disk to use NAV but now that I know and have to get something else I'd prefer something that does not require a disk.

I am in complete agreement that the DD is teh way to go now I have to decide which to get.

Thanks for all the great info guys.

[parkerbink]

I got a screaming deal on a 7019. It looks the same as the 8019, main difference is 1 USB vs 3 USB inputs not that big of a deal to me for 300 less.



We'll see when it gets here next week.

Thanks for the input.

[Mtriple]

Nice, where did you get it?

[parkerbink]

Local car stereo shop found it & ordered it for me.

[parkerbink]

Head unit is in nav is not here yet they say another week .

It is pretty cool. This is a partial install. I have to relocate the Stiletto 100.

[Mtriple]

Looks pretty good. I hate how everything has blue lighting these days...