Jensen VM9311TS - DVD player with LCD monitor and AM/FM tuner Review

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(More customer reviews)I picked up this unit without high expectations, but was very surprised with the quality of this unit for the price.
The audio and video quality is superb. It wasn't installed in a vehicle with a full "system", but a plain old minivan. It replaced a 1995 Dodge Caravan factory cassette deck. Yeah, yeah I know. :)
Why did I wait so long? I used an MP3 player with a RF modulator, so I didn't care about the cassette deck. My Rio Karma MP3 player served its purpose for over a year until the cassette mechanism finally took a crap on me, so it was time to purchase a new deck.
I contemplated the idea of just picking up any CD/MP3 deck, but figured why not spend some extra cash and have a new toy that I can enjoy?
Installation was a breeze and I had it installed, wired, and running in less than 30 minutes. The dash in my van is easy to work with, so you mileage may very for ease of installation. There's nothing special about installing this unit when compared to a standard deck.
Now on to the pro's and con's of the VM9311TS:
Pro's:
-First and foremost is the price. You will not find any unit with the features this unit has for this price range!
-Audio and Video quality: playback of DivX, XviD, MPEG's, and standard DVD's are crystal clear. No noticeable pixilation, fading, etc.
-Using the touch screen to navigate through DVD's is very user friendly.
-While not an iPod user yet, the ability to connect your iPod to the unit and have full control over it using the touch screen is a big plus. I actually caved in and bought an 80GB iPod Video. I haven't received it yet, but I am looking forward to getting it. I'm dumping my entire 40GB music collection onto the iPod along with all my episodes of Lost, Prison Break, Family Guy, etc onto one piece of hardware. The ability to fully the iPod using the touch screen is a big plus!
-Full set of audio and video outputs. You can connect this unit to your external amp, subs, etc.
-Full set of audio video inputs. You can plug in your video camera to review what you've recorded, Xbox, PlayStation, and anything else with a standard composite (RCA) yellow jack output.
Con's:
-Navigating a DVD full of MP3 is extremely tedious. Here's why... You get a full dump of EVERYTHING on your screen. You can't navigate by Album, Artist, Year, etc. So if I have a MP3 album of Anita Baker and an MP3 album of Usher I actually have to "click" the directory button over 50 times until I get to the artists with their name's being closer the end of the alphabet. You can also use the soft button on the screen to the next directory, but even then you have to press it over 50 times to get through your entire collection. I called Jensen and they confirmed that yes "you have to navigate through all the albums until you get to what you want.
-To make things worse you can not fast-forward or rewind MP3's. This was also confirmed by Jensen.
-I burned a DVD of all the current Prison Break episodes which were in DivX format. They played back beautifully, but here's the most irritating problem. As soon as you turn off your deck (i.e. turn of your car) the video will start playing over again from the beginning. You can skip over to the next video file on the disc, but again, after power-cycling your vehicle the deck will start over with the first file on the disc.
-As with the MP3's you can not fast-forward or rewind individual video files. This was confirmed by Jensen.
-No ability to change the look of what I call the operating system (OS). You can't change the wallpaper, color scheme, etc. What you see is what you get.
-Navigating through a DVD burned with hundreds if not thousands of MP3's is extremely slow. The OS definitely needs tweaking and enhancements, so I'm hoping that Jensen releases firmware updates in the future.
-Every time you turn your vehicle off and restart it, it takes up to 40 seconds before the track you were listening to resumes on a DVD-R. Navigating and resuming playback with a standard 700MB CD-R is faster when re-starting your vehicle.
So with all the cons aside it's still a pretty nice unit for the price. When the iPod arrives I'll post an update and let you guys know what I think.
It's unfortunate that I had to plunk down another $330 just to get the deck to be more user friendly and functional, but my hands are tied.
For somebody not looking to use the more advanced features such as playback of DivX files this deck is perfect for them. Remember that you can't fast-forward or rewind MP3's, so that may irritate even the non-techie.
So with review coming to an end I give this unit a 3 out of 5.
George

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The VM9311TS in our multimedia receiver with fully motorized 7 inch wide touch screen, that's not only compatible with several different formats but also is iPod and XM ready. No, I'm not done yet! It also includes both inputs and outputs for all your entertainment needs!DVDR, DVDRW, CDR, CD-DA, MP3, WMA, SVCD, VCD, AVI, MPEG1, 2 and JPEGNTSC composite video outputFully motorized 7 inch wide screenXM satellite radio ready (Requires additional hardware and XM radio subscription)Full function infrared remote control includedFront, rear, center and subwoofer pre-amp outputsAuxiliary audio video inputsSpecificationsPower Output - 13 watts RMS X 4 channels into 4-ohms @

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JVC KW-AVX710 7-Inch In-Dash Double-DIN CD/DVD/MP3/iPod Bluetooth-Ready Touchscreen Receiver Review

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(More customer reviews)No USB connector and no SD card slot as stated in the description of the reciever.

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This Double-DIN receiver can play DivX and other video formats on the wide 7-inch monitor, which is also a user-friendly touch panel. With GIGA MP3 MULTI, a huge amount of songs in MP3/WMA/WAV format can be played from a single disc. The 7-band iEQ lets you fine tune the sound to your taste. You can also enjoy iPod, Bluetooth Wireless Technology, HD Radio, and SAT Radio with optional devices.

CDs, DVDs and More Enjoy your favorite CDs or watch some video on DVD, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW or VCDs.
You can also enjoy your favorite WMA/MP3/WAV audio files, or take in MPEG1/2 videos or JPEG images, from disc or from a USB device.
AM/FM Radio The KW-AVX710 features an AM/FM radio with standards like automatic presetting. You can also add SAT or HD radio with additional accessories.
The HS-IVi tuner features higher sensitivity, thanks to three IF bandwidths (wide, middle and narrow). It also includes AM Noise Canceller plus upgraded IF filters that help avoid the distortion caused by interference from adjacent stations.
To get even more from the airwaves, add JVC optional hardware for HD Radio or SAT Radio reception.
Stylish Frame Design With its smooth slope from side to bottom, the faceplate's simple streamlined contour blends perfectly with your car interior.
Customizable Interface Choose from 12 different GUI colors and multiple graphic options to match your car interior.
Multimedia Connectivity Connect, control, and charge your iPod or iPhone with full speed using its existing charging cable. Also compatible with Portable HDD Devices, USB Flash Memory Drives, and Digital Audio Players (KS-U30 Cable required for iPod/iPhone video connections).
Dial in Your Sound Perfect your sound with a three-band parametric equalizer and Loudness control for low level listening.
Input and Output Two pairs of 2.5V preamp outputs are provided for adding a little extra power to the KW-AVX710's onboard 50W x 4 amplifier.
An AV input is also included for use with video game systems or other devices, and you can also use the composite video output terminals to send video to a passenger screen.
Bluetooth Ready Bluetooth Wireless Technology is available with an optional adapter. A maximum of five compatible mobile phones can be registered for hands-free calling. With voice-recognition mobile phones, you can dial by just saying the name in your phone book. The wireless functions work even if your mobile phone is tucked away in your bag or pocket. You can also stream music from a compatible digital audio player, for listening on your car stereo.
Wireless Remote A full-featured wireless remote is include for controlling receiver functions.
What's in the Box JVC KW-AVX710 Receiver, trim ring, sleeve, remote control, wiring harness, installation hardware, installation manual, instructions

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Pyle PLVW1443R 13.4-Inch FlipDown Roof Mount TFT LCD Monitor and IR Transmitter Review

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(More customer reviews)I browsed this site for a week looking through video monitors before I settled on this particular one. Boy, did I choose wrong. I was looking for two specific products features, both of which this item clearly stated it had in its' item description, as well as on the product box that was included from the company itself. Those features were: Two audio AND video inputs, and built-in internal speakers. THIS PRODUCT HAS NEITHER OF THOSE THINGS. So if you were looking for a monitor that could be used without headphones, this isnt the one for you. If you're like me, you have a baby in the backseat who cant be expected to wear a pair of wireless headphones. Also, if you're like me, you wanted to be able to plug in two seperate items, with both items having audio and video. I needed this monitor to have two audio/video inputs so I can hook up the video and sound from both a dvd player, and my Sirius backseat tv. There were two video inputs, but only one set of stereo (red/white) audio inputs. What good is that going to do anyone if you need to have video and sound for two seperate devices? The answer is it wouldnt do you any good, unless you were willing to unbolt the tv from the mounting bracket everytime you wanted to switch between the tv backseat tv tuner, and the dvd player. Do yourself the biggest favor you can, and stay away from this product. One final note, the half page 'instruction manual' included with the package was written in very broken english. Obvious to me now that this thing is some cheaply made, falsely advertised foreign import piece of junk. Look at other product brands and avoid this one.

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This flip-down roof mount TFT LCD monitor has a 13.4" screen for brilliant image reproduction. The screen has an 800 x 600 resolution at a 4:3 display format with wide angle, off axis visibility - perfect for the backseat. Hook up to two different devices, such as a DVD player or video game console, using the RCA inputs. Easily control the monitor with the front panel controls, or use the wireless remote control. Hook up the audio to your sound system, or use a pair of wireless IR headphones to let the backseat enjoy the movie in silence. Runs on DC 12 V supplied by your car's battery.

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Boss Audio Systems BV9055 In-Dash Double-DIN DVD/MP3/CD AM/FM Receiver with 6.2-inch Widescreen Touchscreen TFT Monitor with USB Port and Front Panel AUX Input Review

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(More customer reviews)Not too bad. If you're in the market for a dvd player than this isn't a bad purchase for $300. Not as fancy as the others but it does the job. Has rca outputs for everything minus subwoofer. That isn't too important unless you plan on competing in audio. I have this wired up in my envoy and really like it as do my kids. Screen is bright enough. The usb input is awesome, allowing you to play music files recorded to things like mp3 players and flash drives. Overall a great dvd player if you don't need the name brand.

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Boss Audio's BV9055 is a great solution for those looking for a basic in-dash DVD player. With a 6.2-inch touchscreen, USB port, front auxiliary input and other convenient features, it's got plenty of bang for your buck. Ready to grow with two RCA outputs and video inputs for a rear view camera or GPS device, it's a perfect way to get your mobile mediaplex started.

6.2-Inch Touchscreen The BV9055 features a brilliant 6.2-inch touchscreen with a 1200 x 234 pixel resolution, perfect for quick navigation to the unit's features and for watching video.
Enjoy Your Favorite Media Take in your favorite movies from DVDs, VCDs, SVCDs or even MP4 files. Or enjoy audio from CDs or data discs full of your favorite MP3/WMA files. You can also view your favorite JPG pictures and zoom in for a closer look.
Dial in your sound with separate bass and treble controls, along with balance/fader and a mute when needed.
Front Panel USB Port Enjoy your digital audio (MP3/WMA) or video (MP4) files in a snap by putting them on a USB thumb drive. Enjoy hours of entertainment quickly and easily.
Front Auxiliary Input Easily connect external devices like iPods or MP3 players via the 1/8" mini auxiliary input.
Rear View Camera and GPS Video Inputs Add a rear view camera for safety and convenience, or send your GPS video to the BV9055's screen for navigation.
AM/FM tuner This unit also features a PLL synthesized AM/FM tuner with 30 station presets and switchable USA/Europe radio frequencies.
It will also display Radio Data System messages for stations broadcasting them.
Plenty of Power With 80 Watts through four channels, the BV9055 packs a punch. Dual (front and rear) RCA outputs let you expand your system.
Wireless Remote A full-featured wireless remote is include for controlling all receiver functions.
What's in the Box Boss Audio BV9055, remote control, mounting sleeve, trim frame, wiring harness, installation hardware, user's manual

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Boss BV9997BI In-Dash Motorized 7" DVD/MP3/CD/iPod Touchpanel Widescreen Receiver with USB, SD Card, Bluetooth and Front Panel AUX Input (Detachable Front Panel) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this to replace an old Radio in my 95 Jeep GC. Space is very limited in the radio compartment. The BOSS BV9997BI MultiMedia player comes with a wad of wires, hard wired into the radio back that also has two large wiring connector cubes. To fit all this in, plus the radio wiring adapter and IPOD cable, entensive cutting had to be done to the Jeep radio area. The radio comes with a cable for an IPOD that must be stuck into the back of the radio, rather than having an outlet on the face of the radio. If you will be installing a backup camera, purchase it and do it during the initial BOSS install, or you will have to remove the radio again. The 7" display is very good, but if you retract it and attempt to use the display on the faceplate, it is extremely dim to the extent it is totally inadequate viewing in the daylight. It can also be a function that the lettering and background are both light colors and the text is very thin. It is easy to read at night, in the dark, and actually could use a dimmer, but has none.
The common on/off as part of the volume switch does not work with the BOSS. Rather, you have to press and hold a SOURCE button for that function. Attempting to insert a CD or DVD does not automatically select the function to play it. You must first select the media by pressing and releasing the SOURCE button. Original CDs with painted-on labels work fine, but I inserted some CDs with press-on labels and had difficulty getting them to eject. There appears to be too close a tolerance in the mechanism to accomodate labeled CDs without problems. (Letting the BOSS cool down allowed me to extract the CD's.) Adjusting the channel balance could be made easier by adding a joystick-like button to the faceplate. Manually adjusting the balance with the touchscreen is a challenge and definitely not for use while on the go. Faceplate adjusting is even worse. The detachable front panel only detatches the buttons in the lower faceplate. It is held on by two small, fragile looking pieces of plastic that I hope don't break off.
Not all functions are on the faceplate. Some can only be accessed using the remote control. So don't misplace or forget to take the remote. The instruction manual is extremely poor, missing explanations for highlighted, numbered functions and having clear explanations. BOSS really should employ someone with native English skills to write and edit their manuals.
Although the concept of incorporating all the latest bells and whistles into a unit is great, BOSS falls short in making the package easy and working well. I will pursue purchasing an extra remote and frontpanel, in case they break or are lost. I cannot recommend this to others. I also wonder if BOSS's other flip-out players don't suffer from the same problems, since most seem to be design and documentation problems.

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The Boss Audio BV9997BI is a multimedia receiver offering Bluetooth connectivity and playback of DVDs, CDs and plenty more, including digital MP3/MP4/WMA files. This receiver features touchscreen operation on its brilliant 7-inch widescreen display, an auxiliary input, USB port, and SD Card slot. With 85 Watts through four channels, it offers plenty of power, but front/rear and sub preamp outputs offer room for further growth. The icing on the cake is full iPod control, with an included cable to get you started.

Bluetooth-Enabled Pair with your mobile phone for hands-free calling and other Bluetooth features.
7-Inch Touchscreen The BV9997BI features a motorized, flip-out, 7-inch widescreen display. Touchscreen controls make navigation of receiver features a breeze, and the brilliant monitor features a 1440 x 234 resolution and 600 NIT brightness--your video will look great. When not in use, remove the front panel for added security.
Enjoy Your Media The BV9997BI will play back your DVDs/SDVDs, SVCDs/VCDs, CDs, CD-R/Ws, and WMA/MP4/MP3 files. The ESP anti-skip mechanism ensures your music or video isn't interrupted by any bumps in the road, and playback features such as a mute function, intro scan, and last position memory are all included.
When listening to digital files, enjoy full ID3 tag display of artist/track info.
Dial in the sound with separate bass and treble EQ controls, along with balance/fader.
Full iPod Control The included iPod cable enables full control of your iPod from the receiver.
USB and SD Connectivity The BV9997BI features a USB port and SD Card jack, so you can instantly switch out USB thumb drives or SD cards with a fresh batch of MP3 tunes/podcasts/etc.
AM/FM Radio Enjoy your favorite radio programming with the PLL-synthesized tuner, featuring 30 station presets for instant access to your preferred stations, and switchable USA/Europe radio frequencies.
Auxiliary Input The convenient front-panel auxiliary input (3.5mm mini jack) is a great way to enjoy audio from external devices such as MP3 players.
Power and Expandability The BV9997BI provides 85 Watts through four channels to start, and if you'd like to expand your system, use the front/rear and subwoofer preamp outputs to add external amplifiers.
Rear View Camera Input Add a rear view camera for safety and convenience when your vehicle is in reverse.
Remote Included A wireless remote control is included for convenient control of the system.
What's in the Box BV9997BI Receiver, Wireless Remote, Mounting Hardware, User's Manual

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