Pioneer knows that there's more to building a great DVD receiver than just adding a screen. That's why their AVH-P3100DVD receiver combines built-in music, video, and ample expansion options into a distinctive but easy-to-use package that makes a real statement in your car's double-sized dash space.

A complete audio/video package
The AVH-P3100DVD's 5.8" LCD touchscreen shows videos and movies in bright, clear detail when you're parked, and doubles as an easy-to-use touchscreen for controlling your car audio system when you're driving.

You'll have plenty of music choices while you're cruising. The AVH-P3100DVD plays music files you've burned onto CDs or DVDs — just slip in a disc and you'll have hours of music on tap for those epic road trips. Use Pioneer's Touchslide Fastforward/Rewind system to find your favorite tunes by simply dragging a fingertip across the screen.

The powerful internal amp drives your tunes with authority, while the 3-band equalizer provides tone-shaping opportunities galore. Activate the built-in high- and low-pass filters to improve the performance of your speaker setup. Two pairs of high-voltage preamp outputs simplify connecting external amplifiers.

Expand and customize
Purchase Pioneer's CD-IU50V iPod® adapter and add your favorite playlists to the music mix. You can even watch your iPod's videos on the receiver's screen. When your iPod is connected, the receiver bypasses your iPod's built-in digital-to-analog converter, using its high-quality DAC to deliver your music files with the highest fidelity possible.Add an optional satellite radio tuner and enjoy an unparalleled variety of news, sports, talk, and commercial-free music, or add an HD Radio™ tuner for the sweet sound of free HD Radio™ AM/FM broadcasts.

Connect a game system or another external A/V source to the rear A/V input, and use the front-panel aux input for other audio sources. You can even add a rear-view camera for extra safety when backing up in tight spots. Add Pioneer's Bluetooth® adapter and talk hands-free when you're driving — it's much safer than fumbling around for your phone when you get an important call.

For a look that's all your own, customize the AVH-P3100DVD by choosing from five display colors and 112 key panel illumination options. The look can match your car, your style, or your whims — whatever combo you choose, you'll stick out from the rest of the crowd.

Details:

• General features:

• DVD/CD receiver with internal amp (14 watts RMS CEA-2006/50 peak x 4 channels)
• 5.8" touchscreen
• five customizable display colors and 112 key panel illumination choices
• fits double-sized dash openings

• audio/video features:

• plays MP3/WMA/AAC files recorded on CD and DVD
• supports video playback from DVD, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DivX, and Video CD discs
• high- and low-pass filters
• 3-band parametric equalizer with 6 preset EQ curves
• bass boost

• Expandability:

• compatible with Pioneer iPod adapter, Bluetooth adapter, satellite radio, HD Radio tuner, and CD changer
• inputs: rear A/V input, front panel auxiliary and USB inputs, rear-view camera input
• outputs: video output, 4-channel preamp outputs (4-volt front, rear/subwoofer)

The AVIC-U310BT is the entry point into the AVIC lineup.

(Credit: Pioneer)

AVIC-U310BT: At the entry point of the new lineup is the AVIC-U310BT. Pioneer is positioning this unit as an easy solution for people who want to add iPod/iPhone integration, Bluetooth hands-free calling, and GPS navigation to their vehicles. Pioneer's Bluetooth technology is powered by Parrot, so we expect call quality to be decent. CD playback and AM/FM radio round out the list of standard available sources, while satellite radio and HD Radio capabilities can be added with external modules.

Interestingly, the U310BT's screen is detachable for security and can be used outside of the vehicle to enter points of interest and edit saved locations. However, this detachable screen lacks a GPS antenna or map data of its own, so it cannot be used as a portable navigation unit.

The AVIC-U310BT will carry an MSRP of $600 and should be available in early July 2009.

The AVIC-X710BT and X910BT have very similar hardware.

(Credit: Pioneer)

AVIC-X710BT: Moving further up the AVIC line, the AVIC-X710BT gains a larger screen, but loses the capability to detach it. In addition to the features of the U310BT, the X710BT gains voice control for most functions, updated map software with better graphics and 3D landmarks, and a front panel SD card slot for updating maps and playing back digital audio.

AVIC-X910BT: Featuring almost identical hardware to the X710BT, the AVIC-X910BT is distinguished by its glossy finish (versus the X710BT's matte). Internally, the X910BT uses MSN Direct to deliver live traffic data (flow and incident) as well as fuel prices, stock quotes, local events, and movie showtimes. The X910BT's optical drive has been updated for DVD playback with Dolby Digital surround. The unit also supports DivX playback from DVD/CDs or the SD card slot.

Additionally, the X910BT's GPS antenna gains a 3D hybrid gyrosensor. According to Pioneer, this addition makes the navigation more accurate. Our previous experiences with gyrosensors lets us know that sensor helps the navigation software to continue to track the vehicle's movement in the event of a temporary lapse in GPS signal, such as when passing through a tunnel.

The AVIC-X710BT and X910BT will carry an MSRPs of $900 and $1,100, respectively.

AVIC-Z110BT: At the top of the new lineup is the AVIC-Z110BT features the largest touch screen of the AVIC models, which is motorized in this incarnation. The Z110BT can do everything its smaller siblings can do (including MSN Direct, DVD/DivX playback, and so on) with the addition of Bluetooth A2DP/AVRCP audio streaming. System builders and audio enthusiasts will appreciate the 4-volt preamp outputs and advanced EQ adjustments.

A particularly neat feature is the customizable home screen, which lets people drag up to 15 scalable icons to a custom home screen from a palette of available functions. This lets people keep the features they most often use at their fingertips for quick access. We had an opportunity to play with this feature and found customizing the interface to be smooth and easy.

The AVIC-Z110BT will carry an MSRP of $1,600.

AVIC-Feeds: In addition to the four new units, Pioneer has also updated its AVIC-Feeds software. AVIC-Feeds lets people create and edit points of interest, pictures, icons, settings, and address book entries from the comfort of their computer, then sync the updates to their AVIC receiver via SD card. As a bonus, the software will also analyze your routes for fuel cost and CO2 estimates.

The AVN726e, Eclipse's newest double-DIN DVD/navigation receiver, was making a name for itself even before it was released to the public, as it was named Best of Innovations at CES 2009 in the In-Vehicle Navigation/Telematics/ITS product category. We were too busy being wowed by its sibling, the Eclipse AVN4430, to take notice.

However, after spending time with the AVN726e, we find there's a lot to love about this navigation receiver, including its bright LCD, snappy response times, and beautiful 3D navigation maps.

Design
It's no wonder we almost overlooked the AVN726e. Its physical appearance is remarkably similar to just about every other double-DIN touch-screen unit on the market today. When installed in the vehicle's dash, all that is visible to the user are the 7-inch WQVGA (480x272 pixel) color touch screen and 10 illuminated buttons along the bottom bezel.

The screen features crisp visuals for GPS maps and DVD playback, with bright, saturated colors that don't wash out badly in direct sunlight. The viewing angle is quite wide, for clear viewing from the driver's or passenger's seat. Touch controls are responsive, with only the slightest lag between touch and execution.

Physical buttons on the faceplate include buttons for telephone mode, AV mode, navigation mode, and the main menu. There's also a skip rocker, a volume rocker, a mute button, and an eject button. Hitting the eject button brings up an onscreen menu from which users can adjust the screen's tilt or slide down the motorized faceplate to expose the DVD slot and SD card slot for navigation data.

Features
Navigation map data is stored on 2GB of internal flash memory and can be updated via an SD card. Because the data is flash-based, as opposed to hard-drive-based or DVD-based, maps are rendered quite quickly and with a surprising amount of detail. Graphics are smooth and easy to read at a glance. Maps can be displayed in either 2D with heading up, 2D with North up, or a 3D map view with three selectable angles.

The 3D view displays basic elevation changes for roads. For example, highway overpasses are raised and pass over other roads on the map, which is helpful for visualizing the road ahead. In certain major cities, the AVN726e displays 3D-rendered buildings and landmarks.

An external GPS antenna aids in quick satellite acquisition, and a memory function stores the vehicle's last-known location for quick reacquisition on start-up. Custom points of interest, favorite destinations, and routes can be saved to the AVN726e's flash memory for easy retrieval. As a bonus, the flash memory keeps your presets safe, even if your vehicle's battery dies.

Street names are read aloud using a text-to-speech function. Traffic data is provided via Sirius Satellite Radio and requires a Sirius add-on module and subscription.

A built-in Bluetooth wireless transmitter allows for hands-free calling and adds A2DP audio streaming to the list of audio sources. An external microphone is placed near the driver's head during installation and provides clean audio for hands-free calls. Sound quality will ultimately depend on your vehicle's speaker. In our test car, calls made at highway speed with the windows up were quite clear.

Available audio/visual sources include the single-disc CD/DVD slot with non-DRM MP3/WMA/DivX playback capability, a USB pigtail with mass storage and iPod connectivity, AM/FM radio, Bluetooth audio, and an analog AV input (oddly labeled Video Tape Recorder) with pass-through for rear-seat entertainment.

• In-dash AM/FM, CD, MP3, WMA player with Remote
• iPod USB direct connectivity via your standard iPod-to-USB connection cable allows you to charge, control, and playback your iPod through the receiver and stereo system
• Detachable face
• 14 Segment/13 Digit Fluorescent display
• Wireless remote control included
• Blue button lighting
• Power Output:
  • Peak: 50 watts x 4 channels
  • RMS: 22 watts x 4 channels
• MP3 ID3 Tag Display (Title/Artist/Album)
• 1-year SonicElectronix.com warranty

Playback and Audio Features:

• Playback of CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3, and WMA
• Tuner with 18FM/6AM presets
• System E’s Xover system
• System Q sound control with pre-programmed tone curves
• Separate bass, mid range, and treble control
• Source tone memory

Expandability Options:

• 3 Sets of 2.5V preamp outputs (front, rear and subwoofer)
• HD Radio Ready: Kenwood KTC-HR200 required and sold separately.
• Bluetooth Ready: Kenwood KCA-BT200 adapter required and sold separately
• SIRIUS Satellite Radio Ready: SIRIUS Satellite Package required and sold separately
• iPod Ready: Apple USB-to-iPod Cable will work for most newer iPods; however, Kenwood iPod Adapter is required for select older iPods.
• Front-panel auxiliary input: 3.5mm (headphone jack) allows connection to portable media devices such as MP3 players, etc.
• Front-panel auxiliary input: USB Port allows connection to portable media devices such as MP3 players, etc.
• Steering Wheel Remote Ready: PAC SWI-JACKv1 required and sold separately

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