Up-to-date 9-16-11
NOTE that this review is perfect for both the PIONEER AVH-P4300 and also Pioneer CD-BTB200BT when i feel they are both a required for most users with cell phones; especially Apple iphones.
Everyone really wants to hear how great this particular head product is; as it is actually, and some wish to know what flaws it could have; which it’s. Keep in mind this can be a personal evaluation; my viewpoint. Let me start by asking Pioneer… what is the sense of having such great iPhone and also iPod compatibility and also functionality without having the standard IPhone features? Making and also receiving phone calls with smooth music disruption, and basic phonebook accessibility). The PIONEER AVH-P4300 DVD is promoted with Bluetooth compatibility with all the Pioneer CD-BTB200BT Bluetooth module, While it may be “compatible”, there can be a real insufficient integration with all the PIONEER AVH-P4300 DVD and CD-BTB200BT Bluetooth unit.
POSITIVES:
BLOOTOOTH:
While very basic, it works for inbound and outgoing calls more often than not.
Sound quality from Bluetooth is quite good.
INTERNAL DEVELOPMENT / Integration / Sound High quality:
* The screen is attentive to touch with very little lag.
* Excellent navigation inside music / video and also all choices for configurations.
* Great IPOD manage
* IPHONE APP Mode
* Pandora integration
* Automobile EQ (set up microphone necessary)
* 5-band EQ
* In a position to output to a second display screen using a couple of different resources or each screens to 1 source
* Sounds excellent by using Auto EQ as well as other settings or perhaps 5 band graphic EQ.
* Superb soundstage and also presence when the Auto EQ can be used.
* Great integration together with IPOD / Iphone 4.
* 4V preamp outputs
* Plenty of connections around the back
* 7″ display screen is vivid (generally seems to look best once you turn around the black stage in photo adjustments)
* It is possible to change the viewing perspective
* Performs DVD’s
* Bluetooth Audio Loading has excellent sound
This Mind unit appears absolutely amazing when setup right – even inside a high finish component program.
NEGATIVES / Bugs / Problems:
BLOOTOOTH:
* Every time Bluetooth attaches – no sound till I detach and get in touch the i phone or type in the streaming choice menu and select the “Dock Connector” – even if BT Audio is set to handbook – this connects still. FYI: There are 2 BT connection choices displayed around the iPhone 4 for that CD-BTB200, mine are called “Pioneer BT unit2″ (for audio buffering), the other is “Dock Connector” (for phone utilizes).
* About 50 % the time once i answer the device on the top unit – it answers, but music is playing from the IPhone four earpiece along with the person I’m trying to speak to – it’s really a pain to switch to the music resource and stop it, then switch back to the telephone screen so the person around the other finish can notice me! (It’s better to just unplug the CD-IU200V cable television). This is no hassle with the Iphone 4 – this is a problem with all the Pioneer CD-BTB200BT Bluetooth system – confirmed using a pioneer tech. I acquired a Sony MEX-BTB2800 (paid $109. 00) that did just about all Bluetooth features perfectly (the Sony MEX-BTB2800 can be a very basic head product and does not compare for this Pioneer product, but it’s excellent Bluetooth integration in comparison to this). Pioneer additionally informed me that the CD-BTB200BT program is aged technology that was designed concerning five years ago. No wonder you can find so many difficulties with it!
* Can’t seem to register multiple Bluetooth device or juggle cable connections
* Simply no phonebook features – unrecognizable / unusable call history / Bluetooth features.
* Can not dial from the screen or perhaps import your phone guide or view call history (I believe this can support previous call phone dialing, but you can find no labels for that function buttons to use this and also you can’t start to see the number you are dialing upon screen, etc.)
* Audio tracks Streaming is an important function for me so my loved ones can stream from an IPAD or perhaps IPOD’s, but My partner and i still need to use my personal phone upon Bluetooth – won’t carry out both. Should have the ability to juggle two connections. You must completely disconnect anyone to connect to another… understandable, but there’s no menu selection to get this done intuitively. Also, the quantity level for Bluetooth phone should be separated coming from audio quantity and valued (just like my inexpensive Sony product did) if you were listening to loud music and also you get a call… the person around the other end will probably be extremely loud until you turn the amount down.
* Total, the Pioneer AVH-P4300 provides poor Bluetooth integration when combined with the individually available CD-BTB200BT adapter. Quality Bluetooth integration should be built in to all mobile units particularly when advertised. Many electronic devices 5-6 years. older possess better Bluetooth.
* One more reviewer upon AMAZON says “It boggles my personal mind how lesser Pioneer models just like P3300BT possess full Bluetooth phonebook help, and complete caller history, yet their more expensive line provides only crippled Bluetooth. ” And I feel the same manner – particularly when we paid so much more with the CD-BTB200. Everyone desires stellar functionality using a separate component such as this – we paid far more and got a great deal less functionality compared to the cheaper models with integrated BT.
VIDEO:
* Iphone 4 Video and also audio is definitely out of sync slightly – it’s rather a little irritating. In talking using a Pioneer tech, he told me of a programming sequence to alter from digital to analog mode which could resolve this issue, however, at a (main) cost for the sound imitation in analog setting. The process is to begin with the ignition away from, then press and maintain both setting and eject buttons – holding them in although turning ignition upon and waiting until you hear a single beep. The same procedure is allowed to be used to be able to revert back to digital setting, but My partner and i couldn’t get it to return so I just reset the complete unit again with all the reset switch. I don’t see this being an adequate fix for the problem when it decreases the audio tracks quality. I attempted it and the sound was a little lifeless, lacked impact, clarity and also detail.
* Although this product will enjoy videos from the iPhone although multitasking around the iPhone, it will quit playing video (but continues audio tracks) for video files in the event you either close the screen which is open in your iPhone four while playing iPod/iPhone music videos/movies, or in the event you turn off the phone show (because it is also bright through the night) simply by touching the ability button around the IPhone four. There can be a work about that will allow you to multitask around the iPhone four and will allow you to turn away from your screen but still watch video clip; Before obtaining the video playing, close the iPod program around the phone, then select the video/movie track (from the Pioneer software) from the video food selection – now you can multitask and also use other programs in your phone, or you are able to turn off the display of your phone although playing video tutorials or music from the iPhone. Since this already gets the ability, I think it ought to be programmed to be able to automatically play in the background.
* The resolution from the screen will be low, even in comparison to most top quality smartphones, and is just not sharp, although the image quality is still excellent.
INTERNAL DEVELOPMENT / Integration / Sound High quality:
* NO MP4 help (SD) and also decreased sound quality from high quality files with an SD greeting card.
* It’s a little annoying that the unit will most likely start playing exactly the same song each time you connect the cable for the iPhone or perhaps IPOD (selected alphabetically). The AVH-P4300 does not remember what song or perhaps video it had been last playing once you disconnect the CD-IU200V cable television. Never remembers in which you still left off when working with IPOD control once you unplug. It should work just like Pandora around the iPhone or perhaps other electronic devices; it starts off where a person left away from.
* The AVH-P4300 won’t have a display chip or perhaps battery back up for everyone custom configurations… so when you really need to detach the battery power, (which many of us occasionally should do for program, etc.), all customized setup will be LOST, including the Auto EQ set up, etc. It will probably be just like you bought the machine and just pulled it out from the box. No EQ configurations or virtually any customization will be saved. This can be a major pain in the A – especially if you have set in the Auto EQ. Tailoring the system to your tastes and setting up the Automobile EQ again will need about 15-20 minutes even if familiar together with setup.
* “Hiss” noises when reasonable to weighty equalization can be used – specifically Auto EQ. Although it has a CEA2006 ranking of 91dBA around the amplifier area, the preamp area with reasonable to weighty EQ settings I may guess could possibly be in the 55-60 dB Signal to Noise range. The signal to noises rating is when working with no EQ changes. As soon as you start to increase the EQ rings the hiss gets worse. The hiss receives progressively worse the more you increase the band dB – even at low quantity or average listening amounts. (do not confuse this particular with motor noise or perhaps external noises sources, as that is when the car is away from – additionally using high quality RCA cables which may have better compared to 60 dB noises rejection likely to amps which are set to about half gain Sources that creates the many hiss include Auto EQ, the 3 loudness settings, any from the Equalizer configurations, (the “Powerful” EQ choice is worse), and the Sound Retriever (Utes. Rtrv). With most of these off or perhaps with moderate use, you will employ a quiet system with no hiss which draws interest in peaceful tracks or perhaps in-between paths – suitable even at high amounts.
* If you utilize the Automobile EQ, you cannot fine tune the results with the 8-band visual equalizer. So I love what the Auto EQ would, but wish to fine melody (around the graphic EQ) a couple frequency rings for a little more treble and also low finish…. can’t get it done unless you switch off the Automobile EQ user profile completely. What that you can do while the Auto EQ user profile is selected is utilize the bass boost, choose coming from 3 loudness settings that appear to be they in the bass, midrange and also treble at the same time, still can adjust the subwoofer stage, and utilize the equalization profiles that are included with the product – for instance Super Largemouth bass, Powerful, Natural, Vocal, Flat,… but you never get the Custom 1 or perhaps Custom two equalizer settings with all the Auto EQ user profile.
* This kind of setup can use a 10 band EQ yet another at concerning 60Hz, and yet another at 12 KHz.
* Won’t have source specific audio equalization profiles for Largemouth bass, Treble, EQ, etc. All of your sources uses the 1 profile.
* Text message of track names, etc. gets cut off – there’s room for more lines about this 7″ screen nonetheless it just isn’t programmed to produce it totally.
* Would be nice to possess had a 3. 5mm jack around the front proper bottom row as well as the back
* Not enough a bodily volume johnson – but I knew this. I imagine Pioneer should have at least made the amount buttons stick out a little from the rest of them – a minimum of by feel as they are difficult to get if you never view it. Even today I go to turn the amount down and also mistakenly hit the following track forwards or again buttons. They all appear and feel the same and the track forwards and change buttons are the first ones around the left side from the unit. It will be good to possess a more distinguishable johnson or button which has volume and also push simply click functions. I think the amount control should be on the left side – closest for the driver.
* The manual you obtain is for that AVH-P3300BT as well as the AVH-P4300DVD. I think they are different enough which they should each and every have their very own manual. For me it just pissed me off the read in regards to the excellent Bluetooth integration features after which to note that it only relates to the AVH-P3300BT design… pissed because I paid near $150. 00 extra for that CD-BTB200BT.
* Finally… WTF… is Pioneer the Movie Police or perhaps what? You must use a relay sidestep or switch to get it to be able to play video clip while driving outside (so your passengers can view). If while using relay set up, you will also need to put a switch in line with the amp turn on (glowing blue) wire that will connect to a switched 12V source to be able to set in the Auto EQ set up. (Set up microphone necessary Like you are going to set upwards auto EQ although driving outside…. whatever)
CONCLUSION:
PIONEER AVH-P4300:
I’m preserving it because it is really worth the $350. 00 I covered it, has a 7 in . responsive touchscreen, enough Iphone 4 integration, and sufficient customization ability. The sound quality is very useful when using Auto EQ; creates an excellent soundstage reputation.
Pioneer CD-BTB200BT Bluetooth module:
While not really worth the money, with many flaws, using technology over the age of 5 decades, I could possibly get it to be effective for 7 from 10 inbound, and concerning 9 from 10 outgoing phone calls, I are able to use the telephone to switch out (if i select the device input resource first), the sound quality will be good, and I just need to know once i am obtaining a phone call when music is playing and… It is installed. There can be a real insufficient integration with all the PIONEER AVH-P4300 DVD and CD-BTB200BT Bluetooth unit.
If you have this set up already and would like Pioneer to obtain a firmware update to fix any problem or alter the features, please email Pioneer right off their “contact us” page as I have been told with a Pioneer tech that it will take about one hundred fifty complaints a comparable problem prior to they view it and make an effort to fix or change it out or get yourself a firmware up-date. I think what a bad policy – should look at even 10-20 issues as usually you can find so many more who is not going to submit a possible problem.
I think I may choose the Pioneer AVH-P3300BT over this if i could get it done all over again, as it has built inside Bluetooth (which can be allowed to be well integrated when compared to the CD-BTB200BT), and includes a 3. 5mm entrance jack.
Why carry out they allow you to choose 1 product together with inferior functions, over an additional product together with different inferior features?
Components utilized in my program:
* Pioneer AVH-P4300DVD
* Pioneer CD-BTB200BT
* Alpine PDX-M12 & Alpine RUX-KNOB
* Alpine SWR-1242D 12″ BASS SPEAKER (just ordered a picture Dynamics IDMAX12 V. 3 D2 (RMS: 1000 t, 1, 800 peak, Sensitivity: 93. 1 dB)
* Alpine MRP-F300 (likely to replace it with all the Alpine PDX F4)
* Polk Audio tracks MM691 6×9′ couple
* Infinity Reference 6032cf 6. 5-Inch couple (may replace together with Polk MM6501 separates)
* Optima Yellow-colored top.
* Tsunami Fbw701-anl merge holder
* Raptor RANL2502 merge
* The big 3 together with KnuKonceptz.com Kolossus Fleks Kable 1/0 and Rockford Fosgate 0 AWG
* Complete CAP5000 50-Farad 16V Capacitor (for power conditioning only – I wouldn’t be astonished if this particular tested out to be somewhere between 2-10 Farad – I’m skeptical – but My partner and i somehow first got it for $65. 00, then the very next day the price grew up to $160. 00… at least it appears good and the volt meter will be accurate – I am aware it provides some capacitance since it will gentle a 12V 8 watt light for around 20 just a few seconds, of that about fourteen seconds are bright (therefore if somebody knows the approx. capacitance according to that let me know!)
* Huge MPC I304 4C RCA & Huge MPC I302 2C RCA
* Rockford Fosgate RFK4D four AWG Twin Amplifier Put in Kit (didn’t utilize the RCA’s using this kit for a long time – they are junk – we were holding explanation for noise in my system and even signal drop-outs as a result of loose cable connections – fixed this totally with the above mentioned Monster RCA’s). Continue reading →