I'm confused......does Alpine IVA-W200 have navigation already or ...................

[tbck2793]

do you have to buy something else and add it onto it???

Also, is that one of the better double din units that will work with navigation??? I want to have it fitted into the area where the stock head unit currently is.

If not, please list what double din navigation stereo you think is good............ my only requirement is that is needs to be able to get SIRIUS satellite radio as well.

 

[CDX_NSX]

Re: I'm confused......does Alpine IVA-W200 have navigation already or ...................

The IVA-W200 is nav compatible, but does not already have it built in. You'll have to purchase the navigation system separately.

As to other good double-din units, I'm sure someone more qualified than I will chime in soon enough.

 

[Malibu Rapper]

Re: I'm confused......does Alpine IVA-W200 have navigation already or ...................

do you have to buy something else and add it onto it???

You need to buy the N872A or the Blackbird. The Blackbird sucks & needs a docking station and the N872A is way overpriced.

Also, is that one of the better double din units that will work with navigation??? I want to have it fitted into the area where the stock head unit currently is.

I've installed 2 of the IVA-W200s in non NSXs. It should fit the NSX pretty easily with your typical console work. Is it better? It is if you want good IPOD controls maybe. Screen size & quality is average. Very minimal features wise. Just a very basic 2 DIN video head unit and the good thing is it's pretty inexpensive.

Kenwood has a DDX6019 which has a larger screen and way more features. Problem is the larger screen makes it a bit more difficult to install. But the NAV module is a Garmin unit that is one of the best I've ever seen.

Clarion recently released their 2 DIN unit the MAX675VD. That also has awesome IPOD controls and even does video from IPOD which no one does currently.

The best all in one units are the Pioneer AVICZ1 and the Eclipses. Given your simple requirements you might just opt for either one of those. Separate NAV units are usually more easily upgraded so if you want a head unit that is more future proof with regards to NAV then I'd look at the Kenwood or Clarion. It's getting close to the time when these manufacturers will announce their next generation units. So if you didn't have to have it now, it would pay to wait a few months and get the latest and greatest because there have been major technological changes in head units over the past few years (ie. bluetooth, USB, NAV, Divx, Satellite, etc).

 

[tbck2793]

Re: I'm confused......does Alpine IVA-W200 have navigation already or ...................

You need to buy the N872A or the Blackbird. The Blackbird sucks & needs a docking station and the N872A is way overpriced.



I've installed 2 of the IVA-W200s in non NSXs. It should fit the NSX pretty easily with your typical console work. Is it better? It is if you want good IPOD controls maybe. Screen size & quality is average. Very minimal features wise. Just a very basic 2 DIN video head unit and the good thing is it's pretty inexpensive.

Kenwood has a DDX6019 which has a larger screen and way more features. Problem is the larger screen makes it a bit more difficult to install. But the NAV module is a Garmin unit that is one of the best I've ever seen.

Clarion recently released their 2 DIN unit the MAX675VD. That also has awesome IPOD controls and even does video from IPOD which no one does currently.

The best all in one units are the Pioneer AVICZ1 and the Eclipses. Given your simple requirements you might just opt for either one of those. Separate NAV units are usually more easily upgraded so if you want a head unit that is more future proof with regards to NAV then I'd look at the Kenwood or Clarion. It's getting close to the time when these manufacturers will announce their next generation units. So if you didn't have to have it now, it would pay to wait a few months and get the latest and greatest because there have been major technological changes in head units over the past few years (ie. bluetooth, USB, NAV, Divx, Satellite, etc).

Perfect....thanks for the info.

Do you know if any of these units can accept other mp3 players than Ipod like the Alpines do? I have a Creative Zen Vision M.

 

[Malibu Rapper]

Re: I'm confused......does Alpine IVA-W200 have navigation already or ...................

Perfect....thanks for the info.

Do you know if any of these units can accept other mp3 players than Ipod like the Alpines do? I have a Creative Zen Vision M.

Alpine makes the hub that can play music from a mass storage device. I believe that is a mode you can place your Zen into where it basically acts like a thumb drive or portable HD.

There are several Kenwood models that have the USB port on the head unit but it's not available on the DDX-6019. JVC, Blaupunkt, Clarion & Dual have all started to introduce USB ports. I think it's something we're going to see on most head units being introduced @ CES.

I'm sure Zune will be another hot ticket item to integrate later on.

 

[ChrisK]

What is the verdict on the Blackbird? I was hoping to get one but since you said it sucks I'm kind of worried about it now.

 

[Malibu Rapper]

What is the verdict on the Blackbird? I was hoping to get one but since you said it sucks I'm kind of worried about it now.

I picked up Blackbirds for 2 friends. Both of them complain about the battery life and accuracy. That thing is supposed to have something like 16 antennas and one of them told me it's off by over 100 yard sometimes. There was some kind of a software upgrade made available a few months ago and I don't know if that helped it. One of them got a ride in an F-350 Superduty where I put in an AVIC-Z1 and made the remark that he wish he'd gotten one of those instead.

If it has to be an Alpine, I'm sure that 872A is a lot better but it's expensive as far as NAV goes. If it has to be portable, there are a ton of options in that space.

 

[ChrisK]

I picked up Blackbirds for 2 friends. Both of them complain about the battery life and accuracy. That thing is supposed to have something like 16 antennas and one of them told me it's off by over 100 yard sometimes. There was some kind of a software upgrade made available a few months ago and I don't know if that helped it. One of them got a ride in an F-350 Superduty where I put in an AVIC-Z1 and made the remark that he wish he'd gotten one of those instead.

If it has to be an Alpine, I'm sure that 872A is a lot better but it's expensive as far as NAV goes. If it has to be portable, there are a ton of options in that space.

Thanks for the update. I went back and read reviews online and sure enough everyone complained about poor battery life and inaccuracy. A few reviewers though did stick it out and did the 3 software updates that Alpine released and after that they said it is functioning properly with faster route calculations and much improved accuracy. According to them it is now a functional nav system like the competition.

My worry now is if I should just wait for maybe a 2nd generation next year, or buy one now and just do the software updates. I've noticed on ebay this unit took a beating and is now selling for nearly half its price at about $450 Buy it Now. If the software updates fixed the accuracy problem this could be a good bargain, but it will still have the battery life issue. Not too much of a problem since I'd mostly dock it or leave the DC plug in, but still a potential problem if you have no power outlet.