Alpine IVA-D300 vs. Pioneer AVIC N1 ??

[R1OneWheel]

Anyone own either of these touch screen multimedia players? Opinions please?!?! :conf

I am debating on which to use in my X5. The IVA-D300 seems awesome. I dig the PulseTouch display and don't really mind not having navigation. Plus, I've always really liked Alpine products. But, for the extra $300, the AVIC N1 has full navi and will display your car's internal controls....speedometer, tach, engine temp, oil, etc. How cool is that?

I am wondering how well each holds up with the retractable monitors? Which is more user friendly? Which is going to drive my audio system better? Which is better overall? Any opinions will be greatly appreciated.

(pics of both below) ...........

[R1OneWheel]

the AVIC N1 :icon23

[awahl63]

Holy shit dat coo

[nismo skyline]

if i was gonna spend that much money i would go with the alpine d901

[Bromaguire]

I just bought the Pioneer Avic-n1. Its in the mail still though. But i was considering both of those models to. After looking around a little i decided on the pioneer because of the navigation. Its a much better deal. But if you dont need the navigation i would go with the alpine. If you wait till the end of this week i will most likely have it installed and i could tell you how i like it.

[ultim8DTM5]

With the Pioneer, the accuracy of the car's telemetry is determined by where and how you locate the transponder unit. It needs to be on a flat surface as possible and from memory, dead horizontal.

[hc1001]

i got the avic n1... it doesnt play VCD's or SVCD's. only DVD's. it doesnt come with a remote either. i didnt set up the vehicle dynamics... but it doesnt show engine temp, or oil temp... the nav is flaky... wouldnt give directions to atlantic city but it was possible to set it to go back home from atlantic city. it kept on saying, "cant display map due to traffic regulations" when i was trying to set it up for HIN at the atlantic city convention center. it worked fine for local areas. the sound quality is nice tho. its better than my alpine 7894 HU. alpine's are known for picture qualiy... the pioneer picture quality isnt that great... the avic n1 screen is very adjustable. u can angle it and also have it pushed in or pushed out. if u wanted to change the route, set a route, find a gas station, or place, u need the nav CD in. i didnt setup the vehicle dynamics because its pointless... i can just look down to see the speedo and tach... and i dont really care for the other stuff...

the vehicle dynamics only displays these:
"Acceleration/Braking measures forward and backward G-Force and provides a peak hold indicator
Lateral G-Force indicates maximum cornering force and provides a peak hold indicator
Angular Velocity measures turn rate
Speed provides miles per hour
Slope indicates the incline of your vehicle
Voltage keeps tabs on your vehicle’s electrical system, in volts
Compass gives current direction: N, W, S, or E
Clock displays the time"

[R1OneWheel]

Thanks for the info hc1001. It's good to hear a hands-on opinion. I was reading Crutchfield's review on the AVIC N1 and they were commenting on how accurate the navigation was. Sounds like things ain't so perfect though.

Anyhow, I ended up ordering 1 along with a Pioneer 6 disc changer. :buttrock Glad to hear the sound quality is good. It won't be installed for another week or 2 so I'll be interested in hearing what you think Bromaguire. Keep us posted!


i got the avic n1... it doesnt play VCD's or SVCD's.

What are VCD's and SVCD's?

[hc1001]

video cd's and super video cd's... vcd is lesser quality than dvd quality... svcd is almost as good as dvd quality... these are just video playback formats...

like how there is mpg, and avi...

[328Mike]

how does the beefier alpine unit measure up against the AVIC N1?

[jmiseo2008]

i put the avic n1 in my z3...and love it. the navigation is great, it plays dvds, i hooked up an ipod. i would def recomend it. i got the voice control also and thats really sweeeeet.

[Cruzer03]

how does the beefier alpine unit measure up against the AVIC N1?
Car Audio and Electronics selected the AVIC N1 as their editor's choice in the last test of navi units. :redspot

[Bromaguire]

Mines being installed right now so i will tell you how i like it either tonight or tomarrow for sure.

[328Mike]

is the dvd quality noticeably worse in the avic n1 then the alpine?

[Bromaguire]

I dont think the picture quality is worse at all i saw the two units today at the audio store thats installing mine and the picture quality was pretty much the same from what i saw. I am happy with my choice already even though its not finished being installed yet.

[ParadigmGuy]

I dont think the picture quality is worse at all i saw the two units today at the audio store thats installing mine and the picture quality was pretty much the same from what i saw. I am happy with my choice already even though its not finished being installed yet.
Review yet?

[Bromaguire]

Just got the car back a little bit ago. The avic-n1 is awesome. There is some much tunability that you can do its great. Compared to my old Alpine 9815 the sound quality is the same if not a little bit better. The picture quality is great as well. Its a little tricky getting used to all the buttons and options but i am already getting the hang of it from the little time i spent using it. The place that did the install found a great place for the navigation sensor on the dash. The vehical dynamics is a fun little tool to have as well. I will post some pictures later. If you have any specific questions you can ask me about it.

[Bromaguire]

Here are some pictures if you want more tell me what you want them of.
The quality of the screen is much better but my camera makes it look worse.

[Bromaguire]

Last one of the navigation sensor

[ParadigmGuy]

Do you have to have the navigation sensor mounted up there or can it be inside the console somewhere?

[Bromaguire]

I think it has to be exposed to get the signal but i am sure you could put it on the rear deck. But i dont even notice it when i am in the car. I think it looks pretty good there though.

[BRUNO]

Just got the car back a little bit ago. The avic-n1 is awesome. There is some much tunability that you can do its great. Compared to my old Alpine 9815 the sound quality is the same if not a little bit better. The picture quality is great as well. Its a little tricky getting used to all the buttons and options but i am already getting the hang of it from the little time i spent using it. The place that did the install found a great place for the navigation sensor on the dash. The vehical dynamics is a fun little tool to have as well. I will post some pictures later. If you have any specific questions you can ask me about it.

What color is the wire for the navigation sensor wire install. I'm going crazy on finding out which is the speed sensor so i can hook up my navigation. i got the kenwood instead of the pioneer.
here is a link, but i got the 815 not 715
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-s5EwVh89T8z/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=182350&I=700P715DVD
http://www.eurowerkz.com/sale2/DSC03091.JPG

the reason i got this one because you can play wma from you pc and the pioneer doesn't. Also i don't need to keep the nav cd in my dash since i have 2 units. U can play a dvd and nav in the same time. Video quality also great.

[hc1001]

hey bruno... i replied to ur PM. for the pioneer nav systems, they dont need to be wired up to the speed sensor, the nav antenna keeps track of where ur car is. im really not sure how the kenwood nav works... have u tried installing it and seeing if it works? i think thats y its a GPS, it keeps track of u, not estimate by ur speed...

[M3crazy]

I have the Pioneer Avic N1 in my Audi...which is for sale (the car with the system...dont want to part out) and it is excellent. The nav is excellent and no you dont need to put the DVDs back in to find a gas station etc...it saves everything within a 5 mile radius of your saved route. ...not sure what you guys are talking about. Also the vehicle dynamics are great. I can see my speed to 1/10th accuracy which is nice if you have wheels and tires with different diameter from stock. The video capability is also very good. The picture is just fine for me...its a 6.5" screen guys...it looks damn good for what it is. It is easy to get the hang of...plus has all touch screen which is sweet. The sound quality is A1 and I do not have any of the problems of the fan noise some were complaining of. One last thing to note is I did not even hook up the vehicle speed sensor and the thing is dead on. Dont listen to that about having to be mounted perfectly level and so on...mine is pretty level but not excact and I have had no problems at all. I highly recomend it. The only other thing that I would look into insead is a complete PC computer that has a touch screen flip out monitor, wireless keyboard, nav etc...I think it was around $2500 which is a really great deal. Go with the AVIC you wont be sorry.

[ParadigmGuy]

I have the Pioneer Avic N1 in my Audi...which is for sale (the car with the system...dont want to part out) and it is excellent. The nav is excellent and no you dont need to put the DVDs back in to find a gas station etc...it saves everything within a 5 mile radius of your saved route. ...not sure what you guys are talking about. Also the vehicle dynamics are great. I can see my speed to 1/10th accuracy which is nice if you have wheels and tires with different diameter from stock. The video capability is also very good. The picture is just fine for me...its a 6.5" screen guys...it looks damn good for what it is. It is easy to get the hang of...plus has all touch screen which is sweet. The sound quality is A1 and I do not have any of the problems of the fan noise some were complaining of. One last thing to note is I did not even hook up the vehicle speed sensor and the thing is dead on. Dont listen to that about having to be mounted perfectly level and so on...mine is pretty level but not excact and I have had no problems at all. I highly recomend it. The only other thing that I would look into insead is a complete PC computer that has a touch screen flip out monitor, wireless keyboard, nav etc...I think it was around $2500 which is a really great deal. Go with the AVIC you wont be sorry.
Does the AVIC have a VGA or some other i/o port that I can use to plug a computer into it?