First, they both come with AM, FM,CD, USB, AUX, DVD and built in Navigation, Bluetooth hands free and Bluetooth audio streaming.  They both can add satellite radio, back up camera and iPod.  They each have the ability to fully control both Pandora Radio and Aha Radio with an iPhone attached with a specific cable or with an Android or Blackberry through Bluetooth audio streaming.  That’s right; the Android is not the ignored step-child anymore.

Not only can you control Pandora and Aha Radio from Android using Bluetooth audio streaming, you get all information including album art right there on the screen.  And in case you are wondering, Bluetooth audio streaming has excellent quality.  Much better than playing audio through the headphone jack.

This year they each boast Advanced App Mode.  With your iPhone plugged into the specific iPod adapter, you can enter into App Mode giving you an entirely different menu screen.  It is the same as Pioneer’s App Radio.  From there all your sources are apps that are downloaded on your iPhone, as of now 21 are useable while in Advanced App Mode.  You can use iTunes, photos, calendar, Google Maps, Inrix Traffic, Pandora, Aha, MotionX and more.

For most customers, the AVIC-X940BT is the best choice.  Economically speaking it does all they want and need and then some.  The AVIC-Z140BH has all the above features plus several more which explains the difference in price.

It has 3D graphics on its navigation software and a full 7” touchscreen.  It uses a SD memory card for media files and updating instead of a micro SD card as with the 940BT.  It includes HD Radio, live Nav-Traffic updates, 3 preouts, 4 volts and voice control for iPod and Bluetooth controls.

It also has Dual Zone for rear seat entertainment.  If you play a DVD in the Z140BH to play in the rear but you don’t feel like watching or listening to the latest Elmo DVD for the 20^th time, feel free to hook up your iPod and listen to your own music.

One oddity that caused a few hairs to be pulled and some calls to Pioneer technical support; while using your iPhone or iTouch as the audio/video source with either receiver you need to make sure your Inrix App is turned off on your iPhone/iTouch/iPad.  You’ll know what I’m talking about if you experience your receiver’s screen going mostly dark but still playing audio, which is the receiver turning to App Mode.  Not to confuse you with Advanced App Mode but just App mode.  Inrix, if it is an app on your iPhone and is turned on, will send you traffic updates.  When it does this it forces your receiver into App Mode, losing visual.  There’s a quirk once in a while but it’s not a biggie.  Just remember if you choose Advanced App Mode you’ll have to turn Inrix back on with your iPhone.

Both units are high quality and full of features; many most people don’t even think about.  Come see us in Wake Forest for all your car audio needs and to check out these units on display.

This receiver has AM, FM, CD, DVD, USB, AUX and will play many different media files that I will not bother to list.  It has built in Garmin navigation, HD radio, live nav-traffic updates and Bluetooth handsfree and Bluetooth audio streaming.  You can add satellite radio, back up camera and iPod as well and control all 3 from the 6.95” touchscreen.

What’s really caught my eye about this unit is that it is much less expensive.  They have finally realized that most people do not need the extras this unit has always had in the past for personal sound quality engineering.  Kenwood also removed some less favorite features such as voice control, decreased the amount of bands from the equalizer which still has 13 bands and has only one USB in the rear instead of two.

They added faster navigation software and the Pandora Radio and Aha Radio sources can now be controlled by iPhone, Android and Blackberry phones.  This is one of few receivers that will allow your Android or Blackberry to fully control and display Pandora Radio and Aha Radio through Bluetooth!   You even get full album art when available.

Another fine feature is that this receiver, as well as all of Kenwood’s 2012 DNX receivers, is compatible with iDatalink.  What does that mean?  Well, for example, newer Fords with Sync will be able to keep all factory features such as Sync, satellite radio, Bluetooth and steering wheel controls without having to replace any of them as was the requirement in the past and still is with all other receivers.  This integration is not inexpensive; however we have heard a lot of grumblings from new Ford owners about the poor quality of audio.  We’ve had quite a few new Fords over the past year and replaced a lot of speakers and installed amplifiers and the sound is hugely improved but still limited to the factory radio’s EQ curve and lack of dynamic range.  Without the EQ curve and dynamic range the consumer cannot get the full benefit from their newly purchased replacement speakers; even with an amplifier.   Replacing the factory radio in any vehicle is key to accomplishing great audio and getting the sound benefits just paid for in the replacement speakers.  It will simply be the “weakest link” until it is replaced.

There are other integration harnesses that can be used out there but they are more expensive and may not retain all the other factory features and then the customer must pay to replace them if they choose to continue using them.  The DNX units already come with Bluetooth handsfree and audio streaming and allow for voice control of that, but they do not come with satellite radio and will not simply integrate with the factory steering wheel controls.  As for other vehicles with UConnect, Onstar, etc., all those factory features will be lost without special integration harnesses to retain them and it’s possible not all of those factory features will be retained.

All in all, this receiver will catch the eye of many more people than ever before.  It is far more versatile for the mainstream buyer and their needs for audio and their needs for pocket change.  Not only is a great-looking receiver with many features but with the compatibility with iDatalink (which will be released soon) many newer vehicle owners that would not have considered replacing the factory radio before will now be able to with a DNX receiver from Kenwood.  Come see this unit in our store in Wake Forest, NC.  We’ll be happy to show her off.

The vehicles that have lucky owners are; 07-11 Camry and FJ Cruiser, 08-11 Highlander and Sequoia, 02-06 Camry, 05-11 Tacoma and last but not least the 10-11 4-Runner.  The best part is the Car Audio industry as a whole is not even in full agreement as to what sizes belong.  We’ve looked up some of these vehicles while preparing an estimate for customers and the wrong size speaker is listed.

To add to this confusion the 6×9” speaker is often accompanied by a tweeter in the door or dash.   I’m not familiar with every single aftermarket speaker company out there however, the component 6×9 is not very common and until this year it was never something we carried.  I’ll get to that speaker later on.

In the past if a customer had a separate tweeter and wanted to replace that tweeter we would sell them a 6.5” component set and build adapters to house the 6.5” speaker in a 6×9” hole.  The extra time and material would add to the bottom line for the customer.  If the customer didn’t care to replace the tweeter we would sell them a 6×9” coaxial pair of speakers.

The size issue isn’t the main cause of this blog.  The biggest issue is the housing the Toyota factory speakers are in.  It’s more like a contraption.  The circumference of the speaker and the hole it fits in are the same size.  That’s highly atypical.  An aftermarket speaker will fall right through, 6×9” or not.  The factory speaker does not fall through because of the housing or basket that wasdesigned to hold the speaker in place.  (I wonder how much more money was spent on this brilliant design and how much the design brilliance and use of extra material it costs the customer.)

Basically, there is a plastic housing the speaker sits in and that housing is bigger than the speaker.  That housing has 4 extensions, one in each corner that extends from the housing and is used as the location for the screw holes.  The housing is the reason for needing to build speaker adapters to mount the new speakers and match up to the screw holes.  Notice I said “build”.  Building is far better than trying to make a generic 6×9” speaker adapter do the work.  Can you say “rigging”?  Rigging often leads to shaky.  Shaky leads to a customer bringing that shaky, rigging of a speaker install to our store for troubleshooting and pictures taken for our “crap install” photo album we keep for what not to do.  Rigging will be necessary because generic 6×9″ adapters will still not fit the Toyota specific mounting holes.

How can a customer prevent the rigging install and predict which stores will use the rigging technique?  First of all, let’s hope the customer asks the cost of everything before the installation begins.  Most likely, the sales person will give their generic answer and not until the car is pulled around to the garage and the door panels are off does the sales person find out that this isn’t the generic speaker install.  The installer will advise the issue and how much more it will take.  When the customer is told about the extra costs and if it’s a Toyota with 6×9” speakers, the customer should ask the following:

“What are you using that costs extra?”  If the store employee says speaker adapters ask; “What are they made of?”  If the employee says plastic the customer should either say never mind based on them using plastic (which are the generic ones) or the customer should ask if the store has use of a router table to build the adapters to match the space.  If the store does not have a router table then this is a store that has very little fabrication experience and rigging is their only choice and probably a common one.   From there, it’s a gamble for the customer.

There is one other not so crazy choice.  Building a mounting ring to fit to the oddly placed mounting holes is still necessary for the Toyotas, however it will just be the trim piece to mount the speaker to and not to convert a 6.5” new speaker to a 6×9” space.  Just this year we discovered a product made by Kenwood.  There are two models; the KFC-X183C which is a coaxial and the KFC-XP184C which is component.  They are each oversized or 7” round speakers.  They will fit in an oversized 6.5” speaker location which does occur sometimes and a 6×9” space without using any kind of speaker adapter because it brilliantly includes one; Ta-dah!  This product is great for the later model Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge vehicles that all seem to come with 6×9”speakers as well, but without the headache of many of the Toyotas where building mounting rings are necessary.

Why choose these speakers?  First, since they already include the 6×9” adapter they are easier to install and therefore a little easier on the customer’s pocket.  Second, they sound good.  We consider them to have good quality sound.  There are better and higher quality speakers but if you are just trying to replace bad speakers these are a great choice and fit.  They are around 80 watts RMS each speaker and therefore can transition into an amplified system very well.

Pictures top to bottom:  All pictures were taken while installing new JL Audio C5-650 speakers into a 2012 Toyota 4Runner.  The top picture shows the factory 6×9 in the front passenger door.  Next is a picture of the factory 4″ tweeter in the dash.  Third, is the factory 6×9″ speaker and factory tweeter at the routing table along side the replacement adapters and mounting rings.  Fourth, the new 6.5″ JL Audio mid driver installed in the same door.  Last, the JL Audio companion tweeter mounted in the dash.

The CS113TG-TW5 is a custom built enclosure designed to house and include the 13” TW5 subwoofer.  The 13TW5-3 is a 3 ohm subwoofer rated at 600 watts RMS and is JL Audio’s first thin line subwoofer.  The technology used for this subwoofer was also patented by JL Audio many years before the subwoofer passed final inspection and was released.  If you are a JL-o-phile and want a comparison, the TW5 sounds a lot like a W6.  You should keep in mind though, the thin line sub is meant for thin spaces such as behind or under truck seats.  It would be ideal for the 3^rd row SUVs that have little room to spare for such things, however, depending on your ears, you may not find it as “heavy” as 2-12” subs rated at the same power.

The TW5 is the only thin line subwoofer or shallow subwoofer that can deliver high quality and hard bass.  It has inspired and motivated JL Audio’s design team to create numerous new stealthboxes that before were either not possible or on the wimpy side.

I think I have strayed from my original intent.  JL Audio does in fact charge a measly $30 for the enclosure.  See the picture and you’ll notice the design and how it will fit several possibilities. (http://teamcaraudio.com/?page_id=49&wppa-album=51&wppa-photo=264&wppa-occur=1) Behind a truck seat, wedged under a truck seat, it can lay flat in a rear hatch space.  When it first debuted in 2008, we built a fiberglass enclosure to fit in the spare tire well of a Kia Sportage.  It sounded great; so that gives you an idea of the size vehicle that best suits this particular subwoofer.

Here’s the best part.  When you buy this subwoofer in the enclosure, you automatically get a 2 year warranty.  How many subwoofer manufacturers offer that?  They can’t because they make them cheap along with 20 other brands in a far-far-away factory.  In fact, any JL Audio subwoofer bought in its JL Audio specific enclosure comes with a 2 year warranty.  Not only that, the 13TW5-3 has been up-fitted a bit.  The basket design is a little different and the sound is somewhat deeper.  The current pictures on JL’s website do not reflect the aesthetic change, that’s how recent it is.

If you are wondering why I haven’t mentioned other sizes for this particular subwoofer line; it’s because there aren’t any.  They originally hoped to release a 12” but the recipe was never quite right.  JL is no pushover.  They get it right or the design never sees the public.  They have designed a new series of thin line subwoofers that are expected out this summer.  They will be different sizes and different power and price.

I am not sure how JL Audio justifies only charging $30 more when you buy the 13TW5-3 with the enclosure as opposed to without the enclosure, but they do.  Maybe they are feeling really generous.  Chris said he thinks it’s a mistake and someone’s going to get an earful.  I think JL Audio just believes in the product and wants to share that love with their JL-o-philes.  Come see us and listen to this skinny thing and hear for yourself!

It is still the same radio quality wise for equalizer and power but Pioneer is giving us a treat this year.  Pioneer has expanded the App Radio accessibility.  If the user has an iPhone or iTouch 4 or newer, navigation can be added by using the App Mode feature in the unit and Pioneer’s iPod cable, CD-IU51V.  Plug your iPhone to the front USB, use your navigation app on your iPhone to plot your route and you will be able to view it on the main screen and hear the prompts through your speakers.  Hallelujah!

Some iPhone apps will be completely usable from the AVH-P1400DVD such as Pandora Radio.  Using the CD-IU51V,  you’ll be able to see the Station title, song and artist and use the thumb up or down.

No more dash mounted accessories to hold your iPhone to view your route.  Leave it in your bag or in your console.  Once you have up the app you need and make your choice you’ll see it bigger and better on the AVH-P1400DVD.

This year, Pioneer alone has 3 single din cd receivers that include Bluetooth; the DEH-6400BT, DEH-P8400BH and the DEH-P9400BH.  None of their radios are Bluetooth capable.  The radios have it or they don’t.  It’s a have or have not feature now because it is so much less expensive than before and Pioneer’s radios will also include audio streaming with their Bluetooth.

Why does Bluetooth audio streaming matter?  If you are a die-hard Android user, you can listen to any of your music apps and music files and not be plugged into the radio or listen to it through AUX which often degrades the sound.  Of course, iPhone users who can’t seem to release their phones can use the audio streaming too if they aren’t trying to do it all from the receiver in App mode.

Besides Bluetooth and audio streaming, the DEH-6400BT also includes AM/FM/CD/MP3/USB/AUX.   It also has App Mode which allows you to have some control over music apps on your iPhone or iTouch when plugged into the USB port.   For those who want the interior to be as uniform as possible or if you’re just feeling purple, you can customize the color on the display.  This is actually a pretty big selling point for a lot of people.

All in all, this is a well-priced receiver with a lot more features for less money.  Come by and see it for yourselves.

This year Kenwood decided to add a few welcoming features.  Last year’s model wouldn’t allow for adding satellite radio.  If you wanted to listen to Satellite radio you had to have a smartphone with an app.  Not such a bad idea except, what if you want your live sports channels or other feature channels?  Wake Forest is in the middle of football county.  So, those who want it all will have all their satellite radio channels as long as they add the appropriate tuner.

Last year, in order to have navigation, the KNA-G610 navigation system had to be added to the DDX418.  This year, you can no longer add on navigation with a KNA-G610.  Now with an iPhone plugged into the DDX419 and using a Kenwood specific iPod cable like KCAIP22F, navigation is possible with a Garmin navigation app and have full, up to date navigation without the expense of the add on Kenwood item.  Not only will the DDX419 allow the Garmin app to be used through your iPhone but other apps as well can be controlled and viewed on the 6.1” touchscreen such as Pandora radio.  This is what’s mostly brilliant about this unit.  So many people were buying units like the DDX418 and using their phone’s navigation app anyway.  Now, they can put the thing down and see it on a larger screen.

The Bluetooth feature isn’t just for phone calls anymore.  It will allow for audio streaming, too.   This is great for those people who refuse to put their phone down or like Chris, who feel like they can do it all faster with the phone and don’t want to spend the time to learn another product.  (Nail meet head)

This is a great unit packed with a lot of features.  Looks great, easy to use software and it is adapting to the “there’s an app for that” age beautifully.

UPDATE 5/14/2012 - We just attended Kenwood training last week and found out that the Street Pilot app does not work, according to Kenwood.  Apparently when searching Kenwood Garmin apps on the iPhone, 4 appear.  Two are green and two are blue.  The green are Street Pilot and should not be used although this is still currently the advised app to use.  You should choose the blue app called “Garmin USA” it costs around $50; the price fluctuates.  Then you will also have to pay for a “Vehicle Integration” fee of another $50.  Sorry about the confusion and misinformation but we can only know what we are told.

Another tip: We were told by Kenwood the GPS Drive app should not be chosen due to quality and rates.  GPS Drive costs $.99 to download and the buyer assumes that is the only fee.  According to Kenwood, after the first month the customer is charged an additional $6.99 every month.  Chris and I quizzically looked at each other when this was said because he has personally had the app for 6 months and has never been charged a dime since the initial download of $.99.  Now the app itself is not something a traveling salesperson would want or anyone else who relies consistently on good navigation, however, for those who need it only a few times a year it works great.  We tested it on the way home from the training in fact and found the only complaint is that it isn’t very fast on updating the graphics as you travel therefore although your route is highlighted the graphics around it may not be.  Half of the map could be correct and the other half is a grid waiting on the new information.  This is worse the faster you travel.  It also didn’t offer a re-routing when we purposefully took a wrong turn but the correct route remained highlighted so we could find our way back.

With all this said, you will have to make your own informed decision.  Good luck to you all and thanks for reading!

Our customer has a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with a factory subwoofer.  This is a beautiful Jeep in which he’s spared no expense.  He enjoys good sound though and wanted more low end and better quality.  We ordered the JL Audio Stealthbox for the Jeep and as usual thought nothing of it.  We often install stealthboxes into our customers’ vehicles and they have always been a great product.  This was a normal job until we attempted to install it.

When we removed the factory subwoofer and put the stealtbox in its place we noticed things were not matching up properly.  We’ve installed this stealthbox into other Wrangler Unlimiteds but from earlier years.  This particular stealthbox is categorized for the 2007 and up Unlimited with or without factory subwoofer so we weren’t expecting issues.

We eventually realized that replacing the factory subwoofer with the stealthbox left some areas exposed that weren’t before.  Oh boy.  A flurry of phone calls commenced and eventually decided to order the panel that would have been in the passenger side rear if there had not been a factory subwoofer; sounds reasonable.

Factory sub

Well, Murphy and his law are all over this one.  The factory panel replacement arrives and fits, almost.  The rear passenger side roll bar is where the seat belt retractor is mounted.  This housing for the retractor is chunky and white; obvious against a black interior.  The new panel covers the inside half of the roll bar and retractor but not the outside facing half.  We tried matching up the original, outside facing half of this section, which is about the size of a small Nerf football, to the replacement panel and no match.  We try to figure out a way to “make” it match and that wasn’t a good idea.

Another flurry of phone calls commences.  Thank goodness to Lee and Randy at Chris Leith Dodge for helping.  Randy even went to a Jeep dealership to track down another Jeep Unlimited on the lot without the factory subwoofer to get its VIN and the stamp code on the inside of the piece we were missing so that he could order what isn’t really an inventory part one orders.  You have to have the VIN and the stamp code to even verify you have the right part.

You think that would be it.  Not even close.  We get all that figured out and attempt to mount the subwoofer and realize the mounting hardware and where it is located on the enclosure does not match up to where it should on the Jeep.  Chris knowing this is a 2012 decides to look at the picture of this enclosure installed in the same type Jeep on JL Audio’s website and realizes the 2012 is different.  Something JL Audio wasn’t aware of.

This wasn’t even an issue of the Jeep having a factory subwoofer which is what we originally thought.  We assumed that was the problem since it is listed as the appropriate enclosure for 2007 and up and that perhaps the problem was that JL themselves hadn’t researched the Jeep with the factory subwoofer thoroughly to verify it was a match.  The problem is that the 2012 does not match; factory subwoofer or not.

Being a professional installation store, it does actually match.  I don’t have a clue what they did to “make” it work, but it does and it sounds fantastic.

Adding Stealthbox

What you should consider is how would Worst Buy, Bionic Electronics or Billy, your neighbor handle this situation?  I can assure you this job would have ended up here, where it should have been to begin with.  These kinds of unexpected and unpredictable issues happen often.  It’s your gamble.

It’s a great sounding enclosure and looks good.  For the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited though, some “matchmaking” has to be done to “make” it a great sounding enclosure that fits until JL Audio redesigns it themselves.  In the meantime, we’ll keep on keepin’ on.

Update 5/1/2012-Since the release of this blog entry we have received several calls about this 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and the stealthbox install.   To help all you future “head scratchers” who choose this enclosure for your Jeep

Behind the Stealthbox

not knowing the problems you’re going to have I decided to list the part numbers you’ll need.  There are 2 you will need if you have the factory subwoofer. If you do not have the factory subwoofer you still need to make modifications that with patience will be worth your time.

First, is the new panel the stealthbox will mount to that fits along the passenger side.  That number is 1PU12DX9AG OR1PU13DX9AH.  The second is the bezel that covers the outside facing half of the seatbelt retractor; part number 1PU18DX9AD.  For the quarter panel I listed two numbers, however, I believe the AG number is correct for the passenger side quarter panel.  That is what my service rep ordered for us but he states he ordered it specifying the passenger side.  Another customer ordered the AH number but specified which side of the vehicle and his worked as well.  One is for the passenger and one for the driver’s side but the service department computer may not clarify that.  So make note of both AG and AH numbers and specify the passenger side and your service rep should be able to get

Clay's finished install

you the correct part.

We have a business customer discount with our local dealership so I don’t know the list price.  I would guess the list price to be $100 – 130 for both parts.  There is still some modifications you will need to make since not all the mounting hardware “lines up” with the new panel.  You will probably be able to figure that out.  If not, call us.  CAR Audio & Security, 919-562-0800.  You can also refer to a comment by “Clay” an incredibly nice fellow and JL-o-phile from Virgina who did a great job describing the mods.  I have now updated the blog with some of Clay’s pictures of his own install.  He took a lot of pictures as he went along which we did not. Thank you Clay!

If you are wondering if this is worth the trouble; yes.  Besides, we had to suffer through the pains of endless phone calls back and forth with JL and the dealership to figure this out.  The least you can do is still order the stealthbox.  Also, I have no stake in JL Audio as a company so I don’t say all that to earn anything.  I simply stand behind them and their product.  Although this was an aggravating experience, it’s still the best option for adding great bass and not taking up any of that space.  Here’s hoping JL won’t take too long to update the enclosure for the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited so one day all this hassle will only be a funny anecdote.  Since you’re reading this, you are a follower of ours or quality sound.  Because of that I will say, thank you and enjoy the sound as much as the ride.

2nd Update 3/12/12-We just had another customer with a 2012 want the JL stealthbox.  Unfortunately although JL is aware of the not so perfect fit for the 2012 they are still advertising the stealthbox on their website as 2007 up and as I ordered it myself from JL just today no one mentioned it’s not a perfect fit.  Oh well.  At least we know what to do.

1. For Everyone:  Most vehicles manufactured since 1998 need, what is called in the car audio industry, a “bypass module”.  This part is required depending on your vehicle and it will be needed regardless of the type of remote start you purchase.  They are needed when your vehicle’s keys are transponder or have a microchip embedded in the key.  These keys basically are programmed to be the only keys to start your car.  Your engine will not start if it doesn’t recognize the key.  The bypass module is programmed with those keys and then duplicates the key once installed in the vehicle.  When you use the start command from your new remote the car recognizes the key being with the car, although it isn’t.
2. Online purchases beware:  If you buy your remote start product on line don’t assume your product purchase is done.  First, most online sites won’t even mention the fact you need a bypass module and may sell you one a local professional isn’t familiar with.  Hunting down someone who is familiar can be frustrating.  Second, as I will explain in the next item, not all brands are equal and your local professional may refuse to install it due to past complications.  Third, if there is a brand you like, you should check out warranty on that specific brand’s website, not the online site you are considering buying from.  The brand’s site will give you the real warranty information.  In the end, there is a very small number of legitimate online sites selling good product like Viper.  There are more reasons discussed below to not buy online; keep reading.
3. Our product is all manufactured by Directed Electronics.  They manufacture the sister products of Viper, Clifford, Python, Sidewinder, Avital, Automate and a few others.  This is the most commonly used and installed product for remote starts and because of this and their reliability, many stores like ours will only install their brands.  We and other professional installation shops like ours, will rarely consider installing a remote start product bought from your local auto parts store.  Return it.  I beg you.  Your car begs you.
4. Installation:  Your friend, your friend’s friend, a Craigslist advertised installer should not be doing this.  If your car does require a bypass module this should absolutely be installed by a professional installer.  That doesn’t mean your mechanic.  Many of the bypass modules require firmware downloads specific to each vehicle.  Also, the wiring schematics are not always 100% correct.  In those cases, trial and error based on professional experience is required.  So unless your friend just recently stopped working at a 12 volt shop, you should take your car to a 12 volt shop.  Not any 12 volt shop but one that is actually acknowledged by the manufacturer to be qualified.  You can check out www.viper.com/stores/default.aspx?postalcode=27587  to see which stores in Raleigh and Wake Forest are qualified.
5. Price is complicated.  Being a dealer of Directed Electronics brands, we sell the product as suggested by them.  If you call to ask about the price, there are several models to choose from.  We’ll make recommendations depending on your vehicle and the kind of key that comes with it, so be prepared for several different questions.   We often lose sales due to the fact we give the complete price up front when people call or come in to inquire.  We give the price for the remote start and bypass if needed and many places, including big box stores, do not.  If you ask us and our price is higher, make sure you are comparing apples to apples and not apples to knuckleheads.   If you have specific needs such as add on features or range of the remote, they need to be specified.   We do not charge for labor when the product is bought from us.  If you bring us a remote start you bought elsewhere, we charge by the hour for the labor.  Keep in mind, many vehicles usually require a 4-5 hour installation.  In many cases, you can buy the whole thing from us for the same if not less and still have a lifetime warranty.  If you go to Directed Electronics website, www.viper.com , the only online purchase with a warranty is one purchased from them or a baby sized hand full of other websites that sell the product for the same price as us.
6. The coolest thing out there right now?  Smartstart.  This is a product manufactured by DEI that allows you, after installation and paying for a year network plan in advance, to use your smartphone as a remote. You can lock, unlock, start, panic, trunk release from your phone using an app.  The range is unlimited, and unlike your keys, you always know where your phone is, right?  From the www.viper.com website, you can choose the smartstart link and get a lot more information if you’re interested.
7. Questions we’ll ask you: First, what is your vehicle’s year, make and model?  Do you already have a keyless entry remote?  Is your key and remote one large piece or is the remote separate from the key?  For most American vehicles, if you do have factory keyless, is its working range far enough for you to remote start your vehicle as you will need? (In other words, most people don’t try to unlock their vehicle until they are close to it, however, the purpose of a remote start is to have a comfortable temperature in the vehicle, which would need to be activated for a minimum of 5 minutes; and therefore further away.  Don’t just consider from your backdoor but also from your desk at work, from inside the theater, etc.)   For most German vehicles, do you have a spare key that you are willing to lose?
8. Warranty:  Viper is lifetime warranty for the remote start module itself.  Our non-Viper brands all have a 1 year warranty.  Remotes, regardless of brand, are always 1 year.  Our labor has a lifetime warranty on anything we install.  This warranty does not apply to tampering from outside sources.  Our strongest recommendation is this; do not let anyone touch your vehicle that does not offer a lifetime warranty on their labor.  You should ask because not everyone does this.

This may seem like a lot of information to consider.  However, it is all important in your decision process.  This is your fuel injected engine we are talking about, not an RC car.  Did you know your vehicle has a computer behind the dash?  That is also tied into your engine and you don’t want a knucklehead messing around your on board computer.

As long as remote starts have been around, they are still misunderstood and not hugely used.  It’s something not even vehicle manufacturers have a good grasp on.   For instance, many of the newer Chevy trucks come with remote start, however, if you purchase one of the trucks that didn’t come from the factory with remote start and want it, good luck getting it from the dealership.  We get those calls a lot.

If you have more questions, need a quote or would like to set up an appointment, please give us a call.

This receiver has many great qualities that higher end Pioneer receivers have had for a few  years now.  What’s different is, it’s all here; all of it.  No longer is Pioneer white-knuckling the “Price Point” mantra for receivers as they have for the last 2 years or so.  Since the  economy plunged so did the cool factor of many of their radios.  Well, cool is back.

The DEH-P8400BH is a nice looking radio.  It has the typical features of AM/FM/CD/MP3/ Front Aux In, Satellite ready and included remote control.  What’s new, deep breath and sigh, is a little of what used to be typical in their finer receivers and so much more.  This pretty girl has REAR USB for all those that appreciate a clean look on their dash instead of cables dangling everywhere.  Some of you iPhone users liked the dangling off the front because you needed to get to your phone easily.  Well, this also has Bluetooth, so drive legally and put the phone down!

What’s that?  Does it have Bluetooth Audio Streaming?  Yes, it’s 2012!  Any decent radio with Bluetooth automatically has audio streaming, too.  But that’s not all folks!

Pioneer is also giving you Direct Control for iPod, Color Customization on the display, HD Radio, iTunes Tagging, App Radio and Pandora Radio Control with iPhone.  On top of all that, is a new feature that is really cool.  It’s not a necessity, but it’s cool.

“MIXTRAX is an innovative Pioneer technology that creates a non-stop mix of your music library complete with a range of DJ-inspired effects. Drawing from Pioneer’s rich DJ heritage with their passion for music, MIXTRAX delivers a unique DJ infused listening experience to listeners in the car. MIXTRAX takes the music from an iPod®, iPhone®, or USB device and plays it back with added transitions and effects, creating a virtual DJ inside the DEH-P8400BH. The receiver’s cool Club-Style Illumination function enhances the mood with a dynamic dance club-like lighting effect. As MIXTRAX begins, lights on the receiver start pulsing to the beat of the music, livening up your in-car entertainment. Choose among six patterns of lighting color variation.” – Pioneer Electronics

Like I said, it isn’t a necessity, but it’s the whip cream and cherry on top of the cake that already has its icing.  Pioneer is back and ready to please the customers that have said for the last 2 years, “What is going on with Pioneer?”  Pioneer has always had innovative and intuitive receivers but the last couple of years have seen the aesthetics of the radios diminish and also, too many of their radios would lose features to gain another.   It was difficult to find a Pioneer radio, single din without DVD and navigation, which had everything else.

Now, she’s here.  The DEH-P8400BH is here to fill your car audio needs.  Come in, introduce your iPhone to her, play around and take her home.  You’ll be a great match.