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Thursday, January 9, 2014

Pioneer Announces High-End Navigation Head Units Called NEX [CES 2014]

Pioneer Electronics has announced a new lineup of Networked Entertainment eXperience (NEX) head units at CES 2014 in Las Vegas. These devices are high-end GPS Navigation head units with a flurry of additional features.

Consumers are bound to be spoiled for choice with this announcement that expands the range of products Pioneer now offers, almost to the point of confusion. Let me explain.

First a little more about NEX. These line of receivers feature a new user interface which is a blend of both, connected and offline services. There are five NEX models announced (AVIC-8000NEX, AVIC-7000NEX, AVIC-6000NEX, AVIC-5000NEX and AVH-4000NEX) which are mainly centered around smartphone connectivity. A comparison list of the top four models is below.

These NEX receivers range from $750 to $1400. They offer a wide range of features. These include AppRadio Mode, the new AVICSYNC Networked Navigation, iDatalink Maestro support, MirrorLink compatibility, Siri Eyes Free mode, expanded Bluetooth capabilities, Pandora, SiriusXM-ready, HD Radio technology, FLAC file playback, dual camera input and more.

A couple of new features that stand out are AVICSYNC Networked Navigation which works with a connected smartphone to offer traffic, local search, weather, gas prices and other information. It also has a Latest Map Guarantee (LMG) feature where latest map data is made available on the receiver within 90 days. Live traffic updates are provided every two minutes using a High Density (HD) Traffic feature.

Bluetooth capability has also been upgraded. Now with NEX receivers you will be able to browse through a user's media library over Bluetooth (can't be done on an AppRadio 3) using Bluetooth AVRCP 1.4. You will also be able to enjoy better sound quality over a Bluetooth connection using HFP 1.6 with wideband audio.

So what's the confusion?

Here's where the confusion comes in if you are in the market for an after-market head unit. Pioneer's double-DIN receivers now range in price from $300 to $1400. A lot of research will be needed to find the right balance of features you are looking for and the price you are willing to pay.

I have been receiving a lot of questions from users as to which head unit model to buy. The answer to that question just got a little tougher.

AppRadio Mode is now offered in almost all double-DIN units. All you need to have is a compatible iPhone or Android smartphone. Cable kits for each smartphone may vary too. These NEX receivers are in the higher price range and designed as GPS Navigation units and offer the best features.

To summarize, these are the double-DIN head units that Pioneer now offers.

AppRadio: AppRadio, AppRadio 2 and AppRadio 3 (two models)
GPS Navigation: 4 NEX models and 3 AVIC models
DVD Receivers: 1 NEX model and 13 AVH models

In addition, previous generation models and single-DIN receivers are also available. So good luck finding the right one you need.

Full details about NEX receivers can be found on Pioneer's website.

1 comment :

  1. As a former Pioneer enthusiast, I highly suggest anyone to stay away from Pioneer. The WORST customer service, completely unreliable product. Find something else to put in your car if you want something reliable, because Pioneer will run your bank account dry!

    ReplyDelete

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