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this may seem like a good deal, but this unit is pretty frustrating to use. it is very slow to boot up. most of the time i have already driven to my destination by the time this thing finally starts up. it is not very responsive to touch commands. takes a couple seconds for the screen to change or for the volume to change. if you’re listening to the radio and have a USB device hooked up, it will sometimes automatically switch over to USB mode. GPS is slow and takes about 10 minutes for street names to appear.

all the specs surely look pretty cool, but i would not recommend this to anyone. this unit also freezes a lot. if you take the USB device out it will freeze.
Rating: 4 / 5

Like most of you, I have done my research to which GPS stereo to add in my car. This is not exactly a “bug free” unit, and like Alpine, it comes with its share of problems. Having the AVIC-X910BT for about a month of daily use in the LA Traffic, I’ll give you my honest opinion about the product.

The system itself: I ended up selecting this unit because small enough to fit in my double din factory replacement unit. I like the knob as well on the left side since it is easy to reach. I installed Sirius, iPhone (USB) adapter, steering wheel capability, MSN Direct and rear camera option. I did not opt for the HD Radio this time as I believe the Sirius satellite is enough for my daily commute of channel selections.

Navigation: The navi is small to read compared to Garmin. The 3D/2D options available is mediocre. I set the navi to Smart Zoom and settled for the 300ft distance, which I find more suitable to read at a distance. The street names are sometimes hard to read if you set it the zoom from 500ft and above. I did not like that color selections limitation available (red or blue). I think the blue is dull and so I kept it at red. The POI within the map is average, but you can include your personalized POI which I like. It does not come with lifetime traffic subscription like Garmin. I ended up purchasing MSN Direct, which I find the integration of traffic within the map not available. Also, you have to play around with the settings on routing – I had set it on Fast, but driving around Pasadena to cut across the city when routing Fast will always point you out to the Freeway. I thought Fast meant I want to get there fast, I think it meant using more freeways. I finally set it up to Easy. The screens are hard to read too during the day. You also have one voice selection for the navigation (male voice), while voice command uses female voice.

Bluetooth: I think this unit got it right. I had bluetooth in my other car and people tell me I sounded better with the Pioneer. Also, attaching to the iPhone is simple. Forget about the Call by Name function for iPhone – this does not work. It can call by number though CALL 2135551212.

Stereo: The installed the simplest DSP sounding EQ for this unit. You are quite limited and I suggest you install a subwoofer. I ended up replacing my amp unit with 5×250w. Setup the EQ under Powerful, and adjusted the HF ranges to 125 Hz. The Custom EQ is hard to adjust, so once you are happy with your setting (you get 2 customizable one), hope that you will never change it again.

Sirius: There are problems with Sirius with this unit. The Preset (you can save 18 channels) does not save the name of the Satellite channel. Also, when you display detail – it only displays one line, so you have to toggle between channel #, channel name, artist name, song, composer. There are 3 available lines and yet they only display one. When driving, I don’t have time to toggle between information. I had XM on my other car, and I never heard of XM problem with this unit. Select XM for this unit.

iPhone Capability: You can download your contact, but make sure you have the latest version of iPhone installed. I am able to download all my contacts to the Pioneer, but when someone calls you – the Pioneer will not display the Caller ID, but the number only. This has something to do with the different formats used by iPhone & Pioneer and the unit only recognizes and matches to the contact list if incoming calls do not have the brackets. I think this is a bug on Pioneer’s part. Also, the voice call by name will not be available for the iPhone. Another bug that must be fixed. One the positive note, the pioneer plays my music, Pandora Bluetooth, Music Video and Movies from my iPhone. And yes, while the car is in motion (check with your installer – but not advisable of course to watch & drive).

Other Features: Rear view camera works on reverse (make sure your installer knows how to do this). My steering wheel for my car is not fully compatible – it only adjust volumes (check the year, make & model of your car that are compatible for the steering unit). MSN Direct is a good value for $29.95, good up til Jan. 2012. Most of the information like news, weather, stock, traffic you can get from your iPhone, but it does have Gas prices.

Other glitches: Startup time takes awhile. My advise, before you turn your car off, set the radio to AM or FM. When playing music from iPhone (USB), it has a tendency to freeze – one way I fixed this was to press the Eject button, somehow it resets it – Other I heard require turning the car off & on.
Rating: 4 / 5

Dont get me wrong I love my pioneer. For $530 it does a good job. There are couple things i wish it could have done.

1- It is kind a slow on start up. Wish it was improved via firmware.

2- It doesnt have voice activated gps. I wish when you say italian restaurant it would find you the nearest but it doesnt you need to go and search for it. I mean my $400 phone does it. Come on pioneer.

Other than that I am really happy with my device.
Rating: 3 / 5