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View Full Version : Pioneer AVIC F90BT Installed in my X (review)



strat10
12-30-2008, 06:10 PM
Been shopping around to put a NAVI/DVD player in my X. Should have went for the factory, but I ended up with the Pioneer. There are a lot of reviews out there so I thought I would throw in my 2 cents.

I went ahead and installed a PDX-5 Alpine 5 way amp, added Sirius, and HD radio.

Cost: $2000.00 installed with the Amp and all the goodies.


Sound quality:
With the Alpine amp and the stock speakers, I would have to say it sounds great. I think with a bit more invested in the speakers it would be awesome!
Sirius doesnt sound that great to me. I think its the compresion they use. Definitely some stations sound better than others.
HD Radio sounds great when the digital signal holds, but it sounds strange when it drops to the Analog signal.
IPOD sounds great
CD's sound great
DVD's incredible with surround sound.

Pro's
Great NAVI, actually has some really cool features. Looks great. I am trying the MSN integration, thats very cool for finding movies, and other interesting places.
Great phone integration. People seem to hear me clearly and I hear them. I have the Iphone 3G
Tons of ways to get music playing through the unit. SD card, IPOD, and you can even hook up a USB thumb drive.
DVD's look and sound great (and easily hacked for watching while driving)
Ability to watch video's off your IPOD.

Cons
Slow startup, but not as bad as before the software update. I would say a good 30 Sec before it becomes usable, but you hear the music in about 20 seconds
Sluggish, it just seems to lack responsiveness.
Very irritating BEEP every freaking time you change something.
Glare can be bad at times.

overall
Not a bad unit, sounds great and has lots of options to listen, and see your music. Gets you around town.


http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j9_bS1NavEU/STlOZ2jGuZI/AAAAAAAAAxA/wz3VUF8ZQWA/s800/IMG_0298.jpg

1WkdEvo
12-30-2008, 10:36 PM
Nice write up, congrats

smokinevo9
12-30-2008, 10:38 PM
LOOKS NICE

Miss Evo8
12-30-2008, 10:55 PM
That looks good.

1GGEvo
12-30-2008, 11:32 PM
looks clean

sneakypete
12-30-2008, 11:35 PM
Nice write up Â*O0

My wife has the factory navi in her 08 Lancer and really like this navigation stuff and features compared to my boring IX radio Â*:-\


Congrats.

DruMMinStUd06
12-30-2008, 11:57 PM
why does the headunit say Premier?

oxyi
12-31-2008, 01:07 AM
To address your "cons"

Cons
Slow startup, but not as bad as before the software update. I would say a good 30 Sec before it becomes usable, but you hear the music in about 20 seconds
(Yap, nothing we can do there, because it is actually booting up a windows enviorment...)

Sluggish, it just seems to lack responsiveness.
(There is a hack to improve responsiveness)

Very irritating BEEP every freaking time you change something.
(There is a hack to get rid of the beep ;D )

Glare can be bad at times.
(Yes, i hate the glare !)

strat10
12-31-2008, 09:10 AM
why does the headunit say Premier?
Its just a higher end version of Pioneer. It has a better warranty.


Sluggish, it just seems to lack responsiveness.
(There is a hack to improve responsiveness)

Very irritating BEEP every freaking time you change something.
(There is a hack to get rid of the beepÂ* )
Thanks OXYI, where do I get these hacks?

strat10
12-31-2008, 09:15 AM
More Pics of the different menu's

Here is the Navi Screen:
I like the way the album art from the IPOD is displayed.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j9_bS1NavEU/SVuYISMy3CI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/xdZdf8tfvgs/s576/IMG_0330.JPG

Main Menu:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_j9_bS1NavEU/SVuYI_ZG6LI/AAAAAAAAAzY/1Bsgywafwkk/s576/IMG_0332.JPG

AV choices:
Sorry for the bad picture!
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j9_bS1NavEU/SVuYJQRGXmI/AAAAAAAAAzg/38Hc4_3Kwuk/s800/IMG_0333.JPG

Phone menu:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_j9_bS1NavEU/SVuYKAjZPuI/AAAAAAAAAzw/RNmAskcaKt0/s800/IMG_0335.JPG

Contacts from Phone:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j9_bS1NavEU/SVuYKs3UF-I/AAAAAAAAAz4/HdJgpsM_1FY/s800/IMG_0336.JPG

oxyi
12-31-2008, 01:27 PM
Here it is,

http://www.avic411.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18327

strat10
12-31-2008, 02:45 PM
Oh man, let the fun begin! 8)

So basically this thing is just a Windows CE machine?

oxyi
12-31-2008, 03:43 PM
Yap.. you get the boot file and your stylus and boot that sucker into windows CE.

Then you get your flash drive backup, then bring it to your computer and let the hacking start !!

haha

mitsuEVO8kid
01-08-2009, 11:08 PM
Like this unit. BUt Im sticking to my future purchase which will be the 500B :D dont need the DVD player and such...just mainly the MSNDirect, PArrot bluetooth and Garmin GPS haha

strat10
01-09-2009, 10:43 AM
Yeah, I almost did that also, but music video's while driving is well........awesome! Especially the live concerts with the surround sound is the only way to go! Try it!

mitsuEVO8kid
01-09-2009, 12:28 PM
The 500b does play wav and mp4 files. Ipod control and SD card slot. It just doesnt have the CD drive or a DVD drive

strat10
01-09-2009, 02:09 PM
Understood, but how many MP3 and WAV files have you heard that play in surround sound?

cotton
03-05-2009, 08:30 AM
hi, i want to install a navi system on lancer but i have some concernes about it.firstly do i need something (amps. or etc.) to make pioneer wellmatched with rockford fosgate system? and is it compatible with the bluetooth buttons on the steering wheel? i'll be very happy if you explain more about the connection to the car..thx.

strat10
03-05-2009, 12:23 PM
Sure, but I didnt install it. I know that I had to pull out the whole factory system, but there are some posts on EvoM that explain how to make nice with the factory amp.

If I were you I would yankl all RF stuff out and replace.

antics22
03-05-2009, 12:37 PM
looking good strat10, The only issue I have is that metra bezel, You should look into getting that piece warrantied because it looks warped in your pics and I know there was a huge issue regarding their molds, etc....

strat10
03-05-2009, 01:23 PM
I agree, I have also run into some issues with the unit itself. Sluggishness, slow boot, horrible GPS, and the volume button also works as a next track and next location, so when you find a great a song and you go to turn it up, you accidently hit the next song, or next station! Very irritating. I am currently looking into other options and luckily Pioneer has been very cool about giving me other options!

Evo_Hustler
03-05-2009, 02:02 PM
Nice navigation/DVD sytem! Much much better than stock!

VICEVO
06-16-2009, 02:00 AM
hey strat10 is that the metra kit ?

EVO KING
06-16-2009, 03:08 AM
look good nice job

strat10
06-16-2009, 08:38 AM
hey strat10 is that the metra kit ?


Yes, and I wouldnt recomend it. Its starting to warp and it seems to be un-even. I am looking for an alternative if anyone has seen one.