Valor NVG-670W Review

You, like many other millions of consumers worldwide, want a product that features plenty of options and functions with the lowest cost possible. It’s completely understandable because it is the typical consumer mindset. Double DIN navigation with 6.5” LCD monitor typically sell at around $750 to more than $1000 per unit. But look take a look at the Valor NVG-670W, a feature packed in-dash navigation with plenty of “bang” and a lot less bucks than more popular navigation units.

The first thing you’ll notice is the 6.5” LCD touchscreen display on the front panel. It is centered but bordered by a row of buttons on each side of the screen. This configuration does not make the unit appear to have an off-center installation like the Pioneer AVIC-D3. In addition, the DVD slot input is actually hidden behind the screen which gives it an even cleaner installation look.

The navigation unit is built-in but requires the included DVD media for it to function but still leaves the SD Card port and the USB input completely free for your audio or video uses. It is also capable of navigating in 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional course-plotting and features over 11 million points of interests (POI) and instructs drivers with vocal guidance.

Its multimedia features include the capability for it to play DVD±R/RW, CD-DA, SVCD, VCD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, AVI, XviD, JPEG, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, MP3, and WMA in NTSC or PAL color format. Evidently, the Valor NVG-670W does not leave anything out and could play virtually any media format the world has to offer. The in dash receiver is also capable of dual zone audio output, giving the rear seat passengers the ability to listen to a different media than the front seat passengers. It also features a 24-Bit 192 kHz DAC with high and low pass crossover filters, which gives significant enhancement to the sound quality it puts out. You’ll also be able to expand with its front, rear, center, and subwoofer 2.5V preamp outputs, optional Sirius or XM Satellite Radio, and iPod capabilities. It even includes an iPod adapter and also built-in Bluetooth that will allow you to speak wirelessly through your existing car audio system, providing you with a safer way to communicate while on the road.

It is with no doubt that the Valor NVG-670W is a product to be reckoned with, especially true with its plethora of features and multimedia functions, built-in Bluetooth technology, integrated navigation unit, and a large 6.5” LCD touchscreen display. All this can be yours for less than $700!

Harman Kardon GPS-510 Review

Harman Kardon is of course known for its quality and reliability, offering you only the best in what high-end technology has to offer. To answer the increasing demand for GPS Navigation devices, Harman Kardon has answered with the GPS-510, an incredibly thin navigation unit capable of audio and video playback.

Pros
The interface is incredibly easy to use and is really easy to see. It does not make driving and navigating a dangerous task but instead renders it quite enjoyable with the bright and high-contrast 4" LCD touchscreen. In addition, the processing capability of the unit is extremely fast-eliminating the irritating nuisance of sluggish navigation. It has quick refresh rate and contains over 12 million points of interests.
The GPS-510 is incredibly thin, with a small width of less than ¾" thick. Only a few others on the market have this same thickness, but not as stylish and feature-packed as this one.

The navigation component of the unit is built-in and is also capable of receiving up to 16 different GPS satellite signals. Along with that, it could also receive live traffic information transmission in the area that you are driving. It also gives you an estimated time of arrival as well as time remaining until reaching destination. The colors on the map look great and truly characterize the navigation aspect of the unit to be 'high-tech'. It has the look and the feel of a truly high-quality portable navigation device.

The Harman Kardon GPS-510 also has great media playback capabilities, capable of playing AAC, MP3, and WMA audio files as well as WMV and MPEG4 video files. The unit could display album artwork and has familiar playback controls that are commonly used in media players.

reliability, offering you only the best in what high-end technology has to offer. To answer the increasing demand for GPS Navigation devices, Harman Kardon has answered with the GPS-510, an incredibly thin navigation unit capable of audio and video playback.

Cons
The fact that it has no built-in hard drive could be troublesome to many. However, the SD Card input supports up to 4GB, it may be cumbersome to switch in and out the SD Card. Though the manufacturer provides a USB connection, there really is no purpose for that unless you use the SD Card.

With all these great features, it's rather odd that the unit does not have HD or Satellite radio capabilities. Though the video playback feature is great, it's highly doubtful that anyone would be using video playback on a navigation device.
Another negative aspect is the price. The unit is selling at around $420 - $460. Unless you could get a good deal on the unit, you may be able to find other similarly featured portable GPS navigation units for cheaper.

Kenwood DNX-5120 / DNX-7120 Product Review

Introducing the Kenwood DNX-5120, this in-dash navigation and multimedia receiver is both attractive and versatile in performance. It features a large double DIN 6.1" LCD touchscreen with a disc slot insert right above the monitor.
Display
Let's go over some of its features and I will ensure you that you will not think twice about getting one of these. The first advantage of the unit is the large 6.1" touchscreen. A typical portable navigation device features a screen that is 3.5" to as large as 4.3" touchscreen. The decisive advantage here is the 2" bigger screen than an ordinary portable GPS device. This will allow for greater visibility as well as a more enjoyable media playback, such as DVD playback or image viewing.

Compatibility
This receiver is compatible with most media files that you are probably accustomed to. It will play your favorite DVDs and of course CDs. However, it will also play MP3s and WMAs that you had recently downloaded, but not only that, it is also capable of playing Apple iTune's AAC file formats. The DNX-5120 could even play the much rarer DivX and VCD file formats as well as image viewing of JPEG files.

Audio Features
How would you like to experience home theater in your car? Well now you can! This multimedia receiver is capable of Dolby Digital playback, allowing you to enjoy a surround sound experience with support for a center channel and subwoofer channel outputs.

Expandability Options
Kenwood's DNX-5120 has virtually limitless expandability options as it is Satellite and HD Radio ready, iPod ready, and even Bluetooth ready. It also features a 3.5mm front auxiliary input, allowing users to plug in any device with a headphone jack output. In addition, it has a rear USB and additional RCA audio/video inputs, giving the unit plenty of options for media playback and source expansions.

Navigation Features
The built-in GPS navigation features 6 million points of interest. The internal software is actually Garmin designed, so you can be sure that your navigation will always be accurate and quick to respond.

With the amount of features that the unit has to offer, it would not be surprising to see this double DIN in-dash receiver to be one of the top competitors in its category this year. The bigger Kenwood DNX-7120, features similar functions and compatibility but has a 6.95" (virtually 7") screen rather than the 6.1" touchscreen. The DNX-7120 also fills up the entire face with its touchscreen and has its DVD insert slot hidden behind the screen. ready, iPod ready, and even Bluetooth ready. It also features a 3.5mm front auxiliary input, allowing users to plug in any device with a headphone jack output. In addition, it has a rear USB and additional RCA audio/video inputs, giving the unit plenty of options for media playback and source expansions.

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Harman Kardon GPS-810 Review

This is arguably the crown jewel of portable navigation. Of course, you can't really expect anything less from a top tier company like Harman Kardon. The Harman Kardon GPS-810 features an incredibly thin casing, with a width measuring no more than ¾" thick. With this kind of style, you'll definitely impress your friends with how good your dashboard will look after you mount one of these.

Display Features
It features a very bright and daylight-readable 4.3" LCD display, capable of down-scaling pictures as large as 4096 x 3072 pixels. The built-in GPS system is capable of displaying US, Puerto Rico, and Canada maps without additional mediums such as a disc or a flash card. In addition, it features a blazing fast 532 MHz i.MX31L processor. The combination of the two will give users quick response and calculations from starting point to destination. You can be sure that the unit will also have a fast refresh rate so that you won't see much lag at all when navigating through high speed freeways.

Navigation Features
Whereas typical GPS Navigation have 1 to 6 million points of interest, the GPS-810 features an internal memory that holds over 12 million points of interest. With the vast amount of locations stored internally, you are most likely to find the most current directional and address guides to your favorite landmarks, restaurants, and of course, gas stations. What is amazing is the unit's 16-channel GPS receiver (which is by the way capable of receiving traffic messages). The 16-channel receiver could lock on to 16 different orbital GPS satellites and makes sure that you won't lose reception where ever you are.

Compatibility
This portable unit is also capable of playing music files in AAC, MP3, WMA, WMV, and WMA with WM-DRM10 (Digital Rights Management) format. In addition, it will display album art and you could play music while you're navigating. I know what you may be thinking. You're thinking "why would I want to play music through the small built-in tin-can speakers?" But instead you could use its included FM modulator or its 3.5mm auxiliary output, and you would be able to hear digital quality music through your existing audio system. Moreover, if you insert an SD Card, the unit is capable of file transfers from your computer through the USB connection.

Bluetooth Features
The GPS-810 also features a built-in Bluetooth connection that displays caller ID and call status on the 4.3" LCD display. This will allow you to communicate through either its built-in audio or through your car's audio system with either the FM or auxiliary connection. It could even synchronize your cell phone's phonebook and will display any contact information on the screen for easy-to-navigation access.

Wireless Remote
To top it all off, the Harman Kardon GPS-810 includes a wireless remote. This is my favorite feature because it does not force me to lean over or reach forward to access the unit. Instead it's sensitive and easy-to-use remote is very familiar to use and could even be mounted anywhere it is convenient for you such as the center console or your door-side arm rest console.

With such great features, this Harman Kardon unit stands as one of the best GPS portable navigation unit as of first quarter 2008. It's going to be tough finding similarly featured as well as similarly performing competitors, especially with a price tag of less than $400, this premium quality navigation unit. It's worth every penny and you won't ever regret your purchase!

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