In this post, I am going to review the Pioneer Avic D3, which will describe the main features and benefits of this in-dash navigation system. I hope this helps you make a more informed decision when deciding which Pioneer Avic you would like to purchase.
The Pioneer Avic D3 is a fantastic combination of audio/visual, navigation and connectivity, and has many great features.
Summary:
Screen: The Pioneer Avic D3 screen is a 6.1-inch touch screen, with an anti-glare coating, which helps when viewing in broad daylight, which can be a problem with other sat navs. You can also adjust the brightness, color, contrast, etc. To help make the screen more readable, it enables night mode or even matching the color of the screen to the color of the dashboard, making it easier on the eyes.
Maps: The Pioneer Avic D3’s maps can be displayed in 2D or 3D display format, which is standard on most navigation systems, but the Z110BT has higher-powered graphics that deliver amazing detail. It also comes with up to 12 million points of interest, so you’ll always be able to find what you’re looking for. The system also has clear pronunciation of turn-by-turn directions, meaning you’ll never miss your turn again.
Voice recognition: The voice recognition of the Pioneer Avic D3 allows you to ask for the gas station, restaurant, etc. closest and you will be redirected there. The voice activated control is excellent and allows for a totally hands free driving experience. You can control an Apple iPod/iPhone and a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone with natural voice commands. This allows you to make and receive calls using only the voice-activated control, and you can also upload your phonebook to the system. This has the great benefit of making driving safer as you don’t need to worry about finding your phone, pressing buttons etc. to make or receive calls, although sometimes the voice recognition can be poor and a bit frustrating.
Video/Audio: The Pioneer Avic D3 supports DVD/video playback of mp3, WMA, Divx. The DVD quality is very good and the sound is excellent with its internal subwoofer controls and high pass filters. You can link your ipod to the system via ipod interface which works well and has a cool ipod scroll wheel on the screen image. On the downside, there’s no search function or alphabetical browsing options, finding an artist or song can be a bit tricky if you have a lot of music. The XM interface is excellent, displaying the station and category logos along with the standard XM track/artist information, making it easy to navigate.
In short, the Pioneer Avic D3 is another good in-dash navigation system from Pioneer. It has had some mixed reviews which you can check out here on Amazon which I would recommend reading before making a final decision. At the time of writing, the Amazon price for the Pioneer Avic D3 is around $950.
