IVA-W200 with Blackbird...installed.

by **clarkncc** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:46 pm

First off, I wanted to thank everyone for posting their comment/questions/pics here. You guys have been a huge help to me for the past couple of years.

Just this weekend I put in an alpine HU with navigation. The navigation isn't your usual setup, this is using the blackbird...the products are sort of different so I wanted to post some pics about it.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/en/products/p ... l=PMD-B100

I don't want to get into a flame war about eclipse vs alpine vs pioneer, just wanted to post my experiences and answer any questions about alpine.

by **clarkncc** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:55 pm

The big selling points for the Alpine unit was being able to undock the blackbird and use it in my wife's car.......the ipod integration is really fast.....alpine does frequent firmware updates (the blackbird used to be very slow)..........

Negatives: I don't get the zagat reviews that pioneer has.....and the bluetooth module for alpine is not good right now (compared to pioneer)...so I skipped that.

Bonus: didn't realize this until I got it, but the touchscreen for the HU has some kind of physical force feedback...so it feels like it I am pressing buttons. I was expecting a slight increase in quality, but it seems like this HU makes my stock speakers sound much better. So I guess this positive is going to turn into a negative when I blow these speakers up.

The steering wheel controls work...ok..I guess. I'm able to use them for the ipod and xm radio...they just seem to work sort of slow. Slight press for skip ahead and delayed press for next track. (for the ipod) Maybe I'm being too critical, but it just feels weird.

HU plays DVD video, but it is really picky about when it will display it. I have to have the car in park, with the ebrake on...tap the brakes one last time..then video plays. They sell a module to bypass that....but I'm having a hard enough time concentrating on the road as it is.

by **clarkncc** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 4:01 pm

btw, that nav trim bezel was a pain to get. You have to get the part number exactly...with pictures or else the parts guy at the toyota dealer isn't going to know what you are talking about. I eventually had to go through a friend of mine to get the part, since I must have been speaking a foreign language to the dealer here in naperville.

And then even when you get the part, as you can see from the pictures...the HU still doesn't fit in right. You have to fill in the gaps on the side....and the HU sticks out a little bit. so it looks a little bit odd right now.

I'm done venting now.

by **NeFaRiOuS_SLE** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:49 pm

Still nice though.

by **mcsoccer7** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:05 pm

What did you use to fill in the gaps? I just ordered that trim and I bet I'll have the same issue.

by **clarkncc** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:36 pm

mcsoccer7 wrote:What did you use to fill in the gaps? I just ordered that trim and I bet I'll have the same issue.

well. do a check first for how big your new HU is going to be...the alpine is I think 6.5".......the pioneer is 7"....so you might not even have to worry about this.

ok...I just checked...it looks like the majority of the eclipse HU are 6.5....this alpine is 6.5....some pioneer are 6.5...except for the Pioneer AVIC-Z1 which is 7". If you are getting the AVIC-Z1, you better post some pictures...cause that thing is amazing.

the filling is nothing special, really just plastic that is cut and attached to the bezel from behind.......if it was done right, you would fill in the gaps with fiberglass.

by **clarkncc** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:38 pm

NeFaRiOuS_SLE wrote:Still nice though.

thanks.

speaking of nice, your avatar is great.

by **mcsoccer7** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:53 pm

clarkncc wrote:
mcsoccer7 wrote:What did you use to fill in the gaps? I just ordered that trim and I bet I'll have the same issue.

well. do a check first for how big your new HU is going to be...the alpine is I think 6.5".......the pioneer is 7"....so you might not even have to worry about this.

ok...I just checked...it looks like the majority of the eclipse HU are 6.5....this alpine is 6.5....some pioneer are 6.5...except for the Pioneer AVIC-Z1 which is 7". If you are getting the AVIC-Z1, you better post some pictures...cause that thing is amazing.

the filling is nothing special, really just plastic that is cut and attached to the bezel from behind.......if it was done right, you would fill in the gaps with fiberglass.

I'm actually not putting in a screen/nav...i'm using a pioneer HU and a in-dash EQ/DSP...so I need the double din opening and trim piece for it to look right...hopefully it will fill in properly...I wish I had the AVIC-Z1!! You're right it is amazing!!

by **michaels artic frost** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:06 am

clarkncc wrote:...The steering wheel controls work...ok..I guess. I'm able to use them for the ipod and xm radio...they just seem to work sort of slow. Slight press for skip ahead and delayed press for next track. (for the ipod) Maybe I'm being too critical, but it just feels weird.

^^Did you have to use any adapter to get your steering wheel control to work?^^I used an after market one and it works great for me.

clarkncc wrote:...HU plays DVD video, but it is really picky about when it will display it. I have to have the car in park, with the ebrake on...tap the brakes one last time..then video plays. They sell a module to bypass that....but I'm having a hard enough time concentrating on the road as it is.

^^This sounds like lots of headache^^I too am finding out, since upgrading my double din to the latest w/ ipod, xm, navi, etc. I have this annoying toggle switch for on/off in order for my HU to display the video. I guess it's better then it not working.

CONGRATS and it looks very nice!

-M 8)

by **mcsoccer7** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:19 am

Which control are you using? I'm looking into getting one, but I don't want an IR one. I heard they don't work so well. Any opinions?

by **michaels artic frost** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:39 am

mcsoccer7 wrote:Which control are you using? I'm looking into getting one, but I don't want an IR one. I heard they don't work so well. Any opinions?

This is the one I'm using PAC SWI-X (Universal Steering Wheel Interface)

You can't even see my IR and it works great for me, however my friend Tact can attest otherwise, but his adapter was a different brand, but it looked very similiar if not the same. However, it was also used so I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it, but he had to have his IR positioned differently then mine. The installer from CC belives it may have something to do w/ his HU, but like I said, I'm not for sure.

I purchased two PAC SWI-X (Universal Steering Wheel Interface) from Cardomain.com and they price matched it w/ another websites and I got both for $90 shipped. I've also got this PAC SWI-X (Universal Steering Wheel Interface) in my wife's Altima and it works great as well. I would recommend this adapter for anyone that wants their steering wheel control back.

So check out this thread for more info.
PAC SWI-X (Universal Steering Wheel Interface)

-M 8)

by **mcsoccer7** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:48 am

michaels artic frost wrote:
mcsoccer7 wrote:Which control are you using? I'm looking into getting one, but I don't want an IR one. I heard they don't work so well. Any opinions?

This is the one I'm using PAC SWI-X (Universal Steering Wheel Interface)

You can't even see my IR and it works great for me, however my friend Tact can attest otherwise, but his adapter was a different brand, but it looked very similiar if not the same. However, it was also used so I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it, but he had to have his IR positioned differently then mine. The installer from CC belives it may have something to do w/ his HU, but like I said, I'm not for sure.

I purchased two PAC SWI-X (Universal Steering Wheel Interface) from Cardomain.com and they price matched it w/ another websites and I got both for $90 shipped. I've also got this PAC SWI-X (Universal Steering Wheel Interface) in my wife's Altima and it works great as well. I would recommend this adapter for anyone that wants their steering wheel control back.

So check out this thread for more info.
PAC SWI-X (Universal Steering Wheel Interface)

-M

Thanks for the info. I'll look into it tonight...I replied to your PM yesterday, but I don't know if it went through because it's still in my outbox, not sent box.

by **dishon22** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:58 pm

can u tell me the part # and how much does it cost

by **RichD978** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:00 pm

im a big fan of eclipse but your set up is pretty nice. what exactly is the black bird? the link you provided didn't work for me

by **RichD978** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:02 pm

nvm i see that the black bird is a portable navi. but why would you have it in the trunk?

IVA-W200 with Blackbird...installed.

IVA-W200 with Blackbird...installed.

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