Pioneer Avic-D3
Manufacturer: Pioneer North America Part number: AVIC-D3
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The impressively equipped Pioneer Avic-D3 offers an array of advanced navigation and media playback functions, but the system's poor hardware design limits its usability.
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CNET editors' review
Pioneer Avic-D3 price range: $1,429.99
- Reviewed by: Kevin Massy
- Reviewed on: 03/12/2007
The good: The Pioneer Avic-D3 combines a user-friendly navigation programming interface with real-time traffic capability and a range of media options, including a standard iPod connector.
The bad: The system's single disc slot means that users will constantly have to switch between navigation discs and media sources to make the most of its many features.
The bottom line: The impressively equipped Pioneer Avic-D3 offers an array of advanced navigation and media playback functions, but the system's poor hardware design limits its usability.
The Pioneer Avic-D3 features a very clean and simple faceplate design. In contrast to the Avic Z-1, which has hard buttons along the bottom of its touch screen, the D3 has a simple set of four buttons and a twistable push-button knob arranged vertically on the left-hand side of the display. The 6.1-inch touch screen on the D3 is slightly smaller than that on the Z1, although the display is big and bright enough for viewing maps and movies. The D3 boasts an impressive array of audio-visual playback options, including support for compressed audio formats, iPods, satellite radio, and generic auxiliary input sources. Its navigation features are equally impressive, with turn-by-turn directions, as well as support for real-time traffic information, although the processor is far slower than we would like in terms of refreshing menus and digesting programmed route information. The major drawback with the D3, however, is its single disc slot--meaning that drivers will continually need to switch between the navigation DVD-ROM and other media discs to make use of all the unit's features.
Navigation
TeleAtlas maps on the Avic-D3 are bright and crisply rendered, with different classes of road shown in different colors. With the optional GEX-P10XMT traffic tuner and a monthly subscription to XM NavTraffic, drivers get real-time information on traffic flow and incidents. Varying levels of traffic congestion are represented by different-colored overlays: green for speeds more than 40mph, orange for speeds between 20mph and 40mph, and red for speeds of less than 20mph. The NavTraffic displays on the Avic-D3 are a lot more useful than those we have seen in factory-installed navigation systems such as that in the 2007 Acura TL Type-S , as the colored overlays flash, making it easy to distinguish between the road and the traffic color. Another useful feature of the NavTraffic option is a soft button at the bottom of the touch screen that brings up a list of incidents that can be sorted alphabetically or by proximity to current location.
Programming the Avic-D3's navigation system is straightforward. Destinations can be entered by address, point of interest, or telephone number; or by calling up previous destinations from the built-in address book or destination history. Users punch in a destination using the touch screen, entering the street number first, followed by street name, then city. There is a noticeable lag between these steps, which is accompanied by a whirr of the disc as the system processes the entered information. An option at the top menu level requires users to set the system to the relevant area of the United States--we're not fans of this idea as we prefer navigation systems that default to search the area nearest to the car's current location (such as the one in the 2007 Ford Expedition). With a destination entered, the system takes a few seconds to calculate the route, after which it generates a bright-green guidance line for the suggested route.
Audio video
With the navigation disc removed, the Avic-D3 can support a range of audio and videodiscs, including CDs and MP3, WMA, and AAC discs, plus DVD audio, DVD video, and DivX-encoded movies. When playing digital audio, the screen shows a number of useful options for navigating folders and files. With a MP3 or WMA disc playing, the system shows full tag information for folder, album, artist, and track; more information (on genre and year, for example) can be accessed by pushing an information button in the bottom right of the screen when in playback mode. Other large soft buttons enable drivers to play, pause, and skip easily, and a List button displays all the tracks on the current folder six at a time--a feature that we like, as it provides a means of getting to your desired track quickly. When playing DVD audio, the LCD screen displays the disc's browsable still pictures (BSPs) that accompany the music tracks.
The Avic-D3 comes with a built-in MOFSET amplifier, delivering 50Wx4 channels of output. A three-band parametric equalizer lets users customize audio, while a range of preset EQ configurations (including Powerful, Natural, and Vocal) provide appropriate acoustic effect for different audio sources.
Like the Sony CDX-GT610 UI that we reviewed recently, the Avic-D3 comes with an intelligent iPod dock connector as standard. With an iPod hooked up, the touch screen can be used to search for and play tracks. As with compressed audio-format discs, iPod tracks are accompanied by ID3 tag information. Tracks can be listed according to playlist, genre, artist, album, or podcast. A virtual wheel based on the iPod controller design occupies the right-hand side of the screen when an iPod is connected, although it is of limited value as it can be used only to skip forward within a track. For searching between tracks, users have to select their search parameters (playlist, genre, artist, and so on) and scroll through lists of tracks, which are displayed six at a time in alphabetical order. Although the Avic-D3 does have one-touch scrolling (a feature conspicuously absent from Dual XDVD8182), the feature is less than user-friendly, as the names of tracks are not displayed during scrolling, leaving users to estimate how far down the alphabetical list their desired track lies. iPods can also be used to play video via the Avic-D3's LCD screen. For playback of video from iPods, users have to use the player itself to select files.
Optional extras on the Avic-D3 include satellite radio (separate tuners are required for either XM or Sirius); and Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio streaming (CD-BTB100 wireless module required). When hooked up to the Bluetooth module, the Avic-D3 can be used to make or receive calls using the touch screen display. Phone numbers can also be stored in the system's internal phone book.
In sum
The Pioneer Avic-D3 is an entry-level, all-in-one, in-car system. When fully equipped with all its optional features, the D3 offers an effective and user-friendly navigation interface with real-time traffic and text-to-voice guidance. As an audio-visual media receiver, the Avic-D3 offers an impressive range of playback options; its standard iPod connector is particularly useful for drivers in the digital age.
User reviews
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CNET review asleep at the wheel
by vwjockey on March 14, 2007
Pros: Price, features, customization
Cons: screen size
Summary: For CNET to review this and give it a 6.4 is insane. They must be asleep at the wheel again. So what if it only has one slot for ...
Summary: For CNET to review this and give it a 6.4 is insane. They must be asleep at the wheel again. So what if it only has one slot for navi disc. All one has to do is either transfer everything to an ipod or put in a cd-changer. I guess if you want to pay a grand more you could get the Z1 that is if you like to throw money out the window. They also left out one of the coolest features in that you can set the color to match your dashboard lighting.
20 out of 21 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best nav unit for the price
by tunesmich on March 17, 2007
Pros: Just about everything
Cons: bluetooth connectivity
Summary: Cnet made a big deal about there being only one disc slot. But listening to music on cds is last century technology. I have approximately 150 cds. Even with a ...
Summary: Cnet made a big deal about there being only one disc slot. But listening to music on cds is last century technology. I have approximately 150 cds. Even with a 10 disc cd changer, and an extra cartridge, I'm still leaving behind almost 90% of my collection. Instead, I have everything stored on an ipod, hidden in the glove box, and wired to the unit with a $29 cable. The Avic-D3 has full Ipod controls. The days of wishing I had brought a different cd with me are over.
It is true that if you want to watch a dvd, you will have to remove the navigation disc. But remember, the unit will prohibit you from watching the dvd while the car is moving. Even if there was a way to bypass this feature (there is - but that's a diffrent topic), it is illegal in all 50 states to watch a dvd while driving. If I'm not driving, I can't really imagine too many scenarios where I would want to sit in my car and watch a movie on a tiny screen. (Maybe I'll try it the next time my girlfriend drags me shopping). So use the disc slot for navigation, use your ipod for all your music, and save the dvd for when you get home.
Otherwise, this is a terrific unit for the price. I got the Avic-D3, xm satellite tuner with traffic, bluetooth adaptor, rear view camera, ipod cable, wiring harness, and a $30 xm radio gift card from Crutchfield for $1,202. (Crutchfield had a 15% off deal if you bought three Pioneer items each worth at least $50, as well as a free rear view camera - a $250 value. They also give you the wire harness and gift card for free. I believe the special lasts until March 31, 2007).
I have only two complaints. The navigation disc is a little out of date. Pioneer says they will send an updated disc for free. Second, some of the bluetooth features will not work, such as auto-connect and phone book transfer. Not sure if this is the fault of the D3, the bluetooth adaptor, or my phone.
Otherwise, this is the best navigation unit I have seen in this price range.12 out of 12 users found this user opinion helpful.
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CNET is not looking at the big picture....
by MakoBimmer on March 14, 2007
Pros: lots of expandability at a great $$$$
Cons: No VIDEO iPod control from the headunit
Summary: We recently installed this unit in our FJ Cruiser and must say that we are extremely pleased with it. First, it looks like it was made for our vehicle. We ...
Summary: We recently installed this unit in our FJ Cruiser and must say that we are extremely pleased with it. First, it looks like it was made for our vehicle. We adjusted the color of the function buttons to exactly match those of the factory illumination.
Second, we bought the iPod adapter that keeps the unit charged at all times. The music playback and processing time is very fast...no lag noticed. The cool thing about this unit is that it allows for iPod video playback right on the NAV screen!!! No need to haul around expensive DVDs in the car...NOR a need for a 2nd CD slot, CNET. Come on.... this unit is revolutionary! The CD/DVD is going the way of the dinosaur. We just leave the NAV CD in the slot and never need to access the slot again. We can watch movies right from the iPod....very cool. The one drawback is that when watching iPod video, you have to actually operate it from the iPod and not the headunit. For this, I gave the unit a 9 rating. If Pioneer allows for video iPod controls from the headunit in the future, this product get a 10.
You can customize this unit to your specific needs at a great price point. We have iPod video/music connectivity, Bluetooth and Navigation for under $1000.
The unit allows for very fine tweaking of sound...the possibilities seem endless. The Navigation is very easy to operate. Without reading the instructions, we were able to use the unit effortlessly with easy to understand icons. It allows for a lot of customization as well that rivals some units twice its price.11 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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C-Net editors really missed the mark on this one
by BBcamille on April 12, 2007
Pros: Saving a $1000
Cons: Not buying this unit
Summary: I just purchased this unit. Upon my researching a new navigation system for my A4, seeing the editor's rating at a 6.4 out of 10 almost made me ...
Summary: I just purchased this unit. Upon my researching a new navigation system for my A4, seeing the editor's rating at a 6.4 out of 10 almost made me turn the page...until I read the user comments. Their positive comments were spot on. C-Net editors you're way too harsh. Psst..you guys need to replace the guy on coffee detail. You can do everything with this unit and did I mention IT ONLY COST $1000!! You name it, MP3, camera, bluetooth, Ipod, dvd, WMA, satellite nav traffic, cd....the list goes on and on. I'm just waiting for this thing to make me breakfast and then we'll start dating. Who cares you can only put one disk in the unit at a time...did mention IT ONLY COST $1000!! Let's dispense of the single disk capable issue. If you are still flipping through cd's one at a time to play your music, you are not in the market to buy a navigation anyway. Add a cd changer,or even better, plug in tons of music with an Ipod....problem solved and you still save almost $1000!! As one user review mentioned, it is nice to be able to match the background lighting to your car's existing lighting display. Finally, if you really want to spend $2000, get the avic-d3 and donate the rest to charity. Who doesn't like a win/win.
P.S. The dvd picture quality is pretty darn good too.5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Does Everything Good, but nothing Great
by Iceblades on November 26, 2007
Pros: Price, Ipod Video 5th Gen interface, Online Community of owners, integrated package
Cons: The latest Ipod Classic and Nano Video doesn't work seamlessly with video, No Album artwork displayed, Bland Interface
Summary: This product does work and having an all in one integrated platform for navigation and ipod control along with the factory fit and finish (for double din decks) is a ...
Summary: This product does work and having an all in one integrated platform for navigation and ipod control along with the factory fit and finish (for double din decks) is a huge plus.
If you own an Ipod video (5th gen 30gb, 60gb, or 80gb) you will thoroughlly enjoy this product. For under 1G you get a decent navigation platform, with good reception, ipod integration, bluetooth capability (with accessory), backup camera compatibility, and video out for other screens in your vehicle. With a little research you can very easily bypass the parking brake feature to allow full operation of the unit while driving, especially useful if you've wired the video out to rear LCD's in your vehicle (allowing the passenger to program new destinations...of course).
The sound through my factory speakers is great and the built in amplifier is more than enough to make you eardrums bleed and distort the view in your mirrors.
Where this product falls a little short is in not going the extra mile with the interface.
1st, when a particular song is playing the background is just a descriptive text background on the left and the ipod click wheel on the right. No Album artwork displayed. Most ipod users have loaded their album artwork and there is this great 7" display, but the album artwork isn't displayed...I'm still in disbelief with this oversight.
2nd is the ipod control. The touchscreen click wheel just incorporates the click aspects of the ipod (fwd, rev, play/pause) not the scrolling through songs. This is done through a sidebar that (with a fully loaded 60G ipod) is less than ideal (watch the cnet video demo).
3rd (I'm not sure if any video capable deck has the answer for this) but the latest ipod classic and ipod nano video is rendered as only a music player because (I think) of Apple's firmware decision.
This unit does accept the standard RCA video input jacks, so any player with a video output should work with this unit, but playing through the ipod cable on the latest ipods is limited.
4th - The navigation graphics aren't the best. They look very similar to stock Honda supplied units. I personally feel the Garmin has the corner on nav screens and they supply Kenwood in-dash nav units with their software (kenwood is almost double the price of this unit).
This unit uses a DVD based navigation platform with only one DVD slot. Although there is limited volataile memory (enough to store current route/destination maps), you will not be able to display any new destinations or veer to far off the current path without this DVD in the slot. So you wont be able to play your CD's while retaining full nav capabilities. Since I have all my songs stored as mp3 files and with a large mp3 player this aspect is of little concern.
Overall I am happy with my purchase, the sound is great and although bland, the ipod interface and the ability to list playlist and podcast's does help in finding the right song.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great features, good price, easy to use
by chills1138 on July 4, 2007
Pros: An easy to use interface, accurate map displays, cool accessories, good price for all the features it has.
Cons: Bluetooth adapter doesn't work with all phones, scrolling with iPod adapter can be tedious
Summary: I got this from Crutchfield and installed it in my Porsche Boxster myself. The unit worked right away, and I haven't had any problems. I also have the reverse ...
Summary: I got this from Crutchfield and installed it in my Porsche Boxster myself. The unit worked right away, and I haven't had any problems. I also have the reverse camera hooked up as well as the bluetooth adapter and iPod integrator.
Navigation: The navigation screens are easy to use and work well. This thing will get you where you want to go. It tells you what street you turn on next, which direction, how far until the turn, and how far until the destination. You can also have a flat 2D map or a 3D driver's view. You can also scroll across the screen by dragging the map with your finger. Changing the settings, like background picture and colors, is also quite easy.
Music: The radio functions are simple and easy to use. The iPod integrator works great. You have every function on the iPod right on your screen. The only con here is scrolling through artist/album lists is tedious because it is alphabatized and only shows 10 at a time. But that's a minor flaw.
Bluetooth: I have the bluetooth adapter for my phone. First off it didn't work with my Cingular 2125 phone (which is a piece of junk so no big loss). I was able to get the AVIC to connect with a Sony Ericsson phone easily, but I am not able to use all the features. The adapter works well because if the car is on it automatically connects to the phone. Calling is easy but I can't download my address book from this particular phone. I hope when I get a new smart phone I'll be able to. The calls come in crisp and clear and people can hear me just fine, even with the top down.
Back up camera: Not much to say here. The thing works well. I don't really need it in a convertible, but it was free with the AVIC and I like having it.
Summary: For what I paid this I am very impressed with the system. The CNET dude said only having one disc slot was a huge con, but I don't think so. I never listen to CD's or watch DVD's in the car because all my media is on my iPod. So the 1 disc thing is a non-issue.
This is a great device and I recommend it for anyone who wants a media center/navigation unit for their car.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This Unit is a 10 - no question
by marshdt on July 6, 2007
Pros: Price, Sharp Screen, Color Selector, Nav Included, etc.
Cons: No tilt screen
Summary: I did a lot of research on double DIN Navigation units. My main requirements were 1. Affordability. 2. Navigation Included. 3. IPod Interface. 4. XM Capable. 5. Easy to use....
Summary: I did a lot of research on double DIN Navigation units. My main requirements were 1. Affordability. 2. Navigation Included. 3. IPod Interface. 4. XM Capable. 5. Easy to use.
In a nutshell, this unit accommodated all of my requirements and more. The 6.1 inch screen is plenty big, and I appreciate the volume Dial, which is quickly becoming a thing of the past. You can change the interface color to match your dashboard. The 22Watt per channel built in amp powered my JBL speakers better than the stock head unit and amp. FM screen interface is adequate and easy to use. IPod interface looks just like the IPod. My MP3s sound just like CDs! I am a new XM user and I am enjoying the sound quality. The screen looked sharper than the Pioneer Z2 unit which costs twice as much.
If you're an Ipod user, you shouldn't care that the NAV DVD takes up the only slot (no HD). You'll probably never use a CD again. Navigation is great. Better than the stock unit in my Lexus. Response is quicker than I expected (DVD based). In summary, if you want Navigation, Ipod, XM, and DVD capability all for under $1000. Look no further. There are no other options under $1K.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent Price for all the features
by CNYguy on July 3, 2007
Pros: Many features for under $1K
Cons: Just needs some minor tweaking
Summary: For the price, this head unit can not be beat. I understand Cnet's point about only one disc slot but, as all the other fans of the D3 have ...
Summary: For the price, this head unit can not be beat. I understand Cnet's point about only one disc slot but, as all the other fans of the D3 have pointed out, hook up an Ipod and never worry about CD's again.
The navigation works like a charm compared to the past GPS units I've used. The sound is superb (and with many different ways to adjust via the equalizer).
The Ipod interface is awesome with one gripe (hence 9 stars instead of a 10 rating). It simply takes way too long to scroll down the list of artists or songs. I found a great fix for this though off of AVIC411.com. I changed all the Genre's for every song to the 1st letter of the band name (ie. # for 3 Doors Down, R for Rolling Stones, etc). That took some time but now I can find any song on my Ipod (w/ over 3K songs) in just a few seconds.
The only other minor gripe I have is the screen doesn't display enough info on it when hooked up to SIRIUS. On a normal SIRIUS receiver, you can see the station name, band name and song. Not on the D3. This is only a minor grievance w/ me however because I already know the stations being a SIRIUS subscriber for the past couple years already.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good product, good accesories
by AshwinMudigonda on June 4, 2007
Pros: Easy to use, nice accessory set, good POI database
Cons: iPod accessory needs work, USB accessory is horrible
Summary: Why I like it:
Unit:
- Cheap.
- Customizable with accessories.
- Does its navigation job most of the time pretty well.
- Nice extras such as vehicle dynamics, A2DP ...Summary: Why I like it:
Unit:
- Cheap.
- Customizable with accessories.
- Does its navigation job most of the time pretty well.
- Nice extras such as vehicle dynamics, A2DP compatability, equalizer settings.
- Quite intuitive commands regarding navigation.
- Good sound quality (Better than factory setting).
- Good POI database and telephone search is a blessing.
iPod:
- Whatever. It works.
Bluetooth:
- Works ok. Automatically stops playback and transfers call and vice versa.
Why I don't like it:
USB Interface (I returned this accesory)
- Very archaic controls.
- Only folder navigation, but no subfolder navigation abilities thus resulting in cumbersome searching.
- Only 8 character text display for folder, artist, album.
- Painful.
iPod
- For song capacities > few GB, searching is cumbersome.
- No alphabetical navigation (that would be nice)
- Scrolling doesn't work. With 200+ pages, finding an artist starting with M requires holding the down button for a while.
- After all the hard work of getting to the artist/album, the entire process needs to be repeated for the same result.
Eg. If you somehow found Buddha Bar - I, listened to it and now want to listen to Buddha Bar - II, the entire onus needs to be repeated.
Unit:
- Urban canyons can be painful resulting in wrong or convoluted directions.
Bluetooth:
- Had to buy a new phone because older version of BT wouldn't work.
- Highway noise can cause receiving party to get frustrated.
- Still doesn't automatically recognize phone (perhaps it is phone's fault)
What I would like to see:
- Z-axis information I.e. altitude. After the end of a trip, a graph showing the altitude points along the way would be great (As this reflects in the fuel economy)
- Voice commands (its there in the higher end models)
- Punchier colors.
- Choice of different voices.
- NO CHARGE ON DVD UPGRADES (I plonked a coupla grand for this)2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent product, lousy CNET rating!
by dddave40 on April 10, 2007
Pros: Excellent interface, useability, features, and sound.
Cons: Poor user manual, scrolling speed on iPod lists
Summary: I'm glad I went out and bought this system without regard to CNET's low rating. You would think that a high tech site like CNET would be more ...
Summary: I'm glad I went out and bought this system without regard to CNET's low rating. You would think that a high tech site like CNET would be more with the times. Pioneer probably did some market research and figured out (correctly) that people would rather carry around several hundred CDs on an iPod rather that have to futz with a few CDs in the car. Why do you think that you are seeing decks with hard drives and noCD slots. In fact, just look at Alpine's new iDA-X001 car deck (got this for my old truck) that doesn't even have a CD slot. If you are stuck in the dark ages and need to carry CDs around, both the AVIC and the fore mentioned Alpine allow you to hook up a remote CD changer. In fact, the reviewers here at CNET are probably concerned that they can't play cassettes or 8 track tapes on the AVIC either. Bottom line, take this baby for a test drive and see it in action for yourself. Once you make it through a short learning curve, you will find the interface is very intuitive and effective. The navigation system, iPod interface, and XM radio interface (XM module sold separately) are integrated well and very satisfying to use. The only negative for me is that the scrolling speed for artists, songs, etc, in the iPod interface is a bit slow. The scrolling interface on my Alpine deck works much faster and smoother. Other than that, I can't find any other negative issues.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Pioneer North America
- Part number: AVIC-D3
- Description: Pioneer takes Navigation to the next level with the all-new AVIC-D3, an incredible combination of Navigation, Audio/Video and Connectivity capability at an amazingly affordable price. Some of the key features include: PRODUCT FEATURES: Full North America navigation maps on 2 DVD discs with 12 million Points of Interest (POI); DVD Video playback; MP3, WMA, iTunes AAC, and DivX file playback on either CD or DVD; AUX input on front for both Audio and Video; Multicolor illumination allows you to match the color of your vehicle's dashboard.
General
- Product Type Navigation system with DVD player and LCD monitor
System
- Product Type:Form Factor In-dash
- Enclosure Type Double-DIN
- Supported Devices Digital player, Satellite radio receiver
- Digital audio format Dolby Digital output
- Control Features Touch panel
- Features:Additional Features iPod compatible
Monitor
- Type LCD monitor - In-dash unit integrated - Motorized
- Monitor:Diagonal Size 6.1 in
- Image Aspect Ratio 16:9
- Resolution 480 x 234
- Features:Additional Features Touch screen, Automatic dimmer, Anti-glare coating
DVD
- Type DVD player - In-dash unit integrated
- Media load type Slot-load
- Media type CD, DVD, CD-R, CD-RW
- MP3 Playback Yes
- Features:Additional Features WMA playback, DivX compatible
GPS System
- GPS System / GPS Navigation GPS receiver
- Maps Included USA, Canada
Connections
- Connector Type Composite video/audio input - Front
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & support type 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Manufacturer info
- Pioneer North America
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Pioneer North America products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/
- Address:
2265 E. 220th Street, Long Beach, CA 90810
