Jensen VM9312

Manufacturer: Audiovox Corporation. Part number: VM9312

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$297.00 - $495.99 at 3 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
3.5 stars Very good
Average user rating: 1.0 stars out of 2 reviews

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: The Jensen VM9312 is a capable in-car multimedia device. For those looking to play digital audio and video on the road, this system is a good value for the money.

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	Rate this store See store profile	In stock	Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price	$297.00 Shop now as of 10/10/2008
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CNET editors' review

Jensen VM9312

price range: $297.00 - $495.99

Reviewed by: Kevin Massy
Reviewed on: 05/03/2007
Released on: 10/16/2006

The good: The Jensen VM9312 features a wonderfully responsive touch screen, a useful iPod interface, and crisp video playback.

The bad: A slow processor means that drivers can find themselves waiting for sources to change over, and the system lacks a quick means of navigating digital audio libraries.

The bottom line: The Jensen VM9312 is a capable in-car multimedia device. For those looking to play digital audio and video on the road, this system is a good value for the money.

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Photo gallery:
Jensen VM9312

Waiting for the Jensen VM9312's whirring, motorized faceplate to emerge, the first-time user is not immediately reassured that this is going to be a device compatible with the digital age. After all, there are car stereos out there nowadays without any moving parts at all. But with the 7-inch touch screen fully deployed, the Jensen VM9312 proves itself more than capable of the task of handling most in-car media sources.

Design
With the faceplate stowed away, the Jensen VM9312 looks like any garden-variety single-DIN-size stereo head unit. Two rotary knobs at either end of the faceplate control volume (left) and skip/search (right), although for any sources other then AM/FM radio, the screen is essential for selecting and controlling the media.

Two prominent, backlit blue buttons give drivers the ability to change source and mute the current audio on the fly. Dedicated hard buttons for opening and closing the screen, as well as for adjusting display settings, are a nice addition to the very simple faceplate design.

Less visible is the VM9312's Eject button, which is tucked up in the top right-hand corner of the faceplate, on the far side of the driver, making it a stretch to access. Moreover, when the fold-out display is open, the Eject button is all but hidden from view by the bottom of the screen, adding to the travails of those who wish to change discs quickly.

For most sources, users have to make use of soft buttons on the touch screen. We are big fans of the sensitivity of the touch screen on the VM9312 and making selections requires only the slightest of contacts. Another positive feature of the VM9312's touch screen menus is the way in which option icons change color when pressed--without the tactile feedback of a hard button, this is a very useful means of letting you know that a selection has been made.

Features
For a sub-$400 system, the Jensen VM9312 packs in a lot of features. For audio choices, the device plays CDs (including CD-Rs and CD-RWs) and other compressed disc-based digital audio including MP3 and WMA. With Jensen's optional J-link iPod cable connected to its MediaLink3 underdash connection port, the VM9312 can be hooked up to iPods for audio and video playback. And for visual media, the system supports DVDs (including DVD-Rs/RWs, and DVD+Rs/RWs), VCD video, and picture CDs in JPEG format. With add-on modules (not included), the system can also be used to play XM and Sirius satellite radio.

The main source menu is very intuitive, giving clear, simple, color pictures for each of the unit's available sources (disc, radio, iPod, rearview camera, satellite radio, and two auxiliary inputs).

Like the Jensen VMTS1195 that we reviewed last year, the VM9312 has an impressive range of audio-tweaking features. In addition to individual settings for standard EQ levels (including bass and treble), the system features dynamic range control (for enhanced playback at lower volumes); settings for subwoofer phasing; and a subfilter, enabling users to fine-tune the audio output by setting a crossover frequency for low-range sound.

Performance
We are generally impressed with the VM9312's iPod control interface: like other aftermarket screen-based in-car media players, it features a virtual wheel control based on the design of the iPod player itself. This is the only way to select or control songs once an iPod is connected as the player itself is disabled. The touchable circular dial enables users to pause and play tracks, skip tracks, and call up an iPod-inspired menu (playlists, artists, albums, songs, etc.).

With an add-on cable, the Jensen VM9312 can play audio and video from iPods.

As with other devices we have seen, however, the VM9312 falls short in its iPod navigation functionality. Pulling up menus is all very well, but if you want to get to a favorite individual track, then it could take a while, as there is no easy means of scrolling through lists of songs. Using a scroll bar, users can skip tracks one at a time (not much use for a 2000-song library) or six at a time (ditto). In addition to iPod audio, the system can be used to display photos and video from fifth-generation iPods. For the latter, all playback controls are handled through the iPod itself, which must have its options for TV Out and Widescreen turned on.

For digital audio disc playback, the system shows folder and track information in an easily digestible format. ID3-tag information for individual tracks is displayed in a list on the left-hand side of the screen, while folder (or directory) information is shown on the title bar. When playing disc-based audio, the Jensen VM9312 displays an adapted version of the iPod wheel control, providing a straightforward means of playing and pausing tracks as well as skipping through tracks either one or six at a time. However, as with the iPod, there is no one-touch scroll feature available, meaning that discs containing lots of tracks have to be navigated with multiple button pushes.

We do like the VM9312's ability to bring up the source menu with a touch of the upper left-hand corner of the screen, but the system takes too long to switch between sources. Drivers who are looking to adjust the media source in those precious 10 seconds at the stoplight may find themselves frustrated with the Jensen VM9312, as it can take up to 15 seconds after selecting a source from the main menu for it to show up on the screen and start playing.

The VM9312's 7-inch screen delivers crisp video playback.

In video mode, the Jensen VM9312's screen is bright and delivers crisp reproductions of DVDs and VCDs. For safety purposes, the car's parking brake must be on in order to watch video. Controlling video playback via the touch screen is very straightforward, thanks to a menu that pops up in response to a touch of the bottom of the screen. Options include Play, Pause, Fast Search, Subtitles, and a touch screen keypad to enable DVD chapter selection. From the menu, there is also a one-touch option to get back to the DVD's title menu, which is also controllable by touch--a nice feature that manufacturers don't always build into the touch screens.

In sum
The Jensen VM9312 is an attractive package for those wanting basic media playback for digital audio and video. For a budget device, it offers a good range of features and customization options.

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User reviews

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Average user rating: 1.0 stars out of 2 reviews
My rating: 0 stars

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3 stars

great when it works

by Gary97TJ on November 30, 2007

Pros: easy to use, nice picture

Cons: screen quits working and most functions cannot be used without it.

Summary: good radio, nice video, was pleased with it until it quits working. replaced one under warranty (6 weeks wait time) and 2nd one has now gone out.

Summary: good radio, nice video, was pleased with it until it quits working. replaced one under warranty (6 weeks wait time) and 2nd one has now gone out.

1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
2 stars

it's just a cheap product

by Genevo on January 16, 2008

Pros: The price was low.

Cons: it breaks fast, the loading is slow

Summary: Two months into using Jensen vm8022 and the display stopped working. It took me a lot of trouble to install it and now I had to uninstall it and take ...

Read more

Summary: Two months into using Jensen vm8022 and the display stopped working. It took me a lot of trouble to install it and now I had to uninstall it and take the trouble to send it back for repair. The whole incident's just troublesome and time consuming.

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Specifications

Manufacturer: Audiovox Corporation.
Part number: VM9312
Description: The VM9312 multimedia receiver with 7-inch touch screen has a lot to offer you, starting with DVDR, DVDRW, CDR, CDRW, MP3, and WMA capabilities, but let's not forget that touch screen feature which makes alternating between functions, oh so easy!

General
Product Type DVD player with LCD monitor and AM/FM tuner
Width 7 in
Depth 7 in
Height 2 in
System
Product Type:Form Factor In-dash
Enclosure Type Full-DIN
Supported Devices Digital player, Satellite radio receiver
Control Features Touch panel
Features:Additional Features IPod compatible, ID3 tags support, CD text
Audio System
Amplifier signal-to-noise ratio 70 dBA
Amplifier max output power / channel qty 40 Watts x 4
Amplifier continuous power / channel qty 13 Watts x 4
Equalizer
Equalizer band qty 3 bands
Monitor
Type LCD monitor - In-dash unit integrated - Motorized
Technology TFT active matrix
Monitor:Diagonal Size 7 in
Image Aspect Ratio 16:9
Resolution 1440 x 234
Viewing Angle 130 degrees
Widescreen Modes Normal, Full
Features:Additional Features Touch screen, Anti-glare coating

Radio
Radio Radio tuner - AM/FM
Station preset qty 30
AM station preset qty 12
FM station preset qty 18
Radio response bandwidth 30 - 15000 Hz
Radio signal-to-noise ratio 58 dB
RDS Yes
Additional radio features FM stereo/mono switch, DX/LO switch, Auto Store (AS)
DVD
Type DVD player - In-dash unit integrated
Media load type Slot-load
Media type DVD+R, CD, Video CD, DVD+R DL, CD-RW, SVCD, CD-R, DVD+RW, Kodak Picture CD, DVD
Search speed 32x, 8x, 4x, 2x
Slow motion speed 1/6, 1/4, 1/7, 1/2
DVD media format PAL, NTSC
Audio D/A converter 24bit / 192kHz
Dynamic Range 95 dB
Signal-To-Noise Ratio 95 dBA
Response Bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
MP3 Playback Yes
Features:Additional Features WMA playback
Amplifier
Amplifier Output Details 13 Watt - 4 Ohm - THD 1.0 % - 4 channel(s)
Remote Control
Remote control type Remote control
Remote control technology Infrared
Connections
Connector Type 2 x Composite video output, Composite video/audio input, 2 x Audio line-in, Composite video output

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Manufacturer info

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