nüvifone™. The navigation phone.JVC KD HDR1
Manufacturer: JVC Part number: KD-HDR1
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The JVC KD HDR1 in-car stereo delivers HD Radio and most other digital-audio playback options for a very competitive price.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
JVC KD HDR1 price range: $106.37
- Reviewed by: Kevin Massy
- Reviewed on: 06/22/2007
The good: The JVC KD HDR1 car stereo's built-in HD Radio tuner and its wealth of digital audio playback options set it apart from the competition in the sub-$200 price range.
The bad: The limited number of characters on its display means that ID3 tag and HD radio channel information can be tough to read at times.
The bottom line: The JVC KD HDR1 in-car stereo delivers HD Radio and most other digital-audio playback options for a very competitive price.
JVC's KD HDR1 is one of the few in-car stereos on the market that comes with a built-in HD (hybrid digital) radio tuner. HD radio works by sending out a traditional analog signal as well as digital signal, which can be used to transmit text data such as song and artist details. Radios with a built-in HD receiver sort through the multiple signals and reproduce the original broadcast without the multipath distortion associated with standard analog FM and AM reception. The KD HDR1 can also play MP3 and WMA discs and can be connected to iPods and satellite radio via add-on modules.
Design
Like other products from JVC's KD range we've seen, the single-DIN-size KD HDR1 features a well-designed control interface with a good combination of buttons and dials for selecting and tweaking audio sources. On the left of the KD HDR1's faceplate, a backlit D pad provides the means of skipping tracks and folders (for disc-based audio) and radio channels (including multicast programs on HD radio); it also acts as a proxy control interface for iPods, which are connected via an optional module.
A volume dial and a standard row of hard buttons along the bottom of the system's single-line monochrome display rounds out the picture. While we are not crazy about the size of the display and the fact that it is limited to showing eight characters at a time, it is bright enough to be visible from the driver's seat, even in direct sunlight.
Features and performance
The KD HDR1's headlining feature is its built-in HD radio receiver. Comparing the sound quality of HD- and standard- analog broadcast on the KD HDR1 is easy, as it takes up to 10 seconds for the device to pick up the radio channel's HD signal after it has found the regular analog signal. During the time it takes to lock onto the digital signal, an HD icon flashes in the bottom right-hand corner of the display. The difference between the two signals is startling: when the HD mode kicks in, the audio output becomes far clearer, with the hissing and fuzz associated with regular FM broadcasts completely eliminated. In HD mode, the KD HDR1 reproduces instruments and voices with greater clarity, and acoustic separation is far more distinct than in analog mode.
Another benefit of HD radio (other than its being free) is its ability to carry multiple channels of music from the same radio station--so-called "multicasts." Most HD stations have only one or two channels on each channel to date, but there is potential for up to seven channels to be multicast on a single FM or AM frequency.
For disc-based media, the KD HDR1 plays CDs and homemade MP3 and WMA discs. If the latter are encoded with ID3 tag information, that can be called up on the stereo's monochrome LCD faceplate. Only eight characters of any one tag (artist/ track/ album etc) can be displayed at once, though tags can be set to scroll via an option in the Select menu.
Using JVC's KS-PD100 module ($50), the KD HDR1 can also be used to play music from iPods via a full-speed or "intelligent" connection, which transfers control of the iPod's library to the stereo itself. Navigation of the standard iPod menus (artists/ albums/ songs/ composers/ genres) using the KD HDR1 takes some getting used to, but it is surprisingly user-friendly for a device with such a basic display.
JVC uses the KD HDR1's four-way interface to mimic the buttons on an iPod itself. Pressing the Up button takes users back to a higher menu level (equivalent to pressing the Menu button on an iPod; Back and Forward select through menu options; and Down confirms a selection). As with digital audio discs, the ID3 tag information for iPod tracks is limited to eight characters, making it sometimes difficult to recognize songs at a glance. Also on the down side, there is no generic auxiliary input jack to enable drivers to connect any digital audio players other than iPods.
The KD HDR1 comes with a built-in MOS-FET amp, giving it 20 watts of power through four channels. Like many modern car stereos it also has a two-line output (2.5 volts), and a dedicated subwoofer out for those wanting to connect it to their own bass bin. Other settings include the option for Circle Sound surround sound signal processing for HD programs encoded with CS II. Circle Sound works by attempting to reproduce 5.1 surround-sound acoustics using only four speakers. Users can also select different intermediate frequency (IF) settings to reduce interference noise between stations, and can set amplifier gain control, which enables users to select the maximum power output level for the built-in amp to avoid blowing lower-powered speakers.
In sum
The KD HDR1 is a bargain for those looking for an in-car stereo with a built-in HD Radio tuner. While its monochrome display is a little small for navigating audio libraries, its user-friendly interface and range of supported sources make it an appealing option for the price.
User reviews
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Great Product, Great sound!
by bparrott03 on October 1, 2006
Pros: great Sound , Commercial Free Music, 100% free radio broadcasts, Multicasts, Remote, Sub Wof. Control, Text display, ID3 tag compat., MP3/WMA compatible
Cons: Nothing really. Its a awsome radio.
Summary: Just to inform you, The accual HD radio part of the device is from the radio station. so ALL delays between Analog and HD digital is NOT the radio's ...
Summary: Just to inform you, The accual HD radio part of the device is from the radio station. so ALL delays between Analog and HD digital is NOT the radio's fault. It is the station. This radio was one of the first with a built in HD-tuner.
And if you wonder why it takes a few seconds to connect to HD, and the mulitcast because well.. Think of it as WiFi [just an exapmle].
The radio first searches for the HD stream. Once it finds it, it connects. Once connected [HD light is on] you can move th eup [or down] arrow on the "D-Pad circle" and move through the available HD multicasts.
But please remember, the accual broadcast is the stations problem, the radio will just pick it up. so if you are having delays, or not picking their HD2 up [if they are promoting it] Then please, contact them and let them know!
[I work for a radio station and i own this radio, so I am always tweaking things at the station to make it right. and remember, not all stations are HD yet. please go to www.HDradio.com to find a station near you. Thank!]5 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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good stereo. terrible warranty service.
by Yossarian*BDA* on November 4, 2007
Pros: built-in HD radio works great.
Cons: iPod controls are slow and clunky. display truncates text. absolutely abysmal warranty service.
Summary: built-in HD radio works as advertised. i was initially disappointed with the ipod controls. the d-pad on the left is extremely clumsy to use for navigating albums and playlists. there'...
Summary: built-in HD radio works as advertised. i was initially disappointed with the ipod controls. the d-pad on the left is extremely clumsy to use for navigating albums and playlists. there's an annoying half second delay between pressing the button and having it scroll to the next song. the screen only displays a few characters of text, making it difficult to find the song you're looking for. my unit lasted 6 months before crapping out. i sent it back under warranty. after 6 weeks, they hadn't even started to fix it. when they finally sent it back, the unit was completely dead. i then waiting several weeks for them to send me a fedex prepaid shipping label. it has now been 3 months since they first received the deck and i have yet to receive my replacement. i have talked with countless people at JVC customer care and the JVC service center. some of them are sympathetic. others are insulting. they have broken promise after promise about when the deck will be repaired. 3 months is an ungodly amount of time to be in service. they finally gave up on fixing the old deck and are now offering to ship me a refurbished deck, but they refuse to extend the warranty from the initial purchase date. what good is a 1 year warranty if the product is stuck in service for most of that time?
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Sounds good, great price, but...
by Pattybeach on February 9, 2009
Pros: I loved the SRS Surround feature. Very impressive at simulating real surround sound
Cons: sub woofer output developed problems after using for less than a year
Summary: Mainly I was impressed with the price, less than $100 at a local store. There were no other HD receivers anywhere near that price! Then once installed I fell in ...
Summary: Mainly I was impressed with the price, less than $100 at a local store. There were no other HD receivers anywhere near that price! Then once installed I fell in love with the SRS feature and the remote control. However the sub woofer output has developed a problem after very light use in less than 1 year. The sub volume control does not work at all now. Also, if the fader control is set to front only, nothing comes out of sub. My choice now is to live with the sub problem or get a new KD-HDR1 for $89 on Ebay.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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excellent product!!
by hvactech123 on July 17, 2008
Pros: Ipod connection, amazing features, awesome control.
Cons: Limited characters at once shown and have to remember a lot to get to some controls.
Summary: What an awesome product!! Excellent control over the sound with equalizer and Mosfit amp. Pretty much make it sound however you like it. Ipod connection is an exellent feature. Able ...
Summary: What an awesome product!! Excellent control over the sound with equalizer and Mosfit amp. Pretty much make it sound however you like it. Ipod connection is an exellent feature. Able to scan by playlist, artist, song ect. Can jump 1 at a time or 10. What more could you ask for. Not much HD in our area yet, pretty rural. Some descriptions are vague about having to buy Ipod cable and Sat cable if you want to control them through the system. Do have to remember a lot to get to some controls, keep manual in glove box if I don't use something for a while. All and all, an amazing system, don't think I've turned the volume up over the 30 setting, can't take it, I think it goes to 100!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Lots of choices incl. sat. radio and ipod connection
by Lv2skivt on January 31, 2008
Pros: Good sound through my factory speakers
Cons: Limited character spaces (8) for quick reading
Summary: I never knew how good AM radio sounds in HD. On our long trips we have many options since I have XM connected. Just bought the ipod cable, and we'...
Summary: I never knew how good AM radio sounds in HD. On our long trips we have many options since I have XM connected. Just bought the ipod cable, and we'll have lots of tunes as well. Great radio at a decent price. Highly recommend it.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Works well
by danunson on December 26, 2007
Pros: Good sound, easy to use
Cons: No front MP3 player jack
Summary: The sound of HD radio is worth it and the price on this unit makes getting HD radio fairly inexpensive. Make sure to get a good kit for installation, with ...
Summary: The sound of HD radio is worth it and the price on this unit makes getting HD radio fairly inexpensive. Make sure to get a good kit for installation, with a kit I was able to easily install in my Honda Accord (98). Has an equalizer and, in general, is easy to operate. My only wish is that it had a normal 1/8" plug on the front for my Zune, it only works with an I-Pod if you install an adapter.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Radio but HD Needs to BOOST BROADCAST STRENGTH!!!
by hono1974 on November 24, 2007
Pros: Unit is packed with features and allows owners to customize with exactly what amps, ipods or line-in audio they want.
Cons: Amp needs to deliver stated wattage to all frequencies regardless of volume or music types.
Summary: Do not compare hd to satellite. I made that huge mistake! If you live 30 miles or more away from the broadcast, you'll only get lousy, noisy typical fm ...
Summary: Do not compare hd to satellite. I made that huge mistake! If you live 30 miles or more away from the broadcast, you'll only get lousy, noisy typical fm reception. I returned the HD Radio and bought another JVC deck without HD. I call it "red light" radio because only when you stop at a red light can you get the hd signal long enough to enjoy the upgraded sound and channels. Note to iBiquity: If you and your terrestrial broadcast friends want to compete with satellite, you had better mandate that broadcasters transmit your hd signal with as much or even more power than the analog broadcast - especially when the digital transmission is silent on regular analog radios!!! I have instead subscribed to satellite radio now because nowhere does it say that hd is useless outside 30 miles from the broadcast. Trust me on this point: You'll only get noisy fm reception that you get now because the actual power used to broadcast hd is minimal - at least sat. radio blankets the whole continent, absolutely guarantee reception and they also have ground repeaters to provide service in the major cities. I was very, very, very disappointed that the hd crowd didn't think ahead enough to make hd radio robust enough to guarantee delivery of the hd signal outside the metro areas of cities where the "other" millions of listeners reside. They also blew it for one major reason: guess who would benefit from the advertising to people who have long commutes? Answer: The RADIO STATIONS AND BUSINESSES THAT ADVERTISE!!! The "D" in HD must stand for DUMMIES!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great sound and features!
by gothamknight99 on August 26, 2007
Pros: Bargain HD radio, great sound and design
Cons: No adapter for mp3 player control (other than iPod)
Summary: This turned out to be a superior replacement for my stock Toyota Tacoma radio. Before I thought I'd have to replace my stock speakers as well as the receiver ...
Summary: This turned out to be a superior replacement for my stock Toyota Tacoma radio. Before I thought I'd have to replace my stock speakers as well as the receiver but after installing just the KD-HDR1 the sound was loud, rich, and deep. It made the stock speakers sound way better. Now with HD FM, AM stations come in clearer and better. The additional HD stations create a free Satellite Radio experience. I did get an adapter to play my mp3 player but I have to use the mp3 player to control song and album selection. Not a big deal.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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KD-HDR1 is very good, but...
by briansmac on August 2, 2007
Pros: great sound, great features
Cons: auto time set should be standard on this unit.
Summary: The radio is truely a great receiver. It took about an hour or so to fully understand what all the features are/do. I was somewhat disappointed that the auto ...
Summary: The radio is truely a great receiver. It took about an hour or so to fully understand what all the features are/do. I was somewhat disappointed that the auto time set and DST are not included as a standard feature(s). You must have a satelite radio unit attached to communicate with a certain broadcaster. I would think the signal could come from the atomic time server in Boulder, CO just like my atomic wrist watch does. May be an idea for future receivers. The AM radio was especially sensational for me since the analog radio here in Colorado Springs has much to be desired with interferance, hissing and popping. The receiver eliminates all the noise and improves the sound quite a bit. There are a few times on our busy Academy Blvd where analog AM radio cannot pick up Denver radio stations because of major noise and interferance from power substations and power lines above. This receiver did still pick up the radio stations that previously had all noise problems in these trouble spots.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Beware if you have a German car
by Bluesters on July 27, 2007
Pros: Excellent Sound
Cons: No AM in German Cars
Summary: I have a BMW Z3 and this radio is not compatible with the German car.
The FM works great, but forget about getting AM stations. I called JVC, Crutchfield, they ...Summary: I have a BMW Z3 and this radio is not compatible with the German car.
The FM works great, but forget about getting AM stations. I called JVC, Crutchfield, they all say it is indeed compatible. But somebody needs to update their notes.
I had this radio taken to 4 different installers, none of them could get the AM to come in clear. It has something to do with the built-in harness of the BMW and it's internal antenna. Other than that the HD quality is terrific.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: JVC
- Part number: KD-HDR1
- Description: HD Radio provides digital CD quality sound using a standard FM antenna. JVC's KD-HDR1 has HD capability without the need for additional equipment or tuners. An Ipod, Satellite Radio, or CD Changer can also be added through the changer bus for even more digital quality entertainment.
General
- Product Type Radio / HD radio / CD / MP3 player
- Recommended Use Car
- Form Factor Full-DIN - In-dash unit
Audio System
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Sound effects SRS CS, TruBass
- Equalizer Yes
- Audio system controls Bass, Fader, Treble, Volume, Balance, Attenuate
- Amplifier max output power / channel qty 50 Watts x 4
- Amplifier continuous power / channel qty 20 Watts x 4
- Amplifier total output power 200 Watt
- Clock Yes (digital)
- Additional features IPod ready, Night dimmer, ID3 tags support, Gold plated connectors, Rotary encoder multi-control, Sirius satellite radio ready
Equalizer
- Equalizer band qty 7 bands
- Equalizer center frequencies 60 Hz, 150 Hz, 400 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2400 Hz, 6000 Hz, 15000 Hz
Radio
- Type Radio / HD radio tuner - AM/FM
CD System
- CD system type CD / MP3 player
- Media load type Slot-load
- Digital audio standards supported MP3, WMA
- CD-R compatible Yes
- CD-RW compatible Yes
Remote Control
- Remote control type Remote control
- Remote control technology Infrared
Manufacturer info
- JVC
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse JVC products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.jvc.com/
- Address:
1700 Valley Rd.
Wayne, NJ 07470 - Phone: 800-526-5308
