JVC KW-NT1 review anyone?

**Raylo** · 06-26-2009, 08:02 AM

I am looking for a GPS head unit for my truck and like the detachable face on this unit. Don't like that it doesn't have a rotary volume knob... but otherwise looks good. Anyone here have any experience with this model? I can't seem to find hands-on user reviews anywhere. BTW, I know Crutch is expensive... just linked here for the good info page.

http://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KWNT...ures_and_specs

jaggerwild · 06-26-2009, 10:43 AM

JVC makes pretty good quality stuff, that being said I have no real world experience with it. But found you a link, sure you have seen it already but in case you have not.........

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JVC-K...lenotsupported

jaggerwild · 06-26-2009, 10:43 AM

Sorry hit the happy button today

**Raylo** · 06-26-2009, 01:06 PM

Thanks Jagger, I have indeed found many vendors with better prices than Cruthfield. But the big problem with these guys is their lame lame lame websites that don't directly link the needed accessories like install kits, cameras, harnesses, and steering wheel control adapters. Each piece is a major goose hunt and they usually don't have some or all of them. I may actually try Sonic Electronix if I decide to go with this since they seem to have everything (and it is findable) and they have a "make an offer" on the HUs. So anything close to the cheapo's prices on the JVC will work for me if it saves me some hassles.

jaggerwild · 06-26-2009, 04:24 PM

Well seeing you mentioned price, you do know you can get a cellular phone with GPS right? they are cheap too, just the plan ain't. Lee may chime in with a link he has a shop as well.

**Raylo** · 06-27-2009, 06:29 AM

I already have a real PDA based GPS (OCN5) running on my Dell Axim with a plug in CF card GPS receiver. Been using that for 4 or 5 years or so. Maps are a little old but still works for most situations. I'll keep that for my other car but might as well get an in dash setup with the new head unit. All those cell data plans are a rip off... at least for me. They want to nickel and dime you for everything or give you a one huge price package. Not even real GPS....

lcurle · 06-29-2009, 07:18 AM

I had a cheapo JVC deck in my comp car at one time...did the trick until the bass got to loud and started skipping the deck, then it stopped playing cd's...then it wouldnt eject them anymore....oops. It took ALOT of abuse from me.

**Raylo** · 07-02-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcurle

I had a cheapo JVC deck in my comp car at one time...did the trick until the bass got to loud and started skipping the deck, then it stopped playing cd's...then it wouldnt eject them anymore....oops. It took ALOT of abuse from me.

I had never thought about the bass making the CD player skip. Oof! I guess a good system design would be to size the sub and amp to match the quality of the h/u so the cd player and the driver's brain start to skip at about the same time. ;-)

lcurle · 07-03-2009, 09:43 PM

In my demo vehicle (1990 F150 Ext. Cab) I have 4 rockford 12" with two 500/2 amps for each set, the cd player startes to skip at about 45mhz, at 35mhz it sets off car alarms.

**Raylo** · 07-04-2009, 07:01 AM

That's just sick, Lee!

Well, I went and ordered the KW-NT1 and all the stuff for install. No sub yet but I will be running the rca cable and the amp turn on wire and leaving in the door sill channel so I can easily add one later... if I can figure out a good way to get one in my access cab w/o messing up my cargo/storage space. My sub will be a "girly" one... probably a 10" shallow mount with maybe 200 watts or so. Enough for my old ears.....

lcurle · 07-04-2009, 12:49 PM

I will give you guys a sneak peek at the demo vehicle.....

Keep us updated on the progress. Make sure to tape off the signal wires, they can cause trouble is left bare.

jaggerwild · 07-04-2009, 08:18 PM

Very nice 4 12's?
That kind of set up makes it hard to breath when it's hitting...........

**Coolfreak** · 07-05-2009, 09:01 AM

Can I ask how you are powering that? Only one cap too? Must be a big alternator?

lcurle · 07-05-2009, 08:12 PM

120 dual alternators, roughtly 240 amps, due to the PA/CB Radio, as well as the internal and external lighting. yeah they are 12's, preliminary numbers show 159dB without a tune.

**Raylo** · 07-10-2009, 04:43 PM

I installed my KW-NT1 today.... I don't have time for a full review now but I do like it. Plenty of power, decent screen, Nav seems to work fine. I also put in a Pioneer BC2 backup cam. That works well, too.

Also installed a PAC SWI-JACK. Install went well but the programming.... It looked like it took everything but while some functions work most don't. At least the volume up and down work which is all I really use anyway.

Only 1 real issue... The bluetooth calling works fine with my Motorola Razr VE20 but I can't transfer my phone book to the JVC. I think it is more a problem with my phone than the JVC. I get the JVC ready to accept them but there is no menu selection in the phone to actually do the transfer. And there seems to be no way to make manual address book entires in the JVC. So I am stuck with redialing numbers I have dialed manually or calling back numbers saved form incomings. Anyone know a workaround for this?

lcurle · 07-12-2009, 12:38 PM

check the motorola website

**Raylo** · 07-12-2009, 01:11 PM

Been there, done that. Inconclusive.

One other issue and I am a bit upset.... The unit has firmware that disables many features while the vehicle is in motion, like manual GPS address entry, manual phone number entry, video playback (this one works off parking brake switch and can be easily bypassed). I really don't care about all those but it also prevents you from scrolling beyond the first 5 saved phone numbers in "dialed", "received" and "phone book" directories of saved numbers to make hands free calls! The scroll buttons are greyed out while in motion! So all you can dial is whatever happens to be on the first screens of saved numbers. So if the number I want isn't on the first screen I have to stop... or pick up my phone and dial in a really dangerous way?? If I have to stop what's the point of hands free in the first place? Might as well use the phone. This is unacceptable. Are they all like this? Are there hacks?

**Raylo** · 07-13-2009, 03:50 AM

I figured out how to transfer the phonebook. Apparently I wasn't giving the phone long enough to drop the HFP connection to switch to the OPP connection profile for transfer. This time the actual "send" menu appeared for the JVC unit and it worked. It still hung up on a couple of contacts for whatever reason but after a few partial xfers it is done. :-)

wolfdeasia · 07-13-2009, 08:16 AM

Good day, new to this forum.

I have KW-NT1 in my truck and it works really well...loving it.
GPS loads fast, IPOD loads fast, SD memory card loads fast, CD loads fast as well...
I haven't try to play DVD on it yet..
Bluetooth connectivity has no-issue, loud and clear.

*****
Now I have a support question that I would like some help on...

KW-NT1 supports some other languages, French, Spanish...however, because I have quite a few songs with Japanese and Chinese (traditional) font displays, I would like to find a way to install font packages to support the display...

Since KW-NT1 runs on Windows Automotive 5, based on CE system...I will need you tech people to help me out here...

thanks in advance..

**Raylo** · 07-13-2009, 11:10 AM

Wow, that one is beyond my knowledge level! Perhaps you can make a suggestion to JVC and they might include additional language fonts in a future firmware update.

Yes, everything works very well but..... are you really OK with the way the phonebook is locked out except for the first screen with the first 5 entries while driving? But meanwhile you can click on all sorts of menus and make choices, like radio bands, multiple presets, etc., etc. until you get tired of pushing buttons.... but you can't scroll down a screen to press a button to make a phone call? This one is really torquing me off.

06-26-2009, 08:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
Raylo TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 523 OS: XP Desktop, Vista HP Notebook, XP Notebook	JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? I am looking for a GPS head unit for my truck and like the detachable face on this unit. Don't like that it doesn't have a rotary volume knob... but otherwise looks good. Anyone here have any experience with this model? I can't seem to find hands-on user reviews anywhere. BTW, I know Crutch is expensive... just linked here for the good info page. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KWNT...ures_and_specs

06-26-2009, 10:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
jaggerwild TSF Gearhead Join Date: May 2007 Location: NY Posts: 828 OS: Windows XP32 bit/Vista HB 64bit My System	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? JVC makes pretty good quality stuff, that being said I have no real world experience with it. But found you a link, sure you have seen it already but in case you have not......... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JVC-K...lenotsupported __________________ Please if you need help, start a new thread with questions only after reading the first few sticky's up top. http://www.techsupportforum.com/auto...ter/car-audio/ A Link for Viper alarm owners http://www.directed.com/Support/Prod...es/Owners.aspx

06-26-2009, 10:43 AM	#3 (permalink)
jaggerwild TSF Gearhead Join Date: May 2007 Location: NY Posts: 828 OS: Windows XP32 bit/Vista HB 64bit My System	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? Sorry hit the happy button today __________________ Please if you need help, start a new thread with questions only after reading the first few sticky's up top. http://www.techsupportforum.com/auto...ter/car-audio/ A Link for Viper alarm owners http://www.directed.com/Support/Prod...es/Owners.aspx

06-26-2009, 01:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Raylo TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 523 OS: XP Desktop, Vista HP Notebook, XP Notebook	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? Thanks Jagger, I have indeed found many vendors with better prices than Cruthfield. But the big problem with these guys is their lame lame lame websites that don't directly link the needed accessories like install kits, cameras, harnesses, and steering wheel control adapters. Each piece is a major goose hunt and they usually don't have some or all of them. I may actually try Sonic Electronix if I decide to go with this since they seem to have everything (and it is findable) and they have a "make an offer" on the HUs. So anything close to the cheapo's prices on the JVC will work for me if it saves me some hassles.

06-26-2009, 04:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
jaggerwild TSF Gearhead Join Date: May 2007 Location: NY Posts: 828 OS: Windows XP32 bit/Vista HB 64bit My System	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? Well seeing you mentioned price, you do know you can get a cellular phone with GPS right? they are cheap too, just the plan ain't. Lee may chime in with a link he has a shop as well. __________________ Please if you need help, start a new thread with questions only after reading the first few sticky's up top. http://www.techsupportforum.com/auto...ter/car-audio/ A Link for Viper alarm owners http://www.directed.com/Support/Prod...es/Owners.aspx

06-27-2009, 06:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
Raylo TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 523 OS: XP Desktop, Vista HP Notebook, XP Notebook	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? I already have a real PDA based GPS (OCN5) running on my Dell Axim with a plug in CF card GPS receiver. Been using that for 4 or 5 years or so. Maps are a little old but still works for most situations. I'll keep that for my other car but might as well get an in dash setup with the new head unit. All those cell data plans are a rip off... at least for me. They want to nickel and dime you for everything or give you a one huge price package. Not even real GPS....

06-29-2009, 07:18 AM	#7 (permalink)
lcurle TSF Gearhead (Audio) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newton, Kansas Posts: 593 OS: Xp Pro SP3	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? I had a cheapo JVC deck in my comp car at one time...did the trick until the bass got to loud and started skipping the deck, then it stopped playing cd's...then it wouldnt eject them anymore....oops. It took ALOT of abuse from me. __________________ Lee - MECP Certified "Any advice given on this forum is intended for helping and assisting the end user with their issue at hand. Personal saftey is important when working on any vehicle."

07-03-2009, 09:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
lcurle TSF Gearhead (Audio) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newton, Kansas Posts: 593 OS: Xp Pro SP3	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? In my demo vehicle (1990 F150 Ext. Cab) I have 4 rockford 12" with two 500/2 amps for each set, the cd player startes to skip at about 45mhz, at 35mhz it sets off car alarms. __________________ Lee - MECP Certified "Any advice given on this forum is intended for helping and assisting the end user with their issue at hand. Personal saftey is important when working on any vehicle."

07-04-2009, 07:01 AM	#10 (permalink)
Raylo TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 523 OS: XP Desktop, Vista HP Notebook, XP Notebook	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? That's just sick, Lee! Well, I went and ordered the KW-NT1 and all the stuff for install. No sub yet but I will be running the rca cable and the amp turn on wire and leaving in the door sill channel so I can easily add one later... if I can figure out a good way to get one in my access cab w/o messing up my cargo/storage space. My sub will be a "girly" one... probably a 10" shallow mount with maybe 200 watts or so. Enough for my old ears.....

07-04-2009, 12:49 PM	#11 (permalink)
lcurle TSF Gearhead (Audio) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newton, Kansas Posts: 593 OS: Xp Pro SP3	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? I will give you guys a sneak peek at the demo vehicle..... Keep us updated on the progress. Make sure to tape off the signal wires, they can cause trouble is left bare. __________________ Lee - MECP Certified "Any advice given on this forum is intended for helping and assisting the end user with their issue at hand. Personal saftey is important when working on any vehicle." Last edited by lcurle; 07-04-2009 at 01:09 PM.

07-04-2009, 08:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
jaggerwild TSF Gearhead Join Date: May 2007 Location: NY Posts: 828 OS: Windows XP32 bit/Vista HB 64bit My System	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? Very nice 4 12's? That kind of set up makes it hard to breath when it's hitting........... __________________ Please if you need help, start a new thread with questions only after reading the first few sticky's up top. http://www.techsupportforum.com/auto...ter/car-audio/ A Link for Viper alarm owners http://www.directed.com/Support/Prod...es/Owners.aspx

07-05-2009, 09:01 AM	#13 (permalink)
Coolfreak Mentor, Microsoft Support Join Date: May 2008 Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA Posts: 3,143 OS: Windows XP Pro / Windows Vista / Windows 7	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? Can I ask how you are powering that? Only one cap too? Must be a big alternator? __________________ I subscribe to all threads I post in. But, if in case I don't or I forget, and I don't post back within 24 hours, please PM me. I will get back to your thread ASAP. #3 Texas Longhorns 9-0 Everest ~ DBAN ~ UBCD4WIN ~ ImgBurn ~ Memtest86+ ~ HDD Diags

07-05-2009, 08:12 PM	#14 (permalink)
lcurle TSF Gearhead (Audio) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newton, Kansas Posts: 593 OS: Xp Pro SP3	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? 120 dual alternators, roughtly 240 amps, due to the PA/CB Radio, as well as the internal and external lighting. yeah they are 12's, preliminary numbers show 159dB without a tune. __________________ Lee - MECP Certified "Any advice given on this forum is intended for helping and assisting the end user with their issue at hand. Personal saftey is important when working on any vehicle."

07-10-2009, 04:43 PM	#15 (permalink)
Raylo TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 523 OS: XP Desktop, Vista HP Notebook, XP Notebook	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? I installed my KW-NT1 today.... I don't have time for a full review now but I do like it. Plenty of power, decent screen, Nav seems to work fine. I also put in a Pioneer BC2 backup cam. That works well, too. Also installed a PAC SWI-JACK. Install went well but the programming.... It looked like it took everything but while some functions work most don't. At least the volume up and down work which is all I really use anyway. Only 1 real issue... The bluetooth calling works fine with my Motorola Razr VE20 but I can't transfer my phone book to the JVC. I think it is more a problem with my phone than the JVC. I get the JVC ready to accept them but there is no menu selection in the phone to actually do the transfer. And there seems to be no way to make manual address book entires in the JVC. So I am stuck with redialing numbers I have dialed manually or calling back numbers saved form incomings. Anyone know a workaround for this?

07-12-2009, 12:38 PM	#16 (permalink)
lcurle TSF Gearhead (Audio) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newton, Kansas Posts: 593 OS: Xp Pro SP3	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? check the motorola website __________________ Lee - MECP Certified "Any advice given on this forum is intended for helping and assisting the end user with their issue at hand. Personal saftey is important when working on any vehicle."

07-12-2009, 01:11 PM	#17 (permalink)
Raylo TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 523 OS: XP Desktop, Vista HP Notebook, XP Notebook	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? Been there, done that. Inconclusive. One other issue and I am a bit upset.... The unit has firmware that disables many features while the vehicle is in motion, like manual GPS address entry, manual phone number entry, video playback (this one works off parking brake switch and can be easily bypassed). I really don't care about all those but it also prevents you from scrolling beyond the first 5 saved phone numbers in "dialed", "received" and "phone book" directories of saved numbers to make hands free calls! The scroll buttons are greyed out while in motion! So all you can dial is whatever happens to be on the first screens of saved numbers. So if the number I want isn't on the first screen I have to stop... or pick up my phone and dial in a really dangerous way?? If I have to stop what's the point of hands free in the first place? Might as well use the phone. This is unacceptable. Are they all like this? Are there hacks? Last edited by Raylo; 07-12-2009 at 01:22 PM.

07-13-2009, 03:50 AM	#18 (permalink)
Raylo TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 523 OS: XP Desktop, Vista HP Notebook, XP Notebook	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? I figured out how to transfer the phonebook. Apparently I wasn't giving the phone long enough to drop the HFP connection to switch to the OPP connection profile for transfer. This time the actual "send" menu appeared for the JVC unit and it worked. It still hung up on a couple of contacts for whatever reason but after a few partial xfers it is done. :-)

07-13-2009, 08:16 AM	#19 (permalink)
wolfdeasia Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 5 OS: WinXP SP3... WindowsAutomotive 5...Windows Vista Notebook	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? Good day, new to this forum. I have KW-NT1 in my truck and it works really well...loving it. GPS loads fast, IPOD loads fast, SD memory card loads fast, CD loads fast as well... I haven't try to play DVD on it yet.. Bluetooth connectivity has no-issue, loud and clear. ***** Now I have a support question that I would like some help on... KW-NT1 supports some other languages, French, Spanish...however, because I have quite a few songs with Japanese and Chinese (traditional) font displays, I would like to find a way to install font packages to support the display... Since KW-NT1 runs on Windows Automotive 5, based on CE system...I will need you tech people to help me out here... thanks in advance..

07-13-2009, 11:10 AM	#20 (permalink)
Raylo TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 523 OS: XP Desktop, Vista HP Notebook, XP Notebook	Re: JVC KW-NT1 review anyone? Wow, that one is beyond my knowledge level! Perhaps you can make a suggestion to JVC and they might include additional language fonts in a future firmware update. Yes, everything works very well but..... are you really OK with the way the phonebook is locked out except for the first screen with the first 5 entries while driving? But meanwhile you can click on all sorts of menus and make choices, like radio bands, multiple presets, etc., etc. until you get tired of pushing buttons.... but you can't scroll down a screen to press a button to make a phone call? This one is really torquing me off.