Pioneer busts some myths about in-car entertainment systems that get in the way of an awesome experience.
Systems available today are a far cry from the passive music players from the last decade. Today, these systems are designed to sync seamlessly with a number of personal devices, be easy to use, play great quality music, answer calls, read and type messages or email, navigate and even play movies.
They’re also expected to do all of these things and be cost-effective. The best part? This is not something that in-car entertainment systems of the future will do. This technology is available today. In India, one of the best ways to get this experience in your car, is with the systems on offer from Pioneer.
Currently though, most systems that come along with the cars are still standard systems with basic options like CD, radio, aux-in and USB. Some may even stretch and offer Bluetooth connectivity. Car companies sometimes charge a hefty price for offering these systems which should now come as standard. Factory fitted systems can also be tedious to use as they are usually designed or procured with a focus on cutting costs and not user experience. As a result a simple Bluetooth pairing may require users to navigate through multiple menus with strange titles that bear no resemblance to what their actual function is. But there is a solution.
Pioneer, a world leader in in-car entertainment offers a wide range of multimedia products in India. From basic touchscreen players with USB/DVD, rear camera compatibility to systems with in- built navigation and advanced smartphone compatibility, Pioneer offer a wide range of choices to the Indian customer.
Sure, Pioneer offers a wide variety of options for in-car entertainment, but there are certain concerns that every car owner has. Due to unclear communication from car companies and dealers and ambiguously worded policies, there are a number of myths around replacing in-car entertainment systems. Let’s take a look at them and see which are valid and which are not. This might just clear the way towards making your in-car experience something to sing about.
This has been and remains one of the biggest concerns for car buyers. They believe that their cars’ warranty on electrical systems will be void if they replace the entertainment system the car came with, with a new multimedia system. There’s also a question of the safety of aftermarket installation since this involves cutting and exposing multiple wires. This could cause a short circuit and pose a significant risk.
The original wires and wiring method also gets affected which then cause issues with warranty.
The truth, though, is if the installation is carried out by a professional, then it will not void the warranty. In fact, replacing a factory provided headunit with one from Pioneer is very easy and completely hassle free. The best part, it doesn’t even require any wires to be cut. Most dealers selling genuine Pioneer products will also have couplers for different cars. So replacing the stereo couplers for aftermarket units is as simple as walking into a dealer store and asking for it. The advantage? With coupler to coupler connections, there is no need to cut wires. This means that the original electrical wired and wiring method is retained and the ectrical system is as safe as the one that the factory provided. Just remember that the couplers are sold separately and not as part of the package with the Pioneer headunit.
Another concern that people have when considering changing the system the car came with is that the new system will not fit properly or disturb the look of the car. Like with the warranty this concern is appropriate. After all, nobody wants to sit in a car where they’ll have to look at an eyesore for hours on end or something that keeps rattling because it doesn’t fit properly. If those who buy new in- car multimedia entertainment systems have to resort to ‘jugaad’ options like shoving folded pieces of paper in between the system and its frame to keep it from making an annoying rattle, then the investment just isn’t worth it.
The truth however is very different. Pioneer systems are designed to blend seamlessly into any car. We already know there’s no wire cutting involved. In addition to that, they also fit neatly in frames that make it look like the inside of your car just got an upgrade.
After installing a new Pioneer headunit, the entire dash looks like it has upgraded from old school analog, to a sleek and modern digital design. It’s not just about the looks though. Upgrading to a new Pioneer multimedia system will also enhance the sound quality.
If you’re concerned about whether it will fit properly in your car, fret no more. There are frames and adapters available for each car. These ensure that the system blends in with the existing dashboard design and makes installation as simple as plug and play. It doesn’t matter which car you have, it will definitely be more fun once you have a proper in-car entertainment system installed. And from what you’ve read so far, the decision seems to be a no brainer.
Some cars today come with a multitude of features. Their controls are also designed in a manner that all or most features can be accessed without taking ones hand off the steering wheel. This is another point of concern for people considering upgrading their in-car entertainment systems. rightly so, since steering mounted controls offer a world of convenience and not being required to let go of the steering or look away from the road to adjust the music volume definitely enhances safety.
But, steering mounted controls not working properly with aftermarket in-car entertainment systems is a myth. Adapters are available for each car which ensure that all steering mounted controls remain active with a Pioneer aftermarket stereo.
Pioneer even provides a steering wheel control cable which can be used with certain Japanese and Korean cars and is available on request, free of charge.
Many cars also come installed with a rear view camera which offers valuable assistance during parking. These cameras work along with sensors and provide adaptive parking lines, even measure the distance behind the car and even provide an audible warning.
Concerns regarding the non functionality of these with aftermarket systems have also been raised. When installed properly with the right adapters, Pioneer systems are compatible with the features and work as well as the original controls.
Another common misconception about aftermarket in-car entertainment systems is that they are very expensive. or at least to get a system that makes it worthwhile investing in an aftermarket product one would have to spend a large amount of money. This may have been true many years ago but it is not so anymore. Pioneers line up made for India delivers great sound and great quality at surprisingly affordable prices.
Here’s an indicative list of where the prices start depending on what you’re looking for.
If you want a system with Touchscreen / USB Audio-Video / AUX / rear view camera compatibility the range for this starts at a l ow rs 12990. If you’re looking for a touchscreen system with smartphone compatibility for navigation applications, the range for this starts at a sensible rs 18990. And if you’re looking for a touchscreen system with in-built navigation and Apple CarPlay the range starts at a reasonable rs 39990.
As we’ve seen before, these systems are designed to deliver a rich Indian specific sound accurately with enhanced clarity. Whatever your budget may be, Pioneer has the system that will meet your needs.
A very wrong and a very common myth is that most aftermarket stereo systems provide the same experience as the factory provided systems. This is completely and totally wrong. Sure, some high-end luxury cars come with advanced systems, but most of the cars in the market still come with USB/FM players with minimal or no display. As an upgrade some provide Bluetooth and claim it that this is the only way you can connect your smartphone with the car.
This perception is wrong. Pioneer has developed systems and speakers with abilities that are able to deliver real quality. Their speakers have a wide sound capability that fills the car and lets you really enjoy music. An upgrade from the basic system would be to go in for Pioneer co-axial type systems. And for even better upgrade, a component type system should be chosen. Sound emitted from speakers has a direction. It is enhanced or reduces according to the angle. Most factory fitted speakers are narrow and only emit sound in a particular angle at a particular frequency. Also factory systems may not be equipped with a woofer.
Let’s also look at the advanced smart phone in-car connectivity solutions like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Pioneer systems are compatible with.
-Apple CarPlay
Recently introduced by Apple in India, CarPlay is a safe and fun way of using your iPhone in your car. Most of the applications in Apple CarPlay are controlled by the user’s voice.
-Android Auto
A driver friendly way of using Android phones in car. It hasn’t arrived in India yet but promises to offer a lot for Android lovers.
-Pioneer Appradio Mode
Appradio mode is Pioneer’s unique technology offering an easy way to use a smartphone while driving. It helps the user use certain Navigation and media applications from directly from a smartphone on the headunit. It is a single USB-Micro USB cable connection. Some compatible applications with Pioneer Appradio mode offers offline navigation, detailed 3D maps, weather updates, nearby events info, Appradio live and more.
The built-in car stereo system that comes with a new (or used) car may not always be what the user is looking for in terms of audio quality, frequencies, or volume levels. New cars usually come with a pre-installed speaker system that is sufficient for listening to FM radio and playing the occasional CD. Music enthusiasts, however, may find that the built-in system does not do justice to the music. The reason for this lies in directivity of sound. The new care speakers are usually installed in the car doors, due to their limited range their sound does not reach users ear directly. Whereas, Pioneer coaxial type system emits wider sound that fills your car and reaches directly to your ears without any hindrance. If you further want to upgrade your sound experience, choose Pioneer component type with separate tweeter to significantly improve your in-car listening experience.
Another major component of a complete sound entertainment is a sub-woofer. Subwoofers are designed to reproduce the deepest notes in the musical spectrum, and low frequency energy provided by soundtracks. A subwoofer reinforces a super low frequency that fills in the deep, rich bass that is missing from main speakers. A lot of noise is produced when you drive the car like noise of engine and noise due to friction between tires and road. This leads to a low range deterioration sound which can spoil the experience of listening music. Sub-woofer being the in charge of heavy low frequency sound solves this issue and provides you complete sound entertainment. The deep bass of Pioneer's sub-woofer adds emotions and excitement to your tracks to provide you the best in class experience of listening to music and watching movies.
A subwoofer should always be complemented with a power amplifier, creating the raw power needed to generate deep bass, without robbing excessive amplifier power from your receiver. Amplifier lifts up the performance of your sub-woofer and main speakers and helps them to work more efficiently, with less distortion.
We recommend a 4-channel bridgeable amplifier as it can be used for both speaker and sub-woofer. If you want to use it only for subwoofer, choose 2-channel bridgeable amplifier or a mono amplifier.
Visit the Upgrade Guide to find the perfect combination of pioneer products for your car to have a complete car entertainment experience. Or visit our Feature Upgrade page to find out how Pioneer product features are reshaping the way you commute.
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