IPod Head Unit Test

September 2008

Apple has sold more than 30 million iPods – so it’s no surprise a growing number of us want to play them in our cars. An FM transmitter is an option, but for the best sound and ease of control, you can’t beat plugging it directly into your car stereo. This also means the MP3 player is charged at the same time.

There is a choice of connections: a USB socket using Apple’s cable, a lead supplied with the head unit or an adaptor bought separately. You can also pick where the connection is – some sockets are on the front while others slot into a lead in the back. So which is top of the pops? We hooked up to 12 to find out.

The Test

With all our decks offering max power of 160W-200W, sound performance was good enough – so it was down to how they handled the Apple device.

We hooked up an iPod 3G video to rate ease of use, speed of operation and playlist access. Clear displays and logical layouts scored, as did auxiliary inputs and the ability to read USB memory sticks. Price was our final factor.

Verdict

Since our Issue 967 test, many more head units hook up to iPods. Pioneer’s DEH-50UB blends the various functions best, with the Kenwood KDC-W6041U not far behind. Hot on their heels was the Panasonic CQ-RX400N.

Contacts

Panasonic, 0844 844 3856, www.panasonic.co.uk
Kenwood, 01923 816444, www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk
Alpine Electronics, 0845 313 1640, www.alpine-europe.com
Pioneer, 01753 789789, www.pioneer.co.uk
Clarion, 01793 870400, www.clarion.co.uk
JVC, 0870 330 5000, www.jvcmobile.co.uk
Goodmans, 0871 230 1777, www.goodmans.co.uk

Top 3

1. Pioneer DEH-50UB
2. Kenwood KDC-W6041U
3. Panasonic CQ-RX400N

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