Stock audio

[lax]

Hey, i just bought a new h3 humemr automatic with no other options. Iam anxious to drive it and pick it up monday!

One quick question, how is the stock audio system? is it in need for a upgrade?

thanks

[deserth3]

I wasn't impressed with the stock system that was in the rental I had. Couldn't wait to get mine back with the Monsoon system.

[HummerNewbie]

It really comes down to what you are used to and what you expect out of the system. I have never really paid any attention to the base system when I have a loaner but would guarantee you that it wouldn't stay stock if that is what mine had. The monsoon on the other hand, I was very impressed with. Probably the best stock system I have heard, definitely the best I have owned.

[Hmmm2]

X2

[humma_H3]

monsoon...

matt
cincy

[fourfourto]

I had the base radio ,it was ok.
I didnt want to spend the almost $1,000 extra just for a woofer because I was planing on getting a aftermarket .
I would like a little more base,I will probobly add a woofer at some time?.Were to put it though?

If you get the adventure with base radio,you get a left side compartment extra storage space is great

[thedieter]

The stock radio/CD is fine with us but we are not of the Generation that requires constant music over voice...in fact it drives us crazy.

Best regards, Happy Jack

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by thedieter

The stock radio/CD is fine with us but we are not of the Generation that requires constant music over voice...in fact it drives us crazy.

Best regards, Happy Jack

Lost me....

[HummerNewbie]

Originally Posted by thedieter

The stock radio/CD is fine with us but we are not of the Generation that requires constant music over voice...in fact it drives us crazy.

Best regards, Happy Jack

But what you don't understand is that with the NAV I get an extra voice that tells me when to turn

[thedieter]

I have to defer to the ones that have navigation screens in the dash. I have never had one.

My feeling is that a nav system would be a distraction if only the driver is available to operate it. Even a navagator in the passenger seet can be a distraction. I am interested in what others have to say about it.

If one can talk back to the system rather than punch buttons & screen it may be OK.

For the price of the nav systems one can get a good laptop and GPS roadmap program that will do 100 times as much and seems like a better option to me.

What I am talking about "voice overs" is the way they have "music" with narrations that make it hard to understand what they are saying.

Is it possible that the younger generation's brains are unable to stay awake without constant musical background? (incoming)

Best regards, Happy Jack

[f5fstop]

It is probably less of a distraction that putting a Garmin on the top of the dash panel, which also tells you where your next turns are, and reduced valuable windshield space.
I have used this same garmin for many years, traveling cross country many times, and I do not consider it a distraction. I have also driven GM vehicles with the in-dash Navs and do not consider them distractions, but I will agree that for some people, they might be distractions.
Nice part of any Nav is the voice command, that makes it possible to know where your turn is without looking at the screen if traffic is too heavy, or like my existing Garmin Nav, it blows up the actual turn so a quick look is all that is required.

I sure hope the Pioneer Nav has no voice overs with music, I agree that would not be good.
Problem with a laptop is it is too large, and there is really no place to put on in the H3. Where would you mount it so that the driver could see/hear the instructions. If traveling alone, you could put it on the passenger seat I guess, but then you would be turning your head to look at something, versus keeping your head straight ahead.

As for younger brains...too old to remember what younger brains required.

[thedieter]

F5f:
Thanks for the hands on description. I have been wondering if it would be worth the high cost of a built in navigation system. It seems like a high price to pay for what they do. For someone that drives a lot in strange locations it would surely be worth it.

I agree that a laptop would be a problem to locate in an H3 but the copilot could hold it on his/her lap during brief intense navigating such as through cities. We have had good luck printing out routes and directions before trips with the laptop.

My rant about voice overs was kind of off topic and applies mainly to the programming on TV these days on my favorite channels such as History, Discovery and Military. They play the background "music" so loud that it is drowning out the narration. Where it applies to cars is that many people play their radios so loud that they drown out sirens, etc. It is well known that high volumes damage hearing.

Best regards, Happy Jack

[marin8703]

just a quick question for those of you with the avic-z1. What happens when you go off road? Does the nav still continue to show your location onto a map even if not on a road, or does it freak out on you?? Thanks!

[f5fstop]

No experience with the Z1, since I Installed it yesterday but it most likely is programmed to follow roads.
I have two different garmins so I have to assume the Z1 will follow my on-road Garmin. It is set to follow the road since there will be some variation between the actual position of the vehicle and the road; primarily due to the maps being slightly off. The software will then put your pointer right on the road.
My handheld Garmin 60csx, which can be loaded with street maps, has a setting to show on road or off road. While traveling to Utah, I pulled it out of the luggage and set it to follow off-road. It showed that I was about twenty feet off of I-80, to the right of the shoulder. When I switched it back to on road, I appeared on the road.
However, if you are a specific distance from the road, all should show exactly where you are. So, I have to assume if you are traveling a mile from a road, in the desert, it will show where you are.
Unless you have topographical software that shows trails as well as roads, it may just show that you are in the middle of nowhere, if the software can show a trail, it should show that you are on a trail.
The Z1, to my disappointment is only an 8-channel GPS receiver, that is it can only obtain up to 8 satellites, and it does not state anything about the wide angle augmentation satellites (WAAS). With the software, it is probably great for navigating the roads. Since the GPS satellites can transmit information that is slightly off, the triangulation of your position can be incorrect by a few meters. The WAAS system uses satellites to send out correction information, which allows the GPS receiver to obtain greater accuracy.

[BuzzH3]

Originally Posted by marin8703

just a quick question for those of you with the avic-z1. What happens when you go off road? Does the nav still continue to show your location onto a map even if not on a road, or does it freak out on you?? Thanks!

I don't recall the name of the setting, but if you have tracking turned on, it will place dots on the map as sort of a breadcrumb trail.
It works even if not driving on a road.

[marin8703]

thanks guys! oh and f5 when you gona post the instalation of the z1, im waiting for that so i can start installing mine. , cauze i dont really know how . no hurry though. and just kidding i have some idea of how.

[f5fstop]

Just don't be looking for photos, I'll post a description of the install, where everything went, how the wires were run, but I took no photos. I was in a hurry, and it was hot.

[PARAGON]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

Just don't be looking for photos, I'll post a description of the install, where everything went, how the wires were run, but I took no photos. I was in a hurry, and it was hot.

you got any pics?

[marin8703]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

Just don't be looking for photos, I'll post a description of the install, where everything went, how the wires were run, but I took no photos. I was in a hurry, and it was hot.

ok, forget the pics. just need to know where to put stuff and where to wire stuff. oh and so far what do you think of the system no that youve installed it?
i understad you bought the "lights flasher" or what ever its called, i read a lil about it on the z1 forum, does it do what its supposed to?

Thanks again!