Pioneer Electronics has expanded its NEX platform with five new, Apple CarPlay-compatible NEX in-dash multimedia receivers: the double-DIN 7-inch LCD AVH-2330NEX and AVH-2300NEX and double-DIN 6.2-inch LCD AVH-1330NEX and AVH-1300NEX models.
The AVH-3300NEX expands the NEX line-up into the smaller, more universal single-DIN in-dash receiver size, providing, for the first time, a smartphone connectivity solution that purportedly fits into many older and collectible cars coveted by automotive enthusiasts.
Pioneer’s CarPlay-compatible NEX in-dash receivers offer consumers the ability to upgrade the vehicles they already own with the latest iPhone technology specifically designed for the car. Compatible with iPhone 5 and later models, CarPlay provides a simplified way to use your iPhone interface on a car’s touch screen, giving users access to Siri voice controls, as well as Apple Maps, Apple Music, Phone, Messages, and a variety of third party apps.
The new NEX units feature a redesigned interface and compatibility with automotive specific smartphone interfaces and apps such as CarPlay, Android Auto and Waze, plus entertainment options such as Bluetooth music streaming and hands-free calling, Spotify and Pandora. For 2017, the new NEX models have been engineered with an optimized PCB layout for audio signal integrity and a number of audiophile-grade components to deliver a premium audio listening experience, says Ted Cardenas, vice president of marketing at Pioneer Electronics.
Three of the five models feature Android Auto integration.
All models feature built-in Bluetooth wireless connectivity for hands-free calling and music streaming with compatible Bluetooth enabled devices. Users are able to pre-register up to five smartphones with the receivers, enabling hands-free calling and/or music to be streamed from any of the five previously paired phones, eliminating the need to pair and unpair devices. Additionally, the response time between switching pre-registered devices is faster, as is access to music and contacts stored on the connected device.
To maximize the connectivity options and call quality for hands-free communication and wireless audio streaming, each NEX receiver features Bluetooth AVRCP 1.6 to provide browsing capability of a user’s media library, and HFP 1.6 with wideband speech for clearer overall sound quality, making it easier to recognize and understand voices during calls.
