JVC KW-NT1

In-Dash Receiver Specifications

Playback Features

Monitor Screen Features

Navigation Features

Expandability Features

iPod Information

Warranty and Return Policy

4 people rated the JVC KW-NT1 and gave it an average rating of 4.0 out of 5

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Review written by Bryan from Syracuse, NY

Overall a good unit, installed it in a Hyundai Accent. I did the install myself, which was fairly difficult, but I did it successfully without any prior experience. Came with a free adapter to work with my car, I had to solder about 10 wires to the adapter that came with the unit. Easy to plug and unplug after that, no permanent connections.

Pros:
- Sounds good even with my stock speakers.
- After setup, cell phone automatically connects with bluetooth when I start my car.
- GPS gives good directions and looks great on the big screen. Works well in USA and Canada (I have used it in both).
- Unit dims automatically when I turn on my headlights (with proper wire connection).
- Music volume is temporarily lowered when GPS is giving directions.
- Easy to detach the faceplate.
- "Cool" factor when upgrading from stock radio to double height touch screen unit.
- Equalizer works well and is a nice feature that my stock radio did not have.
- Can be set up to change volume based on speed of car.

Cons:
- GPS does not have as many features as a dedicated GPS unit.
- Static buttons on the left don't dim, can be kind of bright at night.
- Unit doesn't exactly fit in my dash opening, it is close but not an exact fit. Probably due to my car but not sure.
- Can't change phone ring tone.
- Have to upload phone contacts to the unit before they can be used, can't use them directly off of a cell phone.
- Price premium for the detachable face plate.

Review written by Raylo from Germantown, MD

Title: KW-NT1 has fatal flaws
Pros: Good A/V and Nav performance, fast route calc, detachable face
Cons: Hands-free calling capability is useless due to illogical firmware; Nav POI database a little skimpy

I won't dwell on the basic A/V and Nav performance. Other reviews have gone into enough detail there. Plenty of power/flexibility, good connections and intuitive controls. Suffice it to say that it is as I expected and I am happy with the KW-NT in that regard.

However, and this is a BIG however.... the bluetooth hands free calling capability is fatally flawed to the extent that it is ALMOST USELESS. The hardware works fine... voice is clear and connection is stable. BUT YOU CAN NOT ACCESS YOUR SAVED CONTACTS/PHONE NUMBERS WHILE DRIVING! The KW-NT1 uses its GPS to provide vehicle speed sense and locks out VITAL hands free calling controls when moving greater than 6 mph! To make matters worse this is totally unadvertised. The user manual says that "When driving at speeds greater than 6mph some screens on the navigation menus are not available". No mention of restricting hands free dialing.

It is totally illogical. In the main dialing menu you can access "received numbers", "dialed numbers" and "phonebook". Each menu choice displays 5 numbers from which to choose. You can go back and forth between these menus as many times as you want and dial any of the numbers displayed with the press of the appropriate soft button. But you CAN NOT access subsequent screens of 5 phonebook entries. So unless the number you want to call is one of the first 5 in your phonebook you are OUT OF LUCK. Unless you stop, that is... in which case you could just as well use your handset. So why did we pay for hands free capability??

You can also scroll an infinite number of times between radio bands, each presenting 6 soft buttons for station choices. No restriction there, either.

So here is the logical disconnect: You are allowed to dial certain numbers while the vehicle is moving. So, apparently JVC doesn't think one button dialing of a saved number per set is a problem. And you are allowed to scroll infinitely through certain menus of choices (like any and all radio bands and stations or between "dialed", "received" and "phonebook" top level screens), but you CAN NOT scroll to subsequent phonebook screens of 5 entries and then dial them?? So dialing is OK... scrolling is OK, but scrolling to DIAL is not OK?? Huh?? All this does is pretty much guarantee that you can not access and dial the number you actually want.
And to highlight the ridiculousness of this further, the phonebook entries are likely to have actual names by them and thus more easy to select than the numbers that appear in "called" and "received" menus that can appear without any identifying information.

Another example of quirky nonsensical firmware: in the Nav screen you can hit the button for menu->functions->vehicle info which displays the satellite constellation along with color coded signal strengths. BUT the "back" button then becomes non functional (when moving more than 6 mph) so you can't even back out of a screen that they let you into in the first place!!

Anyway, there are probably better choices out there, especially if hands free calling is important to you. Good luck.

Review written by sciolist from Houston, TX

This is my JVC KW-NT1 GPS navigation REVIEW -- written on June 26, 2009.

First off guys, This is my very first review, so I apologize in advance if I missed anything.

I have this unit for a TOYOTA CAMRY '06 and I was like everyone else when I was trying to decide which model to buy. There were NO reviews online ANYWHERE other than the video reviews from Sonic Electronix and one other site (but they both did an okay job).

I am satisfied with my purchase.

The screen is nice, but when it is really sunny outside, the DVD video seems washed out because of the touchscreen layer. The GPS, radio, and ipod/iphone screens look fine. It's just the DVD playback that is not bright enough under extreme sunlight. When the sun is a bit more forgiving, like during sunset, the brightness is fine. And when your car is under any shade, the brightness is fine. Overall, the resolution and colors look good and the brightness adjusts to your headlights.

On other notes... The left side controls are touch sensitive, not physical PUSH buttons.

If you have a USB cord connected to the front, it'll block some of the screen view, depending on the height of the unit.

The bluetooth function works great with the iphone. Fast and responsive.

GPS options include 2D and 3D angle views. Includes useful Points of Interest (POI) locations with phone numbers you can easily dial to over bluetooth.

I have not installed HD radio, Satelite radio, or a Rear view camera.... So I can't comment on that.

I did not install this unit myself... .... So I also can't comment on that.

If you decide to keep your steering wheel controls, you'll have to buy a separate module. Using it will take some getting used to. --- This is NOT the fault of JVC, but of the makers of the steering wheel controls module/adapter. The steering wheel control module is a little slow for the volume control. Instead of a light push or tap of the steering wheel buttons, you'll have to give is a medium/hard push. Or you can hold the button down, but then the volume increases rapidly until you release the button.

Pros:
--Detachable faceplate - for added security. Includes soft case pouch for faceplate.
--Easy slot loading disc access - No motorized CD/DVD tilt (my personal preference).
--Works with iphone. Fast load times. Takes under 10 seconds to load.
--Fast GPS. Fast SD card reads. Fast iphone controls. Fast CD/DVD reads.
--FRONT AV and USB ports - USB charges the iphone while being able to use.
--Reads burned CD and DVD+R discs.
--Allows album art from iphone and SD cards.
--GPS reads out street names. GPS shows split screen detailed turns and directions. Has GPS voice lane guidance ("get in the left lane" , "prepare to turn left", etc.)
--Can listen to music while being directed by the GPS navigation voice
--Can play audio books at normal and above average speeds.
--Has a simple adjustable equalizer settings
--Reads my Sandisk 16GB (class 2) SD memory card - this is not official by JVC though

Cons:
--No volume knob.
--Low brightness in DVD video playback under extremely sunny days.
--Doesn't automatically tag song or band names from the RADIO.
--No real time traffic GPS updates.
--No video playback from an SD card.
--No button color light choices (a choice of blue, green, or red would have been nice). No screensaver choices or customizable menus.
--Removing the faceplate takes getting used to. Not a big deal...
--I had problems updating the firmware software through the SD card slot
--must remove faceplate to access SD card slot
--must keep SD card in the slot if you plan on adding your own customizable Points of Interest (POI) locations.
--Speed limits are not always displayed... depends on your city


Overall, I really like the unit. This is my first GPS in-dash unit. I would recommend it.

I give it a 9 out of 10. A+

The overriding decision for me to buy it was:
-- IPHONE compatible
-- built-in Bluetooth
-- fast loading times (music, GPS, startup time)
-- DETACHABLE FACEPLATE
-- no motorized CD tilt mechanism
-- front USB input

I hope this helps!

Review written by harry sacs from fresno ca

just got this installed in my truck. just one detail that i didn't like about it is the fact that the screen is smaller due to the buttons on the side. compared with the older models of course. I have also purchased the pioneer avic n5, that unit ran me about 1,400 which included most of the add ons like bluetooth and rear back up camera. But with this jvc kw-nt1 you have everything in one unit, well almost everything. Two other amazing features is the USB and the SD slots very handy and useful. Almost forgot the whole screen is detachable!!!!!!