Installed in 2006 F150.
This receiver is very nice for around $100. It has a lot of features, but is also lacking a few standard features. The sound quality is pretty much the same as the stereo I replaced, but this one allows the volume to go much higher.
The bluetooth connectivity is easy and fast. The hands free features for streaming music and taking calls is very responsive. Calls are crisp and clear…plus the people on the other line have no problems hearing me. I placed the microphone right beside the receiver so the passenger and driver could both be heard.
The DVD function is quite easy to follow. The bightness, however, even when turned all the way up, is still fairly dim even when not in direct sunlight. I wish it would be brighter for daytime viewing. I did set mine up so it can be viewed while driving (so my son can watch while I drive.)
The back-up camera input does not work on my unit. I use it primarily to hook up to my boat trailer. I was able to put the back-up camera input into the video input in the back of the receiver, so I just have to switch my source to video 1 and I can see the camera. Pain in the butt, but it is a low end receiver.
The equalizer will show bass and treble, but it won’t allow you to adjust them. It only allows the 4 preset equalizer settings.
There are 4 different wallpaper settings, which is a neat feature. Just choose your favorite!
The clock on my unit will not stay on the time I set it to. Every time I start my truck, the clock is about 20-40 minutes off from where I had it set. This is annoying as heck.
I have no issues with slow response from the touch screen. It is very fast and responsive.
Installation is straight forward. I have minimal experience hooking up receivers, so the ease of installation can’t be overstated here. I highly suggest buying the Metra installation kit for your specific vehicle as this will give it a "from the factory" installation look that is clean and slick.
The AM/FM feature works fine with great reception, I’m not sure why the bad reviews on this portion of the receiver. This unit has RDS, which means if the radio station you are listening to sends digital information regarding the song title and artist, this stereo will display that information. It only shows about 9 characters at a time, but it does get the job done.
It’s kind of funny, but there is a built-in calculator on this receiver.
I would give it a higher rating if he back-up camera input worked and if the brightness would be sufficient for daytime DVD viewing. All in all this is not a terrible unit, especially for the price. I would recommend it for a factory replacement or for a first time audio/video install.
Oh, and by the way, it does come with a stylus for use with the touch screen. The only problem is there is nowhere to store it! Still a neat perk that I wasn’t expecting.
********UPDATE 12-18-2015*******
I contacted Amazon an they are sending me a replacement. I will update once I install the new one. BTW, I bought one from Amazon and one from a local retailer. I wanted to have the same receiver in both my vehicles. Hopefully the new one from Amazon will work properly.
*****Update 2-2-2016*****
The clock issue has been resolved with the new unit…thankfully! As far as the brightness and glare issue, it is only a problem from the driver and passenger seat. My son sits in the middle seat in the back of my pick-up and says he can always see it just fine (except on especially dark scenes.)
I use and SD card with all my music on it. I have it seperated in folders by genre. Wine you choose shuffle, it shuffle between all songs and all folders; this is pretty annoying.
I have yet to get the back-up camera working. I’m pretty sure it’s an issue with my rca cord getting interference on its way from the camera to the receiver. I just haven’t taken the time to figure it out. Prior to running the rca cord along my frame, the picture does exactly as it should…but once I run the cord in its permanent position, it doesn’t work. No big loss really. I get around to it.
I did figure out how to adjust the bass and treble manually. The equalizer must be turned off, then you can adjust them each manually.
Rating upgraded from 3 stars to 4 stars.