Metra Electronics showed at CES a new line of HVAC and other interfaces, specifically for Pioneer radios. The new line allows select Pioneer radios to control OEM features such as heating and cooling, tire pressure, speed and state of the car’s transmission. They link the user interface from the vehicle data system to the Pioneer radio.
The new line called the AXPIO series will initially work with select Volkswagen, Chrysler, General Motors and Ford vehicles and Pioneer 6.8-inch and 9-inch radios such as the DMH-WC6600NEX ($900) and the DMH-W4600NEX ($600).
The interfaces will include plug and play harnesses.
The new AXPIO series is expected to be available around March, the same time that the DMH-WC6600NEX and DMH-W4600NEX are expected to ship from Pioneer. Both of the radios offer built-in Alexa voice control, wireless CarPlay, Android Auto wireless and SiriusXM capability. They also work with K40 and other radar detectors. The DMH-WC6600NEX is a modular radio with a 9-inch screen and a hideaway control unit.
The DMH-W4600NEX is a traditional double DIN radio with a 6.8-inch screen.
pioneer left us in the cold many times on warranty . kept units for months , never fixed them , sent dead units back, no problem found , then when we contacted them about situation told us unit was no longer under warranty. why? cause you kept them for three months? they were just insane. rep and distributor were both no help. then came the news they were bankrupt , and were being salvaged by some hong kong equity firm , that now owns them . brought in newest product after that and , thank god, bought two as one was defective out of the box. haven’t seen this in years from any mfg. . finding Sony to be the best support by far. they do really appreciate our business and show so . the best thing that happened with pioneer getting acquired is they dumped their do nothing sing songy rep.
Pioneer was my number one brand of radio for touchscreens and navigation, speakers, subwoofers, and amplifiers, for 18 years. I think I purchased a total of 3 Pioneer radios and 6 pairs of speakers in 2019, since they went to the “Limited” product line and shrank the Distributor base. Kenwood really appreciates my business since then.
Many stores are buy in on amazon because is cheaper than direct and then you your sales rep calling you and asking how are you doing the answer is really good the next question is why you are not buying from us well because amazon is cheaper with prime shipping is freen and fast and no ra# to return defective items the manufacturers really want help small business they need to stop selling to amazon and make the buying and returning products easier
This is great, but I can still buy a Pioneer radio on Amazon for less than from a Distributor, so whats the point?