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JVC Gets Jump Start On 2015 Car Lineup

Long Beach, Calif. — Four new head units in JVC’s 2015 lineup include two multimedia DVD receivers with larger displays at 6.2 inches, the first Bluetooth multimedia head unit with iPhone auto pairing, and two entry-level single-DIN CD receivers that select songs on a USB-connected Android for playback.

With shipments of the products, JVC is emulating sister brand Kenwood in launching four new 2015 head units in time for the 2014 holiday season.

The two double-DIN DVD receivers are the $299-suggested KW-V11 and $349 KW-V21BT, both with a larger touchscreen at 6.2 inches compared with their predecessors. The WVGA touchscreens add the ability to let users place favorite function tiles on the screen in a customized manner. They also add Monitor Touch Control, or gesture control, so users can make a circular motion on screen with a finger to adjust volume and select media by swiping up/down and or left/right.

In stepping up to the KW-V21BT, users get stereo Bluetooth and a new “auto pairing” iPhone function that pairs via a USB connection to eliminate the need to scroll through Bluetooth menus. The head also adds control of an outboard SiriusXM satellite-radio tuner.

The KW-V21BT also steps up to Siri Eyes Free, which lets users control the iPhone and the receiver by voice command. Users press a button on the receiver to wake up Siri, then issue voice commands to select music, send and receive text messages, set reminders and more.
Both multimedia receivers also feature USB connection to an iPhone to select stored music and video and play back streaming media. Each also includes the ability to control specific apps on an iPhone 4 or 4S.

The two DVD receivers also feature audio/video input, five-band parametric equalizer, 11 preset equalizer settings, and front/rear/subwoofer preamp outputs with 4.0-volt output.

Compared to their predecessors, the entry-level $89 KD-R660 and $84 KD-R460 CD receivers add Android Auto Mode, which enables USB connection of an Android phone to browse, play and control stored media when the phone runs a free JVC Music Play smartphone app. It wasn’t specified whether users could select songs by title, artist and genre, as could a similar app available for 2013 CD receivers when an Android phone was placed in mass-storage mode.

The step-up KD-R660 adds playback and control of stored media on a USB-connected iPhone as well as control of an iPhone’s Pandora and iHeartRadio apps.

Both CD receivers also feature front-panel aux input, connectivity to factory-installed steering wheel buttons, and a dimmer that synchronizes with the vehicle’s headlights. The KD-R660 features front and selectable rear/subwoofer preamp outputs, and the opening model features selectable rear/ subwoofer preout.

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