Eclipse AVN5495 install/review (gen4.5) *56k warning

The first thing I have to say after installing this unit is, it's distracting while driving. LOL.

I'm pretty impressed with the unit overall. As with any new piece of tech toy, it does take a while to get to know where all the functions are located. Since the unit is touch screen, most of it's functions are more buried in the menu system compared to, say, the stock head unit. For example, you have to press a couple more buttons to get to FM...but I'm sure nobody would mind that.

But let's get this straight first, no amount of 25cent pay phone calls and buying maps will ever cost as much as a navigation unit. But hey, you only live once right? Plus it's more about the bling factor imho.

AUDIO
The thing I noticed first when I popped in some music was the quality of the sound. The music sounded richer and fuller...especially with the adjustable equalizer and different sound fields. Note that I have stock JBL speakers.

It played everything it was advertised to play. DVDs, CDs, MP3s...(even on burned disks). A bad thing about this unit is that there it's not satellite radio ready. With satellite radio becoming more popular, it should. The only thing I couldnt get working on the unit was the memory stick music player. I'm still working on that one though so I'll keep anyone who wants to know updated.

Another positive thing about this unit is it's hard drive. It can store up to 20GB worth of ripped music from CDs. This is potentially a downside to the unit since it only rips the music from CDs in real time. If the song is 4 minutes, it will take 4 minutes to rip to the hard drive.

VIDEO
When it comes to DVDs, the unit does what it's supposed to. This isn't some high end home theatre system so don't expect it to perform like one. The video quality is above average. It does read dolby digital 5.1 disks but outputs it as stereo i believe. It doesn't, however, read DTS encoded disks. Please don't watch DVDs while driving. It not only puts you the driver in danger but more importantly other people sharing the road around you.

We havn't had a real sunny day in Vancouver as of yet, but the brightness and resolution is more than enough in my opinion. My windows are tinted as well so that may have an affect on different vehicles.

The control buttons on the side light up green so it matched my interior perfectly, although it doesn't dim. I'm not sure if I wired it wrong or it's like that? Would someone confirm with me please??

NAVIGATION
Now to the important part, the navigation system. (This is an all-in-one unit so there's no extra "brain" unit I have to mount elsewhere.) The nav is pretty accurate with the speed sensor wire hooked up. The nav processes relatively quickly since the nav info is already on the hard drive, taking only a couple seconds to get a route you want to take. You can search by address, phone #, point of interest, whatever.

MISC
The unit also comes with ESN... it's some security device for the unit. Once you set it up, if the unit ever gets cut from a power source (if your battery gets disconnected or the unit itself gets disconnected) the unit will be deactivated. It will function only after you punch in the password you set yourself.

CONCLUSION
For a unit that costs so much, you'd expect Eclipse to package remote controls with them. Unfortunately, you have to buy it as an extra accessory.

Hmm....What else can I say? you'll never officially "be lost" ever again in your vehicle (in North America that is). This unit however is already starting to be outdated since it's a product that came out last year.

This is just my honest opinion on the product. If you have any other questions about it feel free to ask.