Hey guys,

I'm looking around for one of my next upgrades, gonna get a double din head unit, as I think they suit the Verada much better than a single one with a stupid compartment thing underneath.

I've been eyeing the Pioneer AVH-P8400BH (link (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/DVD-Receivers/AVH-P8400BH)). It's about $1100 at JB HiFi, but I can get it for under $600 by importing from USA. It's a no brainer.

However, I know a guy who works in Car Audio and he says that if I import from the USA, there are a number of factors, the first two I understand, it's the others I don't understand...
Possible damage in shipment.
Well, this one can't be avoided...
Warranty problems.
Well, this depends on the company, Pioneer does have global warranty, but only on some products from some countries, I'm unsure whether it applies to American products.
Radio stations here and in America are different, the American headunit will have different "increments" in frequencies that might not work here.
I very much do not understand this, a frequency is a frequency and shouldn't it theoretically read anything that is broadcasting?
DVD Player will be NTSC format, so it wont play DVD's from Australia.
Possible. However it might not be region locked; and even if it is, I really don't care about DVDs. In all honesty, I'd prefer if it didn't have this altogether, as it adds more bulk to the unit. Oh well.
Might not play DVD's at all due to different wiring in the DVD system.
No idea what he's on about. Wiring is wiring, a car battery is a car battery.

Here's the catch, the guy I know works for JB.

I'm not sure if he's just voicing his honest opinion as a mate; or he's not really a mate and he's just trying to make me buy it from him (though he did say he's happy to give it to me at JB cost price).

...I dunno.

What's JB cost price? I bought a Kenwood DVD unit with a sticker price of $1800 for <$400 as it was being cleared, so they might have a fair margin. :)

Warranty - if you buy something duty free while travelling overseas, doesn't the local arm of the company support the product still? This is the same thing really.
Radio Stations - Japan & Aus have different frequency ranges and aren't directly compatible. I don't know about the U.S. though. I know that AM has stepping between stations of either 7 or 10 (MHz? KHz?) depending on country. Some headunits have a configurable option for this. But FM is just 0.1 or may 0.05 increments, not actual steps like AM band.

"Not play DVDs at all due to different wiring" nah, that one sounds like a big fail in understanding. DVD players have a switch line that you connect to the handbrake. Then video is only displayed to the screen when the car is stationary with hand brake on. This is the only thing I can think of. It might be possible that due to different laws in the U.S. they have a more complex system to prevent video on while driving, but this shouldn't be a show stopper.

If the price for grey import is significantly better than local, just make sure your shipping has insurance and that will (hopefully) negate the risk of shipping damage.

Cheers!

Well... I'll tell you how it goes....I'm doing an import too...

1. They come from China any way, its just via the US, they packaging is usually good....

2. Warranty is a pain in the ass, but its so cheap. But thats the point, Pioneer has an office that caters for 400,000 ppl, in the states its 4 million ppl... Of course our costs are higher....
Just get it installed straight away, test everything, and you'll usually get the best support within 7-14 Days, leave it for 1-2 months before you drop it in, and you're asking for trouble.

3. FM is fine for over here, AM cops a different stepping, if not theres a freq changer from Jaycar, usually required for older Jap imports.....

4. The units are NTSC/PAL compatible, its the region lock that gets you, make a legit copy of a DVD you own, remove the region, it usually works well.....

5. Pizza Topping.. Baloney....

There is a plus side, you can get cheap DVD's from the states.....

Hey guys,

I'm looking around for one of my next upgrades, gonna get a double din head unit, as I think they suit the Verada much better than a single one with a stupid compartment thing underneath.

I've been eyeing the Pioneer AVH-P8400BH (link (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/DVD-Receivers/AVH-P8400BH)). It's about $1100 at JB HiFi, but I can get it for under $600 by importing from USA. It's a no brainer.

However, I know a guy who works in Car Audio and he says that if I import from the USA, there are a number of factors, the first two I understand, it's the others I don't understand...


Possible damage in shipment.
Well, this one can't be avoided...
Warranty problems.
Well, this depends on the company, Pioneer does have global warranty, but only on some products from some countries, I'm unsure whether it applies to American products.
Radio stations here and in America are different, the American headunit will have different "increments" in frequencies that might not work here.
I very much do not understand this, a frequency is a frequency and shouldn't it theoretically read anything that is broadcasting?
DVD Player will be NTSC format, so it wont play DVD's from Australia.
Possible. However it might not be region locked; and even if it is, I really don't care about DVDs. In all honesty, I'd prefer if it didn't have this altogether, as it adds more bulk to the unit. Oh well.
Might not play DVD's at all due to different wiring in the DVD system.
No idea what he's on about. Wiring is wiring, a car battery is a car battery.



Here's the catch, the guy I know works for JB.

I'm not sure if he's just voicing his honest opinion as a mate; or he's not really a mate and he's just trying to make me buy it from him (though he did say he's happy to give it to me at JB cost price).

...I dunno.

Hey mate,
As for your mate trying to tell you all the negatives of importing, I think that may be a bit of both. If he makes a sale at the store, well that's good for him and on the other hand, I guess if he's a good mate he doesn't want to see you get an item that doesn't work correctly or not at all. For example, I work for a glass and aluminum company as an apprentice glazier. If my mate said to me that he could get a Chinese window cheaper, not only would I advise him not to do it because of the quality issue, but also so that the company I work for gets more business.

As for the radio frequencies, that sounds like a bit of BS, like you said, FM is FM wherever in the world (like SH00T said, it's just the AM but i'm guessing you wouldn't listen to AM too often).

Btw, is that $1100 from JB the cost price your mate wants to sell it to you for or store price? I know that importing seems like a no-brainer, especially if you are fitting the H/U yourself, you aren't covered by a warranty anyway (unless you are a professional installer)

Thanks guys, he's not really a "mate", we just work next door to each other, I help him with phones and he helps me with audio... He said JB make just over $250 on that particular one (he showed me in the system, was about $261 or something). So I'd still be paying around $800-$900.

I understand about the frequencies now, I always wondered how the AM stepping worked. Great to know there's a converter though, so that's a moot point.

The DVD/Handbrake thing, yeah, however you can buy a special "dual pulse" thing for the particular headunit off Amazon for $20 that fixes it, it's effectively a special switch for toggling it in and out.

And a non-region-coded DVD will work either way, awesome!

That's pretty much put my mind at ease. Cheers guys! What a fast response. :)

In all honesty and illegality, I just grounded my handbrake (video) wire. Videos can be watched all the time. But the novely wares off anyway. But it's always good to install an inline switch so that you can flick it if you get pulled over.

DVD's are a thing of the past anyway. pick up an old ipod classic or something, dump some movies on it, connect via usb, or if the h/u supports it, a usb stick or memory card.

If your unit is 600 imported and 800 over here, I'd support the aussies in the work force, more than that I'd have to think about it.
The deck I'm looking at is 800 here, 400 Delivered, and you have a no-brainer..
I also just ordered a Lens, $1399.00 over here, 1200 Staff Rates ( I get to see it every day) :(...... $620 posted.........
Adds up pretty fast.....

Doing my Math, the unit is $645 from the states (friggin' $90 shipping), delivered and insured.

It would be ~$840 from JB HiFi.

~$200 to be safe in case of dramas. It does put it into perspective. It's just, $840 seems like a lot of money, but $640 does not... I'm not sure why. lol

I'll go back to JB tomorrow and talk with the guy a bit more.

have you checked ebay?

EG:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360455127654
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130691187942

I wouldn't bother with all the US hassles for $600 when you can buy the equivalent AUS model brand new for $829:

http://www.soundmaster.com.au/Pioneer-AVH-P8450BT-in-Dash-DVD-Multimedia-AV-Receiver-with-7inch-VGA-Screen/AVHP8450BT/

Meh, I bit the bullet and got it online...

Managed to play around with sellers on Amazon and got it for $600 shipped. It's not worth the extra money to buy it here... Hopefully all goes well, I'll keep everyone posted. :)

does it say what frequency range it is? e.g. our FM radio is about 90mhz-108mhz (about, probably not exactly)
the US one I think is about the same, I think its japan that has a lower frequency range, 70-something and it probably stops earlier so you wouldn't be able to tune into some chanels.

When JB goes bust I'm going to blame you entirely for their failure!

does it say what frequency range it is? e.g. our FM radio is about 90mhz-108mhz (about, probably not exactly)
the US one I think is about the same, I think its japan that has a lower frequency range, 70-something and it probably stops earlier so you wouldn't be able to tune into some chanels.

87 - 104 i think.

With USA models... Your AM wont work. Your FM might be out.

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93645&highlight=

Reading up the specific frequency range, FM isn't going to be a problem:
"FM Frequency Range ......... 87.9 MHz to 107.9 MHz"

But I'm probably going to lose AM.
"AM Frequency Range ......... 530 kHz to 1710 kHz (10 kHz)"

That 10 kHz stepping is what'll get me. Either way, I'm not too fussed, I rarely listed to radio. Though I'll be a bit sad to not be able to get 3AW. I could always tune my phone in and have that hooked up if I need to, though. :)

In theory, I might still be able to pick up 3AW 693 by tuning into 690. But the already crap AM quality will just be worse (if at all).

EDIT:

Further reading on FM Modulation, it appears that (on some units, though it doesn't specifically mention it on the Pioneer) the American FM stations broadcast only on ODD increments.

So, 99.1, 99.3, 99.5, etc. and I'd lose the even numbers. Apparently some European units only ship with EVEN increments (which would indeed be horrible, see below).

This is hilarious because, let's see the stations I'd listen to (if at all).

Nova: 100.3
Fox: 101.9
Mix: 101.1
Vega: 91.5
Gold: 104.3

HAHA! They're all odd anyway! lol

Come to think of it, I can't think of any even radio stations! 91.9 + 96.9 Star FM, 101.9 Fox FM, 95.3 SR, 91.5. OMG ULEH, grabbing my tinfoil hat!

Come to think of it, I can't think of any even radio stations! 91.9 + 96.9 Star FM, 101.9 Fox FM, 95.3 SR, 91.5. OMG ULEH, grabbing my tinfoil hat!

We're just like, minions of the man, dude. You know? The black man in the white house? We're just like, all his slaves, man. They're even in the air on our radio waves, dude.

http://i.qkme.me/3p8qzn.jpg

My HU has a setting to switch between US and Europe (odd and even AFAIK) so if it makes a difference, there might be a setting to dig up. I know it's kind of an old thread but nontheless, could prove useful.
Oh and the deck isn't all that flashy, just a JVC.

If anyone wants me to go out to the car and verify the odd/even thing, just let me now.

Fwiw i installwd a jvc from the us and only needed to adjust a setting to get am radio stns here with it. all good. Dvds are an issue but i rarely (once so far) watc dvds in my car.

I heard (read at mea) that someone imported a unit from , MW works the same as AM...
Only after I imported mine, of course...
I haven't verified it yet though...