JVC KW-NT3HDT is a car audio/video player having a huge 6.1 inch resistive touch screen. The manufacturer hasn’t revealed the resolution of the screen but we expect it to be around 480×234 pixels. One unique feature is that there is a detachable faceplate for security. Detachable faceplates aren’t anything new but they are unheard of in double DIN units. This is because its really hard to carry a big touch screen along with you.
Diagonally measured, it is about 6.1 inches and the weight of the faceplate is the same as a SLR small camera. You won’t be able to fit it in your pocket easily due to the weight. Still, you get an option to bring the screen with you while you are parking on a street overnight and it is a welcome feature. The manufacturer has given a soft case for protecting the display during transport. Removing the faceplate will reveal a hidden SD card slot and this piece of hardware gives you another option for audio input. Other than that, you can update maps, POI database and firmware through this.
Spin the JVC KW-NT3HDT around, you will see some hard connections for inputs and points. There is a pair of wire harness for offloading most of the connections and for saving space. First of the wire harness has standard power, speaker, and ground connections which are common for all the vehicles and you need to connect it to get the unit to play well. Second harness is optional and it has a selection of video/audio connections for rearview camera, rear-seat entertainment system or external monitor, input from external video source and the steering wheel controls.
You also get standard connections of RCA for 4 channels along with subwoofer output to the external amplifiers along with pigtails and connections for parking brake sensors, speed signal sensor, reverse gear sensor, GPS antenna, and microphone.
On a lot of receivers that I test in my labs, broadcast radio receiver feels a bit of afterthought, behind the iPod connectivity. In JVC KW-NT3HDT, the center stage is occupied by radio thanks to addition of HD Radio receiver which serves as both audio sources and also feeds data to navigation system.
When you select it as audio source, FM tuner will automatically select the HD Radio reception when you select an available frequency. Advantages that HD Radio stations have is increased audio resolution, enhanced info of station along with song metadata and multiple digital substations in same frequency.