Power Acoustik PDN-626B Review – Keep Your Eyes On The Road
If you like to spend a lot of time in car traveling then a good car dash entertainment system is an absolute must. Your car may come pre-installed with an audio system. But more often than not they only have a couple more functions apart from playing music. But that isn’t enough, is it?
A good in-dash entertainment system is an all-in-one solution for all your navigation and entertainment needs while on the go. So whether it is finding the route to a new destination or playing movies for your children or wirelessly connecting your smartphone and other smart devices these head units can do them all.
There are many double din units on the market that you can buy but depending on the features they offer you can easily be set back by a few hundred dollars. There are also many cheap units that only frustrate you in the name of saving you money.
So how do you find a good in-dash entertainment and navigation system without burning a hole in your pocket? Instead of spending hours on the internet trying to find the right one, you can simply read our review below on the Power Acoustik PDN-626B which is an affordable double-din in-dash navigation system.
Power Acoustik PDN-626B Specs
- Double din in-dash navigation receiver
- Full turn-by-turn navigation of the USA, Canada, and Mexico
- Playback from DVD, CD, and SD-card
- Bluetooth 3.0 technology for hands-free and wireless connectivity
- Multiple file format support
- High-resolution (800 x 400) 6” LCD touchscreen
- LED backlight measuring 400 NIT
- 1-year manufacturer’s warranty
Is The Power Acoustik PDN-626B Really Worth Your Money?
Buying an expensive in-dash navigation receiver may be the easy way to get all the features you want in your car unit. But buying a good in-dash navigation and entertainment system that comes with amazing features and an affordable price tag is the smart way if you don’t want to pay through your nose.
The Power Acoustik PDN-626B is really worth your every penny as it comes with so many features packed into it for its price. From multiple audio and video playback options to an elaborate navigation database to turn-by-turn navigation help to Bluetooth connectivity and more, the PDN-626Blets you do more and fumble less.
We will look into each of its features in great detail below to help you understand how it really stands up to the hype.
GPS Navigation
The in-built navigation system will take you places as it comes with a whopping 12 million POI (Point of Interest) database which has every possible route that you need covering the USA, Canada, and Mexico. It will give you turn-by-turn navigation help no matter where you go so that you can confidently arrive at your destination in time every time even if you don’t have a clue about the place.
The GPS navigation screen is very user-friendly and does most of the job for you. In addition to guiding you accurately to your destination, the navigation system also comes with a host of other features.
You can save your favorite destinations, program the unit to remember your home, help you give an estimate of fuel usage for the chosen destination, warn you about speed limits and much more. You can even choose the gender of the navigation voice and the language to suit your personal preferences.
File Formats
The PDN-626B will not annoy you with error messages due to incompatible file formats. This is because it has been designed to support the most commonly used file formats such as WAV, mp3, and even mp4 formats.
Playback Options
This in-dash navigation system is not all about GPS navigation and answering calls over Bluetooth. It has a number of playback options making it the center of attraction in your car especially when you go on long drives.
Not everyone has completely switched to new technology and some of us still have old multimedia on discs. That is why the PDN-626B comes with multiple playback options.
You can play music and movies from DVDs and CDs and because the unit supports multiple file formats, you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues.In addition to this, there is also an SD card reader which can read your files for playback from a memory card.
What is an in-dash unit without a USB port?The PDN-626B also has a USB port for playback from flash drives. So you will never run out of ways to play your favorite multimedia. The PDN-626B has got you completely covered.
Tune in to the local stations when you go to new destinations and find out what’s happening around with the AM/FM tuner feature.
Bluetooth
If you have used the aux cable for connecting your phone, you know how cumbersome it can be to use your phone for taking calls. But the PDN-626B gives you complete wireless convenience as it comes with Bluetooth technology.
It uses Bluetooth version 3.0 to connect to compatible devices. So you can pair your smartphone and other smart devices for a hassle-free and wire-free experience. Bluetooth version 3.0 also comes with enhanced data rate which allows for data transfer rates of up to 2.1 Mbit/s.
So you will never have to endure any distortion during mp3 playback or while answering calls at the high transfer speed gives you the necessary clarity.
Touch screen
The front panel of the navigation unit is dominated by a 6.2” LCD touchscreen. It has a good widescreen resolution of 800×480 giving you high-quality pictures and videos. No matter what the ambient light conditions, your screen will be visible due to the 400 NITS LED backlight.
The touch feature is very responsive and lets you quickly access all on-screen features easily. To make your screen look even better you can choose from a number of custom backgrounds and also select your favorite screen saver.
Mobile Device Integration
It’s an undeniable fact that smartphones and people have become inseparable. So instead of trying to fumble with your phone while driving and making it dangerous for yourself and others on the road, you can use PDN-626B’s mobile device integration.
The Mobile Link X2 is a mobile integration software that lets you use the in-dash unit’s screen as your mobile screen. So you can open your favorite mobile applications, access videos or even post to social media all with complete hands-free comfort and more importantly without having to take your eyes off the road too much.
As the head unit’s screen is large enough you won’t have trouble using it even when you are driving. All the information between your smartphone and the unit is transmitted via Bluetooth.
Microphone
Answering calls while you are driving has never been so easy. Not only does the Bluetooth give you wireless calls, the PDN-626B has an inbuilt microphone which lets the caller hear you clearly. The unit also comes with an external microphone.
Connectivity
The unit comes with multiple outputs for connecting to various devices. As far as sound is concerned it has four 75-watt MOFSET speaker outputs. In addition to this, there are front and back audio outputs, one for a subwoofer preamp and a video output.
If you want to have screen assistance for reversing your car then you can connect a camera to the rear-view camera input and back-up with ease.
Don’t worry if you want to connect a non-Bluetooth device to your in-dash unit. The PDN-626B comes with an aux input port to connect various media devices for wired connectivity. It is an easy way to help a friend listen to music without going through the hassle of pairing their device just for an occasional short ride.
Size
The PDN-626B is a Double Din unit which means it has been constructed to fit the standard specifications of a Double Din dash.
Warranty
An easy way to gauge the quality of a product is to look for its warranty period. When your product is going to be installed inside a vehicle that is subjected to extreme heat and cold, then the warranty period becomes even more important.While there are in-dash units that don’t come with any warranty at all, the PDN-626B comes with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty which is a standard warranty duration for in-dash units giving you a complete peace of mind.
Pros
- Excellent navigation support and useful additional navigation features
- Multiple playback options and multiple file format support
- A large LCD touch screen with high resolution
- AM/FM tuner radio
- Multiple ports for connectivity
Cons
- The music doesn’t stop but is muted while using the reverse camera
Conclusion
You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a top model to enjoy the convenience and fun of an in-dash navigation unit. The PDN-626B from Power Acoustik is chock full of features and comes at an incredibly small price tag that gives even some high-end models a run for their money. It also has some great customer reviews that stand testimony to its performance.
Whether you want to listen to music on your way to work or let your kids enjoy movies during a car travel or simply find your way through in a new place, the Power Acoustik PDN-626B will be a great companion. We are sure that if you end up buying one you will surely see how it makes your car rides more enjoyable and comfortable.
You might also like our articles on Teac TN 300 reviews, Zoom 5370 review and Zoom 5370.
Resources
- http://poweracoustik.com/product/pdn-626b/
- https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-2-din-car-stereo-534610
- https://www.crutchfield.com/S-HUi1kro1wir/learn/learningcenter/car/navigation/in-dash.html
- https://www.crutchfield.com/S-voTkL2dTbaT/learn/learningcenter/car/navigation_installation_guide.html
- https://www.cnet.com/forums/discussions/why-buy-in-dash-gps-278954/