
When I bought this deck in May 08, I gave it 4 stars. Then I found the deck is NOT Bluetooth equipped, only Ready(Amazon has subsequently changed the title to say Bluetooth-Ready. Wankers), and once I bought the BTM-60 Module, I found the module is not compatible with certain LG phone models. I'm a radio junkie, & was excited to get HD radio. That is, until I found HD radio works about as well as an automotive shortwave, unless you're not more than about 10 miles from the source, with good line-of-sight, and parked with your engine off. Unfortunately, where I live, unless I go to the top of a 200 ft knoll overlooking my town, the only HD station I can get is a Conservative "Christian" station. I recently drove from to Central Oregon & back, & I found KUOW-3 only worked 40-25 miles south of Seattle, and 10-20 miles north. Even when I could see the source, the reception sucked.
I really like plugging my MP3 player into this & using the remote to control it, but why isn't the remote backlit(the customer service people at Dual are like "Backlit?? Hey, why didn't we think of that?" You can't see the remote in the dark.
After reading reviews of this unit, why didn't I pick up that this requires addition of a Bluetooth receiver? Bonehead! As Otto(Kevin Kline) said in "A Fish Called Wanda", "DISAPPOINTED!!" But hey, the CD section works flawlessly. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the tuner section of the receiver, which I'd hoped would be an upgrade from the POS stock unit in my Volvo 240. However, the AM section is weak, even after the addition of a new, slightly longer antenna mast. The only AM I listen to is ESPN, and for some reason, the signals of the ESPN affiliates in the Puget Sound area are terrible, so I listen to KNBR out of San Francisco. (I just got off the phone with Dual's tech line, & they advised me to send them the unit, that they haven't gotten complaints about the AM reception- which means how long without a radio?). The FM reception is adequate.
The bottom line, this is an adequate value: I was overjoyed I scored this unit for $99.95 on Amazon, figuring what a deal, eh? I called Crutchfield, & bought their Installation guide for the Volvo 240, I bought wire & splices. I spent hours pulling panels & my POS stock head unit. I got 75% done, & due to the fact that adding aftermarket audio to the Volvo 240 requires the stock amp in the be bypassed, I hit a place where I was stuck, and did what I should have done in the first place: I went to a PROFESSIONAL audio installer & paid $110 for their expertise in finishing what I'd started. If I'd gone there(CTs)in the first place, this unit would have cost me $149 including installation, and would have saved me time, money, and aggravation plus frustration. As it stands, I'm out about $220 plus gas & time there & back(not to mention the fact I had to kill 90 minutes in Lynnwood, Wa., which is never a pleasant idea). If you have a vehicle where you can simply release the catches and slide your old unit out & the new unit in, by all means snap this up. If installation in your vehicle requires panel removals, and grunting & sweating & wiring, pay the extra base cost, & buy this at and have it installed by your local professional. You'll be much happier.
In addition, make sure your phone & Cell service provider have Dual listed on their compatibility chart. I figured, "Bluetooth? Same-o-same-o, no prob, but LG told me to check Verizon's chart: very few aftermarket stereos are listed, & Dual is not among them. Bollocks!!
After 5 months living with this, I'm ready to Ebay it. I really want HD radio, but since I can get it much less than 0.1% of the time I'm listening to the radio, why have it?
Bottom line: CD player: flawless; "Built-in" Bluetooth: liars; Aux/MP3: flawless; Tuner: totally unacceptable. Terrible. If also found that when I'm in an area where the HD signals aren't strong, the HD kicks in & out, causing the receiver to go back & forth from HD to non-HD signal, so sometimes I'll hear the same thing over & over, and there's no way to turn it off. I would NOT BUY THIS AGAIN, & I had to kill my original review, then resubmit it so I could lower the number of stars.Get more detail about
Dual XHD6425 4X50 Watt Bluetooth-Ready HD Radio and MP3 Player.