Meet Pioneer's in-car DJ

We unveil two new Bluetooth CD tuners that are packed with features to make the most of every drive.

8 December 2011

Both new models come with a built-in Parrot Bluetooth module, enabling wireless audio streaming and hands-free telephony, an SD card slot and USB connectivity. Set to turn the tech savvy audio lover's car into a club on wheels, the DEH 6400BT includes "MIXTRAX EZ" function for non-stop music mixes with smooth transitions1 between songs. The DEH 8400BT integrates high-grade parts dedicated to producing professional audio quality.

The "MIXTRAX EZ" function on DEH-6400BT takes the music from an iPhone/iPod or USB, SD device and plays it back with added transitions and effects, turning the units into virtual DJs. Three types of DJ-style transitions (Flanger, Echo and Crossfade) and six sound effects (Backspin 1 and 2, Echo, Trans, Roll and Scratch) are automatically added between songs for a non-stop, continuous listening experience. To further enhance the "dance club in your car" atmosphere, the illumination buttons and display of the stereos pulsates and changes colour. Two modes of illumination, each with six colour patterns, can create different light effects to give users a cool and fun experience.

With Pioneer's new Bluetooth CD tuners, making those all-important calls from behind the wheel has become safe and stress-free. Integrated Parrot Bluetooth technology enables hands-free telephony and wireless reception of music files from Bluetooth enabled devices. Wide connectivity and playback options allow the user to connect an iPod, iPhone, portable MP3 player or USB device, or simply insert an SD card. The units allow playback of MP3, WMA, WAV and AAC files from SD. Each tuner also offers complete flexibility when it comes to connecting extra amplifiers, speakers and subwoofers.

The DEH-8400BT and DEH-6400BT CD tuners have an SD card slot discreetly hidden behind their front panels, compatible with SD and SDHC cards, and play back a host of file formats from SD, including MP3, WMA, WAV and AAC files.

The DEH-8400BT features a flap-type front panel that flips open at the touch of a button to reveal the CD and SD slots, and flips back once a format is inserted to maintain a clean dashboard look. The tuner comes with a Music Browser function, which automatically reads the music from an SD/SDHC memory card or USB device and lists tunes alphabetically by artist, album, song or genre, using audio tag information.

Other versatile connections include two rear USB high-speed 2.0 direct interfaces to simply link USB audio devices and immediately enjoy a selection of tunes. And with the optional CD IU50 iPod to USB cable, an iPod or iPhone is also easily plugged in. The tuner offers heavy duty 1A current output for power hungry devices and fast charging.

To make searching and selecting tracks from various sources more convenient, the DEH-8400BT and DEH-6400BT come with a large RGB LCD Display that shows three lines of information. Key iPod and mobile audio player features – such as artist/album/track selection and playlist access – are simply commanded. All functions are managed through the optional remote or Pioneer's Lever Key. This new operation method brings more ease of use compared to the previous multifunctional rotary key, providing more grip, better blind operation and a nice cosmetic element.

The superior audio performance of these new SD CD tuners arises from an intelligent mix of technologies. The units incorporate a 24-bit Delta Sigma D/A converter along with proprietary Advanced Sound Retriever (ASR) technology. By adjusting frequency response and sound pressure, especially in the high and low frequency ranges, ASR puts the harmonics lost during compression back into the music. Put simply, audio is revitalised and depth returned to reproduce sound in exceptional quality that will unleash the full power of Pioneer's celebrated MOSFET 50x4 amplifier set-up.

Should extra power be required, 3 high-volt pre-outs enable connecting an additional amp. With an on-board low pass and high pass filter, subwoofer control is extremely straightforward. The audio can even be tuned to one's personal taste through the 5-band Graphic Equaliser (GEQ). It allows the user to adjust five separate frequency bands to set equalisation levels to perfectly match the acoustics of the car. For ease of use, the 5-band GEQ has seven preset equaliser curves, which can be recalled at any time.

Availability

The DEH-8400BT and DEH-6400BT will be available from January 2012 at Pioneer car audio dealerships. For further information on pricing and availability, please contact your local Pioneer distributor. MIXTRAX is available for download here.

Where to buy