Pioneer DEH P9800BT (radio / CD / MP3 player)

Pros: Tons of features, great audio quality, rear mini-jack, impressive color LCD that is easy to read in ANY lighting condition, BT works great with included mic, and rather cheap considering the features

Cons: Won't work with typical GM/Pioneer wiring harness (must be hard wired), new "multi-function" button takes getting used to, some rare and minor BT connectivity issues (expected and easily fixed)

Summary: While certainly not a cheap unit, this device is worth every cent. It basically has all the high-end features you expect in a Premier deck, but it also has Bluetooth! So I won't bother talking much about the awesome sound quality, great color LCD that is very easy to read in ANY lighting condition, or the many extra audio features.

Since Bluetooth is of course the feature that sold me on the unit, let's talk more about that. (If you want more info on non-Bluetooth stuff, check out the P7800MP).

I have it paired with my Sprint PPC-6700 PDA phone (latest firmware), and it works great. First thing to note that is your BT phone may not support all the features available. For example, the signal meter, battery level, and phone book transfer don't seem to be supported with my model. Also keep in mind that the manual does indicate that almost all of the "extra" Bluetooth features may or may not work on your particular phone. This is typically the result of your phone not supporting all the bluetooth "protocols" it uses.

The PDA paired up just fine, and once "registered," the P9800BT will remember your phone. It also has an "Auto Connect" feature, that when enabled, will always look for your phone and happily connect to it when it's in range (typically within about 10-20ft).

So here is what happens when you get a call:

1. The phone rings through your stereo (you can pick a few built-in ringers) and the music is muted for you.
2. Caller ID is displayed on the bright/clear LCD (phone number only - unless you programmed or transferred a phone book)
3. You press the handy "Multi-Function" button to answer your call (there is an "auto-answer" feature available) and you are Live with your caller.
4. When the call is over, you may hang up yourself, or wait for the caller to hang-up.
5. Then the music starts playing where it left off.

My friends still can't get over how cool that is. But what if you want to make a phone call? You've got a few more options!

1. Dial the number on the remote.
2. Use the built-in phonebook (if you transferred or created one yourself) to pick the number to dial.
3. Use call history to dial a previous number
4. Or the way I prefer - use voice recognition! I simply press the Telephone button and then hold down the "Band" button. Then using the voice recognition already programmed in my PPC-6700, say the caller's name, and it dials for you.

So if you've used a hands-free ear-piece with your BT phone, it's rather similar.

This unit is installed in a 2000 Z71 Tahoe with exhaust and big all-terrain tires. So this isn't exactly a "quiet" environment. Which is why I've been very pleased with the call quality. No static, no echo, and both myself and caller can hear each other just fine. If there is an echo, it is because I have the volume turned WAY up (and only the caller hears the echo.) The mic is mounted on the sun visor, but can be mounted anywhere that works in your vehicle (dash, steering column, etc).

Overall, *most* of the initial setup is straight forward - just keep the manual handy for the BT stuff. I've tried many other "portable" hands-free units; none worked nearly as well as this one. So if you've got BT and want hands-free, I highly recommend this unit!