I recently placed an order for a xD and am waiting for it to arrive at the dealer. In the mean time I am debating whether I should have the SNS installed or go with an aftermarket solution. I settled on an Alpine IVA-W505 with all the options, still ends up costing less than the SNS. However there are mixed reviews with the nav side of the W505 (which uses a separate Alpine GPS unit). On the flip side I'd be able to run external amps, gain bluetooth connectivity and play ipod videos through the display, which if I am not mistaken the SNS is not capable of. I've been using an Alpine NVE-N852A nav unit for the past five years and love it though it's pretty old and lacks a bunch of new streets.

My question is, for those with SNS, how does the navigation side of things compare to other similar nav units? Does it do text-to-speech and announce full exit names and distance? Even better if you've used the Alpine blackbird 2, how does SNS compare to that?

 

You're comparing the dealer price of the SNS(~$2000, ridiculous!!!) to the cost of Alpine IVA-W505 with all the options. What I'd suggest is to consider the marketprice of SNS(ebay ~ $1000). With this you'll get a very nice, stock looking, user friendly CD,DVD,MP3, SAT ready, NAV included unit. Works with the steering wheel controls. Audio system is also by Alpine and is superior even with the stock speakers(I'm yet to upgrade them). Some people also think that these have a lower probability of theft compared to the aftermarked ones with the brand names clearly visible. I can not compare the NAV to the Backbird, but it is much better than the one in my 2007GMC Yukon Denali. I think it's on par or better than any factory setup and not as good(responsivness,features) as for example Garmin portable NAVs. As a major drawback It has the annoying security feature which doesn't allow you to use many important features while driving. There is a bypass for it, but it requires some wire cutting. There's no software/firmware fix for it at the moment. Another disadvantage is it's limited expansion posibilities. Bluetooth, Rearview camera,Voice recognition options are not available. No pre-amps either. I don't know what they were thinking ?? With the whole Scion customization philosophy and over $2000 price tag ...
So, anyway - overall, I think it's a great unit if you get it for a grand or less and will beat anything else in that price range. But if the system expansion options are a MUST for you, go with the aftermarket. Way more options there but about twice the price.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy your new xD !

 

xDrug pretty much nailed it but I felt like adding my two cents.

I picked up my SNS new in the box on ebay for $900 shipped. At that price, it's fantastic. I haven't used the Alpine IVA-W505, but I have used a lot of other GPS Nav systems (TomTom, Garmin, and Magellan) and I've been very very pleased with the SNS. Inputting an address, displaying gas stations, atms, etc.. is all very easy to do. The interface works very well and is designed to be used in a car.

It doesn't do Text-To-Speech, but I count that as a plus as most text-to-speak is awful and never says the name correctly. Instead, the SNS uses "Right turn in 2 miles", "Right turn in 300 feet", "Next Right", and then as you're about 50 feet away it will give you a soft sound signaling to you that you are about to turn. It also displays the name of the street, a top down layout of how the street is designed, where you'll be turning, and I blue bar that shows the distance you are away from the turn. It will however announce freeway/highway numbers, ex: "Take the I-15 North on-ramp".

As xDrug said, some features do get locked out when the car is in motion (this is something almost all Navi units have), however the SNS lockout has a very simple bypass and the information has been covered many many times on these forums.

I don't know how much your Alpine IVA-W505 will run you, but I've been super pleased with the SNS. It looks good in the xD, fits perfect, and is a solid unit.

 

I don't know how to, but I wish someone would move all the SNS related info in one place. Would be great !

JonRick, have you done the bypass already ?

I've got 2 questions:

1. do you know how exactly this mod affects the warranty ?
2. any suggestions for a good,clean,stock looking switch and its install location(for xD preferrably)

 

2. Put a very small square on-off switch under the dash behind the OBDII plug... It's hidden and easy to find without looking for it.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

or

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

 

Where's the OBDII plug ? Any chance to see the picture of your install ? Thanks !

 

left knee. put your hand to the left of steering wheel on dash, and go straight down underneath. That plug you feel. Put it just on the front side of that (front being front of car side).

 

That sounds like a good location. Thanks again !

 

Yes, I've already done the bypass, I followed fraychild's tutorial.

1. It's very simple and if done cleanly would more then likely go unnoticed since the cables would stay inside your car if you had to send the head unit in for a warranty repair.

2. I've been looking for a factory looking switch to go into the center column (by the e-break) for this very reason. I want to enjoy the ability to access all the features of the navi unit while the car is in motion, however I want the ability to flip a switch and turn the lockout back on in case anyone else drives my car. I trust myself to be responsible while driving, but I can't always say the same for everyone else.

Anyway, I've gone to great lengths to find a switch that will fit and looks stock, however, I've been unable to do so. People have posted switches and such, but the new xB and xD have a new size and none of the switches used on the xB1, xA, and tC will fit correctly.

On a side note I did buy a bluetooth car kit for my car. It's designed for all newer Toyota and Scion model cars and it did come with a switch that fit perfect into the slot. However, it's the only switch I've found that fits like this.

I bought an extra one with hopes of moding it into a simple push button.

Picture:

 

This looks totally clean !!! So, this is your bluetooth switch ? What system is it ?

 

Sorry, I left out the most important details! lol

The whole system is by "Advent". Don't waste your time trying to find any information on the company because it's nearly impossible. The company is owned by Audiovox, and as far as I can tell they don't sell to consumers (at least not anymore), they instead sell to resellers/installers who mark everything up. Finding someone who even sells this product might be difficult.

The part number for the switch is: TOYBTSW3

If anyone reading this has an xB1, xA, or 2007 or older tC, then the part number for the switch you'll want is: TOYBTSW2

If you wanted to get the whole blue tooth car kit, you'll need the "brain" which gets hidden under the dash.

The part number for that is: BTHFMOD
Picture:


Of course the system works with the SNS wonderfully, but I would think it would work fine with any head unit. When I get a call it simply over rides the audio from the radio. It keeps an independent volume setting as well, so even if I'm blasting music and get a call, the call will be at the same volume I set in my previous call instead of as loud as I had the music at the time.

 

Thanks to all for your input. Looks like I will settle with the IVA-W505. I was hoping the SNS does text-to-speech like my old Alpine (which does this PERFECTLY, the speech engine is amazing) but it seems the nav part of it is about the same as a W505 with the blackbird. Alpine's GUI is top notch and it was the first thing I noticed while viewing the SNS demo site. Will keep you folks posted once the install is done.

 

For whatever it's worth ... Alpine is only responsible for the Audio/Video part of the SNS, the NAV is by some other company. That's what Alpine CS people told me when I tried to ask about some of the features. It says Aisin AW Corporation on the back of the unit.

What does text-to-speech do exactly (in the NAV application) ?

 

Turn left on "street name"

Example: Turn left on south fourth street

Instead of... Turn left in 300 feet...turn left in 50 feet. turn left. dong

 

AHA !!! tmrepp - what would I do without you, man ! )))
I wouldn't even know the difference, never listen to the voice guidance - too much for me ...

Did you know that the same unit in Japan's iST can show navigation on one half of the screen and play DVD on the other ? While driving )))

 

i so want to do this. but oh well still rocking a stock deck. LOL. one day one day.

 

That would be awesome if you could get the headunit from the iST and flash it to the English language but still keep the split screen ability.

I want more and more iST stuff (not going for that look though) since it is obviously far better than what Scion is offering lol.

 

Hi ChelsDS ! Sorry, it's actually not the same unit - the NAV screen looked the same and I didn't pay too much attention to the rest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SzsFh6mST0.

I really like my SNS's look and how it integrates into the cockpit. Also how the blue color matches my blue starter button:

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=234254

I'm thinking about buying the dome light from Japan next time I'm in the need to burn $200

 

Aisin makes a lot of OE nav systems, and some Alpine/Eclipse units too IIRC. If the iST shares its nav system with other japanese toyotas they use a full HDD based nav system that "self-updates" the mapping data.. pretty slick stuff.