Popularity: 22% [?]

DUAL XDV-8125 Review – Affordable In-Dash CD Player With 2.5″ LCD Screen and Built-In TV Tuner

Posted by Kenny

February 26, 2008

This piece from DUAL first came out in the late quarter of 2004 and is still widely sold today. It is essentially a typical CD player with AM/FM tuner; but unlike any other CD players, the front panel features a 2.5″ LCD monitor allowing you to have audio and video playback from either the built-in TV tuner (yes, you read that right-a built-in TV tuner), or an external audio/video source.

Pros
The first thing I like about this DUAL piece is the stylish design. It does not have a conventional single-din front panel design and features a large rotary control on the left side-which is great because I like to be able to turn a knob to adjust volume and other functions rather than pushing buttons.

The screen is in the middle and it slightly bevels inward, which is excellent for screen protection, saving it from accidental damages and scratches. I also like that the unit features 3 sets of RCA audio outputs, allowing for all four speakers plus a subwoofer if you have one, 2 sets of RCA audio/video inputs, and 1 video output. All of that means that you could add more audio and video sources to the receiver as well as expanding the video output to another unit. You could, for instance, plug in video game consoles or any portable media players to this unit and have it display the video on the 2.5″ LCD monitor.

The affordability and simplicity of the DUAL XDV-8125 tops it all off like cherry on whipped cream. Prices range from $100 – $190, of course depending on where you get it. If you can get a good deal at around $100, I’d say you should take it. You won’t get an in-dash 2.5″ monitor with a built-in TV tuner like this one.

Cons
There are features lacking from this unit. Though I think simplicity is key with the design, the lack of DVD playback may be of great concern to many. However, I don’t think watching DVDs with a 2.5″ screen will be very nice to enjoy anyway, so I would hardly consider this to be a con. The feature is made up for with the ability for it to receive and tune TV transmission.

One more minor design flaw is perhaps the incompatibility of its slightly-larger-than-DIN design. The front panel center portion drops down like a boat and may cause installation on some vehicles either very difficult or impossible. Additionally, the CD player and tuner display is hidden behind the front panel which means that you would have the front panel slid down in order to view the display. This leaves the panel exposed as it protrudes out from the dash, leaving it vulnerable to accidental bumps or damages.

Overall
Ultimately, I think this unit is worth buying if you could get a good deal on it. It has a lot of output/input options, a rare 2.5″ monitor, and a coveted TV-tuner. It’s a good entry-level unit and even includes a remote control in the box. The unit also features an above average power rating (60 watts Max, 22 watts RMS), setting it a bit better than most in-dash head units.

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