An Honest Review Of The Planet Audio P9640B Model
Cars have become amazing devices. They do not merely get us from point A to point B. They provide an entire environment complete with air conditioning, your favorite music, the local news, and they can even play your favorite DVDs. At least, this is true if you have outfitted your transportation with the Planet Audio P9640B Car DVD Player.
The Planet Audio P9640B has a reputation as the ideal bluetooth enabled car dvd player and audio interface. It certainly seems herculean for one piece of technology to provide everything from touch screen controls to remote control capabilities. Can the Planet Audio P9640B really spin so many plates at once? That is what we aimed to find out in our investigation.
What Is the Planet Audio P9640B Car DVD Player?
The Planet Audio P9640B is a double DIN Bluetooth DVD/CD receiver. It will fit most any vehicle's dash as long as it is double DIN compatible. The Planet Audio P9640B is an aftermarket enhancement to your dash which can easily convert an older car into a bluetooth enabled, touch screen controlled, car of the future. Before we dive into the nitty gritty of the technical specifications, let us review some of the features that are offered by the Planet Audio P9640B.
Bluetooth Calling
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Thanks to the latest in wireless technology, the Planet Audio P9640B allows you to easily answer and make calls with the touch of a button. It eliminates distractions by providing a hands free form of communication while you are driving. It includes a built-in microphone that we found to be quite capable at picking up our voice. The Planet Audio P9640B's speakers allow for crystal clear communication even while driving.
If you are using your phone or tablet to play music apps like Spotify or Pandora, the bluetooth connection of the Planet Audio P9640B allows you to control the music wirelessly.
A Plethora of Media Options
Whereas other double DIN receivers offer you just the ability to play music and the radio, the Planet Audio P9640B allows you to play DVDS, CDs, and even SD cards on top of its AM and FM radio connections. Possessing a USB connection and an auxiliary port means that the Planet Audio P9640B can connect to and play just about any type of media you have stored. This is all in addition to its solid bluetooth capabilities.
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Compatible With the Latest Vehicle Tech Trends
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The Planet Audio P9640B can charge your devices through its USB connection. It even has ports that can connect to a rearview camera. This makes it a great option for people who want to upgrade their vehicle with the latest in keeping you safe while reversing. In some countries, not having a rearview camera is considered a major safety risk. The Planet Audio P9640B fixes that problem.
You can connect the Planet Audio P9640B to a steering wheel interface, for quickly changing the song or answering a call without glancing at the screen. The Metra ASWC-1 steering wheel interface is particularly well suited to the Planet Audio P9640B.
Impressive Outputs
The Planet Audio P9640B can be attached to front, rear and subwoofer pre-amp outputs. In addition, it provides a video output that can be connected to an extra screen for more viewing capability. This makes the Planet Audio P9640B great for wiring up a screen to keep the kids happy in the backseat on a long haul. An amplifier is recommended so that you can get the most out of your speakers.
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Put Yourself in Control of Your Grooves
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The Planet Audio P9640B has a state of the art equalizer. Not only does it look great, it lets you balance and fade your music and find just the right mix of bass and treble for your speakers. Riders in the backseat can use the included wireless remote to adjust these levels. We found this especially useful when travelling with audiophiles that are willing to spend their time in the car finding the perfect mix for the situation.
Product Specs
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Now, let's get into the nitty gritty of the technical specifications.
The Planet Audio P9640B is sold through Speece, Inc. and it is an in-dash Double Din model. The screen is 6.2” and of the LCD type with a Digital Touchscreen TFT Widescreen display.
The whole unit measures 6.9” by 7” by 4” and weighs 4.41 lbs.
The Planet Audio P9640B requires one lithium metal battery to operate. It can support CD, CD-R, DVD, MP3, SD Card, AM, FM, and most anything that can connect to it through an auxiliary cord or a USB cable.
The Planet Audio P9640B uses bluetooth and bluetooth handsfree technology to power its music experience. It includes ports for rearview cameras, additional screens, and steering wheel inputs.
Pricing
Surprisingly for something that can do so much, the Planet Audio P9640B is very affordable. This is certainly not the bottom shelf price for double DIN receiver, but it is the cheapest we have ever found a receiver that offers as many features as the Planet Audio P9640B does.
How It Compares
We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare.
- Push To Talk – You can connect with your Smartphone’s assistant with a push of a button. Linked via Bluetooth to...
- Bluetooth - Answer / make calls and be hands-free with no distractions. The built-in microphone picks up your voice and...
- Media Playback - Watch your choice of videos through the DVD player, play music through your Bluetooth device, pop in a...
User Friendliness
The Planet Audio P9640B is friendly to multiple types of users. It is perfect for the driver who likes to talk on the phone but wants their experience to be safe. It is great for the backseat audiophile who wants to make sure their tunes are EQ'd correctly. It is great for kids who would rather watch a Pixar movie than stare out the window. Whether you want to use a remote, a touch screen, or a wheel input to control your media experience, the Planet Audio P9640B has your back.
Ease of Installation
The process for installing the Planet Audio P9640 is straightforward enough. If you are a car person, you will be able to get it all hooked up yourself. However, the company that manufactures the Planet Audio P9640B does recommend that you get professional installation, especially if you are attaching it to an extensive audio system.
Design Quality
We absolutely love the way that the Planet Audio P9640B looks. Add to that fact that it runs like a dream, and you've got a five star rating in terms of how well the device was designed.
Warranty
The Planet Audio P9640B comes with a stellar 3-year Platinum Online Dealer Warranty if you buy this model through Amazon.com. Keep in mind that some parts of the warranty may be voided if you do not get your Planet Audio P9640B installed professionally.
Pros
Cons
- Bluetooth - Answer / make calls and be hands-free with no distractions. The built-in microphone picks up your voice and...
- Media Playback - Watch your choice of videos through the DVD player, play music through your bluetooth device, pop in a...
- Auxiliary - Compatible with the audio output from smartphones as well as MP3 Players
The BOSS Audio BV9358B is often compared to the Planet Audio P9640B. It hovers around the same price range and provides many of the same features. It does not come with a dash kit, however, and ultimately its screen looks worse than that on the Planet Audio P9640B.
User Friendliness
Ease of Installation
Design Quality
Warranty
Pros
Cons
- Bluetooth: Built-in Bluetooth, Hands-Free Profile (HFP), Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP), Advanced Audio...
- 5 Display Colors With 112 Key Colors. Android and iPhone Compatibility
- Expandability: Single, Rear UBS Input, Rear AUX Input, Back-up Camera Input, Wired Remote Input, Composite Video Output,...
If color customization is what you seek in your receiver, check out the Pioneer AVH-210EX in-Dash 2-DIN DVD Receiver. At the touch of a button you can shift your display to one of five colors. This goes far to allow you to create the perfect atmosphere in your vehicle, especially because you can choose between over one hundred key colors. We liked the customization, but we did not think that this gimmick justified this receiver's high price point.
User Friendliness
Ease of Installation
Design Quality
Warranty
Pros
Cons
- Wireless music browsing
- Dual phone connection
- Bluetooth built-in
In terms of price, the Kenwood DDX575BT in-Dash 2-DIN Receiver is the top of the line. It costs nearly twice that of the Pioneer AVH-210EX in-Dash 2-DIN DVD Receiver and nearly four times as much as the Planet Audio P9640B. In terms of features, however, it is a middle of the road in-dash 2-DIN receiver.
User Friendliness
Ease of Installation
Design Quality
Warranty
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
We were pleased to discover that the Planet Audio P9640B lives up to its hype. It plays such a wide range of media types that it effectively integrates any type of entertainment experience into your vehicle. Whereas some members of its competition could play DVDs and SD cards just as well, they either asked far too much or their design quality was lacking.
We were shocked to discover that come of the highest end receivers were only warrantied for a single year. This falls far short of the standard set by the Planet Audio P9640B's 3 year guarantee. If you need one of the absolute best double DIN in-dash receivers, we highly recommend the Planet Audio P9640B.
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Last update on 2022-12-04 at 09:48 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
