A329S Test & Review PP

[Chuck McCoy]

Better late than never & last to the party, let’s gooooooooooo!
Test units provided by Viofo, (thank you very much).
Test units are retail versions with serial numbers.
For this round of testing I opted not to receive pre-production units.
However, now I regret it because I missed out on all the fun & excitement. lol

If you're new to DCT, or a first time dash cam buyer doing research, welcome to my testing thread.
If you have any particular testing questions in any configuration like power consumption, parking mode run time with dash cam battery packs, SD Card record length / capacity, night time HDR comparisons, 60fps vs. 30fps comparisons, Thermal Imaging comparisons, or anything else just leave your questions below, and I’ll work them into my testing schedule.

A little about myself, I have no formal education, training, or experience in electronics, engineering, computers, photography, videography, software, coding, or any other noble science.
Everything I say should be taken with a grain of salt, and confirmed & verified for accuracy.
If you’re looking for a professional review I recommend you stop reading this, and seek answers from the gentleman I consider dash cam industry subject mater experts.
@Vortex Radar @SafeDriveSolutions @rcg530 @seattledashcams @Karagandinez @Julian23 @Nigel @Mtz @gse @Leonauto @DashcamDriversGermany @DT MI @TonyM @Paul Iddon @kamkar @ogzogz and a few others whose user ID’s escape me at the moment.

I bought my first dash cam in 2018, and they have become my “retirement fun time hobby”.
I grew up in the golden era of 80’s Japanese consumer electronics, Sony Walkman, VCRs, camcorders, boom boxes, pull out car stereos, casio calculator watch, answering machines, and others, (8-bit NES, Polaroid Cameras, and the Clapper).
My earliest memories are watching reruns of I love Lucy on our 13” Black & White Zenith with rabbit ears, (I think that was 240p).
So the 4K resolution in color of our modern dash cams blows me away every time I analyze test footage.

How about we start with some Specifications, Test Data, and Q&A about the new A329S 3CH with (4) different remote cameras available.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Processor: Novatek 98530
STARVIS 2 (IMX678) Front 4K60fps HDR Off | 4K30fps HDR On/Off (60fps 1CH & 2CH only)
STARVIS 2 (IMX675) RC420 Rear 2K30fps HDR On/Off
STARVIS 2 (IMX675) RCC360 IR Interior Fisheye 2K30fps HDR On/Off
STARVIS 2 (IMX675) RWC400 Waterproof Rear 2K30fps HDR On/Off
STARVIS 2 (IMX675) RTC420 Telephoto 2K30fps HDR On/Off

F1.8 Lens Aperture Front
F1.8 Lens Aperture Rear
F1.8 Lens Aperture Waterproof Rear
F2.0 Lens Aperture Telephoto
F2.2 Lens Aperture IR Interior Fisheye

140° FOV Front
160° FOV Rear
210° FOV Interior
160° FOV Waterproof Rear
35° FOV Telephoto

Maximum Bitrate;
89 Mbps 1CH 4K60fps
66 Mbps 1CH 4K30fps HDR On
66 Mbps 3CH Front
27 Mbps 3CH Rear
27 Mbps 3CH IR Interior Fisheye
27 Mbps 3CH Telephoto
27 Mbps 3CH Waterproof Rear

1 Minute File Size;
638MB 1CH 4K60fps
472MB 1CH 4K30fps HDR On
472MB 3CH Front
196MB 3CH Rear
196MB 3CH IR Interior Fisheye
196MB 3CH Waterproof Rear
196MB 3CH Telephoto

1 Minute File Size Multiplexed;
518MB 2CH
472MB 3CH
WARNING: Never multiplex the Telephoto camera, always maintain Telephoto footage as a separate video files, for you shall awaken the wrath of @Mtz

CPL Filter: Front CPL-200 Included
CPL Filter: Rear & Telephoto CPL-600 Not Included

LCD Display: 2.5” inch
Voice Commands: Yes (enable / disable)
Voice Notifications: Yes (enable / disable)
Video Codec: H.264
Format: MP4
Super Capacitor (no lithium battery)
External Microphone Jack: No
Micro HDMI Output: No
Remote Camera Cable: Coax, (not same as A139 series)
Operating Temperature: -4℉ to 149℉ (-20℃ to 65℃)
LED Status Lights: Power, Recording, Wi-Fi, MIC, GPS
Bluetooth: Yes
Bluetooth Remote: Optional BTR200
Quad GPS: GPS, BeiDou, Galileo, and GLONASS
Loop Record: (1, 2, 3, 5, 10 min, OFF)
Max SD Card: 512GB Viofo Brand
Max SSD: 4TB Samsung T7 Shield
Wi-Fi 6: Dual Band 2.4GHz & 5GHz
Wi-Fi Transfer Speed: 33MB/s

Parking Modes: Hybrid Parking Recording, Low Power Impact Detection, Auto Event Detection, Time Lapse, Continuous Low Bitrate
Official Release Date Viofo.com: May 19, 2025
Official Release Date Amazon US: July 1, 2025 (tentative)
FCC ID: 2AMBW-A329 (September 22, 2024)

MSRP 3CH Configurations:
a.) $470 A329S Rear & IR Interior Fisheye
b.) $470 A329T Rear & Telephoto
c.) $480 A329SW Waterproof Rear & IR Interior Fisheye
d.) $480 A329TW Waterproof Rear & Telephoto
e.) $480 A329WW (2) Waterproof Rear

MSRP a la carte:
a.) $330 Front / Main Unit
b.) $90 RC420 Rear
c.) $100 RTC420 Telephoto
d.) $100 RCC360 IR Interior Fisheye
e.) $100 RWC420 Waterproof Rear

Default & Optional Coax cable lengths for remote cameras;
DEFAULT;
6 Meter Rear
1 Meter IR Interior Fisheye
1 Meter Telephoto
3 Meter Waterproof Rear
OPTIONAL;
0.15 Meter
0.3 Meter
0.5 Meter
8 Meter
10 Meter
15 Meter
NOTE: Custom length Coax cables may be available through Viofo Tech Support; SUBMIT A TICKET

Q&A:

Q: I want to purchase an A329S 3CH but I don’t see the particular remote camera configuration I want on Amazon, Viofo.com, etc. what are my options?
Option 1.) Purchase A329S 1CH configuration, and purchase additional remote cameras ala carte, (this may be more expensive).
Option 2.) Submit a support ticket, and request to purchase the particular 3CH configuration you desire, (this may be less expensive).
Option 3.) Purchase the available 3CH configuration, and purchase the (2) additional remote cameras ala carte, (this is the most expensive but you will have all (4) remote cameras).

Q: What are the (2) new parking modes, and why are they important?
A:
1.) LPID (Low Power Impact Detection)
2.) HPR (Hybrid Parking Recording)
A: Most users don’t want the added expense, and complexity of installing a dash cam battery pack for extended parking mode operation.
LPID & HPR offer substantially improved parking mode run time without a battery pack.
Previous Parking Modes;
a.) AED (Auto Event Detection)
b.) TLR (Time Lapse Recording) no audio
c.) LBR (Low Bitrate) continuous video recording with audio

Q: What is the heat signature difference measured with Thermal Imaging Camera between continuous Low Bitrate parking mode, and the new LPID (Low Power Impact Detection) parking mode?
A: See post #36

Q: Does LPID (Low Power Impact Detection) support recording to SSD?
A: LPID supports Micro SD Card only.

Q: How long are recorded clips in LPID?
A: When an impact wakes up the camera in LPID it will record for 1 minute.
If movement, or impact are detected during that time, recording will be extended up to 3 minutes.

Q: What are the PROS & CONS of the new Multiplex feature?
PROS;
Reduced number of files on SD Card / SSD, (up to 3 down to 1)
Simplicity of downloading a single clip, (instead of 2, or 3)
Review recorded footage up to 3CH simultaneously without editing software
CONS; Does not maintain maximum image quality, especially telephoto footage.

Q: Does Multiplex support 60fps?
A: Multiplex supports 30fps only.

Q: Does Multiplex reduce parking mode power consumption due to writing a single file, instead of three separate files?
A: See post #39

Q: When upgrading to A329S, is the GPS Mount from A329 identical / compatible?
A: Yes

Q: When upgrading to A329S, is the GPS Mount from A229 Pro & Plus identical / compatible?
A: No, A229 Pro & Plus GPS Mount will power the A329S, however GPS is not “fully” compatible.

Q: When upgrading to A329S, can the old HK4 Hardwire Kit be used, or is the new HK6 required?
A: HK6 Hardwire Kit is required for the new voltage based HPR Hybrid Parking Recording, (HK4 does not support voltage based HPR).
Also, the new HK6 will display vehicle battery voltage in the text stamp at the bottom of recorded footage.

Q: Does the A329S FRONT & REAR cameras have IDENTICAL image quality as A329 FRONT & REAR cameras, or has it been improved?
A: I’ve got just the test, stay tuned.

Q: Are all (4) remote cameras compatible with BOTH remote camera ports, (rear & int)?
1.) RC420 Rear (YES)
2.) RWC400 Waterproof Rear (YES)
3.) RTC420 Telephoto (YES)
4.) RCC360 IR Interior Fisheye (TBA)

Q: Can the A329S operate in 3-CH with these configurations;
(2) RC420 Rear (YES)
(2) RWC400 Waterproof Rear (YES)
(2) RTC420 Telephoto (YES)
(2) RCC360 IR Interior Fisheye (TBA)

Q: Are all (4) remote cameras compatible with A329?
1.) RC420 Rear (YES)
2.) RWC400 Waterproof Rear (YES)
3.) RTC420 Telephoto (not at this time)
4.) RCC360 IR Interior Fisheye (not at this time)

Q: Do any A329S remote cameras have their own processor, (similar to rear & telephoto for A229 Pro & Plus)?
A: No, why do you ask?
Remote cameras with their own processor like A229 Pro & Plus “rear & telephoto” require separate firmware from the front camera.
This can complicate the update process.
Q: Is all processing performed by the A329S front camera / main unit?
A: YES

Q: What’s the difference between RTC420, and RTC300 Telephoto Cameras?
A:
RTC420 = (Coax) A329S
RTC300 = (USB Type-C) A229 Pro & A229 Plus
Q: Do they have the same Image Sensor, Lens, Focal Length, Optical Zoom, FOV?
A: YES
Q: Do they have the same processor?
A: NO
RTC300 = Novatek 96562 (built into remote camera housing)
RTC420 = Novatek 98530 (built into front camera housing)
Q: Do they have the same Bitrate?
A: Close Enough
RTC300 = 24.27 Mbps (1 Minute File 174MB)
RTC420 = 23.99 Mbps (1 Minute File 172MB)

Up next is Horizontal FOV measurements.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Q: What is the measured Horizontal FOV of the A329S (front & 4 remote cameras)?
A:
..25° FOV Telephoto
..94° FOV Waterproof Rear
105° FOV Rear
111° FOV Front
179° FOV IR Interior (Fisheye Mode Off)
203° FOV IR Interior (Fisheye Mode On)
105° FOV IR Interior (Fisheye Mode Off) LED’s On
105° FOV IR Interior (Fisheye Mode On) LED’s On

Q: How does the A329S compare to Viofo’s of Christmas Past?
A:

Thread 'VIOFO Horizontal FOV Database'

Nov 28, 2023

The purpose of this thread is to document the measured Horizontal FOV of all future Viofo Dash Cams I receive for test & review, (and previous models).
Shoutout to these gentlemen for helping me revise my testing jig, and measurement procedure.
@rcg530 @Vortex Radar @Nigel @DT MI @Karagandinez @gse @Dex_

I settled on this method because all you need is a wall, and a yardstick.
It’s easy to duplicate so anyone can confirm & verify my measurements.
The hardest part to maintain accuracy is to place the camera lens in the same location every time...

• Chuck McCoy
• Replies: 68
• Forum: VIOFO Other

• 

1.) Front

2.) Rear

3.) Waterproof Rear

4.) Telephoto

5.) Interior - Fisheye Mode Off

6.) Interior - Fisheye Mode On

7.) Interior - Fisheye Mode Off - LEDs On

8.) Interior - Fisheye Mode On - LED's On

9.) FOV Rig

 

[TonyM]

I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the HK6 vs the HK4, other than supporting voltage-based hybrid parking mode

 

[Chuck McCoy]

I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the HK6 vs the HK4, other than supporting voltage-based hybrid parking mode

I'm already starting to fall in love with it for several reasons.
1.) I like the connectors for plug & play removal & re-installation, and also to aid in diagnosis & troubleshooting.
2.) The load carrying power wires have been beefed up from 20AWG to 18AWG.
3.) All wires have been upgraded to what appears to be 100% Pure OFC Copper, instead of the previous CCA, (copper clad aluminum) or Tinned Copper.
4.) I only detect a small amount of heat signature during operation.
5.) The battery voltage displayed in the text stamp on recorded footage has “4 digit resolution” (example: 12.65V)
I remember the Korean brand dash cams I tested only displayed “3 digit resolution” (example: 12.6V).
6.) It pairs with the camera automatically, and very quickly, (I want to say within 2 seconds of boot up).

 

[Nigel]

6.) It pairs with the camera automatically, and very quickly, (I want to say within 2 seconds of boot up).

Does the camera need to be plugged into it for it to pair?
Or can you use the hybrid parking mode, with transition on low voltage, while plugged into the accessory socket, car USB charging socket and ODB socket?

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Does the camera need to be plugged into it for it to pair?
Or can you use the hybrid parking mode, with transition on low voltage, while plugged into the accessory socket, car USB charging socket and ODB socket?

That’s a good question, I will definitely test that.
Right now I’m trying to build my test rig to check lens focus, and night time HDR comparisons with A329 2CH & A229 Pro RTC300 Telephoto.

 

[rcg530]

Or can you use the hybrid parking mode, with transition on low voltage, while plugged into the accessory socket, car USB charging socket and ODB socket?

You can only use the in camera "Voltage cut-off" feature when the HK6 is used to power the dash camera.

 

[GPak]

Great opening post! @Chuck McCoy
One of the most informative for potential buyers I've seen in one place!
It will be interesting to compare your findings with other reviewers, especially since you have a retail version.

When you get a chance, could you check if the IR Fisheye can be set to be used only when parking?
Specifically for the A329S Rear & IR Interior Fisheye version in LBR parking mode.

 

[GPak]

I'm already starting to fall in love with it for several reasons.
1.) I like the connectors for plug & play removal & re-installation, and also to aid in diagnosis & troubleshooting.
2.) The load carrying power wires have been beefed up from 20AWG to 18AWG.
3.) All wires have been upgraded to what appears to be 100% Pure OFC Copper, instead of the previous CCA, (copper clad aluminum) or Tinned Copper.
4.) I only detect a small amount of heat signature during operation.
5.) The battery voltage displayed in the text stamp on recorded footage has “4 digit resolution” (example: 12.65V)
I remember the Korean brand dash cams I tested only displayed “3 digit resolution” (example: 12.6V).
6.) It pairs with the camera automatically, and very quickly, (I want to say within 2 seconds of boot up).

It will be interesting to compare power consumption between HK4 and HK6 with BT.
I assume BT cannot be disabled when parking.

 

[SafeDriveSolutions]

Lets GOOOOOO!!!!!

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Great opening post! @Chuck McCoy
One of the most informative for potential buyers I've seen in one place!

Right on GPak thank you for the kind words.

When you get a chance, could you check if the IR Fisheye can be set to be used only when parking?
Specifically for the A329S Rear & IR Interior Fisheye version in LBR parking mode.

Of course, I’ll never forget your generosity form the last testing round.
Thank you again.
I just got done configuring the camera with your specific settings;

1.) A329S 3CH - RC420 Rear - RCC360 IR Interior Fisheye
2.) Low Bitrate Parking Mode Enabled
3.) Interior Camera Setting “Only On While Parking”
4.) See attached screenshots

Booting up the camera it said; “Two Channel Recording”
I put the camera in parking mode, and it said; “Three Channel Recording”
I checked the video files in the parking folder, and all three videos from the Front, Rear, and Interior where present.
It looks like it will do what you want.

It will be interesting to compare power consumption between HK4 and HK6 with BT.
I assume BT cannot be disabled when parking.

Yes, that’s why I put off all power consumption testing until I had an HK6 in hand.
One thing I noticed is there is no red LED Status Light inside the HK6 like there is in the HK4.
I guess that was removed to bring down the power consumption.
However, I just realized the newest retail / production HK4 I have is from the A229 Pro received on 9/12/23.
Ben @SafeDriveSolutions was telling me a while back the current production HK4’s have a lower current draw when the camera is powered down, or the HK4 is not connected to anything.
Maybe I need to get my hands on a current production HK4.
Thanks again,
-Chuck

 

[ogzogz]

5.) The battery voltage displayed in the text stamp on recorded footage has “4 digit resolution” (example: 12.65V)
I remember the Korean brand dash cams I tested only displayed “3 digit resolution” (example: 12.6V).

You're doing well. Congratulations.

I haven't tried the camera yet. I'll probably be the last one to try it.

I found the image I prepared amateurishly for the voltage information request for the a129 pro duo I bought in 2020 and still use.

Of course, I would prefer it to be 4 digits (13.20) nowadays.

It's been about 5 years and it would be great if a viofo camera supports this.

Apart from the stamp text in the video,
although I added a mini voltmeter to see the current voltage information in my vehicle, it would be good to be able to see the voltage information on the camera screen or while watching live via the app.

Enjoy your reviews..

 

[indigo]

u are very very professional
i love it

 

[Chuck McCoy]

You're doing well. Congratulations.

I haven't tried the camera yet. I'll probably be the last one to try it.

Well hello ogz, long time no see, I was hoping you’d stop by. lol
Thank you, you’re one of the gentleman I forgot to mention in the first post, (I have made the correction).
I’m looking forward to what you find as well.
-Chuck

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Everyone knows filming driving test footage when everything is moving in varying lighting conditions is the best way to test & compare image quality.
This is where I get lazy.
A few years ago we received dash cams for test & review with lens focus issues from what seemed like “every” manufacturer.
Discovering out of focus issues after installing the unit in a vehicle is a disappointing waste of time, and resources due to;
1.) Reporting the issue
2.) Waiting for a replacement unit to shipped out
3.) Possibly sending the defective unit back for analysis
4.) There’s only so much testing that can be completed with an out of focus unit.

I’ve learned the hard way to always check lens focus before I install the unit, and begin testing.
I’ve also discovered comparing new models with their predecessors under controlled conditions is an easy way to find out what’s improved, or gotten worse without burning a drop of gasoline, (9 mpg ouch).

This test rig allows me to quickly, and easily test & compare;
1.) Stationary night time HDR performance, (I figured out two ways to add motion, stay tuned for that)
2.) Heat test comparisons, (measured with Thermal Imaging Camera)
I tried using a regular laser thermometer, and it’s "impossible" to get repeatable, accurate measurements.
And a bunch of other silly experiments that only I do. lol
3.) 60fps vs. 30fps
If you have a specific request you want tested / compared now's the time to ask while I’ve got them on the rig.

Cameras on the test rig;
1.) A329 2CH Rear
2.) A329S 3CH Rear & IR Interior Fisheye
3.) A329T 3CH Telephoto & Waterproof Rear
4.) A229 Pro 2CH Telephoto

If your new, or just forgot we still have the “Voice Command Easter Egg” that comes in handy for fits of road rage.
If I recall it was an Australian DCT member that discovered it on the A119 Mini 2.

 

[Nigel]

If your new, or just forgot we still have the “Voice Command Easter Egg” that comes in handy for fits of road rage.
If I recall it was an Australian DCT member that discovered it on the A119 Mini 2.

Wow, that A329 is fast!

Over a second faster than the closest competitor, nearly locked the file before you had finished speaking, and it finished speaking before the next one had even crossed the start line! 😎

 

[gse]

If you have a specific request you want tested / compared now's the time to ask while I’ve got them on the rig.

Hi, do you have a test of the A329S for defocus when heated? If not, I would like to see it, you have a really cool stand.👍👍👍

 

[joe384]

Looking forward also to see what crazy multi-channel setups you end up doing after you've finished all your testing 🤣

The waterproof cameras are so handy for getting side views that interior cameras just can't get easily

 

[Chuck McCoy]

do you have a test of the A329S for defocus when heated? If not, I would like to see it

That’s a good idea, I’ll see what I can put together.
For context we had a de-focus issue with the first retail production batch of A119 Mini 2’s that was not discovered until a few months after initial release.
The camera would lose focus during parking mode in “HOT” weather.
When the camera switched back to normal / driving mode, and the user opened the windows, and turned on the A/C the camera cooled down, and focus returned to normal.
It wasn’t until someone reviewed their parking mode footage to find it all “blurry”.
If I recall it was @Karagandinez who reported it with a well documented post.
After that Viofo “upgraded” the A119 Mini 2 with a new lens to correct the issue.
Thank you for noticing my stand, I saved those scraps of wood from the burn pile. lol

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Looking forward also to see what crazy multi-channel setups you end up doing

Yes, that's actually the first install I'm going to do.
One of my my favorite parts of testing these cameras is installing them in unconventional locations to give folks an idea they might need more than a basic 2CH Front & Rear system.
Of course running multiple systems is a pain in the "maintenance", but I think it makes up for it with the benefit of redundancy when malfunctions occur.
I’ve been after good side camera placement since 2020 with two different setups.
But I’ve never been 100% happy with the POV of the cameras.
This will be my third attempt.
I’ve been wanting to mount (2) waterproof cameras under both exterior side mirrors ever since we got the RWC200 for the A229 Pro.
But since you can only run one RWC200 per front / main unit, and the huge/thick USB Type-C cable I put it off.
Now that we have the A329S that can operate (2) RWC400 waterproof cameras, and the super slim Coax cable it’s a more attractive installation process.
The POV I’m after is to recreate the Tesla “blind-spot view”.
Also to also catch potential parking lot mayhem.

My last two attempts looked like this;

Here is the POV I will install with the A329WW;

Here’s some example footage of the POV I’m after;