Double din stereo head unit for 2006 Yaris. Going insane trying to choose.

Lkrunchymoses on 30/03/2016 - 19:07

So the yaris I just got has a pretty crappy MP3 cd player with no bluetooth and I need bluetooth for work. The stereo spot is 'double din' and there are about a thousand different units out there, varying in price and potential quality. And I'm keen for a touchscreen.

Anyone got some experience here? I don't know whether to stump for the extra cash and go a Kenwood or Pioneer model, essentially paying more for less but a probably stronger build quality. Or I go for one of these interesting Chinese numbers which have a billion features but might, for all intents and purposes, suck.

Android operating system looks cool but, to be honest, would I even use it?

I figure ozb is clearly the best crowd to help me here. If this is a dupe, can you PM me a link to another thread?

Thanks people!

Automotive

Comments

  • Colombian on 30/03/2016 - 19:15
    +1

    I installed a Clarion double din to my Yaris and I'm happy with it. I was also tempted to one of those Chinese head units but decided to play safe as it is a thing I would not like to take off frequently in case of warranty claims.

    • krunchymoses on 30/03/2016 - 19:20

      I'm thinking the same, but maybe someone on here has had a raging success with a Chinese unit. But they scare the hell out of me!

  • spackbace on 30/03/2016 - 19:18
    +1

    Get name-brand, not eBay China quality, you'll thank me in the long run.

    Wait for the next SCA 30% off car audio sale, can't be too far away.

    Android Auto & Apple CarPlay are very much still in their infancy. I happen to sell cars with them integrated now, but it's still coming into its own, and there's so many variables as to whether they work or not. Oh, and your phone has to be plugged in, so forget about fast-charging while you want to listen to your music!

    Just a standard H/U with Bluetooth, USB, iPod connections will see you through for a while. JVC offer good bang-for-buck with their stuff. Otherwise the usual Kenwood/Pioneer and maybe Alpine depending on the price difference.

    Shouldn't need GPS, you likely have it on your phone or have a portable already

    • krunchymoses on 30/03/2016 - 19:19

      JVC is cool - I'm kinda looking for possible search terms on ebay. I am always super skeptical of Sony stuff as they love weird formats and annoying SONY proprietary rubbish.

      GPS you are right. Google maps does the job.

      • spackbace on 30/03/2016 - 19:21

        SCA 30% off will beat any eBay sale price you see right now. Just wait :)

        • krunchymoses on 30/03/2016 - 21:14

          Yeah, I'm pretty tempted. Their range is a bit ho hum but 30% is pretty damn good.

      • Darron65 on 31/03/2016 - 13:05
        +1

        I've been tempted to buy a 7" Pendo tablet just for GPS. The newest Pendo pads run lollipop.

        Google Maps lets you download an offline copy and it seems to update fairly often (on my phone).

        • krunchymoses on 01/04/2016 - 12:43

          You could connect your pendo to your phone as a hotspot and have live google maps as well.

  • No on 30/03/2016 - 19:25
    +1

    I had a Chinese android head unit in my previous golf and I really liked it. You can set things up with Tasker so it automatically opens Waze or speed camera alerts or whatever you want. The only real con I found was that every time you start the car you need to wait for android to boot up so you sit in silence for the first 30 seconds but I think that is a small price to pay.

    If you want to make sure you don't end up with a dud I would go over to XDA developers and pick one of the units that they are using. See this forum:

    http://forum.xda-developers.com/android-auto/android-head-un…

    This is the unit I had: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2110546 but I would go for something with a newer version of android.

    • krunchymoses on 30/03/2016 - 21:14

      Thanks man. mean, things like speed camera alerts and the like are pretty cool to have and incredibly tempting. But the idea of an instant-on and reliable device is the other side of the coin. I'm gonna check that list. This thread is delivering.

  • plmko on 30/03/2016 - 21:47
    +1

    Toyota is not 'double din' exactly, the spacing is 200m versus double din at 180mm. Either you have to buy among the limited choices of 200mm ones or buy a spacer for about $10 on Ebay or JB.

    • krunchymoses on 30/03/2016 - 22:21

      Legend, thanks for that. I know there is a thing about this but I couldn't quite clarify it. Well said. I think there are some 200mm units they say are for toyota and I think a lot of them come with a spacer too.

  • slknv on 31/03/2016 - 01:47
    +2

    I wouldn't recommend alpine,I have an Alpine double din in my weekend car and it's slow, unintuitive, poor layout etc. My brother has a Sony and the interface is miles better. Whatever you buy, make sure you're happy with the interface before buying.

    • slow on 31/03/2016 - 10:01
      +1

      Agree, I have an alpine and every day I ask myself who on earth designed the ridiculous non-intuitive interface

      • krunchymoses on 31/03/2016 - 10:06

        Cheers for the heads up! Alpine are just on that side of the pricey edge for me, so I am kinda avoiding them. But I'm just gonna rule them out. Again, thread delivers.

    • KernelPanic on 02/04/2016 - 23:31
      +1

      Slow at doing what? I have had Sony and Pioneer units and the Alpine has been as fast as any of them, and the Alpine sounds miles better with far better sound setting options than any of the other two.
      The Alpine unit I have (2012 model) has 2 methods of looking up MP3 files, one of those reads every single MP3 and tags them so you can navigate by artist, album, year, genre etc, but it's super slow to cache all that data. The other option is to navigate by folder which is fast and straight forward and pretty much the only option on any other unit.
      One thing that I would have liked to do with the Alpine is navigate though the folders alphabetically. As it is you have to scroll through every single folder (which is fast but tedious) to get to something specific. So if you have 200 albums (folders) on there, and you want to get to one that's about 100 into the hierarchy you have to scroll the wheel 100 times.
      Switching sources is quick, it boots up the USB as fast as the Sony or Pioneer.
      Personally I wouldn't get an aftermarket stereo that wasn't Alpine.
      I haven't looked at units lately, but I doubt the Alpines would have gotten slower than my trusty old one — which isn't slow.

      • krunchymoses on 10/04/2016 - 19:37

        Thanks for the second opinion on that! I just saw an alpine unit on the JB sale that is really tempting and checked back here to see what was up. I don't want a slow frustrating unit but I want the capabilities alpine offers with their smartphone app!

  • RobMel on 31/03/2016 - 09:52
    +1

    Hi,
    went for cheap chinese Android HU, installed 4 in various cars.
    So far no issues.

    Reason: cost a fraction of what barndname cost and hopefully last long enough until newest features require an update.
    In other other words if I get 2-3 years out of it I am ok. My wifes WinCE chinese unit is now 3 years going strong.

    If you buy one go for ebay local NOT ALiExpress
    Get Quad Core and 2 GB of Ram.

    Pro for chinese:
    - Great feature set
    - low price
    - good variety
    - free navi sw
    Con:
    - low build quality
    - average sound quality

    You get a 2Din without DVD for $250 or so I think.
    Good forum :
    http://forum.xda-developers.com/android-auto
    slap on this FW: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=60591423&post…

    • krunchymoses on 31/03/2016 - 10:08

      I am using my stock toyota speakers so I am guessing that the sound quality isn't a biggie, but is it really noticeable? I know that Chinese DAC chips are pretty shit and some of them use brand name DAC which is pretty important imo.

      Low build quality is annoying but as long as it lasts! 3 years is pretty decent. Also, a lot of the name brand ones look shoddy too!

  • RobMel on 31/03/2016 - 11:05
    +1

    For me sound quality is OK. Tbh don't hear difference to my original quality radio.
    For me love Bluetooth, rear view camera n play music from SD card. Also could hook up can for dash cam feature

  • justaperson on 31/03/2016 - 21:23
    +1

    Best option is to find a head unit from a fairly new Toyota (2011 and up) The head units themselves come with voice-control, bluetooth, AUX, USB and some even have digital radio. No mics or anything external needs to be fitted. Plug and play, fits the space without any modification and looks original. Can be had for as little as $50 from Gumtree or eBay.

    • ntt on 01/04/2016 - 01:44
      +1

      Or you try at wreckers

      • krunchymoses on 01/04/2016 - 12:16

        Hey, this is actually an interesting idea.

        • ntt on 01/04/2016 - 13:18
          +1

          Then where is my +1

        • krunchymoses on 01/04/2016 - 14:24

          @ntt: Sorry mate - there's an extra one.

    • spackbace on 01/04/2016 - 13:28
      +3

      But factory units are never as good as an aftermarket unit. The Bluetooth and bluetooth streaming can be lousy, interface very basic, usb/ipod playback iffy. Not to mention, you have to hope the usb/ipod inputs are on the front, because if they're on the back then they're designed for usb ports in the car, so it's likely it won't be a standard connection on the deck itself.

      Oh, and radio pin codes. Stuff having to deal with that every time you change the battery or it goes flat. When it's not your VIN it's attached to, it would be a royal PITA.

      • krunchymoses on 01/04/2016 - 14:24

        True, true. Aftermarket is much easier though. Seems like the stock ones barely make it to ebay, which is odd. I thought they would be a good earner for wreckers.

      • justaperson on 01/04/2016 - 17:47
        +1

        I've done it before on a Corolla pin codes are basically non existent in the 2012+ Toyota radios, if their is a code, its the last 3 digits of the VIN of the car it was first attached to. Also Toyota designs their radio systems to be as cost effective in production as possible, basically one or two standard connectors in every car they manufacture with all the functions and features contained on the individual radio unit itself (USB/BT/mic/etc). I totally agree with you on everything you've said, if was any other manufacturer I would avoid this option entirely, but Toyota just make it so easy, so if it's cheaper - why not?

        • spackbace on 01/04/2016 - 18:23
          +1

          Toyota just make it so easy, so if it's cheaper - why not?

          It depends what factor of cheaper it is. No different to the yum-cha eBay units. Sure, it's cheaper, because you're generally getting 3/4 the full potential that an aftermarket deck has. Talking better sound quality, which makes a difference if you decide to upgrade the speakers at any stage. Better Bluetooth, not only to have the mic as a separate part (which puts it closer to your head and therefore the other person can hear you better), but also better Bluetooth streaming - after all, that and USB is where modern media is going to. No longer can you just rely on a head unit having a cd player, and being happy with that. The USB/iPod/BT music playback is pivotal to you not throwing the device out after 12 months!

    • krunchymoses on 08/04/2016 - 09:03

      You bloody ripper! Thanks mate :-)

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