This double-DIN head unit was $271, then a $238 instant deal, now it's $229 without any codes required!
Plays DVDs, CDs, mp3s off USB sticks, has a line-in on the front, composite a/v input at the rear, reverse camera support, and is quite nice and bright. It also comes with a mic for handsfree calling.
Key features:
- 6.2" WVGA 400cd/m2 touchscreen
- CD/DVD/Bluetooth/USB/Line in/FM
- Bluetooth handsfree calling
- 55W x4
- Composite A/V aux input
- Reverse camera support
damn, that was a fast reply!
So was yours
I looked at some Sony ones a while back, thought it was this one.
This doesn't mirror the phone screen does it? Some do, you can end up with Google maps on the screen rather than having the phone visible for example.
Any one know what it shows on the screen when streaming Spotify on the phone, or when playing a track from the phone.
Pretty sure this is just a basic head unit with a big screen so no mirroring etc. Had some experience with a much more advanced DAB+ Pioneer unit 12-18 months ago. Was supposed to allow mirroring but you had to jump through lots of hoops to get it working properly and/or buy the special adaptor. I couldn't get it working however I've seen seamless mirroring available on recent models but they had more in-built smarts than this Sony.
Nice and thanks for the link. Might look at getting one myself. Shame it doesn't allow control too as I think that's what the Pioneer add-on box was supposed to do. Crazy that such a 'simple' function still isn't run-of-the-mill in all standard car AV systems hey.
Crazy that such a 'simple' function still isn't run-of-the-mill in all standard car AV systems hey.
Ahh, they just want to make you pay extra for it. :)
I have this one. It doesn't duplicate the screen. You can only connect it via bluetooth to play audio
Its a good unit for this price. But you need to remember to ground the handbrake wire on the unit otherwise it doesn't play video at all. I learnt this after installing with a harness and once it was all done the video didn't work.
Its a good unit, but very basic menu, can't do much except for play, hardly any options/customisation and some of the videos that I've tried to play don't play and then the screen freezes for about 30 seconds where you cant do anything. Apart from that its good.
It wouldn't even play video when stopped with the handbrake on?
Do you have steering wheel controls added or just a plain install. Our car needs steering controls.
The harness I had didn't even have the handbrake wire from the stereo. I bought one of the generic sony to toyota harness things. So the video wouldn't work at all regardless of handbrake up or down. So I had to take it out and take the handbrake wire from the original harness, put it in the new one and then grounded that. Lucky my car was a relatively easy install (2006 Corolla). Otherwise I woudn't have been happy.
I just did a plain control, nothing steering wheel. It was a pretty quick and easy install.
@tonytone: Ha, I had a similar experience in a 2014 Corolla. Had to do a lot more than just the Handbrake wire though, I also had to disconnect the speed sensor wire which unfortunately disabled the auto-volume feature plus had to perform a work-around to stop the Navigation from triggering a 'car is in motion' detection too! Managed to figure it out after much experimentation and all just so i could see the static video output of a 3rd party DAB receiver which I still haven't got working properly anyway due to poor antenna reception. Bah!
This headunit unlike many has integrated steering wheel control support so you don't need any extra adapters. Just need to wire it up with the provided harness.
What does it show on screen when streaming music.
When streaming I can't remember coz I don't stream very often. But playing music from CD or USB you can either have the standard track name, time remaining etc and if you have cover art the cover will show. You can also put it on the sony screen saver which absolutely sucks, its just 2 Sony advertising pics that alternate.
I have this headunit. Shows song name, artist, album name when using Spotify.
installerrrr in melbourne?
JB can install it.
do you know how much do they charge?
I paid $100 for a simple head unit installation. Don't know if it's a flat rate or anything.
They quoted $190 for installation in a Corolla. A bit expensive I thought. I just installed it myself.
Local Autobarn installation is around $120 for a double din head unit (that was including the BT and reverse camera install).
If we wait for another 30% off sale, do you reckon it will be off the new discounted price?
i have this headunit.
only con. is fast forward and rewinds max x4
just hook up a Rasp PI to it via composite av input…much better then using the laggy stock interface
but how would you control it? Touch panel would be useless, isn't it?
wireless remote dongle in the Rasp Pi USB port? That's what I use.
While driving?
@eug:
Yep. Is there a warning not to use a remote control that comes with your headunit whilst driving?
The stock interface feels quite responsive. Definitely far from laggy.
It's ok. Far less responsive then a Rasp Pi. Esp when you are trying to browse 128GB worth of music.
Fortunately people who need a 128GB music collection in their car are few and far between!
I just use my phone in a phone mount. With Spotify I can choose from tens of millions of tracks with a fast UI.
@ironpaw: Good thing there's offline mode.
Different people have different listening habits. Some people just listen to a playlist of a few hundred songs which easily fits onto a phone (streaming some new songs while driving around takes up little data), while others have 128GB music collections which they need to have in their car.
It's great that you've found a solution for your requirements, but I think it's safe to say you're in the minority - certainly none of my friends carry their entire music collection everywhere they go.
Good unit for the price. Purchased one yesterday. I mostly use it for blutooth music streaming but USB input is good and it seems to do what it says it will do. Most people are annoyed with the startup screen as you have to press an accept button, but I found it was a lot less annoying than I thought it would be. It would be nice if you could change the background but I'm not sure you can. The blue if OK though. You should do your research though and check what actual owners are saying just in case there is a deal breaker for you. I'm happy with it
Getting cheaper every time.