Double-Din Head Unit Recommendations and Feature Guide?

RangaWal on 14/09/2022 - 21:50

Need to replace my DDX5015DAB in my old 4WD as the screen is failing to respond to input in some areas. Don't know much about them, so looking for suggestions for a good replacement.

  • I suspect by now capacitive screens are affordable, so that would be preferable.
  • DAB+ would be OK if I could get better reception than I do now – are there any that work with AM/FM on my antenna that apparently can support both?
    easy switching between 2 BT connected phones
  • Android Auto (I imagine wireless is the latest and greatest, but USB) would probably do)
  • don't need steering wheel controls
  • reverse camera not really necessary

Any help would be appreciated.

Find Me A Bargain Car Audio

Comments

  • spackbace on 14/09/2022 - 21:51

    Budget?

    • RangaWal on 14/09/2022 - 21:52

      good question! ~$500 but if I need to spend more to get the features I want, so be it

  • Almost Banned on 14/09/2022 - 23:13
    +4

    Chinese Android Headunits have gotten very good.
    If you choose a brand like Joying or t'eyes or ATOTO you at least know you are dealing with someone who supports their stuff.
    I just installed a Joying unit and it was not very difficult, looks great, and works really well. Very happy.
    Check out the videos by Youtuber Saab Unleashed for some reviews of these things.

    • [Deactivated] on 15/09/2022 - 03:02
      +3

      i would be interested to hear your long term review, i looked at some Chinese units and the reviews were happy at first, but gradually the units failed or had significant issues after a year or so.

      ridiculous that pioneer, kenwood etc. are charging almost double the cost of the flagship iphones / androids, for something that is basically just a watered down smartphone.

      • Almost Banned on 15/09/2022 - 11:19

        If I remember I'll check back in with an update in 6 months.
        I had a JVC unit installed in the wife's car a couple weeks ago.
        Had to buy an aerpro harness kit for it, and frankly I think it is less capable than the Joying unit, and cost a fair bit more.

        • [Deactivated] on 15/09/2022 - 12:20
          +1

          I had a JVC unit installed in the wife's car a couple weeks ago. Had to buy an aerpro harness kit for it, and frankly I think it is less capable than the Joying unit, and cost a fair bit more.

          i think you're right, upon further research, it appears the Chinese are leading the way, yet again… there are some trusted Chinese brands (Joying, Atoto, T'eyes, Xtrons etc) and then there are the amazon no names that last a few months, sometimes up to a year.

          I watched a few videos, and apparently kenwood, pioneer etc. are focused on the audio aspect, they let the UI and OS fall to the wayside, assuming that most will be satisfied with android auto / apple carplay (I'm not..)

          i think it was this video, but i'm not entirely sure, as i watched several from that guy, but the gist of it is that the Chinese brands use decent hardware and android, while kenwood and the like don't use decent hardware (apart from audio aspect) and the OS is meh, relying on your phone to be the main power behind GPS / apps.

          i think he is right, as a lot of the Chinese head units i was looking at (mainly Joying, i'm restricted to single din) came with GPS as standard, including the little GPS module and antenna, whereas on a kenwood or pioneer, those units are few and far between, with the GPS not coming as standard (if it is actually compatible with GPS at all) and costing near to, if not exceeding the price of a new head unit, just for the GPS module.

          • mapax on 15/09/2022 - 13:16

            @[Deactivated]: *adjusts tinfoil

            They come with inbuilt gps to make it easier to track you…
            /s

      • ozprash on 15/09/2022 - 13:59
        +1

        I've had my Joying for about 18 months now, not skipped a beat and running along well! Only niggle is Android Auto worked with the stock Samsung cable, but has stopped working last couple of weeks.

    • Bignudge on 15/09/2022 - 08:43

      I had a quick look online and can't really find a Joying headunit for my 2015 HRV locally. Which website or shop did you buy it from?

      • Almost Banned on 15/09/2022 - 11:21

        I bought mine directly from Joying - and you are right that they don't have the right kit for every make and model.
        I couldn't find one for the wife's XV or my Mazda3 - but I did for the kid's Ford Focus.
        Maybe try contacting them?

    • Drakesy on 15/09/2022 - 11:37
      +1

      Agreed, Had an Android Joying from 2014 that was still working when i sold the car in 2021. Honestly wasn't expecting much but the sound quality and interface were way ahead of anything else for the money.

      Just grabbed another Aliexpress Android unit for my current car and it's been great, 45 mins of installation and she was good to go. If your car has a rather unique dash layout you may have to go for one that's specially made for the car. It's worth it though.

      Even talks to the steering wheel controls.
      Never going back.

      • uberdude on 15/09/2022 - 13:51

        @drakesy

        If you dont mind, which unit did you buy from Aliexpress? I'd also prefer it to work with steering controls too. There are so many choices it's overwhelming.

        • Drakesy on 15/09/2022 - 15:18

          As long as it's probably more than $150 you can't really go wrong.
          My one was just a kia sportage specially adapted one, but any will do the job.

  • AngoraFish on 15/09/2022 - 00:10
    +3

    DAB+ requires its own antenna. It sticks onto the inside of your front windscreen so it shouldn't be a big deal; certainly wasn't for me. It was just done pretty simply as part of the install.

    A couple of months ago I picked up the Pioneer SPH-DA160DAB. Cost me $514 on ebay with a voucher code that has no doubt by now expired, plus install. Uses a capacitive touch-screen, and comes with the DAB+ antenna which isn't always included with some units.

    I really wanted the digital radio and it's totally worth it, but it starts cutting out towards the outside edge of Melbourne metro and in tunnels so your results may vary. Definitely don't get it for improved reception. Still, the audio is a big improvement when it works, which it does for the most part, and there are a lot more channels to choose from.

    My biggest disappointment is that I have found the USB cable connection a lot more flaky than I would like, but don't think I can really blame the head unit for that. On the weekend I sucked it up and bought a wireless adapter (carsifi) which will hopefully kill off my biggest irritant, but might be a couple of weeks on the plane from China before I can report. Definitely cheaper to pick up the double din unit and adapter than buying one with wireless included for which there is a serious price premium.

    Easy to attach a reverse camera to, but you need to buy that separately. I didn't bother.

    I can't comment on easy switching between two phones, but the carsifi adapter can definitely handle that as it switches with a quick button press on the dongle.

    Other than that I'm not sure how to compare further, but I'm pretty happy with the purchase.

  • klonky on 15/09/2022 - 08:57
    +1

    If you get the aerpro components for the headunit and your car then changing over the headunit is like a 30min job.
    We just got the Sony xav3200. Yes it's a resistive screen but it does what it's meant to do. Honestly we rarely need to touch the screen anyway.
    Also went wired Android Auto so we can charge the phone while getting connectivity

  • ywpn on 15/09/2022 - 14:19
    +1

    Nakamichi NAM3510-M7
    ~$400

    Capacitive screen
    No DAB
    2 BT switching - not sure if this HU has it, but my experience with a cheaper Kenwood is that it isn't great with switching between phones for music, but seemless for taking phone calls from either phone
    Android Auto - USB only
    accepts SWC
    accepts reverse camera

    [edit] https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/125499266161
    $380 on eBay

  • pjetson on 15/09/2022 - 15:24

    Do the Joying (and other low cost units) run Android Auto, or are they more or less just Android 10 tablets?

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