Pioneer AppRadio 3 with MirrorLink
 

If you're planning to install this in a FR-S, BRZ or 86 please share your experience.

There are two models the SPH-DA110 and SPH-DA210. The latter is $100 more with DVD/CD support.



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It's a PITA to use in a daily driver.

What's it like just as a car stereo, though? Ignoring the mirrorlink stuff..

Well I only used it with an iPod and FM radio for music. It's OK. Nothing special. Wish it had a volume knob. I think the chin is also hideous and not secured well.

So it's a PITA because it has buttons instead of a volume knob?

Seems the same as AppRadio 2 if you're not looking for MirrorLink for a Cd/DVD. I still prefer my X8500BHS even though I heard the touch screens on these AppRadio units are better.

I have the AppRadio 2 and the AVH-5500BHS. I'll be going back to the AVH-5500BHS as soon as Pioneer releases their iPhone 5 compatible firmware.

The screen on the AppRadio2 is leaps and bounds better than the ones on the AVH lineup. The AVH lineup screens aren't bad, but the AppRadio2 (and 3) screens are REALLY good.

The problem with the AppRadio lineup (for me) is that it doesn't have a HD radio tuner or the ability to add XM/Sirius. I don't listen to the radio all that much though, usually iPhone or Sirius/XM.

I'll probably pick up an AppRadio3 to play around with it. AppRadio2 doesn't allow for bluetooth streaming audio, but they've added that to the AppRadio3, thankfully.

No, it was a PITA connecting the device to the unit every time I got in the car. Connect the device, sync the bluetooth, hope it works the first time, watch static as you go over bumps because HDMI connection isn't awesome, etc. The volume knob is just something I prefer. I guess I should have clarified.

Never had the static over bumps issue. Sounds like a bad connection. Bluetooth connects automatically and quickly for me every time too.

Bluetooth connected fine for me too, but the screen wouldn't transmit touches on the first attempt about 50% of the time.

It was a problem with the unit itself, I believe. I could replicate on 3 different cables.

@2forme did you try a different phone/device?

Yea, I tried 3 phones and 2 tablets.

When it connects and works it's fine. The screen resolution was a little fuzzy because of the downscaling, but still operated OK.

It's just a very cumbersome process to do every time you get in the car. I want something I can turn on, drive, and operate.

Do you think there'd be any mileage in leaving the android device in the car somewhere permanently hooked up?

I tried that too, but it would still have issues auto connecting on start up. I still had to start the process manually.

I don't get the fuzziness with my iPhone 5. It sounds more like you had a bum unit, or perhaps that's an android specific scaling issue.

I'm considering doing this with a spare iPad mini or iPhone 5 that I have laying around. I've got to look into the best way to make it auto-connect to my iPhone for tethering though if I go that route. Instead i'm thinking a phone holder and putting lightning cable right by it so I would simply drop my phone in the holder and plug it in when I get in the car.

It very well could have been a faulty unit. I also hated having to enable dual mix mode EVERY time I turned the unit on. I wanted to operate my device while playing iPod music or FM. Even bringing up the menu to enable that was clunky.

Either way a native unit will always be a better choice for in car operation IMO. The TUN21A I have now is much easier to operate. Just needs some better quality software... which I can take care of :)

I thought all the 2013 AVH units (including the AVH-X5500BHS and AVH-X8500BHS) had iPhone 5 compatibility built-in? I know my AVH-X8500BHS works fine with my iPhone 5 even using my own USB lightning cable (without buying the $60 Pioneer cable). AppRadio works fine (or at least as intended) for me too with iPhone 5 without a firmware update. Based on reviews I've read on the X5500BHS on Amazon and Crutchfield, iPhone 5 capability is native with the only functionality missing is video out. link(By the way, I can stream YouTube videos fine from my iPhone 5 via AppRadio mode w/o a firmware update). Now, I know Pioneer recently updated their website saying a iPhone 5 firmware update has been delayed for the X5500BHS and X8500BHS, but I'm actually confused as to what capability will be enabled with the new firmware release - hopefully it will be something cool.

nope, 8500 is the only one that worked from the factory. the others are all waiting on firmware unfortunately. I'm referring to advanced app mode which requires video. They've been selling the cable that makes it possible for months now, but the firmware update to recognize said cable, still hasn't been released.

That is messed up on Pioneer's part. Too bad they make too good of head units for me to boycott them. :)

This looks absolutely ideal for my needs! Love the big capacitive screen.

This would be interesting if it had an HD radio tuner. None of the Andriod based units I've seen so far support HD Radio out of the box. I also find it somewhat odd that the CaFi knock off comes with a OTA tuner that doesn't support digital signals. I know its a feature I'd likely rarely use, but it'd be nice to have.

check out the AVH-8500BHS, that does HD radio and android. Pretty sure there's another cheaper unit in the AVH lineup that does both as well. They both offer AppRadio mode where they can do the same things as the AppRadio units, the screen is resistive though, instead of capacitive.

That capacitive screen alone sells it for me. This is 2013.... I should be able to pinch-to-zoom on my maps. Regular car decks are behind the times.

Perhaps @mit_peid can clarify, but i think pinch to zoom might work on the AVH series. I won't know until next week when the firmware is released.

Nope no pinch-to-zoom on the AVH-X8500BHS. In all honesty, the touch screen on the x8500 isn't very sensitive, but for most functions it isn't really a big deal. It is good enough for virtually all non AppRadio functions. Nav apps are usually when this comes into play but auto-zoom and (+) and (-) zoom buttons aren't bad either. Maybe it is just the apps written for AppRadio are a little slow to be refined and developed, but it doesn't take much to beat the touch functionality in the X8500. I haven't tried AR2, but I believe it's screen's touch functions are better than the X8500 but I'd still take the x8500 in a heartbeat due to better overall features (4V preouts, SD, dual USB, etc).

Anyone have the SPH-DA210/AppRadio 3?

I am debating on pulling the trigger for it... Was actually reading around to find out if it comes w/ an external mic, and if so, where did ppl find it's best to place it at?


I kept the factory pioneer radio - have a droid phone and figured beespoke was not worth my time (after reading everyone's comments).

99% sure it comes with an external mic. I mounted mine right in front of the steering wheel.

How is the phone connection? (as far as the other person being able to hear you)
With the factory radio, I can't talk on the phone. :( the other person hears me about 1% of the time, when I'm driving on side-roads. Is this fixed with the mic on steering wheel?

BTW thx :)

I haven't had any complaints, but then again i don't use it a ton either. I'll try to remember to test it out after work today.

Did you remember? lol it's cool if you didn't...

definitely didn't. i'll try to remember today, but you saw how that worked out last time lol

bahhahah no rush!

How do the AVIC radios compare to the AVH, I can't seem to find a decent answer online.. Just a this model vs this other model type thing.. I love my AVIC I have, though the map could give me more street names.. Sometimes I don't have names at all.. Otherwise the sound seems good and watching video is good.. I don't use the app crap, just a pain.. And call quality seems good, everyone seems to hear me just fine.. I use the mic that came with it installed as high as possible on the windshield along the headliner

I'm not trying to be funny or anything, but do you drive looking straight ahead or a little bit down? (I know I drive w/ my head down - not sure if that makes any sense) so I'm not too sure about as high as possible... but possibly as high as the top of the steering wheel's top?

where on the steering wheel did you place yours?


So I pulled the trigger and bought one, will have it installed tomorrow morning, I am extremely excited!

make sure you put up a big post! i wanna see how that turns out

Sorry for the delay! no pictures yet...
Overall, I LOVE IT. I have T-Mobile, so it's slower than expected, plugged in significant other's verizon htc1 and it works like a beast.
I'll start from left to right on the screen.
First app is the actual radio, they sound eh, okay - I didn't really buy it for normal radio frequencies, but it works. It's not as strong at picking up radio frequencies as I hoped it would be.

Next we have the mirror link app. At first it did not connect right, but once I went through and cleared all the bluetooth data from both the radio and my S3, I was a little disappointed that it's not my actual screen that gets mirrored but only a few select apps. (Not disappointed enough to dislike the product). As long as you have the apps compatible with the radio on your phone they run with little to no issues. (I only say little because I don't have my parking break overriden - but am planning on doing this myself soon). The one app I was looking forward to use was Waze - the functionality is the same, my only complain with it is that it jumps between the mirrored screen and the actual waze - compatible screen on the radio interface. Besides that no issues and it's way bigger than on my phone. :)

Next in line, is the Pandora App. I was hoping this wasn't dependent on the HDMI cable being connect, but it is. Streams music just as well as your device would. Nothing new/different.

Bluetooth - I like the idea/concept, you can control your music from different non-appRadio apps, but the downfall is that you must have your screen on in order to have the name and artist of the song playing displayed on the radio. Google's play music works normally. Also when I don't want my phone's battery drained, I use it for pandora, again screen stays on for up-to-date song info, and you can't thumbs up/down a song.

Next app is the CD/DVD - I've only played a CD so far, and it is as crisp at being in concert (played Linkin Park's live in Texas album). nothing new.

then we have the Sound off button... it's not a mute button but a way to put the radio to sleep

followed by the screen off, settings buttons - they do exactly what the name implies

and lastly the back up camera button - I don't have one so it's a grayed out app for me.

Overall, it's got better call quality and GPS than the OEM pioneer that came with the car, I'm happy I spent the money. I was fairly irritated at having to repeat myself 11ty times when trying to talk. I was also having issues with the bluetooth falling out of synch with my radio and having to reload my phone's contacts on to it. and lastly, my biggest dislike was that I couldn't get my radio to display what pandora was playing. AppRadio fixed all of this.

I bought/installed it from Mobile One - I was originally going to buy it on Amazon and do the install myself or take it there for the install, but they matched the price (after install + extra cables and harness). Also I'm too scared of causing any actual damage to the car.

Few questions remain: 1. The only cable they left out was the one to connect to my phone, I haven't tested if they connected the usb/aux cables to the radio (my guess is no). 2. should I pop the cover and connect those cable myself? and 3. Where is everyone's GPS extender at? (mine they put a POS little glue-like magnet and placed it on the dash where it meets the windshield - not too sure about this considering re-guiding it to the passenger's side Headliner.)

Will add pictures soon-ish

EDIT: I failed to mention that while the HDMI connection does NOT drain battery, it also doesn't charge either. It has enough power to keep the battery at the same constant percentage. Hence why the bluethooth app for Pandora is still a good option, so you can charge your phone and still get your music.

All I want to do is connect my phone to the radio. And stream netflix or pandora or google maps or youtube or music on my phone. Without killing the battery.

Just installed the DA210 (CD/DVD) yesterday. Enjoying it so far!