HU upgrade
 

I want to change out my bespoke HU with a nav/dvd HU...any recommendations?

Check out my review threads in this forum.

im using an x940bt:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-AVIC-X940BT-Navigation-Touchscreen-Bluetooth/dp/B006Y443TU"]Amazon.com: Pioneer AVIC-X940BT In-Dash Navigation AV Receiver with 6.1" WVGA Touchscreen and Built-In Bluetooth: Car Electronics[/ame]

I have one as well in my FR-S. Its ok for the stock audio system but lacks a few audio tweaking functions that I would expect from a Pioneer HU. If you plan on sticking with stock speakers this is a great Nav unit, if you do a Bestbuy audio upgrade, this is a great Nav unit. If you plan on running a quality sound system and are looking for positional accuracy and clarity from your system, look for something else as you cant adjust much other than a generic EQ and fade/balance.

I will certainly be upgrading to a more enthusiast level head unit when I take the plunge and start my install.

Can this unit work w/ galaxy s3 android phone and google map app stuff ?

what did you use to install it?

Wiring harness

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000K52CY2"]Dash kit (requires modification, but cheap)[/ame]


Antenna adapter

Note, this can work too and wont require modification, but is 40 bucks.

Yeah it will work with a GS3, but the dash Nav is built in, theres no provision for google maps on the head unit.

Why not just get a head unit that can run Google maps itself? Lol

Well Android HU's are nice for the average installer, I guess that since we dont know what the OP intends to do long term, or exactly what he wants from a HU its kind of a moot point.

As for me, I looked into the Android units and to be honest I am not impressed with the execution at this time. The idea of an Andriod unit is awesome but for someone like myself who is looking for a reference level head unit, they are currently lacking in the audio department. Sure they can do everything, nav, apps, internet, etc. But when it comes to the main purpose of producing sound and delivering it to your speakers, they are mediocre at best.

I have an older Kenwood in dash nav unit in my truck, that has absurd levels of control and sounds amazing, the only gripe I had was the infamous Kenwood lag.

I figure that the Android head unit is the future of head units but is still too new for me to want to jump in, and live with the "beta" problems inherent in new tech.

Also interested in this for down the road when I get sick of the crappy headunit and have extra cash to get a proper nav headunit.

With the EQ tools set aside, how good would you say this unit is concerning the dvd and gps...worth the buy?

Oh, you've heard them in action? I've compared the sound to a Kenwood XDC 996 and it was nearly identical, but then again... I don't have stock speakers or amps either.

Could you PM me your results from testing the Android head units?

Yeah the X940BT works fine in both those regards, I am sorry if i sound underwhelmed with the HU, it's really a good buy, I'm just an audio snob is all...

No actually i have not heard them in action, but since no one has shown in a vid or pics that one of these Android HU's has the ability to set crossover cutoffs on each channel, audio stage "height", and volume control for each channel, all from the HU...I'm just gonna go ahead and be a pessimist and ASSUME they dont have those options. A head unit could produce the most perfect sound in the world but without being able to adjust it for a particular setup its not worth my time. Sure I could manually set my crossovers at the crossover itself, or set the amp up manually every time i change my choice of music, but I dunno that sounds like a bit more work than I want to do everytime i want to switch from EDM to Classic rock...

If however you can produce a pic showing these options being readily available on one of your beloved Android units then i will eat the crow I've dished.

I learned a long time ago that in the car audio world, you get what you pay for and should have known before i bought the X940BT that I wouldnt be getting all the options I wanted, but the price was too good to pass up and i just wanted something to do on a weekend so I bought one and installed it out of boredom.

Also I am extremely skeptical about running a no name brand HU on any system I build, especially since I run Focal or JL exclusively for everything in my systems except the HU...I am seriously sad that Eclipse went kaput, because now I'm stuck with brands like Kenwood, Sony, Pioneer, and Alpine (Alpines have always been good just wasnt a fan of their single DIN's back in the day).

Oh well I'm rambling now, kinda hope that those Andorid units can prove me wrong...like I said, they are the next logical step in car audio, they just need to put it all into a reference level HU to prove it's not a gimmick.