the all in one head unit, does it exits?
 

hey guys, i have been looking through the forums trying to find the perfect head unit but I'm stumped.

I've been looking through the nexus 7 tablet threads, all that dash trimming and wiring stuff is completely out of my league (i would just get a professional to do it) and im not even sure if someone has got it to be fully functional as a head unit.

I've come across the Ca-Fi brand and read how people buy knock offs.
also came across this:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...ghlight=t7019a

i'll just drop my noob questions.

1) are there any android head units out there that have as much functionality as a rooted nexus 7? im not too concerned about price.
im looking for something that works just like your regular double din head unit but has torque and other apps available like on the tablets.

2)if i go the nexus 7 path, am i sacrificing audio quality. i dont understand whats needed but from what i have read its a whole lot of units,converters etc.


I get my toyota 86 (fr-s) in 1 month and im already planning it out :D

Thanks guys!

The tablet build gives you everything, but requires you go full hog. A higher end regular hu will give you 85% what the tablet builds would, and is much more straight forward. I don't think many would disagree, so then question is, do you want everything, and the Time it takes for a tablet build, or will the features of a good double din do the job?

I dont understand what you mean by full hog, but i understand that it will
all be gadgets etc (no cd's)

i talked to my local audio/installation store today (they're very reputable where im from) and they said they could install the tablet no problems.
I'd just want to make sure that i get the full functionality of the tablet.


1)are there any special cords/attatchments i should let them be aware of. keeping in mind i would like to have torque available.
2)is there special way to have it all connected so that the tablet powers on/off along with the car.
3)does the tablet have any function for receiving phone calls etc like head units do.
4)If the audio goes from the tablet to the amplifier, how does one control volume
5)what are the top of the line android head units i should look at if i choose HU over tablet.


hate to ask all the noob questions, my understanding of electricals and fabricating is extremely minimal.

thanks

The expression is usually "go whole hog". Similar ones you might recognize are; "jump in with both feet" or "go all in".
It means you have to commit 100% or it just isn't going to have the results you're looking for.

I would add to this that an Android head unit will also be fine in the weather. If you live in a place where it gets below freezing where you park your car or a place where you park outside in 95 degree summer weather, you will have to remove your Nexus from the car, or the tablet will either 1) stop having the ability to charge because batteries die under freezing temperatures 2) stop working permanently because the failsafes in the battery will melt to protect the battery from catching on fire/exploding in high temperatures.

Also, to the OP, you don't have to trim your dash with a tablet. If you buy a 1st gen Nexus 7, you might need to dremel the inside a little, but a 2013 Nexus 7 fits without trimming.

yeah sorry, the dremelling is what i meant by trimming.

could you guys suggest a android head unit?
i still think i would like the nexus 7, weather isnt too much of an issue, but i would like to be able to take it out anyway.

I can't recommend one because I don't have one nor have I used one, but you may want to look into the Parrot Asteroid.

A Nexus 7 install isn't that hard. Have you ever installed a head unit before?

I am working on making my center bezel easily removable so that the Nexus can be taken in and out of the car without too much effort, but I'm still waiting on parts to arrive, so I can't say if it'll work yet.

cool, i'll look into the parrot's now.

nope, never installed a head unit before and i especially dont plan on starting now considering i would be doing this to a brand new car.
definitely leaving that to the professionals.

i would have no idea how you would wire the nexus to charge and get audio from it to an amplifier anyway. would you have to have a volume knob somewhere in between?

yeah id love the nexus to be in there flush, but then i would also want to take it out. i guess i could just unclip the dash, but i could just transfer files wirelessly anyway.

i've got one more question (for now haha)

theres a possibility that my car might be coming with a rear view camera.
theres nothing that can be done to get that connected to the nexus is there?
what work around options would there be?

thanks guys

http://e3io.com/2din-car-pc-small-edition

I'd like to put this in my car, running a SPDIF wire to a 3sixty.3 for phenomenal SQ, but it's rather pricey. It comes with all you'd want and more than you'd be able to ever use.

Check out the DIY of my head unit in my signature...I can't imagine needing any more functionality in a head unit than what it provides...Pricey but so worth it!

Installing a head unit is not hard, especially not with our easy-to-remove dash. You don't have to solder anything (could just cap or tape the wires), but soldering is better. If you'd rather pay someone to do it, go for it, but it's one of the easiest things to learn, and one of the first things I learned to replace in a car years ago.

You could get a volume knob for the Nexus if you don't go the head unit route, but I'm not too familiar with doing it this way.

How to get Nexus to charge:
Step 1: Buy $9 cigarette lighter USB adapter.
Step 2: Plug Nexus into USB adapter.

How to get Nexus audio from Nexus to head unit:
Step 1: Buy male-to-male mini-jack cable (right angle on one end unless you hate yourself).
Step 2: Plug one end of cable into Nexus, other end into head unit.
Step 3: Select Aux source on head unit.

I've heard there's a way if your Nexus has the right ROM/kernel on it and you really know what you're doing with the wires.

Headunit replacement is just about one of the easiest electrical mods done to any car (that does not have integrated climate control, etc. in the HU) short of bulb swaps.

It's VERY easilly accessible, easily removed and disconnected, and a new one put in when you use the correct (easilly researched) wiring harness adapter. Scared of soldering? That's fine. There's heat-shrink butt crimp connectors that have solder in them that basically auto-solders the connections between the new HU's wiring harness and the wiring harness adapter. Once all the proper wires have been connected, you just put in the mounting brackets onto the new HU, connect the plugs, insert into dash opening, replace dash trim piece, and turn the key to "on". The rest is in your new HU's manual.

If you buy from crutchfield, they'll even include instructions on how to do all that yourself. VERY easy. No trimming, no cutting into factory wiring, no mess, no fuss.