Database Users

Hello from Michigan

i'm new to the forum but have been lurking and reading up for quite a while on these android head units.
I need to replace the head unit in my 2009 Subaru Forester. I kind of a gadget freak, so these android units caught my eye. I was interested in the DSP units from androidautoshop.com but they warned me away from them and recommended their FX8 units (though they didn't really say why except that they were better quality).
The option I was looking at before the DSP unit was a new XTRONS unit which I could get from amazon. They seem to be well regarded from what I've read and the sound quality sounds like it's pretty good with the new amp chips they are using. Now just the other day I ran across a Dasaita unit on amazon that is specific fit for my vehicle so it wouldn't need an installation kit and BONUS has a 9" screen!
Does anyone have any insight on these units? If I go with an android unit it's going to be to satisfy my tech geek so I'm going to want to be able to customize it.
I need it to have good sound. Doesn't have to be audiophile quality, but good.
Decent to good FM reception.
good connection for Bluetooth (i've heard in particular that some of these units have both connection and sound quality issues with bluetooth)
ability to connect to an ODBII sensor for my car. One that I choose, not dictated to me by the head unit company prefereably.
ability to connect to an aftermarket rear view camera.
able to use Waze and Google maps. preferably with audible directions. also offline mapping for those occasions when I don't have a cell connection.
Ideally I would be connecting these direct to speakers, with the possiblity of adding external amplification down the road.
AndroidAutoShop.com FX8 - I have concerns about them and they don't really say much about why this unit is the best.
XTRONS - seems to be popular from what i've read, though i'm not sure about the bluetooth
Dasaita - love the look of the 9" screen with no ugly install kit. Quite a bit more expensive but possibly worth it? I just can't find much info about these. I think I read somewhere on this site that they were pretty good, but I don't know where and it wasn't about this specific unit.
I'm not allowed to post links to the 3 units above yet, but the first one is on androidautoshop and the last 2 are readily available on Amazon.
Are any of these a good choice for me? or possibly a different recommendation? or should I just forget it and go with a higher end Kenwood or Pioneer head unit with Android Auto and use an HDMI for any video needs? I'm not against tinkering and these seem like a really cool option (possibly saving money over traditional head untis as well) but I don't want to get a giant headache that just never works right.
any help from you guys is greatly appreciated.

Which Android Head Unit? How to choose?

Hello everyone
I want to have an Android 2DIN head unit in my car, but I'm having a really tough time finding out which one I actually want. As we all know there are dozens of different brand names, looks etc. and who knows how many combinations of what's underneath - how do you choose from such a mess?
For example, what I'm looking for:
- a generic 2DIN Head Unit (nobody seems to make one fitting my Lexus IS200 directly so I will just use Metra frame)
- something modern, fast, capable and with good support (manufacturer and/or community) - I reckon I need MTCD/E PX5, right? Is 4GB RAM worth it? Android 8.0, 8.1? Plus there seem to be PX6 on the horizon, should I wait?
- physical buttons and I'd love a volume knob (no steering wheel controls for me)
- stuff like 3G/4G, GPS, wifi, BT, camera etc. seems to be the same so shouldn't be a factor, right?
So, given those parameters, how do I decide which unit to buy? Is the software interchangeable on all PX5 units? Are there any OS differences out of the box?
What about sound quality - is it the same (I see outputs of 4x45W, 48W, 50W - do they actually have different amplifiers?)? Any particular brand names to look for/avoid at all cost?
I've managed to google one useful link [cut] - is this site credible? (unfortunately I'm not allowed to post urls it seems, google "best android head unit" and click the one with wiki.ezvid)
Thanks for all your help!

Unbranded head unit microphone upgrade

Hi everyone,
I recently bought a used 2010 Prius with an android HU. It's unbranded (noname) and pretty weak (1gb ram). I could live with the android performance issues but the microphone is driving me crazy. Nobody can hear what i'm saying. The unit has an external mic and i wanted to upgrade it to a different one but for some reason, the mic that's connected to the HU has 5 wires (last picture) and the one i ordered only 2 (mono jack). There's also no mic jack. Here are my questions:
1. Is there a way to connect a different mono mic?
2. Does anyone have any idea what unit this is and where i can find a wiring diagram?
3. Can you recommend a better unit? I like the ones that look more like stock, with physical buttons.
4. Any known fix for the error in the picture? "Software has not been authorized legally" when trying to use Easyconnect to mirror my phone.
I need any info i can get, you don't have to have all the answers
Thanks!

I googled "Sp9853i_1h10_vmm" (taken from one of your photos). Turned up quite a few results. I have not had experience with that particular unit but maybe might turn up some useful information for you perhaps.

Not an MTCD, requesting mod moves to [Android Head units] forum.

jlbooth said:
I googled "Sp9853i_1h10_vmm" (taken from one of your photos). Turned up quite a few results. I have not had experience with that particular unit but maybe might turn up some useful information for you perhaps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. I've done that first the problem is there are multiple manufacturers with multiple configurations. I contacted Seicane and am still in the process of identifying the unit/software with them but the back and forth is pretty slow..

This is not your "standard" moddable unit, I'm afraid. Most information here and on forums like 4PDA is on units based on 2 main technologies:
1. 8227L Mediatek, system: YT921xx
2. Rockchip PX3, PX5, PX6, PX30 based on MTCx chip.
By having a quick look at what you got, the mic is the least of your problems. These units are packed with so called features but need considerable hardware and software modding to make them work and even excel.
Here is an example of one such modded units, started off as cheap £70 Android, and ended up performing on par with luxury Android units. The video shows the mods, just to give you an understanding.
To save you time, invest in a Dasaita MTCE unit as that one requires least mods to perform well. You can find them for around £200 on AliExpress. Good luck!

Thanks for the info. I'll look into one of the PX chips and go for dasaita.

so i've found a single Dasaita unit for Prius G3 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001625066855.html?spm=a2g0s.8937460.0.0.20fa2e0eCiCqeA
The problem is i can't find this model on Dasaita website or store and i'm not sure it's real. I've emailed Dasaita but no reply..
There are multiple units from diferent brands (Ownice, Wondefoo..). Can i go for one of those? What should i look for?
Some sellers list the "K6 plus" version as the top of the line. Should i still go for PX6 or is that better?

Confused with options for a Highlander

I found this site from a comment on a youtube video where I was researching options for getting a head unit that is better than Toyota included for my Toyota Highlander Limited Hybrid. I'm sorry for the length of this post but I spent hours reading and watching youtube and I think I'm on right path, but I feel like I just need a little validation...
For reference, I'm an Apple mobile and tablet user but I owned a Samsung phone for about 3 months so I know what an Android launcher and the marketplace is. I know there are stores for hacked products, but I ended up with ads all over that phone so I prefer not to go that route. I'm not a big tinkerer - once I get something set where I want it, I won't usually change the settings unless I find a need.
I think my post will give you a good idea about what level of knowledge I have - at least you know I tried. If there is highlander or hybrid specific feedback I'm overlooking somewhere, please let me know. If I'm missing something key to decide between systems let me know.
1. When I look at the forum categories, they are broken up into terms I'm not familiar with. I believe FYT Android is where I need to focus because I see references to the units I'm researching there. But I don't understand why they are considered FYT.
2. I'm trying to stay in the $500 range and get something that works well enough that I'll use it for more than just the radio - without breaking functionality but the canbus thing is new to me. I get the concept - my car's personal IoT/LAN. But does the dash operate independently of the headunit? I sort of feel like somethings will be independent and others will not. For example, I suspect the dash display will know my speed, trip miles, direction (compass), when I need an oil change. But I feel like the option for the radio is fed from the head unit. I feel like anything that appears on my dash when I'm using the GPS (like turn next left) is fed from the head unit. Is that correct? If yes, do those functions usually stop displaying on the dash with a replacement head unit?
3. I have buttons on the dash for different features on the car. I suspect most of those work independently of head unit - like the mirror heaters. But what about accident avoidance features? Those tend to display on my dash - are those possibly affected by a different head unit? And I have a button so I can turn on 360 video - I mainly use it to see how close I am to the car in front of me when parking in a tight space. I suspect that button will work with any head unit that has front camera and/or 360 degree integration.
4. From my research, I have been focusing on units that are 4 GB/64 GB although it sounds like 2 GB/32 GB would work just fine as long as I don't store over 32 GB of apps and data.
5. Items that don't differentiate: I expect these options to be the same result across all units. Please let me know if you know differently.
-Apple car play - All have it & should function exactly the same. (I don't need android phone integration but I know this does differ on units)
-Phone call integration - looks like all use same default android app. I am very interested in how clarity of calls might differ, but I think all are using same default android function and all are able to use an included external microphone.
-Toyota OEM microphone integration - it's unclear if any will integrate with existing Toyota mic but I suspect this won't yield a result I'm happy with in either case.
- Toyota speaker button on wheel control - I think this button fails to work on every integration. I would like this to work but even the Toyota system is so unreliable I don't use it.
- Marketplace apps - All should integrate with marketplace apps exactly the same.
6. So here is my list of options I came up with in order of most likely to least. Is there another brand I should research...
- Teyes CC3 (for highlander 2015-18) - It looks like it matches integration with the best out there. I don't care about the "Porsche simulator", but it still looks like the easiest to use launcher on the market & they are actively updating it. I cannot find the same level of highlander specific details I find on the SYGAV, but reviews seem overwhelmingly positive so I suspect it'll work just as well. My concern is that I have to order directly from alibaba and wait a month to receive and they seem to send wrong parts. I haven't used alibaba but it looks like the customs costs are included in the price of $435 (364+70.76). Does anyone know if this is accurate or if there are other fees? The main complaint I hear with this unit is that it is locked down, but I think that means for adding launchers and the like that I am not interested in.
- SYGAV (for highlander 2015-18) - I don't really love the user interface on this one. But this one is the one I have found most highlander related data on and it gives me some comfort I might have less issues getting it to work. I can find nothing close to this level of detail on the other brands about highlander installs.. I have read user responses that Carplay & android auto require no additional parts to install, 360 degree camera works as well as front camera view, Hybrid info displays. For the camera inputs, it sounds like I can use my OEM cameras but I may need a camera cable adapter (unclear if included in package). One user stated that to get it to work in a highlander, I need to get the Motorola 1 M 2 F & GM adapter to Motorola (for reception). One user states that they have TPMS working, but it's unclear if they connected to the TPMS already in tires or if they had to buy separate TPMS tire plugs. The main complaint is the GPS mapping if basic IGO.
- Dasaita (for highlander 2015-18) - This brand seems like the next most popular after Joying. It looks like they have 3 launchers they develop and you can install whichever you like best. In regard to the UI, I feel like this brand comes in 2nd after Teyes. But I can't find as detailed user experiences with highlander and which functions work and which do not.
- Joying - I am not actively researching this one but everyone seems to be using this one. I was considering this one but I couldn't locate any highlander option anywhere - not even from their website (joyingauto.eu). That sounds like I'd have to figure out the canbus thing on my own and find the plastic frame to put it in my dash & I don't feel like I'm knowledgeable enough to go that route. I really don't understand why this one is so popular above competition - it is one of the highest priced if I buy from the US markets. Everyone that uses it seems to add a separate launcher which makes me question whether Joying's UI development isn't all that great. I know some others lock down their products so you can't tinker as much. Is that why it's popular - because it isn't locked down? If so, I see similar hardware on cheaper units. It sounds like the UI development/support/upgrades is quite a bit of what one is paying for when buying these.
7. Maps - this is one of my major complaints from my Toyota unit . I do not see anything that makes me feel that the maps included with ANY of the units are any better. Most seem to use IGO GPS which seems to get the same complaints I have when using my GPS. I believe the only solution is a unit that includes apple car play. Or am I overlooking any with better mapping functions?
8. JBL audio - I know I have the JBL system in my car and on regular car head units this seems to make a difference with integration, but from my list above, I can't find anything to indicate that any will not work with the JBL system. I'm assuming it is because the car based units have hardware incompatibilities that android based do not, but it's really unclear to me. Can someone provide clarification? On the SYGAV unit, I read a review that it needs an amp to sound as good as an OEM unit, but I think that would apply to all of these units equally. In either case the Toyota JBL system has an AMP under my center console. I can't find this level of integration information but I think all units will connect to the amp.
9. 12 speakers - I feel like this will determine which system is best if I can figure it out... The JBL audio has 12 speakers (one of which is a subwoofer) in 10 locations in the highlander. I can't locate specific details on any of these if anyone gets all the speakers to connect successfully. I did see that one of these brands have 5.1 outputs but I don't really know what I need to be looking for in descriptions to figure this out on each unit. Any suggestions how to figure this out.
10. Video playback - All of these support video playback but it sounds like auto carplay may block mirroring while the car is actively moving. Is the behavior going to be the same across all units? I sort of feel like this is something that works differently across different brands, but I can't find details to figure out which allow video playback when car is moving.
11. Hybrid integration - SYGAV is the only unit I've seen where someone has hybrid info working on a highlander, but I feel like all the systems may work very similarly. I believe the dash display will work independent of the head unit so I can always switch the dash display when I want to see what the hybrid system is doing. I think another brand states it has hybrid integration but I couldn't find any responses where someone had it working successfully.
12. Daytime/Night time modes - I need to validate across all, but I know multiple have tried to integrate this. I do not think any have integrated without a bug. I feel like the ones that are likely to get this right first are Teyes and Dasaita since they are actively developing their UIs. Since these are all android based, I feel like all will have an android setting to dim the display even though the color scheme may not change.
I'm really leaning toward the Teyes because if I imagine myself driving, it looks like the easiest interface to use and they are actively developing. When looking at default display, it looks like the most 'modern' design also.
In case someone else reads this thread trying to figure all this stuff out, XM and HD radio integration may differentiate these units also. I know it doesn't work on some but I don't use either of those so it isn't important to me.

I'm mainly responding to my own post in case someone else is considering a T'eyes unit. I purchased one and I highly under estimated what is involved with getting these units to work. The T'eyes cc3 in my car may go up for auction - just too much of it is unusable.
Note that if you do not like tweeking your cell phone, you might not like these units to begin with - don't expect they'll just work out of the box. Consider hours if not days to configure these things. Also, look at the back of the units - this one came with a 'Toyota" harness which is a bunch of wires to convert all the cables in the back. And it isn't a single harness of wires - it's multiple bags of cables that you have to pick and choose from. You have extra cables and I'm pretty sure the set is missing cables. My car has 2 cables where I only have one adapter that matches them in all harness wiring. So one is unplugged. I have no idea what each cable from my car is used for. But most of the wires only have a single place they can connect in the primary harness. It's all a confusing mess even though I think I have 90% connected to the correct spots.
Not all units are made this way. There is going to be something converting the cables, but some units have some sort of box on the back that has all the cabling converting done for you - so it looks like the cables from the car attach into the unit directly. After my harness was attached, I did not have cables that match everything coming from the car. I feel like that is why things like my my surround cameras do not work. I also have no back up camera working now. That is a pretty big deal.
Also, car play isn't all I thought it would be. It seems to only mirror Apple written apps to the device. I can install apps onto the unit and connect to my phones hotspot, but the connection is very flaky. Unless you are willing to connect the unit with its own sim card, you may be severely limited. I wanted to be able to stream youtube and such while making a weekly 90 minute drive I make. Well, this just doesn't happen because half the time the unit will not connect to my hotspot. It usually connects within 30 minutes of me driving, but I haven't found a reliable way to get it to connect to the hotspot. Usually I'm driving with my phone playing through my phone speakers because audio streaming won't work with wifi/hotspot.
All in all, I wouldn't purchase this again. If I were going to attempt again, I'd go with one of the models that removes the 'harness' from the equation.

Head Unit Recommendation for Car Dash Board

I have a generic 9" Android Head Unit (K6_11_OH??) running Realdash app as a car dash board.
It works quite well using both of the USB ports for serial data (UART) and GPS input. Basically nothing else is required other than wifi to install head unit app
Main issue I have is the head unit re-assigns the USB COM ports each time it powers off and back on. This is annoying as I need to re-assign the dash app inputs every time I turn it of and back on.
Can anyone recommend a generic 9" head unit and chipset combo for the following: ??
- Easy to root
- Easy to customise ROM to strip unwanted apps and bloat
- Easy to customise Launcher / UI to remove (Dash app auto launches but not good if radio also tries to auto launch)
- USB ports enabled and easy to assign and access
- GPS
- Wifi
- 2GB RAM is sufficient
- No need for any other features that add cost such as high end music features (So relatively inexpensive)

markze said:
I have a generic 9" Android Head Unit running Realdash app as a car dash board.
It works quite well using both of the USB ports for serial data (UART) and GPS input. Basically nothing else is required other than wifi to install head unit app
Main issue I have is the head unit re-assigns the USB COM ports each time it powers off and back on. This is annoying as I need to re-assign the dash app inputs every time I turn it of and back on.
Can anyone recommend a generic 9" head unit and chipset combo for the following: ??
- Easy to root
- Easy to customise ROM to strip unwanted apps and bloat
- Easy to customise Launcher / UI to remove (Dash app auto launches but not good if radio also tries to auto launch)
- USB ports enabled and easy to assign and access
- GPS
- Wifi
- 2GB RAM is sufficient
- No need for any other features that add cost such as high end music features (So relatively inexpensive)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From forums, which units have you considered

marchnz said:
From forums, which units have you considered
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There seems to be so many options, I don't want to make the same mistake and buy another one that is not well supported, which is why I asked here.
The one I have now has firmware with K6_11_OH and the last updates I could find was 28/06/2019 and it seems they we never very widely supported.
I had a head unit for my Mazda which is nice. I got it from Bestycar which has an SC7862 chipset which is great for normal music player but more advanced and does not seem as easy to customise and simplify like I want for the basic dashboard specific use for my project car.
So I assume one of the MTC units like a PX5 or PX6 chipset might be the best way to go now?

The dash has been built using a 9" unit this exact shape and I would rather keep this the same.

markze said:
There seems to be so many options, I don't want to make the same mistake and buy another one that is not well supported, which is why I asked here.
The one I have now has firmware with K6_11_OH and the last updates I could find was 28/06/2019 and it seems they we never very widely supported.
I had a head unit for my Mazda which is nice. I got it from Bestycar which has an SC7862 chipset which is great for normal music player but more advanced and does not seem as easy to customise and simplify like I want for the basic dashboard specific use for my project car.
So I assume one of the MTC units like a PX5 or PX6 chipset might be the best way to go now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don´t get your point...
You are searching for a good supported and quality head unit, right?
In this case you really should dive in at Joying for FYT units ( https://forum.xda-developers.com/f/fyt-android-head-units.12445/ ) or may be Klyde for CSN2/CSM4 units which are supported in this forum part.
At least you need to search for a unit specially for your car, or you need to search for a universal one with 2-DIN. Don´t ever buy a 1-DIN unit, as they all have severe issues with overheating if they are based on 6- or 8-core chipsets.
But by the way... the points you mentioned in your first posting... Sorry, but what do you expect to get?

I was expecting someone might say something like "UIS7862 head units seem to be the easiest to root hack and customise".
I don't actually want an expensive unit with heaps of great audio features as it is just a screen with 1 app and serial data feeds.
If I could get an Android tablet for 12V car use, with 2 x USB ports and completely raw Android ROM I'd be happy.