Database Users

headunit advice

hi guys,
i own a 2012 subaru STI. i've got the stock headunit (double din, non-touch screen) and am looking to upgrade to an android auto HU. i've owned many android phones in the past and am very familiar with rooting, flashing roms, adb, fastboot etc.
in a previous car i had a pioneer appradio2 and used appradio unchained to mirror my phone onto the screen. i'd like to use AA now as in hindsight i feel having full access to the phone through my HU is quite distracting whilst driving.
i currently own a pixel xl.
there are so many options out there for AA HU's and i'm a little confused, so i'm hoping you guys can point me in the right direction:
what's the best AA HU (double din, preferably 7") money can buy? budget is not really a problem. i would like something with a fast touch screen and whatever the max resolution available on the market is. built in gps would be nice, but not a must. what's the benefit of going for a big brand versus a chinese made product? what does rooting and flashing roms on an AA HU achieve?
apologies if this is posted in the wrong forum, and thanks in advance.

kinetx said:
what's the best AA HU (double din, preferably 7") money can buy? budget is not really a problem. i would like something with a fast touch screen and whatever the max resolution available on the market is. built in gps would be nice, but not a must. what's the benefit of going for a big brand versus a chinese made product? what does rooting and flashing roms on an AA HU achieve?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will give you my opinion.
Probably the best head units are those from first brands (Pioneer, Kenwood, Sony...) but those units play in another league. The models I like are about 1,300$ what, for me, is out of my league. These brands also have some 'lower-cost' units, but they are usually too 'closed' or offer outdated technology (LCD screens, too old Android OS...)
I checked Parrot Asteroid Smart which I liked very much, but also, a 4 year old unit with 512MB RAM and Android 2.3 was too old for me. Community support disappeared at this point (I asked a couple of questions in some forums and haven´t got any answer yet...)
After an extensive research, my conclusion (discarding the tipical Pioneer/Kenwood/Sony/etc units) is:
Dynavin units are probably the best ones, specially when speaking about audio quality. If money is not an issue as you claim (not my case), I would fit one of these.
Avin: I was going to buy the Avin VWU8-PX5 which looked as a good product. AFAIK their product is a mix from Chinese electronics + USA details, at a premium of course, but their customers seemed satisfied and I liked what I read from Avin. Problem is that I live in Spain and buying from an European distributor was a must (to be able to claim warranty in case needed). Avin only sells in USA and doesn't have any distributor in EU, so discarded too.
Chinese brands with EU distributors: Finally there are chinese sellers that also sell in EU, so I ended up with these brands: pumpkin, XTRONS and Joying.
There are other Chinese brands that I discarded just for not having an EU distributor (Ownice, Dasaita, and so on), but if you don't have this problems you might also check them.
I finally decided to buy a Joying Unit 8" with Intel Sofia processor. Why? For these reasons:
They have an EU warehouse (Germany)
Community support is probable the best over XDA
Support seems to be one of the best among Chinese sellers
There are some easy hardware mods/hacks that will dramatically improve the units life/performance. Heat sink/fan mod. Sound chipset swap, Rooting, Viper4Android to improve audio, etc
As for your question "what does rooting and flashing roms on an AA HU achieve?" if you really "are very familiar with rooting, flashing roms, adb, fastboot" as you claim, you should know... tweaking here and there, uninstalling bloatware, installing better than original apps...
Hope you find the right head unit, tell us what you end up with.
Cheers!

thanks for the detailed response! i hadn't considered bloatware, better audio quality etc would be possible for a headunit but ofcourse, this IS android!
of the major brands, are there any specific models better than the others that you (or anyone else) could recommend?

One vote for ATOTO A6 Pro
I recently installed ATOTO A6 Pro into my 2011 Subaru WRX, which had the factory double-din Navigation. I purchased ATOTO A6 Pro which is much much better than the factory unit in every respect -- but especially display brightness, viewing angle and boot time. The audio is decent, although not in same league as higher-priced name brand stereos. The included bluetooth external microphone gives much better quality then the factory one. Having Android Auto as well as the ability to run applications (like Torque) natively on the ATOTO is great. I have a Pixel2 phone and didnt have any connectivity problems with the ATOTO over bluetooth, Wifi, or USB (for Android-Auto) . I think ATOTO has better components (MediaTek SoC, IPS display, etc.) than much of the competition for low-cost Chinese android head units. I also added a back up camera. Had some wiring difficulties due to ATOTO sub-par documentation, but at least their Technical support team was responsive and helpful. Overall, am happy with ATOTO A6 Pro.

Nice thread and the same name pop up..
In the market for a new unit and good to see I am on the right track..
Thanks for the posters input..a thread like this should be stickied so that as the years go on we can keep track of the good, bad, ugly..
What about Seicane.com
https://www.belsee.com
Anyone had experience?

Help : Android 2DIN HU with good sound quality?

I konw the title of this thread is a bit general, but I've read a few threads here and now I'm even more confused than before
First of all, hello to everyone here, I've been a reader of this forum for a while, but now I've decided to register, mostly because I need help with the matter in the thread title; I'm absolutely new to Android HUs and everyone I ask has a different opinion. My previous sound system consisted of a Pioneer DEH80PRS HU, Audison LRx 4.300 amp, Helix Deep Blue 12" sub in factory sealed box, and a pair of Audison 5x7 front speakers; the HU was an overkill for the rest of the system, but I got it from a friend that had somewhat of an SQ setup and I've heard what this HU is capable of. Now, I bought a new(er) car, 2007 Kia Ceed (better than my ex 1999 Mazda 323 Sedan), and the HU is 2DIN. I've thought about putting the Pioneer in (as I'm more than happy with its capabilities) but it would look somewhat small and silly in this interior. And if I'm going the 2DIN route I might as well go with an Android HU, for its versatility and let's be open about this, price (compared to brand name solutions). And that's where my problems start.
Since I'm new to the whole market there currently seems to be a wave of DSP units, but I've read through the DSP unit thread and there seems to be no good enough reason for me to buy any of these "DSP" units as the benefits are not that big; the sound control is an ok thing (also mangeable via an app), but everyone seems to talk about how louder it is - I don't really need loudness, I'd like to have something with a good integrated amp that gives out a good signal, it doesn't have to be at a level of my previous HU, but I'd really like it to be above the factory HU (which surprised me with its sound capabilities, but I guess that's because my 2007 car has the newest factory sound system I've had). Also, I noticed quite some people talk about sub outputs not working on some of these HUs, I'd really like to have that working so I could connect the sub out to my amp, are those problems connected to a specific manufacturer or is it just random failures?
The second thing, as this is predominantly chinese manufacturers teritory there are LOTS of them, althoug a few brands stick out. Out of those most people I've talked to tend to have Joying or Eonon, or as of recently Xtrons; Joying is out of the game for me, as of three people I know that have them all three ended up with faulty ones. I was first looking at Eonon GA2171S (because of the DSP), but I can't find any reviews or user experiences, nor can I find the specifications of the amp and/or DSP chip. Other Eonons and Xtrons look pretty similar to me, the specs and the looks, and I'd be happy to get one of them.
And this is where You come in
I need Your reccomendations, preferably based on personal experience, for a new 2DIN Android HU. My priorities are in this order :
- up to 7" screen that fits 2DIN (no overhanging 10" screens as it would look weird to say the least)
- good amp / sound output
- up to date hardware and software (Oreo, 4GB RAM, etc...)
- availability from EU (I'm from Croatia)
- moddability of software (custom roms)
- possibility of connecting factory steering wheel controls
As I've said, Eonons and Xtrons are what I looked at based on reccomendations (and avaliability from EU), but You're free to reccomend something else, I'm open to any suggestions as this is uncharted territory for me.
Tnx to everyone in advance :highfive:

I have 3 different units right now, Ownice, Eonon, and a no name generic. All three of them sound about the same to me, all are amplified with Pioneer or MTX.
I think you're better off just deciding based on features and interfaces you'll need (such as an SD slot or multi USB) and expect bugs cause they all have them
I also have 2 4 gig ram units now and I dont think they are any faster than the 2gb units i have.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pros and cons of an Android headunit vs mainstream (Pioneer) Android Auto headunit?

I'm looking to upgrade the stock head unit in my 2007 Subaru Impreza Wagon. My budget is ~$600. I've been doing research between Pioneer, Sony, JVC and Kenwood models and happened to stumble upon a thread about the Teya CC3 device and other Android headunits. Didn't know Android headunits existed. Are there any major differences, pros, and cons of these Android headunits compared to more mainstream head units such as the Pioneer DMH-W4660NEX?
I'm looking for a device that is responsive, has good UI, not buggy, and that just works well. I will be using it primarily with Android Auto and listening to music, so seamless wireless Android Auto support, rearview cam support, and good audio quality are my top priorities. The car doesn't have steering wheel controls and besides audio, none of the car features are tied to the stock head unit.
So far I've found that the Android head units are typically cheaper, have much better screens and specs, and more features but how is the reliability and sound quality of these devices? Why arent these devices more mainstream, am I missing something?
Thanks

As I've just discovered, it's the wild west. Software issues, bluetooth issues, and in my case my Atoto S8 is causing any battery it touches to go flat on or off irrespective of wiring. It's a lottery. Some win it but plenty are losing it. I think if you're willing to take a risk do go ahead and chance it. Otherwise get a mainstream one with actual quality control (Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood, Alpine etc)
Also forget after sales support. Well, Atoto are trying but there's no way I can ship back to China because the Bluetooth is duff and it's drawing heaps of life from my battery when it's switched off.
I'd have so paid the extra 20% and gotten some peace of mind.
My 2 cents.

I would love to go mainstream but my car (CRV) - similarly to many other post-2000 cars - simply don't accept 2DIN stereos. Seems that car manufacturers purposefully make non-standard sized radio fascias to prevent people from fitting universal units and therefore upsell sales of their own sat nav units, which on the other hand never get upgrades.
With Chinese android head units, you can buy a head unit specifically designed to be fitted in any make/model, if changing car panels is required then no problem - you can buy an unit with the panels for your model.
Please correct me if im wrong here, but those are my impressions and to be honest im very frustrated by that.

Enphenate said:
I'm looking to upgrade the stock head unit in my 2007 Subaru Impreza Wagon. My budget is ~$600. I've been doing research between Pioneer, Sony, JVC and Kenwood models and happened to stumble upon a thread about the Teya CC3 device and other Android headunits. Didn't know Android headunits existed. Are there any major differences, pros, and cons of these Android headunits compared to more mainstream head units such as the Pioneer DMH-W4660NEX?
I'm looking for a device that is responsive, has good UI, not buggy, and that just works well. I will be using it primarily with Android Auto and listening to music, so seamless wireless Android Auto support, rearview cam support, and good audio quality are my top priorities. The car doesn't have steering wheel controls and besides audio, none of the car features are tied to the stock head unit.
So far I've found that the Android head units are typically cheaper, have much better screens and specs, and more features but how is the reliability and sound quality of these devices? Why arent these devices more mainstream, am I missing something?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have currently an Teyes CC3 on a testbench before i install it in my car, that thing blows my mind, with a fantastic bright crisp QLED screen, great sound due the 2 dsp's who are installed. I'm testing it with a powered 7 port USB hub and i connected a DAB+ dongle to it, a usb stick, a TPMS dongle and all functioning fine thanks to the USB 2.0. The big surprise for me was that this head unit, sees the European Galileo satellites. There are 2 points of critisism, after a update everithing go's back to Russian, it can be that i downloaded it from the wrong site, Russian instead of English. And the look of the FM radio screen is terribel, tiny names of the radio stations and RDS is way to small and to short for such a big screen of 9 inch, the plus is that you can download the images of the radio stations. And every radio that runs on software can be buggy, also the Alpines and Kenwoods. A lot of people forget that it's still a computer which can have software hiccups.

Enphenate said:
I'm looking to upgrade the stock head unit in my 2007 Subaru Impreza Wagon. My budget is ~$600. I've been doing research between Pioneer, Sony, JVC and Kenwood models and happened to stumble upon a thread about the Teya CC3 device and other Android headunits. Didn't know Android headunits existed. Are there any major differences, pros, and cons of these Android headunits compared to more mainstream head units such as the Pioneer DMH-W4660NEX?
I'm looking for a device that is responsive, has good UI, not buggy, and that just works well. I will be using it primarily with Android Auto and listening to music, so seamless wireless Android Auto support, rearview cam support, and good audio quality are my top priorities. The car doesn't have steering wheel controls and besides audio, none of the car features are tied to the stock head unit.
So far I've found that the Android head units are typically cheaper, have much better screens and specs, and more features but how is the reliability and sound quality of these devices? Why arent these devices more mainstream, am I missing something?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have pioneer (4200nex) sitting in the closet right now. MUCH better sound quality than ANY of these Chinese units BY FAR and much less buggy.... Smaller screens though.
The android units however are far more customizable and don't just serve as simple 'stereo systems'. You can do a lot more with them as a result. Pretty much anything you can do with an android tablet (or ipad comparatively speaking) you can do with these.
I would say that if you want simple no-fuss clean sound you are better off with pioneer. If on the other hand, you like a challenge and like to tinker then you will have more fun with android.
Ohhh and easy, no-fuss AA/carplay with android.... forget it! Sometimes it works sometime not. Unlike Pioneer, they are not even officially supported on these machines.

Looking to buy a headunit

Hi
I'm looking into buying an android head unit for the first time
My main option is to buy from Aliexpress, so i looked for options there and I would love some recommendations.
I don't have many requirements, i think that I can assemble it myself, but a few things I care about:
1. Waze, Spotify, Google Maps, and general android apps (I know every android head unit supports it, that's why I want one )
2. phone calls quality (road noise reduction and clear voice capture)
3. radio reception. my car currently has a head unit by jvc and the reception isn't great.
The main unit that caught my eye is TEYES CC3 (new unit to my understanding), it seems good but a bit pricey than others.
Another unit that have high sals is Junsun V1 pro, but I saw some bad reviews here.
other models i've seen are: Youmecity TS10, Aycenty PX6, AutoTop PX5, and LEHX (no model name)
I would love to hear recommendations / warnings / heads up
thank you!
EDIT: I don't have external amplifiers or subwoofer, just the regular OEM speaker array.

Ghsucre said:
Hi
I'm looking into buying an android head unit for the first time
My main option is to buy from Aliexpress, so i looked for options there and I would love some recommendations.
I don't have many requirements, i think that I can assemble it myself, but a few things I care about:
1. Waze, Spotify, Google Maps, and general android apps (I know every android head unit supports it, that's why I want one )
2. phone calls quality (road noise reduction and clear voice capture)
3. radio reception. my car currently has a head unit by jvc and the reception isn't great.
The main unit that caught my eye is TEYES CC3 (new unit to my understanding), it seems good but a bit pricey than others.
Another unit that have high sals is Junsun V1 pro, but I saw some bad reviews here.
other models i've seen are: Youmecity TS10, Aycenty PX6, AutoTop PX5, and LEHX (no model name)
I would love to hear recommendations / warnings / heads up
thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Suggest avoid all of the obscure types and look to an MTCD/E type, Dasaita sell these.
If you're not comfortable with quirks and bugs, problems, avoid these completely and look for a suitable genuine/branded Android Auto unit. You won't find Android Auto on on Aliexpress however - regardless of the wild claims.

marchnz said:
Suggest avoid all of the obscure types and look to an MTCD/E type, Dasaita sell these.
If you're not comfortable with quirks and bugs, problems, avoid these completely and look for a suitable genuine/branded Android Auto unit. You won't find Android Auto on on Aliexpress however - regardless of the wild claims.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not afraid of bugs and quirks, i'm pretty capable of researching for solutions, but that means that I need a "popular" model, so I could find help within communities like this.
I will read more about what you suggested. to my understanding the TEYES ones aren't in this category, is that right?
what do you think of them anyway?
from the little I have read it seems to me that they are developing their own firmware, rom, and apps to work with these units, so I would like to think that they are doing a good job (are they?). furthermore I saw that they are releasing updates from time to time to fix bugs.
I'm not looking for a lot of customizability or frequent updates, after the installation and hopefully short debugging my intention is to enjoy it for several years without changes.
thank you very much!

Hello, what did you end up buying bud? 6 months later I am in the same boat as you, not sure what to buy in sept 2021

Hi !
I ended up buying:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32720737378.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.5a874c4dy5QaWA
I didn't want to wait for PX6, and didn't see much choices for PX5.
Initially my favorite was the TEYES, but my gf rolled it out (based on aesthetics and higher price)
My next choice was PX6 but I didn't find a good seller.
the product I ended up buying was from "Youmecity Car Multimedia Store", the seller was very nice and responsive, and has a lot of good reviews.
downsides for my unit: it isn't much configurable, the internal mic isn't working (and you can't connect external one), I didn't find (although I didn't spend a lot of time searching) different roms.
Overall I'm pleased with my unit (except the mic), its very responsive and works well, worked out-of-the-box, no cable soldering. even compatible with the rear cam I have installed.
Note - don't buy the OBD from them, it's huge, and it uses WiFi (can't connect in the same time with phone hotspot).
Note 2 - If you buy from his, ask for the new software version, they update it once in a few months.
If you have more questions feel free to ask here

Newbie Is it worth getting a Android head unit? I been debating if it's better to go pioneer or try android

I been wanting to update my old head unit and tried looking in here for info but I can't find anything for my questions but my main question is the android units pretty mature that it's smooth and you don't have to really worry about it it just works ? I have no clue on what brands are pretty good I seen joy alot and are people here modding the head units and making them run better?

I am also interested in the feedback from the more experienced Here.
I want to install a large screen Android in our motorhome, but don’t want something that doesn’t work well.
Paul

I recently purchased Topway TS10 unit. My first Android HU, actually my first Android device also.
If I had to do it again I would look for a unit that can be rooted fully - otherwise you are at total mercy of Chinese vendor who may ignore you, give you wrong information or will simply not understand your question.
Based on my, rather limited, knowledge, 3GB RAM CC2 Plus from Alibaba would be on top of my list.

firstbob said:
I recently purchased Topway TS10 unit. My first Android HU, actually my first Android device also.
If I had to do it again I would look for a unit that can be rooted fully - otherwise you are at total mercy of Chinese vendor who may ignore you, give you wrong information or will simply not understand your question.
Based on my, rather limited, knowledge, 3GB RAM CC2 Plus from Alibaba would be on top of my list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yah that's my main worry's is being at the mercy of a Chinese vendor and having to deal with a buggy OS with no updates and noone on xda having there own version that's better

Neogx said:
Yah that's my main worry's is being at the mercy of a Chinese vendor and having to deal with a buggy OS with no updates and noone on xda having there own version that's better
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quite right.

marchnz said:
Quite right.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had some personal experience with both options. Last year I purchased a top-of-the-line Pioneer HU (AVIC W8500NEX) and installed it in my Toyota Highlander. I had nothing but trouble with it. Random reboots and freeze-ups. Replaced the HU once and the CanBus adapter once but problems persisted. I finally gave up and recently purchased a Sygav PX6 android HU. The first HU died after one day. The second HU has been working well other than a few quirks that are well documented in this forum.
So, I don't think there is a clear answer here. I completely understand the concerns about purchasing an off-brand HU, but name brand HU's are not without problems as well.

I've been in this game quite a long time. Heck., I was in this game years ago when it was WinCE.
Functionality wise, the top brands have been playing catch up for years. In the case of some of them, they even went down the WinCE route, so as to provide a pathway to all the great software that was available (iGo Primo, for example).
Where the Chinese head units are playing catch-up, has always been the sound quality. Historically, Chinese Head Units have used very low quality amplifier IC's which give a very mediocre sound.
Then we got the generic Android Head Units and again, the big brand manufacturers were playing catch up, except it's not a level playing field. I doubt big brands would be allowed to ship an almost stock Android Head Unit as they are not 'actually safe' for cars. They are the kind of thing which would have to be sold with a 'Not Road Legal' label attached.
So you've got the CarPlay and Android Auto options coming out of the big brands and you've got the generic Android kit coming out of the Chinese brands. Except, the Chinese brands have now caught up with the sound quality. The PX5 units I had in my BMW and Audi had exceptional sound quality.
As for the quality and reliability. I've always had good luck with Chinese units until recently. My WinCE badgers never failed me. Two PX5's didn't fail either (6 months and 2 years).
So, I got a PX6 for my Jetta as a treat to myself. I was mezmerized by the speed but the first thing I noticed on day 1 is that it ran hot. The PX5 ran comparatively cool and the issue with electronics when they get hot is the lifespan shorten and as this thing ran hot seemingly all the time, it unfortunately didn't last a month, and was returned with an amp defect.
I'm now on a Xtrons MA series, which is basically a Junsun V1 Pro. Performance wise, it pales in comparison to the PX6 and tbh, it even feels a bit sluggish compared to the PX5. However.... it has an extremely good DSP which means the sound quality utterly blows away the PX6, which was already decent btw. It also has some other nice features like Android Assistant that is actually able to dial via your phone properly (it never worked on the PX5), CarPlay for your iPhone, Android Auto if you want it....
So the gap between what Pioneer are knocking out and these Chinese head units is actually massive at this point and it's in favour of the Chinese stuff. You can literally buy a Chinese head unit that offers the same functionality as the Pioneer (CarPlay etc), and more (Android 10) and similar sound quality.
Big manufacturers are on borrowed time. In-built stuff with new cars + these units for old cars are literally the death knell.

You are not comparing apples with apples - genuine units are Android Auto, Chinese origin greyboxes are a hacked Android and are NOT Android Auto. They have two very different use cases.
The problem with Chinese origin knock off Android head units is the lack of recourse, support and consumer protection.
The resellers stop communicating when bugs and problems get hard for them, leaving buyer stuck or out of pocket.

marchnz said:
You are not comparing apples with apples - genuine units are Android Auto, Chinese origin greyboxes are a hacked Android and are NOT Android Auto. They have two very different use cases.
The problem with Chinese origin knock off Android head units is the lack of recourse, support and consumer protection.
The resellers stop communicating when bugs and problems get hard for them, leaving buyer stuck or out of pocket.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Chinese unit also offers Android Auto and CarPlay via USB, hence my point that I am able to access numerous ecosystems here. Android, Android-Auto, CarPlay.
I think there is some truth to your statement with regards to lacking resource and consumer protection but your best bet is buying from one of the more legitimate UK based resellers. I've bought my last three from Xtrons and the one which failed, they took back in an instant and refunded the money. It's a gamble but it's hardly a risky gamble, we're talking a few hundred pounds here, and if you're sensible and buy through a protected platform like Amazon, you'll be fine.
In my experience, quality control issues usually manifest themselves within a very short period of time. In my case, it was less than a month. If your unit is still going strong after 3-4 then I'd say you're onto a winner. The bugs are usually bitty I find. My PX5 and PX6's were really smooth and powerful, but had irritating little 'misses' like Google Now couldn't make a call via Bluetooth, which is more like a missing feature than an actual bug. This new unit doesn't feel particularly buggy UI wise, but it's definitely not as powerful.... However, it offers some really clever features that the PX5 and PX6 didn't, such as calling via Google Now right out of the box and separated volume channels for different things. Higher clock speeds aren't everything. I've not made up my mind on it currently, but as it costs £260 inc delivery and brought a whole load of surprisingly useful extras the PX5/6 don't, I think I am OK with it.
One thing I would point out here:
Any aftermarket radio that offers apps or 'AppRadio-esque' functionality is at the mercy of manufacturer. The ecosystem they selling against is essentially a moving target. I think the big brands get let off so easily here.
AppRadio – Apps on Google Play
Turn your car into a connected car with Pioneer AppRadio
play.google.com
The Pioneer AppRadio app above has a wonderful 2 star rating on Google Play. Is it any wonder? A number of the early App Radios (1-4 definitely) are now dead if used with official software. The only alternative is AppRadio Unchained which is effectively a screen mirroring app and a right mess to get working. Let's not pretend that you're good for life if you get yourself a Pioneer or Sony. You are merely on a countdown and eventually they'll pull the plug.
In the case of a Chinese radio, it's usually however long it takes for the hardware to become obsolete and unusable, if the hardware itself doesn't fail. My PX5's were running the latest apps and my oldest was bought in 2018. I expect this current unit will keep going for a similar amount of time, albeit not as quick as I'd like. Tl:dr, I think it's naive to think we buy radios (including big brand) to last 5-10 years. At the price point they exist, we should be happy with 3 years. Not many people keep their cars much longer than that anyway.