Car audio

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#1916155 10-Dec-2017 18:27

Does android auto work properly with tidal/spotify etc yet? When I last tried one, the phones on controls were locked out and the head deck seemed to only want to play media on the phone. No way to search or anything with an onscreen keyboard or anything. Thats what is pushing me to think about getting one of the native android head units when I finally get annoyed enough at the piece of crap fusion I have and end up biffing the faceplate out the window or something.

Only wrinkle in that is the vodafone music pass not allowing teathering, so wouldnt be playing on the head unit unless it had its own LTE radio and sim etc.

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kingdragonfly

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#1916170 10-Dec-2017 18:49

So there's three things to worry about when mounting a car radio:

* size (double Dinn, single dinn, ...)
* wiring (ISO, CanBus, ...)
* is the dashboard "reversed" (in other words is the dashboard mirrored because we drive "right hand drive" / "rhd" cars, and much of the world is "left hand drive", like the US)

If you convert to standard size and wiring, then you have a lot of choices in inexpensive head units.

As mentioned, if you search ebay, you'll find a Double Din adapter

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=mazda+demio+din+2003

You're lucky, because many NZ cars dashboards require a reversed adapter because they are "right hand drive", "rhd". However your radio is the same in the US and NZ.

This company makes fantastic wiring adapters. Basically it plugs into the existing wiring and gives a standard ISO connector on the other side.

http://www.connects2.com/Product/Search

They have this standard ISO converter, for the 2003 Demio.

It'll support pretty much all headunits.

Note your current radio has an outside temperature display. You'll lose this which shouldn't be a big dea

http://www.connects2.com/Product/ProductItem/CTSMZ002.2

Though stuff needed for your car was pretty easy to find, just in case you have a second generation Mazda Demio (2002-2007).

It's also called the
Ford Fiesta
Ford Fusion

So if you're searching for a double DIN kit also search for
* 2003 Ford Fiesta
* 2003 Ford Fusion

kingdragonfly

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#1916174 10-Dec-2017 18:55

I have this Android Double Din radio, which has pretty much any feature you want.

Joying 7" Android 6 (Chinese made, from ebay) about NZD $400 delivered

The latest Kenwood double din 7" display is also good, but twice the price

quickymart

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#1916259 10-Dec-2017 20:49

Hmm that's interesting. Worth a look.

Frustratingly, there are some Demios out there (in the year range I'm looking at) that do have a normal radio. Case in point:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/mazda/auction-1488743571.htm?rsqid=18e342088984494685b0092ed726076c

Okay, it's in Japanese - but look at the fascia. It would be fairly easy to rip out the existing radio and replace it with one that works properly in NZ.

Some people have suggested a 2007 Demio faceplate, which is like this:

https://trademe.tmcdn.co.nz/photoserver/plusw/687606466.jpg

(similar to the one in kingdragonfly's link)

Just to clarify, that's not the one I'm looking to replace though. If it was one of those, I'd be all set

Edit; something like this would be ideal.

Aredwood

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#1916307 10-Dec-2017 22:39

Other possible gotchas. Check the mounting depth. Not fun if there isn't enough room for your head unit to go all the way into the dashboard. less of a problem nowdays with mechless headunits (no CD player). Factory speakers with weird impedance. Heard of a car that had 1ohm speakers. No aftermarket headunit can drive such speakers. And difficult to find an amplifier that can also drive them.

trig42

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#1916454 11-Dec-2017 10:28

Aredwood: Other possible gotchas. Check the mounting depth. Not fun if there isn't enough room for your head unit to go all the way into the dashboard. less of a problem nowdays with mechless headunits (no CD player). Factory speakers with weird impedance. Heard of a car that had 1ohm speakers. No aftermarket headunit can drive such speakers. And difficult to find an amplifier that can also drive them.

Bose are generally 1 ohm speakers (though they don't tell you that).

I bought a Imported Skyline that the importer had put a cheap, but NZ compatible, head unit into, and they had just bypassed the Bose amp/processor in the boot and wired directly to the Bose speakers.

It went OK (actually quite loud), but I think it cooked the stereo. It would just cut out at times.

I replaced it, and the speakers, and it went much better.

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richms

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#1916569 11-Dec-2017 11:39

Not many low power amps will do 1 ohm, but plenty of multi 100w to kw amps support it as thats what you need to get loads of power out of a sub.

Just watch they have a selectable crossover tho, many are lowpass only, with the upper freq capped really low so you cant use as a full range amp.

Richard rich.ms

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#1916941 11-Dec-2017 19:25

I might have found a solution - I think a wrecker's yard is my best bet.

lchiu7

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#1920367 15-Dec-2017 20:20

Because I wanted a double DIN unit so it could be used as the screen for a reversing camera but the car had no space for one, I bought one of these

https://www.amazon.com/PIONEER-AVH-X7800BT-1Din-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B017LKVMAS/ref=pd_sbs_107_10?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B017LKVMAS&pd_rd_r=W3HX20NJ5HM95Q2816QQ&pd_rd_w=nlnjo&pd_rd_wg=nSl1j&psc=1&refRID=W3HX20NJ5HM95Q2816QQ

It didn't come with a reversing camera but my local installer sold me a camera and installed it, wiring it to the reverse light so that the camera input would trigger when put into reverse gear. It works pretty well.

My only regret is that I missed out on the later model

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-AVH-3300NEX-Receiver-CarPlay-Bluetooth/dp/B071X596WM/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1513322311&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=pioneer+pop+out+receiver

which is the same functionality but has Android Auto instead of Pioneer's proprietary interface.

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33coupe

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#1938488 14-Jan-2018 10:32

Don't mean to hijack but not sure warranted another thread.

I'm also looking for new double din stereo (aftermarket Japanese one has locked).

Do these Android Auto ones come with Android O/s so can use Google maps etc without connecting phone?

As I'm on a budget the joying looks tempting, but have read a few unfavourable reviews.

kingdragonfly

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#1938660 14-Jan-2018 16:35

Usually most people wirelessly tether it to your mobile phone , which is easy via Bluetooth.

The Joying is pretty much like an Android telephone, so if you to connect to data and do NOT want to using your phone wirelessly via Bluetooth, you'll need a model with a SIMM slot and an additional mobile plan.

The supplied GPS software is functional, and the GPS antenna is much bigger/better than a mobile phone's GPS antenna, and the maps are surprisingly up-to-date.

All the maps are downloaded, so you don't have to worry about loss of signal.

The failing of the Joying is insufficient cooling, if you live in a hot area. So OK in New Zealand, not OK in Australia or Nevada.

Being Android means anything in the Google application store will usually work.

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mentalinc

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#1939379 15-Jan-2018 21:28

Wireless android auto has also just been announced with supporting device to make it even harder

CPU: AMD 5900x | RAM: GSKILL Trident Z Neo RGB F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC-32-GB | MB: Asus X570-E | GFX: EVGA FTW3 Ultra RTX 3080Ti| Monitor: LG 27GL850-B 2560x1440

Quic: https://account.quic.nz/refer/473833 R473833EQKIBX

neveR

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#1939534 16-Jan-2018 09:14

33coupe: Don't mean to hijack but not sure warranted another thread.

I'm also looking for new double din stereo (aftermarket Japanese one has locked).

Do these Android Auto ones come with Android O/s so can use Google maps etc without connecting phone?

As I'm on a budget the joying looks tempting, but have read a few unfavourable reviews.

I picked up the JVC kw m730bt just before Christmas, and have been using the android Auto over the break, it works really well. You do need to have your phone connected to the correct USB port on it, but that is not too much of an issue (as it also charges your phone)

it uses the google maps from your phone, and has a separate GPS antenna that mounts on the dash, the voice commands work really well, and replying to text messages and FB messages works mainly well, it does sometimes get a word or two confused.

http://nz.jvc.com/car/av_receivers/kw_m730bt/

they do not run android on the head unit, so you do need to connect your phone.

33coupe

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#1941242 17-Jan-2018 07:16

Thanks for that.

I issue I have is that I can't see why I should spend $400-800 on a head unit that doesn't do any more than copy my screen.

My phone screen is 6 inches so only gaining 1 inch (easy there haha), all I'm getting is radio and Bluetooth for music (don't need calls).

I did want one with built in sat nav so didn't have to plug in phone all the time, but then I guess you'd only get traffic detail if used phone/data etc.

Argh I'm so confused.

neveR

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#1941264 17-Jan-2018 08:06

33coupe: Thanks for that.

I issue I have is that I can't see why I should spend $400-800 on a head unit that doesn't do any more than copy my screen.

My phone screen is 6 inches so only gaining 1 inch (easy there haha), all I'm getting is radio and Bluetooth for music (don't need calls).

I did want one with built in sat nav so didn't have to plug in phone all the time, but then I guess you'd only get traffic detail if used phone/data etc.

Argh I'm so confused.

From my research, you will find that you can either go with the cheap (Chinese) Android ones off ebay to get the maps, but as mentioned above there are some not so great reviews on these (including over heating)

or pay a bit more for a Android Auto one, that gets a few extra features, you say you dont need calls, but being able to have your head unit read your text's to you and reply to the all via voice commands it quite nice some times, and if you do get a call, being able to answer it is nice.

or pay a lot more for a head unit with GPS and maps built in.

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