Best double-DIN car stereo with bluetooth, USB, and Aux, on a budget?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Best double-DIN car stereo with bluetooth, USB, and Aux, on a budget?

buzzy

217 posts

Master Geek

#215064 10-Jun-2017 19:51

Hey all,

Anyone have any experiences with the any of the below car stereo headunits? I'm looking at a fairly basic car stereo to replace the stock unit in my 2009 Toyota Corolla. I'm after an Aux input, FM radio, and Bluetooth. The below all look like they're possible candidates:

http://www.qualitycaraudio.co.nz/kenwood-dpx-5000bt-bluetooth-cd-usb-aux-nz-tuners-3x-pre-outs-with-easy-layby-7725

http://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/Product/JVC-Double-Din-Smartphone-CD-Player-with-Bluetooth-KW-R920BT/404418?menuFrom=1021692

http://www.supercheapauto.co.nz/Product/Pioneer-Double-DIN-Smartphone-CD-Player-with-Bluetooth-FHX785BT/405467?menuFrom=1021692

https://www.hyperdrive.co.nz/product/car-stereos/128/wxgt90bt-head-unit/187619/detail

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1828 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1797872 11-Jun-2017 00:46

I've had the single din version of the JVC was a good head unit but now I've got this

http://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/p/american-hi-fi-car-stereo-double-din-bluetooth-ahf930-4-x-50w/R1962455.html#start=1

kingdragonfly

11234 posts

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#1798186 11-Jun-2017 20:59

I'm going to buy a Joying Android Double Din radio from eBay.

Pros:
+ half the price of a Kenwood / Pioneer.

+ you can install most Android software

+ with an Elm347 OBD2 (about $20), and Torque (free) you can see most gauges and sensor info

Cons:

- It might take 6 weeks to arrive

- it appears to have problems in hot regions, like those living in Texas, because of improper cooling, but shouldn't be a problem in NZ.

- possibility of a dud higher, with little recourse.

Loismustdye

932 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#1798199 11-Jun-2017 21:30

We had a late model single din Jvc I put into a double din slot earlier this year (with a parcel tray to fill the gap).
Nice and easy to use with a tonne of features, far better than some of their earlier attempts. Under $200 as well.
Guess I'm trying to say my recent experience with a cheap jvc with all the features you want was good :-)

Ge0rge

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#1798201 11-Jun-2017 21:33

@kingdragonfly - pay the pittance (it's less than $10 iirc) for the full version of Torque. It's well worth it and unlocks many more functions, as well as improving the chances of connecting with whichever obdII connector you go with. I have two connectors from www.stahlcar.co.nz, one in each vehicle and they work really well. Little bit more than $20, but when one died, a quick email (nearly a year later) and they sent me a new one, no questions asked. My phone has two profiles set up in torque, select the vehicle I'm getting in to and it loads all the relevant specs - excellent little app.

jpoc

1043 posts

Uber Geek

#1798217 11-Jun-2017 22:29

I just oredered a $120 unit from AliX. Android 6. I will update when/if it arrives.

lookout

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1806294 25-Jun-2017 08:09

My new car came with an Android 6 headset (similar to a Joying). It's good but has its quirks, much like a cheap android tablet. It takes a long time to start up. Once it's started up, the Bluetooth takes another minute to connect.

The default launcher and default apps are awful. It has Play Store so it's easy to download apps. I use Car Launcher Pro as the launcher which has a nicer interface and shows speed, song playing, etc. it works well with Poweramp to play music from an SD card. It also came with a full version of iGo maps with NZ maps and navigation. Some of the Joyings come with Sygic.

My big issue with the one I have is the lack of physical buttons, especially volume. It's a real pain to find the tiny little volume bar on the touch screen. I would recommend going for a unit with a physical volume knob.

I really only use it for Bluetooth, music on the SD card and occasionally FM radio so I think I would actually prefer a regular 'dumb' head unit that starts up immediately and can be controlled without looking. I wouldn't get Nav but that is probably easier on my phone anyway.

kingdragonfly

11234 posts

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#1806333 25-Jun-2017 11:19

I'm lucky in that my Kia car steering wheel has volume controls, phone and up/down buttons.

Connect2Connect sells CANBUS converters for many modern cars.

Quic Broadband

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tehgerbil

1102 posts

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#1806381 25-Jun-2017 13:42

I would give this thread a read. Can only be had for $200 as well!!

$200 for touch screen double DIN American Hi-FI AHF930

elbrownos

109 posts

Master Geek

#1840246 6-Aug-2017 20:51

I've just installed the American Hifi AHF930 and it seems pretty good.

It cost only $150 from the Warehouse on special. Harness adapter was another $10 from qualitycaraudio.co.nz

This is to replace the fancy but totally useless stereo in my Japanese import 2005 Toyota Ipsum.

The brackets needed butchering but electrically it was straight forward. I still haven't figured out how to get the original reversing camera talking to the stereo.. I suspect it will be easier to just replace the camera.

kotuku4

485 posts

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#1846893 15-Aug-2017 09:37

Slightly different twist on the above.

Bought a 2006 Estima for weekend family use. I would like fully operational headunit, with steering wheel controls, reversing camera, blue tooth. Android auto with navigation etc would be good??

So probably not a cheap droid system? Brand name Android Auto $800-$1000 max, anyone recommend unit or supplier? I'm in Blenheim, so probably buying online and attempting to install myself.

I see Hyper Drive have reasonable selection Sony, Kenwood, Pioneer, and good prices, a $50 credit.

Thanks

shk292

2858 posts

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#1846934 15-Aug-2017 11:01

The Sony Android Auto unit (with physical volume knob) seems to get universally good reviews, but is expensive. I've been eying it as a replacement for the stock head unit in my car, but am thinking I'll wait for prices for Android Auto to fall slightly

buzzy

217 posts

Master Geek

#1846943 15-Aug-2017 11:12

In the end, I got the Pioneer 785. It's great, works very well.

trig42

5816 posts

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#1846949 15-Aug-2017 11:29

^ I put the Pioneer775 (so previous model) into the Wife's car - works really well.

I got a steering wheel control adaptor for it too, so actually hardly ever touch the stereo. Nice that I can change the colours of the lighting to match the dash lights etc of her car (so it doesn't look too out of place).

XinfinityoO

215 posts

Master Geek

#2076755 21-Aug-2018 13:14

Apologies for unlocking an old thread.

I was looking for a double din head unit that can also do a reverse camera. It will go in a nissan tiida hatch 2009 (japanese import). The AHF ones are no longer available at warehouse so are there any good budget alternatives that you guys can recommend.

Thanks

Dratsab

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#2076859 21-Aug-2018 14:50

I put a JVC KW-V21BT into my Ford Focus a few years back. Had to import a new fascia panel from the UK to fit the rectangular shape. It does a great job of everything.

Last year I brought the missus a Nissan March import, took the Japanese stereo out and put a JVC KW-V230BT in. Think it was around $400 for the stereo from Repco and I purchased a pretty good reversing camera from Jaycar.

I'll upload a couple of shots a bit later, can't do it from my mobile due to a lack of editing software combined with GZ file size limitations.

EDIT: reversing camera was about $80.

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