Help me find a double din HU that will work great with Android.

[Bmr4life]

First, thank you for coming to my thread to potentially offer advice. I appreciate that. Let me start out with the fact that I've tried the App Radio 2 with ABLiberator and I can't stand it. Never even made it into my car, just bench test.

So here are my requirements.

$800 or less on when sale. If its near my max, it needs to be freaking awesome.

Great screen, no pixelated text, high resolution, HUGE.

Fluid screen movement and very fast loading (at start up and switching screens/functions).

Be able to control AND navigate music on my android through BT. I add navigate because I want more options that just previous and next (all my ford sync with nav could do). I'd like to be able to see all the albums, artist, genree, playlist, artwork etc... just like you can when you have an ipod hooked up. I do have an ipod, but hate having to use itunes to load it up. Takes for ever.

5 or 6 channel preouts at 4v minimum.

Rearview camera hook up

USB hook ups and/or SD card reader

Great hands free phone system, external mic with preferred.

Ability to add/purchase a parking bypass.

optional items

3.5mm aux in

Navigation (nothing beats google nav so why bother)

cd/dvd reader (can't think of the last time I actually used it in my last car)

Ability to play videos from the external storage (format not so important since asking for mkv would probably be absurd)

Click to read more...

 

[trumpet 5,000+ posts]

Check out the Parrot Asteroid Smart. I got a chance to try one in person on Friday and I was blown away. The screen was stunning, the OS was really fast and smooth, it runs on Android so it's 100% the Android compatible head unit for you. People online have been posting about side loading apps on it, rooting it, etc. Freakin' nuts. I just last week have been able to order this through official distribution channels and I know it's well within your budget. If it had a CD drive I would be really tempted to use this in my own vehicle.

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

kenwod ddx 770

 

[Bmr4life]

Check out the Parrot Asteroid Smart. I got a chance to try one in person on Friday and I was blown away. The screen was stunning, the OS was really fast and smooth, it runs on Android so it's 100% the Android compatible head unit for you. People online have been posting about side loading apps on it, rooting it, etc. Freakin' nuts. I just last week have been able to order this through official distribution channels and I know it's well within your budget. If it had a CD drive I would be really tempted to use this in my own vehicle.

Yeah, I've been reading up on it, but it appears to be limited from some of what I've read. I'll did deeper.

 

---------- Post added at 01:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:20 AM ----------

 

Check out the Parrot Asteroid Smart. I got a chance to try one in person on Friday and I was blown away. The screen was stunning, the OS was really fast and smooth, it runs on Android so it's 100% the Android compatible head unit for you. People online have been posting about side loading apps on it, rooting it, etc. Freakin' nuts. I just last week have been able to order this through official distribution channels and I know it's well within your budget. If it had a CD drive I would be really tempted to use this in my own vehicle.

Yeah, I've been reading up on it, but it appears to be limited from some of what I've read. I'll did deeper.

 

[Bmr4life]

Yup, not doing the Parrot. I'm impatient and slow boot times is not something I can deal with.

Went to WorstBuy today to put my hands on the HU's. They only had the middle grade stuff on display. So the Kenwood ddx470 and the Pioneer x3500bhs are all I got to try out. Both seemed decent, so I'd assume the higher end versions should be just as good.

Only thing I need to know is which has the best USB storage media interface. Load times and files navigation are important via usb.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

Hey if you don't mind, let me know what you end up going with, I'm in the market for a double din as well...

 

[Bmr4life]

Hey if you don't mind, let me know what you end up going with, I'm in the market for a double din as well...

As of right now, I may buy both the Kenwood and Pioneer from Crutchfield and return one. Only thing I know for sure is that I do not recommend the Pioneer App Radio 2, even with ARLiberator.

 

[bubbagumper6 5,000+ posts]

Looking at alpine at all? I've always had a preference for them....

 

[naughtyca 10+ year member]

Have you looked at the new power acoustik ingenix 32gb sd card or portable hard drive?

here's the discussion

http://www.caraudio.com/forums/head-units/570119-precision-power-ingenix-double-din-p-771nx.html

you can also check out the pioneer avic 940bt, from what i heard good clearance on these if you can find them. i wont buy at craiglist, try to find it in amazon and price match with wrstbuy if you can

 

[naughtyca 10+ year member]

I almost forgot you can also look at the pioneed avic 850bh the only difference with this and the avic z lines are these does not have hd radio

 

[Bmr4life]

So I'm not seeing a lot of differences between the ddx770 and the ddx470. Looks like the screen is smaller and doesn't move. I prefer a non-moving screen because its one less thing to break. Am I missing something?

 

[Bmr4life]

Screw it. Paid the $60 extra and got a X5500BHS from amazon. X8500BHS would have been another $120 on top of that and its just not worth it since the app radio part is not good.

 

[PocketRocket]

Kenwood dnx690 if the 6.1 in screen is cool with garmin nav....Kenwood ddx 770 is also a nice choice

 

[Bobfig 10+ year member]

I got the x5500 my self and like it. Others to look at are the Sony 701 and that Kenwood ddx 770.

 

[Chris94L 10+ year member]

What was your aversion to the AppRadio2? I was considering it with ARLiberator as most people seem to like that setup. Your input would be welcome.