Please Point Me In The Direction Of A Good Stereo

[zunebuggy]

I am looking for a new car stereo that fits in a 2013 Nissan Altima Sedan.
I believe the stock radio currently in it is double DIN.
I DO NOT want CD or DVD.
I DO want Front and Back camera that automatically shows the backup cam when I am backing up and has the backup guide on the screen.
I want SiriusXM ready.
Navigation is good but I have my phone. Touchscreen would be nice.
Bluetooth with handsfree calling and phone pairing.

affordable is nice, but I also do want garbage that I'll have to return

I am not good at shopping for this stuff online. My current stock radio will no longer connect to any phones via Bluetooth and we have tried EVERYTHING. I believe the Bluetooth is broke or an update on our phones has made the Bluetooth no longer compatible. In either case, it's time for a stereo upgrade.

Thank you

Click to read more...

 

[Old_Slapper]

Do you have a brand preference?

Choose something from any of the big-name brands, like Pioneer, Sony, Kenwood, JVC, Alpine, etc... and you'll be pretty set.

If you are not sure what will fit, pick up a radio from Crutchfield.com. They will help you with the install parts and let you know what radio will fit.

 

[zunebuggy]

Do you have a brand preference?

Choose something from any of the big-name brands, like Pioneer, Sony, Kenwood, JVC, Alpine, etc... and you'll be pretty set.

If you are not sure what will fit, pick up a radio from Crutchfield.com. They will help you with the install parts and let you know what radio will fit.

I went to Crutchfield and they all say SiriuxXM ready with additional equipment, and we currently pay for SiriusXM on our phones, so I guess as long as we can sync our phones, I don't care if it has a SiriusXM receiver built in. I was thinking I would kinda like to to be able to look at the stereo display to see what song is currently playing though (current stock radio has very limited info here and I hoped to add this feature.). I don't look at my phone in the car.

I want a good backup camera though that senses when I am in Reverse and will automatically come on. Like most of the modern stock radios today. I would LIKE to add a front camera as well but I guess as long as I can view that one on my phone as needed, I don't need an additional camera on the stereo.

Thank you

 

[Old_Slapper]

Look for a radio that has bluetooth connection. That will allow your phone to play on the radio. You can go with Carplay, if you have an iPhone, or Android Auto, for an Android. Those will allow direct connection to your phone, and it will mirror what your phone is showing. If you have a Best Buy around, they will be able to show you the radio and how the options work. They can also lead you towards having it installed. However, Best Buy is not known for having the best installers, then again, good installers are hard to find.

 

[zunebuggy]

Look for a radio that has bluetooth connection. That will allow your phone to play on the radio. You can go with Carplay, if you have an iPhone, or Android Auto, for an Android. Those will allow direct connection to your phone, and it will mirror what your phone is showing. If you have a Best Buy around, they will be able to show you the radio and how the options work. They can also lead you towards having it installed. However, Best Buy is not known for having the best installers, then again, good installers are hard to find.

Thank you. I was thinking of Best Buy or I think we have a couple car audio places not too far away.

 

[CertifiedHoodClassic]

I went to Crutchfield and they all say SiriuxXM ready with additional equipment, and we currently pay for SiriusXM on our phones, so I guess as long as we can sync our phones, I don't care if it has a SiriusXM receiver built in. I was thinking I would kinda like to to be able to look at the stereo display to see what song is currently playing though (current stock radio has very limited info here and I hoped to add this feature.). I don't look at my phone in the car.

I want a good backup camera though that senses when I am in Reverse and will automatically come on. Like most of the modern stock radios today. I would LIKE to add a front camera as well but I guess as long as I can view that one on my phone as needed, I don't need an additional camera on the stereo.

Thank you

The bluetooth issues you're having are probably (hopefully?) related to the cars headunit being old. Does your bluetooth work with other devices?

does the car come with a back up cam? you can retain it with something like the idatalink maestro, which can also adapt your steering wheel controls to work with an aftermarket headunit. It's a bit expensive and given the car is 2013 it's probably simple enough you don't need it but it's an option.

If not, most all new mid or high end units from the major brands have camera inputs. In that case, you would add a rear camera and run a wire to the reverse light (or anything that switches on with reverse). More work, but you have to do it if you don't have one. Or, you do it anyways because you want an aftermarket camera.

Some (or maybe most?) of them also have front camera support, although I don't use one so I don't know much about it. I have an Alpine ilx-507 and it has 2 cam inputs and I think you can use it as a dash cam recorder, but I use a separate dash cam. You can also adjust the parking lines for the rear cam on it.

As far as showing what song is playing on sirius, that should happen, whenever you're connected via bluetooth whatever app you're using will send data to the headunit. I play music files off of mine and it shows what's playing, but I've never used Sirius so I can't confirm it works.

Forget buying one for navigation. Just use android auto/ car play. It makes them more expensive and they suffer the same issue as cars that come with nav, where the support is worse and dropped at some point so the maps are outdated and it becomes useless.

 

[Old_Slapper]

Thank you. I was thinking of Best Buy or I think we have a couple car audio places not too far away.

If you lack the knowledge of the technology that headunits currently have, then I feel it would be best for you to go and put your hands on the units before you buy one. You never know, you might find other options that you wish to have.

 

[zunebuggy]

The bluetooth issues you're having are probably (hopefully?) related to the cars headunit being old. Does your bluetooth work with other devices?

does the car come with a back up cam? you can retain it with something like the idatalink maestro, which can also adapt your steering wheel controls to work with an aftermarket headunit. It's a bit expensive and given the car is 2013 it's probably simple enough you don't need it but it's an option.

If not, most all new mid or high end units from the major brands have camera inputs. In that case, you would add a rear camera and run a wire to the reverse light (or anything that switches on with reverse). More work, but you have to do it if you don't have one. Or, you do it anyways because you want an aftermarket camera.

Some (or maybe most?) of them also have front camera support, although I don't use one so I don't know much about it. I have an Alpine ilx-507 and it has 2 cam inputs and I think you can use it as a dash cam recorder, but I use a separate dash cam. You can also adjust the parking lines for the rear cam on it.

As far as showing what song is playing on sirius, that should happen, whenever you're connected via bluetooth whatever app you're using will send data to the headunit. I play music files off of mine and it shows what's playing, but I've never used Sirius so I can't confirm it works.

Forget buying one for navigation. Just use android auto/ car play. It makes them more expensive and they suffer the same issue as cars that come with nav, where the support is worse and dropped at some point so the maps are outdated and it becomes useless.

Yes, our phones connect just fine to everything except the car. We can see it, but cannot connect to it. It happened I believe when the phones upgraded last.

Yes, my car has a backup camera, but it's terrible and has been terrible. I was thinking of upgrading that AND get a car radio but if I could do both. It's not only gotten cloudy (despite cleaning the lens) but cuts in and out due to a loose connection I guess. I drive my Mom's new vehicle every once in awhile and her backup camera is so clear any time of day or night and the guide lines will turn and adjust with the wheels. Mine are straight with the green, yellow and red sections. I would like something better here.

I want a front cam unit and an extra cam support option would be great since I do not care for cloud storage.

That's good to know about Sirius/XM.

I generally pull up Google maps if I need directions. My wife uses Waze, so I knew navigation wasn't too important to me. I even still have a Garmin in the basement if I want to dig it out and update the maps. (do they still let you do that? LOL I don't know. Haven't used it in years).

Thank you.

 

[zunebuggy]

If you lack the knowledge of the technology that headunits currently have, then I feel it would be best for you to go and put your hands on the units before you buy one. You never know, you might find other options that you wish to have.

Thanks

 

[AnthonyO 10+ year member]

Whats your budget?

 

[CertifiedHoodClassic]

Yes, my car has a backup camera, but it's terrible and has been terrible. I was thinking of upgrading that AND get a car radio but if I could do both. It's not only gotten cloudy (despite cleaning the lens) but cuts in and out due to a loose connection I guess. I drive my Mom's new vehicle every once in awhile and her backup camera is so clear any time of day or night and the guide lines will turn and adjust with the wheels. Mine are straight with the green, yellow and red sections. I would like something better here.

I didn't even know you could add dynamic parking lines until I looked it up. Looks like it's possible with your car too.

look up here: https://www.idatalinkmaestro.com/en/products/maestro-rr2

keep in mind the maestro rr2 is 210 bucks and you'll need a harness to connect it to your car, and that's on top of a headunit that supports this which will be at least another 500. So it'll be 750$ which may or may not be worth it.

 

[zunebuggy]

Whats your budget?

No more than $650

 

[huberoy123 10+ year member]

I went to Crutchfield and they all say SiriuxXM ready with additional equipment, and we currently pay for SiriusXM on our phones, so I guess as long as we can sync our phones, I don't care if it has a SiriusXM receiver built in. I was thinking I would kinda like to to be able to look at the stereo display to see what song is currently playing though (current stock radio has very limited info here and I hoped to add this feature.). I don't look at my phone in the car.

I want a good backup camera though that senses when I am in Reverse and will automatically come on. Like most of the modern stock radios today. I would LIKE to add a front camera as well but I guess as long as I can view that one on my phone as needed, I don't need an additional camera on the stereo.

Thank you

XM ready with additional equipment usually refers to the XM tuner and antenna. About $60, and literally plug-and-play. On my JVC Unit KW-M560BT, there is an XM connection on the rear of the unit. I've used JVC units on my last 2 vehicles. It has all the features that you asked for. I especially like the USB connection, that allows me to attach my portable hard drive. My current unit has apple play and Android auto, which mirrors your phone screen. Good luck. FYI: Crutchfield has a service where they pre-wire your stereo harness to fit your vehicle, which takes all the guessing out of connecting the right wires.

I am looking for a new car stereo that fits in a 2013 Nissan Altima Sedan.
I believe the stock radio currently in it is double DIN.
I DO NOT want CD or DVD.
I DO want Front and Back camera that automatically shows the backup cam when I am backing up and has the backup guide on the screen.
I want SiriusXM ready.
Navigation is good but I have my phone. Touchscreen would be nice.
Bluetooth with handsfree calling and phone pairing.

affordable is nice, but I also do want garbage that I'll have to return

I am not good at shopping for this stuff online. My current stock radio will no longer connect to any phones via Bluetooth and we have tried EVERYTHING. I believe the Bluetooth is broke or an update on our phones has made the Bluetooth no longer compatible. In either case, it's time for a stereo upgrade.

Thank you