Hi,

I would like a double-din unit for my Fabia, but there are a few to choose from and none are perfect...

This would be my perfect unit:

CD player

FM radio

DVD playback

Customisable button illumination

Large colour touchscreen

Bluetooth hands-free

SD Card reader

Rear USB (I don't like having wires hanging out my dash)

User-friendly and intuitive GUI

Understated OEM looks

Removable facia

Ability to read cover art and m3u playlists from USB/SD media

Pioneer (as I have always had Pioneer kit before and I like it)

Around £300-£400

Predictably, with such a specific list of requirements, nothing fits the bill exactly. But making a few compromises, there are a few contenders:

The JVC AVX-830

CD player - YES

FM radio - YES

DVD playback - YES

Customisable button illumination - YES

Large colour touchscreen - YES

Bluetooth hands-free - YES - although reviews say the microphone is ropey

SD Card reader - NO

Rear USB (I don't like having wires hanging out my dash) - YES

User-friendly and intuitive GUI - ? Looks a bit ropey

Understated OEM looks - It sticks out a fair bit and has a crappy looking 'chin'

Removable facia - YES

Ability to read cover art and m3u playlists from USB/SD media - Don't think so

Pioneer (as I have always had Pioneer kit before and I like it) - Obviously NO

Around £300-£400 - YES at £370 ish

The Pioneer AVH-3300BT

CD player - YES

FM radio - YES

DVD playback - YES

Customisable button illumination - YES

Large colour touchscreen - YES - although smallest of the 3

Bluetooth hands-free - YES

SD Card reader - YES

Rear USB (I don't like having wires hanging out my dash) - NO - front only

User-friendly and intuitive GUI - YES

Understated OEM looks - YES

Removable facia - NO

Ability to read cover art and m3u playlists from USB/SD media - NO

Pioneer (as I have always had Pioneer kit before and I like it) - YES

Around £300-£400 - YES, the cheapest at £299 ish

The Sony XAV-70BT

CD player - YES

FM radio - YES

DVD playback - YES

Customisable button illumination - NO - white only

Large colour touchscreen - YES

SD Card reader - NO

Rear USB (I don't like having wires hanging out my dash) - YES

User-friendly and intuitive GUI - YES - seems to be the nicest looking of all, although reviews say it is slow

Understated OEM looks - NO - it sticks out from the dash a mile

Removable facia - YES

Ability to read cover art and m3u playlists from USB/SD media - Don't think so

Pioneer (as I have always had Pioneer kit before and I like it) - Obviously NO

Around £300-£400 - YES, but most expensive at £400

I can give a thumbs up for the Pioneer 3300BT as I have just fitted it to my wifes car (she wanted it for her birthday). Very nice piece of kit and the Bluetooth works a treat with her phone (Samsung Galaxy S).

i got the kenwood dnx5220bt fitted in my car, i think it does everything you listed + it has sat nav. yes it is £200 more but it gots hands free built in aswell, after2 years of using the unit still think it is a excellant piece of kit

Edited 14 April, 201115 yr by tony2311

I just fitted a Pioneer AVH3200BT today. Looks really good, sound has drastically improved with the mk1 Vrs speaker system and I added an old sub and old amp I had.. Cost me £325 and can add the sat nav at a later date. Bluetooth seems to work fine but not received a call on it to test if people can here me ok! has a nice iphone/ipod interface using the cable you get with the phone. I have been told to get video etc I need a cable for £30.

I have been pondering about a double din unit for donkeys, there are so many to choose from and the chinese models seem to have loads of goodies but if they go wrong you cant just pop down to your local dealer can you?!