What headunits are we using? I'm looking to route a hard drive in the glovebox and just have all my music collecting browseable direct from the headunit.

Two USB ports would be cool so I can charge my phone from a hidden port.

Are the sat Nav units any good? Do they keep up to date etc

Most NAV units have to be updated manually via download or CD. I'm sure there are some that do not need manual updates, but the 1st that comes to mind is the Pioneer App Radio system as it uses the apps on your phone for Nav. 

 

My Old Alpine had a USB and also an Ipod lead so I could connect a HDD or USB drive to it and then charge my iPhone with the other. 

 

Ensure you check what limits the HU has as well, i know my old Alpine XDA-001 could read a 16GB USB stick no probs but not my 160GB portable HDD  

The app radios look really too app dependent. What if I change my phone, or the app has problems - altho most pioneers have an app mode anyway.

 

So generally people seem to say get pioneer or alpine? And I suppose double din would be much better at browsing albums and folders. 

Depends what you're after or your budget is i suppose! 

I've got the top of the range Pioneer AVH-X8500BT 

 

http://www.pioneer.eu/uk/products/25/109/281/AVH-X8500BT/page.html

 

It is to be straight to the point the dogs love spuds.

 

I've got a samsung galaxy s4, i bought an samsung allshare cast hub and plugged that into the headunit, i rooted my phone so now my phone connects to the HU without wires and ALL apps work on the screen instead of the select few.

 

The HU also has a 2nd usb for charging, HDD etc. It also has an SD slot for music, video and pictures with a max capacity of 32gb so your media storage needs are covered.

 

Added bonus is the HU Front panel/screen come off for security unlike the other Pioneer models.

 

The HU Set me back around £580

 

Dave.

Edited 14 February, 201412 yr by switchblad3

I have the Appradio 2 but I've used ARLiberator to use all the functions of my HTC ONE on the head unit. Google it, it's a bit complicated to set up as you have to root your phone but it works great in the car and any app on your phone will run on the head unit screen.

 

I have custom rom/rooted on my android phone...always have done and always will. 

 

So with ARLiberator, it essentially replaces that rubbish pioneer app and basically mirrors your phone, via blueooth onto the screen? Or do I have to get my phone "mirrorlinking" which is apparently impossible on a nexus 4. 

 

That way I'll have my satnav, usual phone features, music, spotify and still be able to do offline playback via usb hard drive. Much difference between appradio 2 or 3? 

I've got the top of the range Pioneer AVH-X8500BT 

 

http://www.pioneer.eu/uk/products/25/109/281/AVH-X8500BT/page.html

 

It is to be straight to the point the dogs love spuds.

 

I've got a samsung galaxy s4, i bought an samsung allshare cast hub and plugged that into the headunit, i rooted my phone so now my phone connects to the HU without wires and ALL apps work on the screen instead of the select few.

 

The HU also has a 2nd usb for charging, HDD etc. It also has an SD slot for music, video and pictures with a max capacity of 32gb so your media storage needs are covered.

 

Added bonus is the HU Front panel/screen come off for security unlike the other Pioneer models.

 

The HU Set me back around £580

 

Dave.

 

On Amazon for £379 at the moment: 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pioneer-AVH-X8500BT-inch-Mulitmedia-Player/dp/B00BULRN76

 

Thats ALOT of head unit for the money  

Yeah i got mine when it was first released, literally the first one to hit my audio specialist. I had their one meant for the display as i wanted it so badly. my price included all fitting and a facia panel.............got some Cerwin Vega component speakers fitted including dynamat at the same time just for good measure.

 

Also you need the android cable kit which is sold seperately but i'm pretty sure you can get away with buying the wires you need on their own.

 

I'm using ARLiberator too with the Allshare cast hub. Totally wire free.

 

Dave.

I have custom rom/rooted on my android phone...always have done and always will. 

 

So with ARLiberator, it essentially replaces that rubbish pioneer app and basically mirrors your phone, via blueooth onto the screen? Or do I have to get my phone "mirrorlinking" which is apparently impossible on a nexus 4. 

 

That way I'll have my satnav, usual phone features, music, spotify and still be able to do offline playback via usb hard drive. Much difference between appradio 2 or 3? 

 

That's exactly what it is, I run a cable from the HDMI of the head unit to an MHL adapter to charge my phone. It can be done wire free, as said above, so that would suggest it's bluetooth. I'm not sure of the difference, plenty of threads in the audio forums for them though. You can pick up a second hand Appradio 2 for less than £200 and you get hands free along with a gps receiver too. 

 

It's a bargain for what they can do but people are reluctant to get too technical with them, having your phone apps legally on your head unit is very convenient. 

Is the interface quite smooth for browsing folders on a hard drive? Hmmm

 

Totally wireless would be nice, but you'd have to keep it plugged in for charge anyway at a guess. So the apps bit is only a fragment of what it does? It fully supports a usb storage device and normal generic bluetooth streaming...worth thinking about especially if I can get an appradio 2 cheap!

 

Turns out i'd have to get a slimport to hdmi adapter with a microusb charger fitment to charge and display on screen at the same time 

 

edit: No a2dp bt streaming on the appradio2 ! :(

Edited 14 February, 201412 yr by mrapoc

I have a2dp on my appradio 3.