Android head units

[RichL]

Thinking about replacing my stock HU again and looking at something like this as an alternative to a regular big brand HU.

Anybody tried/seen/used one of these and can comment? The few reviews I can find focus on the novelty of it being an android head unit and ignore the sound quality aspect. Unbranded gear from Chinese Ebay sellers doesnt exactly set my inner audiophile aflame.

 

[robomrburns]

Yeah, ive seen one. Most Benefits are that you get internet. You can have mediaplayers that Stream music oder play .flac files. You also might want Check if you can root the Device...

 

[lm62svt]

Thinking about replacing my stock HU again and looking at something like this as an alternative to a regular big brand HU.

Anybody tried/seen/used one of these and can comment? The few reviews I can find focus on the novelty of it being an android head unit and ignore the sound quality aspect. Unbranded gear from Chinese Ebay sellers doesnt exactly set my inner audiophile aflame.

Hi

I recently replaced my RNS-E with the Dynavin N6 A4 to, amongst other things, improve the sound quality and iPod integration.

I looked at many units and read various reviews and one of the things that attracted me to the Dynavin was the use of the Burr Brown DAC which is also used in my home Arcam HiFi
It also supports FLAC audio files playable from a SD card.

The Dynavin N6 is not cheap but sound wise is a great leap over the original RNS-E and begins to get the best out of the Bose system so I feel for me it was worth the extra.

Have just added the DAB module allowing me to receive and control the DAB stations directly through the head unit and have just finished installing a roof antenna to get the best signal strength.

Also installed rear view camera viewable through the Dynavin screen when reverse is selected.

Hope to post photos of the above soon

Cheers

 

[Sausageinabun]

I have one of those fitted, see my thread elsewhere.

 

[RichL]

I have one of those fitted, see my thread elsewhere.

Awesome, I can bug you with a few questions then!

What's the sound quality like? Is it on a par with a big brand unit or just 'better than stock'?

How does it interface with the steering wheel controls and dash MFD?

 

[Sausageinabun]

Haha, yeah bug away

The sound quality is excellent, better than the stock unit for certain, and it has a built in equaliser. I play music from a USB stick, an SD card, and the radio. DO buy a good powered radio antenna though, as you will need it. Check which type you have before ordering, double FAKRA, etc.

DO cut the orange and black reversing wire unless you intend to fit a reversing camera, as otherwise it will try to initialise one every time you select reverse.

It interfaces with the steering controls perfectly through the CANBUS adapter, and works exactly as you'd expect, you can even remap those controls if you so desire.

It doesn't interface with the MFD at all, it doesn't need to, as all you need is on the screen.

Don't bother with the TV card unless you have an external antenna, or plan to fit one.

More tips here :-

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=407789&page=2

 

[RichL]

Great stuff, thanks!

I'd like to retain the dash MFD interface, I wonder if there's a hack for it?

 

[RichL]

One more question - does the unit require a data connection to calculate routes on the SatNav (like Google Maps does if used from an android phone) ?

 

[Sausageinabun]

No it comes with a GPS antenna in the box, and iGo Primo on the included 4Gb SDcard.



From my other thread :-

IgoPrimo is the supplied Sat Nav app, and you have to install the apk from the supplied SDcard, do this first thing after initial power up. This is easy peasy lemon squeezy using the ready installed file manager. It works well, and as a long time TomTom user I'm happy with it. Having said that, if you're not, then just tether the unit to your phone, or plug in a 3G dongle and use Google Nav. You could also buy TomTom in the app store and use that.