Head unit upgrade

10458 Views 34 Replies 8 Participants Last post by highland forry, Nov 15, 2018

Stevie1982

Discussion Starter · Oct 11, 2018

So spoken with the importer and the foz STi I have due has an after market head unit that doesn't have Bluetooth, phone connection but it does have a mini disk lol

So need a replacement. I don't as in most cases want to spend a fortune.

If there is a oem/factory fit unit then great but ideally I'm looking for a head unit that will offer

Handsfree phone kit, Allow streaming from a mobile device to play music over Bluetooth preferably, Sat nav from mobile phone if not built in, Reverse camera capable.

Any suggestions on what you're using would be great

Thanks

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highland forry

· #2 · Oct 11, 2018

I'm using an Xtrons double din Android, 8 core, 64 bit . It's got everything ...Reverse camera, dash cam, tyre pressure monitoring system, OBD, it's wifi enabled, USB, SD/TF card, 4G, every output and input you would ever need, even a custom Subaru logo on start up.

It goes to sleep when ignition is off and starts instantly and I mean instantly when you turn the ignition on.

I also use car web guru as my launcher and it's so customisable it's unreal. I'd never get another run of the mill HU ever again.

Reactions: 1

Lockheed

· #3 · Oct 11, 2018

don't know what this means but it sounds flipping cool ! note use of non swear words .
unfortunately all use of stereo equipment in my car is utterly useless unless im stationary with the engine off !

don1952

· #4 · Oct 12, 2018

highland forry said:
I'm using an Xtrons double din Android, 8 core, 64 bit . It's got everything ...Reverse camera, dash cam, tyre pressure monitoring system, OBD, it's wifi enabled, USB, SD/TF card, 4G, every output and input you would ever need, even a custom Subaru logo on start up.

It goes to sleep when ignition is off and starts instantly and I mean instantly when you turn the ignition on.

I also use car web guru as my launcher and it's so customisable it's unreal. I'd never get another run of the mill HU ever again.

Head Units | Buy Android Car Stereo Head Units | Xtrons

Stevie1982

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 12, 2018

highland forry said:
I'm using an Xtrons double din Android, 8 core, 64 bit . It's got everything ...Reverse camera, dash cam, tyre pressure monitoring system, OBD, it's wifi enabled, USB, SD/TF card, 4G, every output and input you would ever need, even a custom Subaru logo on start up.

It goes to sleep when ignition is off and starts instantly and I mean instantly when you turn the ignition on.

I also use car web guru as my launcher and it's so customisable it's unreal. I'd never get another run of the mill HU ever again.

Hi fella,

Thanks for the suggestion. I've had a look on thier website and it only shows one unit for the forester

Buy Subaru Forester Android Car Stereo | Xtrons

Is this the unit you opted for, if not would you mind popping up the link so I can check it out. Would rather buy a replacement that I know fits and is recommended

Cheers

highland forry

· #6 · Oct 12, 2018 (Edited)

Hi pal

No I went for this one and bought all the extras that were available.

I think it all came to about £250 ish ...erm I mean £60 0

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XTRONS-Android-8-0-Car-Stereo-GPS-Navi-Double-2-DIN-Dash-Radio-Head-Unit-4G-DAB/192625994042?hash=item2cd967693a:g:s7wAAOSwLQdbcSs4:rk:8

f:0

I can't seem to find the 64 bit version though.

I used the original brackets that the Forester stereo was held in with. And also wanted a kinda flush look with no knobs or buttons.

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GaryGood

· #7 · Oct 12, 2018

highland forry said:
Hi pal

No I went for this one and bought all the extras that were available.

I think it all came to about £250 ish ...erm I mean £60 0

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/XTRONS-Android-8-0-Car-Stereo-GPS-Navi-Double-2-DIN-Dash-Radio-Head-Unit-4G-DAB/192625994042?hash=item2cd967693a:g:s7wAAOSwLQdbcSs4:rk:8f:0

I can't seem to find the 64 bit version though.

I used the original brackets that the Forester stereo was held in with. And also wanted a kinda flush look with no knobs or buttons.

Please tell me more:

1. It looks like it has a single front-facing SD card slot. Is there a front facing USB port, or would one have to wire something extra, using something like https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N66N1JK?

2. They claim no heat problems. Can you confirm?

3. The 3G/4g dongles they recommend (4GDONG001 or 3GDONG008) only work in Europe/UK. Correct? Won't work in US?

4. Is there an AUX IN that would permit one to plug in an MP3 player or smartphone in using 3.5 mm stereo plug?

5. Can it play video while vehicle is moving?

6. Any problems with the bluetooth or wifi?

7. I assume you can connect smartphone via bluetooth, then make and receive calls on the HU, using the vehicle speakers and microphone? Do you have to use their supplied bluetooth phone app, or can you substitute your own? (My Joying HU won't le me substitute.)

Thanks

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don1952

· #8 · Oct 12, 2018

North American website

Android Car Stereos, Car DVD Players, Head Units | Xtrons

Reactions: 1

highland forry

· #9 · Oct 13, 2018 (Edited)

GaryGood said:
Please tell me more:

1. It looks like it has a single front-facing SD card slot. Is there a front facing USB port, or would one have to wire something extra, using something like https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N66N1JK?

2. They claim no heat problems. Can you confirm?

3. The 3G/4g dongles they recommend (4GDONG001 or 3GDONG008) only work in Europe/UK. Correct? Won't work in US?

4. Is there an AUX IN that would permit one to plug in an MP3 player or smartphone in using 3.5 mm stereo plug?

5. Can it play video while vehicle is moving?

6. Any problems with the bluetooth or wifi?

7. I assume you can connect smartphone via bluetooth, then make and receive calls on the HU, using the vehicle speakers and microphone? Do you have to use their supplied bluetooth phone app, or can you substitute your own? (My Joying HU won't le me substitute.)

Thanks

Hi bud

Answers as follows.

1. If you have a look at the link I posted you will see the unit.it does have an sd slot on the front, It also has 2 rear inputs for USB via cables that you can mount anywhere. I linked it to the stock usb socket in the glove box in my sg9.

2.No heat problems at all.

3.I couldn't tell you my friend and I'm sure I read on xda forums that any dongle will work.

4.Yes there is an aux via a 3.5mm jack in but don't know why you would bother as it has more than enough memory to store all your tunes on. Also you can play tunes via Bluetooth connection to a cell phone.

5. Yes you can play video whilst in motion.. There are settings for this like all devices of this nature.

6. Bluetooth and WiFi are spot on and no problems at all.

7. Yes and you can use a different Bluetooth app but don't know why you would as it does everything you need it to. Also using a different launcher will give you a custom Bluetooth app.

I've heard the joying isn't that good but very similar to the xtrons in many ways...
Check out https://forum.xda-developers.com.

Is your joying a px5 model? As you can update the firmware or install a custom rom that would cover your needs.

Good luck and happy modding.

P.S. there is every input and output you would need on this HU. There's no 110 volt or 230 volt though :grin2:

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Reactions: 1

GaryGood

· #10 · Oct 15, 2018

highland forry said:
Hi bud

3.I couldn't tell you my friend and I'm sure I read on xda forums that any dongle will work.

7. Yes and you can use a different Bluetooth app but don't know why you would as it does everything you need it to. Also using a different launcher will give you a custom Bluetooth app.

I've heard the joying isn't that good but very similar to the xtrons in many ways...
Check out https://forum.xda-developers.com.

Is your joying a px5 model? As you can update the firmware or install a custom rom that would cover your needs.

Good luck and happy modding.

P.S. there is every input and output you would need on this HU. There's no 110 volt or 230 volt though :grin2:

Thank you for your reply. Based on your answers, think I'll take a look at the Xtrons units when I get ready to upgrade.

I'm pretty sure that these dongles DO NOT work in USA. You Europeans enjoy the ability to buy almost any dongle or "international" phone and they just work. Here in the USA, finding a compatible dongle is a nightmare. The phone companies want to force you to buy their expensive dongles and pay mucho $$$ per month for "data" service. Every once in a while, a dongle comes along that works, then the phone companies blacklist it.

I posted about my Joying unit here.

Stevie1982

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 29, 2018

Quick question for anyone in the know. I'm assuming Japan don't support fm radio or dab. I've sourced a Sony double din unit from a friend for the time being. Will I need an fm adapter or as its a UK head unit will it just work? The unit doesn't support DAB from what I can gather its a Sony WX900-BT

Any help as always will be appreciated

Thanks

don1952

· #12 · Oct 29, 2018 (Edited)

2

Stevie1982 said:
Quick question for anyone in the know. I'm assuming Japan don't support fm radio or dab. I've sourced a Sony double din unit from a friend for the time being. Will I need an fm adapter or as its a UK head unit will it just work? The unit doesn't support DAB from what I can gather its a Sony WX900-BT

Any help as always will be appreciated

Thanks

Japan supports FM radio

https://www.google.com/search?q=Japan+FM+radio&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-ab

and DAB

https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/news/digital_radio_to_launch_in_japan/17536

They have a slightly different range to us

FM（76.0MHz～90.0MHz） AM（530KHz～1,710KHz）

As it's a UK headset it should be fine. Aerial (AFAIK) is in rear quarter glass with its own antenna/amplifier unit. I would see what it's like.

as compared to European/US LHD/RHD arrangement

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Stevie1982

Discussion Starter · #13 · Oct 29, 2018

don1952 said:
Japan supports FM radio

https://www.google.com/search?q=Japan+FM+radio&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-ab

and DAB

https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/news/digital_radio_to_launch_in_japan/17536

They have a slightly different range to us

FM（76.0MHz～90.0MHz） AM（530KHz～1,710KHz）

As it's a UK headset it should be fine. Aerial (AFAIK) is in rear quarter glass with its own antenna/amplifier unit. I would see what it's like.

as compared to European/US LHD/RHD arrangement

Cheers Don

Scratch

· #14 · Oct 30, 2018

Only thing to watch with aftermarket units is that the antennae power (usually blue wire) is connected as otherwise it won't power up the amplifier that Don mentioned above, and then the radio reception will be terrible.

Scratch

· #15 · Oct 30, 2018

highland forry said:
I'm using an Xtrons double din Android, 8 core, 64 bit . It's got everything ...Reverse camera, dash cam, tyre pressure monitoring system, OBD, it's wifi enabled, USB, SD/TF card, 4G, every output and input you would ever need, even a custom Subaru logo on start up.

It goes to sleep when ignition is off and starts instantly and I mean instantly when you turn the ignition on.

I also use car web guru as my launcher and it's so customisable it's unreal. I'd never get another run of the mill HU ever again.

How well does the ECU reader part work ?

Can you upload apps to it such as the torque ECU reader app ?

because if it can do that I'll be ordering one with my next £60

Reactions: 1

highland forry

· #16 · Oct 31, 2018

connection to the ECU works via a compatible OBDkey, Tactrix, Bluetooth ODB dongle, WI-FI OBD or a USB OBD reader that can plug into one of the USB ports on the HU. You just have to get one that reads JDM SSM ...Any elm bluetooth one will connect but wont give all diagnostics and sensor readings and sometimes doesn't even connect at all.

It worked flawlessly with all the OBD dongles/keys and cables I have when I had it installed in my01 UK S turbo; not ever in my99 though and its a bit different with the import FSTi and takes a bit of jiggery pokery and custom files which is a PITA.

I used BtSsm and a specific Subaru USB to OBD cable as didn't want to spend out on an OBDkey or Tactrix just in case they didn't work. I managed to get Torque working once or twice with custom ini's but got a bit confused and pharked things up. Mind you I'm sure Torque now works with Ssm providing you have the correct OBD/Ssm dongle.

I kinda got side tracked and don't use monitoring software much as got into custom roms and launchers and use the Genome Defi's to keep half an eye on things.

And yes it's just like any other Android device which means you can install any OBD reading software like Torque, BtSsm etc... Android is Linux based open source so it's possible to install anything on the platform if you have the know how.

Good luck and I guarantee no one will be disappointed with the Xtrons double din HU as it'll do almost anything you wish.

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Stevie1982

Discussion Starter · #17 · Nov 12, 2018

So the head unit has been replaced with the Sony mentioned earlier.

Next one, speakers. Standard ones aren't great so looking to get replacements.

Whose using what, looking for front door speakers and tweeters as well as rear door speakers

Makes and models please

Thanks in advance

Reactions: 1

highland forry

· #18 · Nov 12, 2018

Infinity by Harmon Kardon (reference series), 10" Directed X comp sub powered by an Alpine mono block amp.:grin2:
Combined with my HU they sound the mutz nutz

Stevie1982

Discussion Starter · #19 · Nov 13, 2018

highland forry said:
Infinity by Harmon Kardon (reference series), 10" Directed X comp sub powered by an Alpine mono block amp.:grin2:
Combined with my HU they sound the mutz nutz

Cheers ill take a look. You don't happen to know the speaker dimensions for the front and rear doors of the top of your head

Lockheed

· #20 · Nov 13, 2018

highland forry said:
Infinity by Harmon Kardon (reference series), 10" Directed X comp sub powered by an Alpine mono block amp.:grin2:
Combined with my HU they sound the mutz nutz

Bag pipes ? thought I heard them earlier...…... in sussex ?!

Reactions: 1

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