The latest Pioneer D'Din release featuring Dual Phone Bluetooth, iPod control & charge via either of the Dual USB inputs, SPOTIFY Link allowing control of your spotify App on your smartphone & 3 pairs of RCA output!
Sony WX900BT 220W Double DIN CD Receiver with Bluetooth
Kapture KPT-600 In-Car HD DVR with Crash/Sports Cam and Accessories $78.40
I agree, I find DVD players and the like useless too, gimme USB MP3 Playback and Bluetooth and GPS, nothing else gets used that much, not even the CD player if it already has USB. That being said, I can see how having a DVD player is handy if the output is actually routed to monitors in the backseat for kids etc.
I enjoy them for listening to movies or shows ive already seen before.
Scythe:
illegal to having it visible in the drivers view.
Enzio: now that portable DVD players are so small, you can get headrests with them built in, no advantage to having it in the head unit - except if it breaks you also loose access to the units in the back… and makes it more expensive.
Can't DVD player as a head unit act as a mirror for you android or ios? Then you'll have a GPS and music player on your head unit by having a smart phone with you. Plus, you can connect a back camera for reversing.
I'm looking to buy a head unit on my 2005 Mazda 3, so any input would be welcomed.
It requires screen mirroring as a feature; but if it has it, yes.
yeah but why use battery on your android device casting the screen when it can do it without, add to that, handy if your phone is flat or you don't have your phone with you…
good that the phones are connected to the net and you can download updates easier, (and they are usually faster than head units on the benefit side)
my last few head units have been no name Chinese units, from ebay. one cheaper one died, but the next two i had are good as gold, just used my wifes old head unit to update my car now that its back on the road and we sold my wife's car.
get something that will play MP3s (if it reads these from DVD-+r all the better , Bluetooth audio, GPS, (digital radio?) and a reversing camera.
oh, and one of the best features I've found is a twist knob for sound rather than buttons, I've found that its more reliable, and sometimes you want to turn it up or down quickly, so much more convenient with knobs.
I'd probably get something like this: (just at a quick look)
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Android-5-1-Double-2-Din-Car-DVD-…
then all you would need is a mazda to ISO connector to easily install it.
Problem is, if you put an SNR monitor on things like that, the noise is pretty bad.
Stereo separation also suffers quite badly on most of them.
I'd cast the screen anyday. Internet radio is a main feature.
Each to their own, but I'd genuinely wager more people would like their familiar phone interface rather than a second touch screen interface.
Also those cheap units are never IPS screens or anything good
If you have a screen, you wouldn't need a dvd player wouldn't you? Mirroring a film from your phone would cost the cost? I really appreciate your advices but i find it quite pricy as you can find some kenwood or pionneer system about that price
but its digital radio? would that (SNR) still be an issue? - although it does FM as well…
the unit does take a 3g dongle and with android you can install apps that you would use on your phone… (or just use wifi with a hotspot on your phone… which also drains your batteries)
given its illegal to touch your phone, I'm assume your still talking about mirroring when your talking about the interface… I don't mind, but you could possibly install the same dialer?
either way the option is there to mirror your phone, with touch support anyways.
@wisc: Yes, SNR is still an issue.
It's about the internal DAC, not about the receiver.
an average joe with $20\factory speakers isn't going to notice, but most people who change their headunit are "upgrading their audio", and will be looking for clarity, not just features.
Seriously though; consider your suggestion;
1. head unit of questionable quality (might be fine)
2. Likely sub par audio
3. Buy an extra USB dongle for wifi.
4. Buy a data only simcard to get access. (
5. Install the same launcher as your phone (for familiarity).
and I'm sure there was more.
All that, compared to:
1. buy a head unit the can mirror
2. Plug phone into charge, which activates mirroring.
I get it, and I love cheap head units and junk from ebay too, I use them for DIY-boomboxes made with PVC pipe, but in an actual car, I'm not on board sorry.
Gald they work for you though, sounds like you got good luck on the ones you got.
Any deals of Double DIN models with Apple Car Play support?
Thanls OP, Son just bought his first car, the Pioneer Head unit will be his Xmas present!
I believe any modern car audio system should at a minimum have an MP3 player, Bluetooth & GPS and most of all a decent radio tuner (an input for a reversing camera or the likes is also handy)
DVD players, TV tuners etc, are all pretty cool features, but I've found i havent used them really… you can really only use them when the car is off, and then you need to deal with a flat battery… I've found portable dvd players have been more handy in this situation.