Best Value Single Din Android Head Unit

Frugal Sharkey on 07/06/2019 - 19:22

Greetings Ozbargainers.

I have a 2003 Transit Van (converting to a camper), into which I want to fit a touchscreen android head unit. I am struggling to find a decent branded single din model. I want a minimum of 6" on the screen (prefer larger) and an ability to connect a reverse camera, DVD, GPS ideally, bluetooth. So, any experts out there, here are my questions:

Can the cheap Chinese brands be trusted and what is the best protection against getting a lemon?
What retailers or local clearance deals could possibly be worth trying to at least get some after sales security?
The only recommended branded single din I could find online is this model: Pioneer AVH-3400NEX 7". Any thoughts or knowledge on this or are there are other branded recommendations?
Is inbuilt GPS worth getting or is it sufficient to rely on mobile phone GPS?
What is a reasonable price for installation, including reverse camera?
Is double din a possibility in terms of being able to fit?

Any assistance on this would be gratefully received.

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • No on 07/06/2019 - 19:36
    +2

    Hey,

    Regarding the Chinese units I think the best thing to do is head over here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/android-auto/android-head-u… and get one of the units people are using over there so you have an idea of if there are any problems.

    I had a Chinese android unit in a previous car and found it pretty good. Only issue is it has to boot android from scratch each time you start the car so you are sitting in silence for 30 seconds.

    DIY installation usually isn't too difficult, you might be able to find a kit to make it double din.

    Also if your not going to be using whilst driving consider just getting a tablet mounted somewhere.

    Good luck.

    • plmko on 07/06/2019 - 21:45
      +1

      Not sure how old your one is, but my 2yr old China Droid unit boots in 4 seconds as long as you don't let the car sit for more than a week without using it. The first cold boot will take 30secs as you say, but not after the first time.

      Absolutely love the thing, recently installed a reverse camera too works perfect.

      • No on 07/06/2019 - 21:54

        Can you link to which one you have?

        Mine was quite a while ago, it was Android 4. I know a lot of them boot faster now.

  • spackbace on 07/06/2019 - 19:50
    +2

    I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you want absolute convenience, and for the unit to just work, don't buy the crappy Chinese ones. All too often I read comments of "it works but…". Especially in a camper scenario, where you could be in the middle of nowhere, you want it to just work, which is something the brand names will do.

    Hell I don't care if you buy JVC, but at least get a brand name unit for less troubles, less boot issues (see 30 second boot above), less screen issues (all too often the touch-screens shit themselves, or just aren't that sensitive).

    If you're going outside mobile phone reception areas, inbuilt GPS is good, though a $200 portable GPS would do the same thing. If within signal areas, just get something that supports CarPlay/Android Auto.

    Most HUs can be fitted for around $150, the reverse camera will add the extra expense.

    • No on 07/06/2019 - 20:38
      +1

      I think I've said this to you before and I'll say it again, if you do your research the Chinese ones are just fine. Yes there is a lot of utter rubbish out there but there are also some manufacturers who are making a quality product for a decent price.

      I would put one in my Golf Mk7 like I had in my Mk5 if it wasn't for the fact that a lot of the settings for the car need to be done via the head unit but for a 2003 Transit I wouldn't hesitate at all.

      • spackbace on 07/06/2019 - 20:44
        -1

        And how long did you own the Chinese HU for?

        • No on 07/06/2019 - 20:46

          About 2 years. It cost $350 or so so even if it died on whoever got my car after me $175 a year aint bad.

        • Cheeper on 07/06/2019 - 23:46
          +2

          Had a Chinese HU for over 5 years in my car and it is brilliant… beats our expensive JBL HL we got in our new car in every aspect. It's a Joying brand btw and they have a warehouse in Sydney. Cost $250 at the time.
          What brand HUs are not made in China?
          HU's are a bit like TVs & phones… people bagged them once but now its almost impossible to buy one made somewhere else.
          There is good and bad with all products and brands and that applies to Chinese made products also.
          A rip off price tag may be good brag value but does not guarantee a good product.

    • Clear on 08/06/2019 - 12:09
      +1

      All too often I read comments of "it works but…".

      Mine works but when Pokemon Go added the speed check I could no longer hatch my eggs so easily.

      Nah seriously my Chinese head unit has legit 0 flaws.

  • Frugal Sharkey on 07/06/2019 - 21:11

    Cheers for the commentary. Tends to be a very divisive issue. Good feedback on both sides.

  • Cheeper on 07/06/2019 - 23:52
    +1

    Frugal…
    I would recommend the Joying units and definitely would put one in my next new car.
    Installation is easy if you want to DIY. Removing dash panels without marking them is the hardest part but there are cheap tools and special tape for avoiding that.
    There would be other brands out there now and just like phones, there are some diamonds amongst the bargain buys.

  • pinchies on 08/06/2019 - 02:27

    EDIT: I completely missed the single din limitation. Sorry. +1 for the pioneer

    There's a great deal on sony head units on ebay at the moment - about $360 for a sony head unit that supports android auto and apple carplay. For something you use every day, its worth spending a couple more $$ than hating you got the cheapest thing you could every single time you drive.

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sony-XAV-AX1000-Bluetooth-USB-AV…

    • Frugal Sharkey on 10/06/2019 - 15:56

      Chatted to the staff at that Ryda store over the phone and they were helpful. Not sure if you can answer this, but I went to see if JB could price match them (they are having 30% off head units now), but JB don't stock any single din. He reckons I might be able to do double din - any thoughts or advice? Cheers.

      • pinchies on 10/06/2019 - 16:04

        Can you tell us more details on the make and model and year? Or a photo of the radio area?

        • Frugal Sharkey on 10/06/2019 - 16:29

          I will take a photo of it and post it and leave the make and model details. I was having a look at kits on ebay - some of them weren't that cheap. Thanks again.

        • Frugal Sharkey on 19/06/2019 - 16:54

          https://photos.app.goo.gl/nKHR25kyNirNpKks8

          Excuse the delay - I've had the vehicle in service. I'm not sure if this link will work but here is a photo of the radio area. Maybe this will show whether I am confined to one din or if two din is possible. Cheers.

  • mubd1234 on 14/06/2019 - 13:00
    +2

    One thing that you should know - the XAV-AX100 is actually a single DIN head unit behind the screen (i.e. the screen takes up two DIN slots in size, but the guts of the thing in the back is only 1 DIN).

    https://images.crutchfieldonline.com/ImageHandler/trim/620/3…

    You may be able to get away with installing it in a single DIN slot, assuming that there aren't any vents or anything directly underneath the DIN slot.

  • Frugal Sharkey on 19/06/2019 - 17:07

    It currently has a crappy after market stereo unit.

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