New Car audio

[drbrock]

I thought I had the head unit that I was going to purchase figured out. I know zero on car stereos. Only reason I am replacing the head unit and speakers is that they are starting fade and blow out.

However after reading a thread at acurazine I might go the route of a nexus 7 instead.
http://acurazine.com/forums/audio-b...-experience-links-parts-list-pictures-911259/


Here is the head unit I was planning on getting.
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/DVD-Receivers/AVH-X3700BHS

The general plan is to replace the interior speakers with new ones and two 8" subs in the trunk.

Can I use a nexus 7 and still have quality sound? the Pioneer has 4v rca pre outs and 50x4. How would the Nexus 7 be able to compete with that? The Nexus 7 would def be a better user experience I would think and cost about the same. Also be able to keep the look of stock interior with the nexus 7.

Any thoughts would be really appreciated.

 

[rommelrommel]

If that is a decent DAC there is no reason why this couldn't sound good. That guy kept the factory amps and speakers... so if you wanted to upgrade the speakers you might have to bypass the factory amps too and add your own. Running aftermarket speakers on factory amps can be an issue, they often have little power or are designed to run at odd impedances.

 

[slashbinslashbash]

Yeah, the only way this guy was able to do this was because it was in a nice car (Acura) with factory amps separate from the headunit. You will need to add an amp one way or the other. The amps in aftermarket headunits aren't great, but are generally still much better than the ones in factory headunits (at least in normal, non-luxury cars).

If you plan on adding a sub(s) then you will need an external amp anyway. Not really possible/recommended to run a sub off a headunit amp. There are 5-channel combo amps available with 4 channels for the normal speakers + 1 channel for the sub. Could simplify things.

 

[drbrock]

I have an Acura TL. The same car from the website.

My new biggest worry is that the Nexus will be buggy. I moved out of android because of that. Install looks simple enough. Some people are reporting nexus battery issues though...

Might just go with the Panasonic to save the issue of having to replace or randomly have to deal with issues every few months.

 

[Zivic]

his install looks good, but having done a few stereo setups in my car, buy something you know was built for the job. I think google maps on the cell is the best navi out there, but other than that, I would just get the actual head unit vs a tablet.

 

[RainStryke]

This is what I want:
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/DVD-Receivers/AVH-4100NEX

It links up to your phone and uses your GPS through your phone. But i'm not sure when it hits the market, I have seen it on SonicElectronix and it says on back order... but that's the only place I have seen it.

I wouldn't want to put a Nexus 7 in my vehicle. If I did any kind of tablet, it would definitely be a iPad or something like that because the sound quality is far better. But I hate apple products, so I would just buy the Pioneer lol

 

[jlee]

This is what I want:
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/DVD-Receivers/AVH-4100NEX

It links up to your phone and uses your GPS through your phone. But i'm not sure when it hits the market, I have seen it on SonicElectronix and it says on back order... but that's the only place I have seen it.

I wouldn't want to put a Nexus 7 in my vehicle. If I did any kind of tablet, it would definitely be a iPad or something like that because the sound quality is far better. But I hate apple products, so I would just buy the Pioneer lol

How is sound quality better on an iPad vs a different tablet?

 

[drbrock]

This is what I want:
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/DVD-Receivers/AVH-4100NEX

It links up to your phone and uses your GPS through your phone. But i'm not sure when it hits the market, I have seen it on SonicElectronix and it says on back order... but that's the only place I have seen it.

I wouldn't want to put a Nexus 7 in my vehicle. If I did any kind of tablet, it would definitely be a iPad or something like that because the sound quality is far better. But I hate apple products, so I would just buy the Pioneer lol

Those things look awesome. However, right now ios 8 is not supported. Many of the reviews that I have read on it have said that the car play features are not very useful. That will change with updates but Pioneer is extremely slow with updates.

 

[RainStryke]

How is sound quality better on an iPad vs a different tablet?

File format is one thing and another thing is how you are interfacing with it... Headphone jack, bluetooth... the quality differs per device. Apple devices are better for sound quality.

Those things look awesome. However, right now ios 8 is not supported. Many of the reviews that I have read on it have said that the car play features are not very useful. That will change with updates but Pioneer is extremely slow with updates.

iOS 8 isn't fully supported, but still compatible.

 

[drbrock]

I just got an update this week on my phone saying they were supporting ios8.

I went with the AVH3700BHS from Pioneer
Polk DB5251
Kicker Cx1200 Amp
x4 Kick 8" Comp R Subs
Kicker 40CS654

Should all be installed by Sunday. Installer has had it for a week.
The TL is a pain to work on. Spent all day Sunday taking things apart and getting it all ready.

 

[jlee]

File format is one thing and another thing is how you are interfacing with it... Headphone jack, bluetooth... the quality differs per device. Apple devices are better for sound quality.



iOS 8 isn't fully supported, but still compatible.

File format is irrelevant. Both Apple and Android devices can play FLAC. Can you elaborate on "better"?

 

[RainStryke]

File format is irrelevant. Both Apple and Android devices can play FLAC. Can you elaborate on "better"?

You're honed in on one factor. It takes more than just file format to make the sound quality better. I never said it was one single factor. I use a Pioneer head-unit with bluetooth compatibility and AUX headphone jack hook-up. There is a difference per devices, especially when it comes down to streaming data instead of using stored data on the device. I've used a, iPhone 6, Note 2, Note 3, and Note 4. Sound quality is different per each device. The iPhone had the best sound via bluetooth, but AUX was a bit different when comparing against the Note 4 because they upgraded the headphone jack.

Don't get me wrong. I hate apple devices. But when my wife had one, it was better for that aspect. I really hated the interface.

 

[michal1980]

Is a tablet really designed to be used in a car, where temps can/will get below freezing in the winter. And good awful high when it gets hot outside? What about vibration?

 

[Crono]

Is a tablet really designed to be used in a car, where temps can/will get below freezing in the winter. And good awful high when it gets hot outside? What about vibration?

Heat is more of an issue, since the CPU will throttle when it's under heavy load. It helps if the tablet isn't exposed to direct sunlight while it's on, and if it's off it usually won't damage a tablet to get a little warm on the outside. Probably something to consider if you live in Death Valley, but not a huge issue most of the time. Cold isn't usually a problem, from what I've seen (might be different in arctic conditions). Vibration usually isn't an issue since it's all solid state.

 

[jlee]

You're honed in on one factor. It takes more than just file format to make the sound quality better. I never said it was one single factor. I use a Pioneer head-unit with bluetooth compatibility and AUX headphone jack hook-up. There is a difference per devices, especially when it comes down to streaming data instead of using stored data on the device. I've used a, iPhone 6, Note 2, Note 3, and Note 4. Sound quality is different per each device. The iPhone had the best sound via bluetooth, but AUX was a bit different when comparing against the Note 4 because they upgraded the headphone jack.

Don't get me wrong. I hate apple devices. But when my wife had one, it was better for that aspect. I really hated the interface.

lol that's why I am asking-- what exactly makes it better. File format shouldn't matter, so it's DAC, playback software, hardware, or what specifically?

My Nexus 5 sounds fine via 3.5mm over the Mark Levinson sound system in my vehicle, but I don't have an iDevice with which to compare personally.

Edit: http://www.anandtech.com/show/7567/smartphone-audio-quality-testing/2
Apparently mine is particularly shitty at maximum volume. I'll have to keep that in mind and back it down a bit if it's plugged into the car.

 

[inachu]

left my ipad in the car over night and it was frozen and tried to turn it on and it said after power on that it needs to cool down.... LOL!

 

[HeXen]

Brown and burr DAC

 

[Plugers]

Check out the android head units.

Some have stock android with the play store and a 50w x 4 amp. There are some threads on the XDA forums talking about them.

 

[drbrock]

Those look cool but I will wait a while before trying one of those out on my main car. Let the bugs get worked out. Android is already a bug laden system outside of Nexus, can only imagine a cheap Chinese knockoff.

For 200 bucks you do get a TON of features. Wiring seems suspect compared to the pioneer I just bought but these might be aimed at people who care about Tech and Tablet experience over sound quality.

Would def try in my titan though. I don't even turn on that radio at all. For 200 to throw in a quick replacement to stream music/audiobooks over Bluetooth is awesome.

 

[Plugers]

Those look cool but I will wait a while before trying one of those out on my main car. Let the bugs get worked out. Android is already a bug laden system outside of Nexus, can only imagine a cheap Chinese knockoff.

For 200 bucks you do get a TON of features. Wiring seems suspect compared to the pioneer I just bought but these might be aimed at people who care about Tech and Tablet experience over sound quality.

Would def try in my titan though. I don't even turn on that radio at all. For 200 to throw in a quick replacement to stream music/audiobooks over Bluetooth is awesome.

I haven't tried one either, but plan on putting one in my second (or is it 3rd or 4th, lol) car.

 

[HeXen]

I hate how mine will display a large colored box with the title if there is no album art. Kind of annoyingly bright and ugly at night. I'd like to have something with either a really dark screen for night time or a dimmer that actually dim's low enough not to cast shadows throughout my car.

 

[drbrock]

The Pioneer I got has dimmable features and also has the ability to completely turn off if you prefer while listening to music. Everything can be controlled from an iphone or android.

 

[Herr Kutz]

I'd look into an Appradio 4 (capacitive touchscreen!) if you have an iphone.