Entune Premium or Aftermarket (suggestions please)

Looking to either get an Entune premium head unit for its OEM look, ease of install, etc.

Considering aftermarket for price, features etc.

But the more I research on Crutchfield the more I get indecisive on a unit - Originally I was going to get a Sony for blue illumination and clean aesthetics. But I've recently been reading about major flaws with the Sonys.

I've read many like Kenwoods or Pioneers but I didn't think the aesethics were that good or oem-ish.

Any suggestions helpful.

What's important to me:
-Maintaining steering wheel controls
-HD weather if possible
-OEMish looks

Thank you.

 

I would go aftermarket. You can get a harness to retain steering wheel controls, HD weather is nothing special, when it works. I dont know about looks but crutchfield should have something for that.

 

Aftermarket all the way

 

I picked up an Oem premium unit out of a 2016bfor like 300 shipped, spent $25 on a 2018 map SD card, and called it a day. I also had to buy the new dash piece for the larger radio.

 

your going to loose some functions with after market .If your ok with that then after market is better route if u plan to upgrade the stereo system speakers adding amp and so on other wise I would just stay with stock . You can run after market speakers with stock head unit. more work to power them properly .

 

Right on. Exactly why I stayed stock.

 

I bought the pioneer 4400nex from Bestbuy at $549 free install about over a year ago. No regrets and also bought the maestro to keep steering wheel control and factory settings.

 

how much was the maestro?

best features of the unit? how's the camera image?

 

I think OEM sucks.

Unless your priorities are.

Shittiest connectivity to phone.
Horrible Nav
2003 era features.

#NeverEntune

 

The maestro kit was probably around $100. Rear camera is great. I added a front camera when we did the install. Best features for me is the wireless connection it has to my cellphone.

 

What phone are you using?

I really like OEM looking dashes - that's why if I was to go aftermarket it would have to blend in really well or have the same tint of blue lighting etc. I like the SONY units from a style perspective but there are some negatives from what I was reading.

The main issue I'm trying to get away from is the skipping audio on this base system. It's driving me mad and Toyota isn't doing anything about it.

 

Loose features? You gain features going aftermarket.

 

I don't have many issues with my iPhone & Entune. All is well here.

I get bluetooth Music, bluetooth phone calls, a GPS system that works just fine.

Have a underseat Powered Subwoofer , and Kicker tweeters!

 

I just hate aftermarket head units anymore. I don't need dancing dolphins, flashing lights and a whole host of other baloney.

 

That's what I figured, the bluetooth audio issue is with the base unit only from my understanding.

What's the diff b/t the JBL entune and non JBL?

I have no issues with phone calls or anything else on my unit. Just audio.

I could just use an aux cord but it's such a mess around the shifter as it is with the charging cable for my phone.

 

Depends on the unit but a seemless oem transition isn't guaranteed - as one poster said he had to spend $100 extra bucks just to get the Maestro.

 

The OEM is ok, aftermarket is far better for connections and versatility. Problem is you're looking 6-750 for a good one with decent options. Also the newer head units that are aftermarket are all running old hardware. Literally not much has changed in car audio headunits in the last 10 years. Even the alpine halo unit people love is running a non HD screen and same hardware as the previous halo head unit.

 

I hate how that unit sticks out from the dash. That thing is fugly - not saying it's not a good unit but just the aesethetics are crap.

 

I just put some songs on a thumb drive to test that out and it seemed to work well. I think there are some tricks to doing this with a large number of songs, but it seems like a viable option.

 

I’m using a flash drive with 24gb of music on it and have never had an issue. Never use Bluetooth to stream. I prefer hardwired sound. Don’t even listen to the radio or Sirius since the bit rate is poop. Try a flash drive