Shopping For a New Head Unit

So, tax season...

Looking into getting a new head unit. I have a Pioneer AVH-X1500DVD in right now, was in there when I bought the truck five years ago, has the steering wheel controls and all that but, it's a bit dated now. As far as I know, the speakers are factory. Don't plan to replace/upgrade those until they need it.

As far as new units, I've been looking for something with Android Auto, Bluetooth, Spotify control, and Google Maps/Waze. (Pretty sure most of that could be included under Android Auto?) Don't really care too much about AM/FM/SAT or CD/DVDs. Wireless connectivity is preferred but not necessary. I've narrowed it down to Kenwood DMX9706S and Pioneer DMH-C2550NEX. They look pretty similar and both seem to check all of my boxes with a slight edge to Kenwood for wireless Android Auto.

Anyone have any experience with these receivers or insight on something else that would fit my needs?

 

Might want to consider the Excelon model Kenwood. It's got a better screen and still checks your boxes. About the same price.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_113DMX906S/Kenwood-Excelon-DMX906S.html

 

Looks like the same thing as the DMX9706S but capacitive instead of resistive?
I think I can live with spending another $50 for that

 

Yeah that’s what I was thinking.

 

I went and looked at everything out there; played all the radios; The Kenwoods are great; however the software felt classic and sorta outdated but the features on the Kenwoods are pretty good for the money. You must go with the Excelon models if you want that top notch sound quality; basically better hardware.

The conclusions came to the DMX906S

Kenwood DMX906S 6.95" Digital Media Touchscreen Receiver

https://www.amazon.com/Kenwood-DMX906S-Digital-Touchscreen-Receiver/dp/B07RF971JK/ref=asc_df_B07RF971JK/?hvadid=343991783754&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1767774174407235755&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019122&hvtargid=pla-840136565037&psc=1&ref=&adgrpid=69534739616

or Pioneer W4500nex -

https://www.amazon.com/AVH-W4500NEX...r_1_2?keywords=w4500nex&qid=1581118970&sr=8-2

I ended up deciding on the Pioneer after a lot of research and playing around with the software. The Nex just offered so much more and I didn't want the Capacity screen on the Kenwood; its nice and all but on our Tacoma's the glare on a sunny day would make it really hard to see the screen.

 

Go Amazon; save so much more money; I paid 505 with tax for my W4500nex; just last week it was only 477 for the Pioneer; price sorta went up.

 

Where'd you go to play around with them? Local car radio shop or something? I think a hands on shopping experience would benefit me greatly.
From what I saw the extra bits the W4500NEX has over the C2550NEX aren't really worth the price difference in my case. The only useful difference for me that I see is the wireless Android Auto unless I'm missing something else.

 

I went to bestbuy to play with a few and yes to a local audio shop. The wireless CarPlay/AndroidAuto is worth it; I thought I wouldn’t care but now that I don’t have to plug my phone in, sure saves me a lot of hassling around and less wires.

Get the Maestro RR and T01 harness if your a 2015 and lower Taco. Well worth it and makes it simple to install.

The b*tch part of the install is shoving all those wires into the dash so the radio will fit. Don’t mind my crooked Radio; this is a test fit; I still got a ton of wires to finish soldering. I had to test and make sure everything works!

I’m doing a custom harness for the backup camera; don’t follow the maestro instructions on the backup camera install; the maestro don’t put out enough voltage to power the camera; tap the power from the red accessory wire off the radio harness and tap the ground from the radio harness too.

Going on 3 days now with this install since I haven’t had much time to work on it.

 

Haven't really looked at the Maestro things yet. As far as I knew they were just good for keeping steering wheel controls and I already have that. Looked up the Maestro RR and it says "displays engine performance data on touchscreen with select Kenwood, JVC, Pioneer, Sony, and Alpine multimedia receivers" so that might be worth getting..
I'm going to leave the backup camera on the rear view mirror, though. The idea of looking down while backing up isn't appealing to me.

 

Did you get a chance to hookup the backuo camera yet? And did you connect SiriusXM to this unit?

 

I got the backup camera connected; used ground off radio harness and power for the camera hooked to red accessory power wire off radio harness. Works great; even made it quick disconnect with a custom connector I made from misc stuff I had laying around. Don’t follow the maestro instructions for the camera power and ground because it won’t work, I did a writeup on it in the audio section if you find it: I’m on a cellphone so can’t search it.

I don’t use Sirius FM; the reception in my area is extremely poor and about 95 percent of the time I can’t connect.

 

sorry for the bad pic, but ive had this head unit for about 8 months now. Android 9 inch comes with gps, bluetooth Ext. good unit and pretty cheap. Probably the most advanced unit ive owned. you can download torque app and watch your gauges.

 

Android head units are tempting, but for quality without needing a balancer or amp the Pioneer and Alpine you chose are great choices. I have an older NEX and the car play really updated the truck I have.

 

I had the pioneer deck and this android seems to have just as good of sound quality

 

Tough choice. There both good units. I went with Pioneer & the idatalink thing. No complaints so far.

 

what is the brand name of this unit

 

What I want to know about these Android head units is; how is the sound quality from them? I'm not a big sound guy but I do enjoy quality. I wanted one of these and heard a lot of good things but I haven't heard these head units play music yet to know if they put out good sound or not.

 

theyre comparable to a pioneer deck so pretty decent