Aucar vs Joying vs Traditional Head Units

I know there are a lot of Head Unit threads out there but I havent really seen one that focuses on direct comparisons between the AuCar HU vs Joying HU vs the Tradional Head Units(Kenwood, Alpine, Pioneer etc).

I'm obviously looking to upgrade my 2015 DCSB OR entune unit WITHOUT JBL. I plan to upgrade the speakers as well and do sound deadening. I'm no audiophile but I enjoy good quality things. I don't need "the best" but I'm looking for best bang for my buck.

Main things I would like to see in a Head Unit is:
1) Improved Audio(DSP)
2) Physical knob or buttons
3) XM radio tuner
4) Built in Nav
5) Bluetooth/Hands Free
6) Maintain wheel control and camera(ability to add cameras would be nice too)
7) Bright screen
8) Flush mount or at least very close to flush mount but flush mount is preferred.
9) Plug n Play is ideal
10) Reliability and strong connectivity - I hate it when technology doesn't just work

Thanks

 

Following

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/audio-video.12/

 

I've posted here (several times) about the PLZ unit that I installed back in January of 2024. The PLZ unit does most of what you want assuming that you have a smartphone;

1) Improved Audio(DSP) - Yes
2) Physical knob or buttons - Yes
3) XM radio tuner - Don't know... I suppose that you could add one. It supports aux audio (and video) inputs.
4) Built in Nav - Google Maps or Waze - Note that this gives you real-time traffic info and always up-to-date maps too.
5) Bluetooth/Hands Free - Yes
6) Maintain wheel control and camera(ability to add cameras would be nice too) - Yes - I have screens in my mirror (stock) and the head unit (camera mounted over the license plate).
7) Bright screen - Yes. Supposedly the new version is even brighter.
8) Flush mount or at least very close to flush mount but flush mount is preferred. - Yes
9) Plug n Play is ideal - You will need to splice 3 wires in an add on harness.
10) Reliability and strong connectivity - I hate it when technology doesn't just work - So far (7 months) so good.​

Cost for the headunit and all the components is <$200.

But it is not Aucar, Joying or "Traditional," so I assume that you are not interested. Look through my older posts if you are interested.

 

I installed the 8" w/knobs Joying head unit in my 07, three years ago. It took months for me to pull the trigger. I was hesitant to replace the stock 6 disc, non JBL unit. I didn't want a head unit that looked after market and I really didn't want to spend a lot of $$. Although the Joying was still several hundred dollars.

Before that purchase I found the Joying thread here on TW and started reading then rereading the posts. At first there was some talk about those who installed a Joying head unit having their Google accounts hacked and loosing their contacts because the unit was made in China. That left me questioning the Joying, but I kept reading the thread and as the weeks/months went by I was seeing more positive posts.

When I first installed the Joying I synced my contacts and did loose them. I retreived the contacts on my phone and never synced them again. I can still use hands free by asking Google to call who I want. I have zero issues using my phone for phone calls. i don't use it to stream music or navigation 99% of the time. With the Joying, I have two USB flash drive with hundreds and hundreds of songs that I can listen to especially when I'm traveling and out of range to pick up a decent radio station. I also have the SiriusXM Onyx Pluse Receiver that I use as well. A little more on that in answering one of your questions.

Overall, I'm very happy with the Joying. It looks like it belongs in the truck and does what I need from it. My take is that the Joying is like a tablet, a laptop or PC and like with any of those you're going to have a glich now and then. With a simple restart or reboot sets those devices and the Joying back on track.

@Smills91 here are your questions with my input.

Main things I would like to see in a Head Unit is:

1) Improved Audio(DSP)
I can not answer this question. I actually had to look up what Audio DSP is. I do know that volume on my unit works just fine. I've set the volume default to "3" on start up and have the speed control volume set to medium. The sound quality is very good when turned up and it does not need to be cranked to be heard. NOTE: I replaced the stock speakers 12 years ago when I gutted the cab and installed a two part sound deadening system. That was a major change in ride enjoyment factor and the Joying took that factor up another level.

2) Physical knob or buttons
Mine came with knobs and the volume knob is too sensitive to operate while driving. That doesn't bother me since the Joying works very well with the steering wheel controls and super easy to set up.

3) XM radio tuner
My Joying head unit does not have XM tuner. As mentioned earlier I have the SiriusXM Onyx Pluse Receiver. That receiver is not turned to a FM station. Insteard I have an audio out cable from the XM receiver plugged into the one of the RCA "in ports" on the back of the Joying. I've also set up an "icon button" on the Joying screen. Tap the icon and that allows the XM receiver to play through the head unit. Some have asked why not use the phone app. Well because when traveling I'm often in areas without cell service.

4) Built in Nav
With the GPS antenna you can use any one of the Nav apps available. I've installed Here We Go and Sygic, because they do not require my phone. I also have a Garmin Nuvi mounted via the "A pillar mod."

5) Bluetooth/Hands Free
My phone connects trouble free every time I turn on the head unit. I don't get text messages popping up on the radio, because I don't want them to. My family and circle of friends know that I don't text or read text messages when I'm driving. As for phonce calls, no one has ever complained about road noise (maybe due to the sound deadening) and they can hear me clearly as I can them. A couple of notes here; I use the external mic that came with the head unit and I have it mounted up where the sunglass holder is. Also, the volume for the radio/music is seperate from phone calls. Same knob or steering wheel control, but seperate.

6) Maintain wheel control and camera(ability to add cameras would be nice too)
In my 07, the steering wheel controls, once set up have worked flawlessly. My 07 did not come from the factory with a backup camera. About 10 months ago I hooked up their Joying backup camera. I wired it to a toggle switch so I can turn it on when I want. Flip the switch and it pops right up on the screen of the head unit. I have thought about getting a front camera too. There are plenty on here that have hooked up the factory backup camera to work with the Joying head unit.

7) Bright screen
I have no problems seeing the screen in the daytime and at night the screen isn't blinding bright.

8) Flush mount or at least very close to flush mount but flush mount is preferred.
Like I said, it looks like it belongs and it sits just as flush as the stock radio did. I did not use the factory mounting bracket, just the clips. I often travel forest service roads and the head unit does not vibrate. At least not yet. Because I didn't use the factory mountinb bracket I added an additional ground wire for the chassis of the head unit to the metal where the factory bracket was mounted.

9) Plug n Play is ideal
I'd consider it plug and play. They provide a wiring harness and once you've set up the steering wheels control is good to go.

10) Reliability and strong connectivity - I hate it when technology doesn't just work
My Joying connects to my phone without any issues. It' been reliable without major issues. Only a glich now and then. As would a phone, laptop, table or PC.
My Joying head unit is three years old. I'm sure the newer head units are a lot better than what I have.


Like you, I want the best bang for my buck. I do not buy things on a whim. I do a lot of research and thinking before buying something. Would I purchase a Joying head unit again? Yes.


Here is the Joying head unit in my truck.

 

As someone who has a Kenwood system with Steering wheel controls, Nav, OBD gauges, tpms display along with decent sound I've found I'd much prefer a system that I could load apps on to natively. Some of the types of navigation apps I prefer to use are available (with limited features) through Carplay but they aren't near as nice on the Kenwood display and you have to use the phone to access many of their features. Had the Joying been around back when I changed systems I would have gotten that one. Most of the replacement radios have great sound and that's their focus but I like the idea of an user accessible OS in the head unit.

 

following

 

I appreciate your response. My goal in making this thread was to have a direct comparison between the different head units. I've seen threads talking about each but never a head to head comparison in one place. So thanks for contributing. My one hiccup is I'd want dedicated nav without a phone in my head unit. Don't want to have to rely in my phone only. Would rather it be a back up to the in house nav system.

 

Wow what a wonderful response. Thank you for the detailed feedback. I noticed your joying unit has 2 knobs? First question, what does the right hand knob do? 2nd it appears a newer model is out with only a single knob(on the flush mount version). The goal kf the knob is more for the passenger to be able to access the radio controls more easily. I hate touch screen for volume/myte purposes.

 

i have the newer joying model, the "newest 9 inch for

$73 2005-2015 Toyota Tacoma With 4L Right Petrol intake air snorkel kit high performance system compatible kit Replacement black Rotational Molding (2005-2015)

2005-2015". Its still new to me....only had it a month or so. I cannot give it an official recommendation yet. I was having a problem with "phantom touches", meaning, the screen would get random touches, switch radio stations, switch through settings etc by itself. After two weeks of back n forth emails, they finally sent me a new screen under warranty. The new one has not glitched once in the several days i have had it. Hopefully, problem solved, and it was just a bad screen, but im not confirming that yet until this one gets more use on it. Other than that, Everything else works, and it is very user friendly. The wifi, gps, and bluetooth are solid. Android auto works and i can use google maps for nav and stream music. Steering wheel controls work. Background wallpaper and button light colors are customizable. You can completely learn all of its functions just by playing with it in a day or two. It looks Factory, fits flush, and requires no wiring unless you are changing your backup camera (mine is on my mirror). The plug n play and not messing with wires was important for me because i want the ability to go right back to my stock radio if wanted. The volume knob on mine is not overly sensitive. It clicks when you turn it. Each click changes the volume up or down by 1. If you press the knob, it mutes. The hardest part of the install was removing the airbag/ hazard light switch board out of the stock radio, which blkdave, posting above, so graciously helped me with.

 

Ha, You're welcome! When you're retired and it's too hot and humid outside you find yourself watching Youtube videos on TV while searching the web. Once it cools down in October I'll be "on the road again."

The knob on the right side of the screen will change radio stations or skip forward or go back for songs on the music player. In my case the songs I have stored on the flash drives. It will also turn the screen off when you push and hold it.

I don't use either of those knobs. They're too sensitive for my sausage fingers. The steering wheel controls work really good.

 

Stoked that you got your Joying up and going. They (Joying) have great customer service.

 

Alpine Halo 11, I had an AUCAR and it was really bad, they could have improved, the Alpine is amazingly good.

 

Yup, the PLZ does get its navigation capabilities (Lat./Long., Maps and Traffic) from your android/apple phone, so it is not what you want. I, OTOH, don't ever want (dated) maps from a source other than my phone. If I am traveling overseas, as I will be in September (Sardinia, Italy), I download the Google maps to my phone before I go. Vive la difference!

Good luck, and keep the forum posted with whatever you get!

 

What is the option on Joying ordering page for OBD2? Does that mean you won't need one that connects under the dash? And it will show on the HU?

 

Would you mind elaborating a bit more. The halo 11 is one that I'M consider for my 86 Land Cruiser. I'm also considering thr alpine 970 for the 15 tacoma, ergo the need for this thread. Also what are those other two devices you have set up next to your Alpine Halo?

Does Joying have the ability to download the garmin app to have a garmin gps system? Tom Tom? Or any other reputable gps apps that aren't tied to the phone?

Also @BlkDakDave do you have tpms with your Joying and was it something you installed yourself?

 

gps wise I use On X via Apple car play, its audio is amazing, the EQ, and controls with boosters are verrrrry good. I also use the Garmin tread app to control a blue tooth switch panel. You can not download apps to it other than Alpine stuff. It uses your Phone for some apps.
I had a Garmin Overland GPS( just above the Halo before removing from dash), Dash got too busy, the halo through my iphone for gps and such works amazing.

Top is a Wolf Smart mirror
Left is a cheap smart phone that I use as a dumb terminal for engine/trans monitoring.

The alpine has done very well offroad too, All of my desert videos in my sig are with the Halo 11, never had an issue pushing the truck , sound always works as well as other functions.

 

The apps are downloadable. From what I gather of the Garmin app it connects via bluetooth to an existing Garmin Navigator or Dashcam to display on your cell phone, or in this case a Joying head unit. Sounds interesting and something that I would considering adding.

Connecting could be the issue. I've scanned over a few articles and posts about Joying blue tooth connection problems. Since the issue didn't effect any of my apps I gave little attention to the content. But, apparently it's there.

TMPS: First, I have a Scan Gauge II that provides a lot of info concerning my truck. I installed the SG2 long berfore purchasing the Joying head unit and their recommended OBD2 scanner/reader. I gave up trying to pair the two after numerous attempts. The SG2 is set to show me the readings i want to see.

Speaking of different screens and reading...

That interior view from @SoCaltaco65 is something like off the bridge of the Star Ship Enterprise. All the info you need at a glance.

I'd love to sit in that cab after smoking a fatty and absorb all that.

 

and then

 

In the words of Harry Chapin from his song Taxi,

I go flying so high, when I'm stoned