Second Gen Head Unit Upgrade

Looking for some suggestions for a head unit upgrade for the taco. I'm looking for something that still has the CD playing capability since I still have mostly physical music, but also looking for something compatible with the taco tunes SWC kit. Touch screen vs. physcial knob isnt a big deal, apple car play is a plus. I'm finding that the fact that I still use and want to use physical music is being a bugger trying to find something under $500. Any suggestions?

 

I could have made my ancient alpine single din cd player compatible with the steering wheel controls with an extra kit. Just didn’t care enough about it to do it.

 

A bit older touchscreen unit would honestly be a better deal for one with a cd player. These units plunge in price on the used market. Pioneer, Sony, Alpine, Kenwood, etc are good brands for something with carplay. Try to get something with a capacitive display, not resistive. Much more sensitive screen, more like a phone screen

 

Any audio equipment can always start on crutchfield website, they will have all the add-ons for swc and backup camera if you have a factory one. You can also filter for cd, Android auto, apple car play or if you want physical controls or touch screen.

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-SX6iPmGfXpY/

Looking for something lower end, I have joying headunit it has pros and cons believe they do not have cd players

 

I've personally enjoyed Kenwood or Alpine HUs over nearly everything else...

Kenwood DDX-5707S - $350
Pioneer AVX-2550NEX - $550
Kenwood DDX-9707S - $800
Alpine INE-W970HD - $850

All have a DVD/CD slot and AndriodAuto/CarPlay

You'll need a dash kit (I personally prefer the scosche kit over the metra kits) and wire harness, and if you want to keep your steering wheel controls, you'll need a PAC SWI-CP2 interface. For some wiring challenge, also do the delayed accessory relay to keep your radio on until you open the door - handy if you're on a call when you arrive somewhere and you shut the engine off without thinking... you'll need 3 relays (

$10 ESUPPORT Car Heavy Duty Relay Switch 12V 30A SPDT 5Pin Waterproof Electrical Automotive Pack of 5

amazon link) and a

$5 50PCS Nylon Spade Quick Disconnect Connectors Kit 22-10 AWG Male and Female Electrical Wire Connectors Kit Electrical Insulated Wire Crimp Cold-Pressed Terminals for Automotive,Electronics

spade connector kit and a

$5 (100 Pcs) 1N4001 Rectifier Diode, 50V 1A DO-41 Electronic Silicon Doorbell Diodes

couple diodes... a worthwhile bonus that doesn't take too much effort if you know how to crimp wires

 

I have the taco tunes SWC and contacted them about wiring it up to this particular head unit I have. They basically said it was too old and couldnt be done, maybe that was just specific to the taco tunes kit?