Head Unit Upgrade

I’m in search of a factory HU, 4200 (nav version) if any of you who went aftermarket are looking to offload

 

Crutch quoted me $549 for a pioneer 2550. Then camera was on back order

 

Total about $1050 with all plugs and 2 cameras

 

For the folks with the Alpine, Sony or Pioneer. I really don’t want to have an external microphone to run and have sticking out from the pillar. They always fall off and look bad. I’ve kept everything stock looking and prefer that. I understand that the maestro will regain the steering wheel buttons. Does the factory bluetooth microphone still function with phone calls with the setup? Does the backup camera turn on automatically when putting into reverse ?

 

My Sony XAV-9000ES works exactly like OEM. The rear camera comes on quick when I go into reverse (manual trans), power-on is speedy, all steering wheel functions work. Bluetooth works well, phone pairs easily. Android Auto works for me as does voice recognition. One gripe is the microphone placement…but there is the option of using the stock location which I was going to do but the mic works quite well attached to the bottom of the dash as that’s where my voice projects to.

When the wife gets in the truck, she commandeers the music with Apple Car Play. Almost all works well. I say almost because the one thing I bought the Sony for was using the USB for high res music and, for some reason, the USB communicates a “USB not connected” message when I select USB. I need to reinsert the USB stick several times to get it to work. Trail Grid Pro is sending me a new USB connector. If that doesn’t work, I will need to send it back for an exchange. Which will suck.

 

Also need to say that Trail Grid Pro (where I bought the Sony bundle) has been very responsive…Even pinging me when I got busy with work and dropped off a bit during the issue. They were also easy to reach and got back to me very quickly while I was installing the radio.

 

I have the Sony 9500es. I thought I wouldn’t like the floating screen but it fits perfect between the vent. Love the large screen and. Makes the jbl system actually sound good

 

Did you use the maestro to keep backup cam and steering wheel controls or just the stuff in the trailgridpro install package ?

 

The TrailGridPro bundle includes Maestro and everything is set as stock. In fact, the Maestro is already strapped to the HU…even, in my case, the Sirius XM. Everything is Tesa taped in place…the harness adapters are connected and taped. Even the USB connection is installed and Tesa taped to prevent anything from dislodging from vibration. It’s a professional prep. All you need to do is disconnect the OEM HU and start plugging in the new prepped HU.

At start up everything is exactly like stock. There is nothing to do but take the HU out of demo mode and a few personal preferences like the dimmer…whether it beeps when you press buttons…and setting the clock. There are options to change steering wheel functions…but I did not want to get into that.

The one thing that I initially did not like but learned to like was the new microphone position. It’s clipped to the bottom of the dash but the mic works well in that location because you’re speaking right into it. There is an included provision for the stock location but it requires opening up the headliner…which I will get to one day.

 

What’s nice is the level of service that Trail Grid Pro provides. It’s not quite concierge service…but the rumors were correct: those guys are there for you. Call them during business hours and someone will help you quickly get things sorted. Email them after business hours and someone will get back to you same day, if not within a few minutes.

I made one wrong connection and called them up and had it working within a few minutes.

 

Based off the recommendations I got here I’m getting the Sony fromTrailgrid. I’m at have liked the look of the Pioneer 6600 better, but they’re at least $300 difference in cost AND I like the interface of the Sony 9000 better . I’m wishing I would have configured my system around a new head unit originally now.
Currently I have the factory HU (7” Entune) and a kicker Keyloc. I know it’s wrong on a couple of levels now.
Thank you all for your input

 

Yeah, actually I have the same problem. I forgot to mention that. I can get the USB to work but it takes 2 or 3 tries. When it works, the 24-bit DAC sounds great. That's why I bought it over the Pioneer. Trail Grid Pro sent me a replacement USB adapter but I have yet to install it. Will replace this week and report back but I already feel that this is a Sony issue. It's a serious bother for me because USB with WAV files is how I primarily listen to music.

 

I ended up going with the Kenwood DMX1057XR. Like it so far.

 

How many of you use the USB for listening to music and does it work? On Kenwood and Pioneer or Alpine?

 

I use USB for CarPlay on my Kenwood, if that’s what you’re looking for. Works great.

At first I adapted my factory port, but later I added a Scosche PowerVolt port and am using that now and no longer using the factory USB.

 

Not sure that's the info I was looking for. I mean, using the USB to access the HU's better DAC. A good DAC is like listening to a CD or hi-res music. It makes a difference.

 

I use a usb for my music when I forget to grab my iPod and that’s with my Kenwood.

 

I understand that a good DAC is like listening to a CD, I guess I didn't realize that is what the goal was from the original question. I'm guessing your source of audio from your phone or wherever will be lossless?

I understand wired>wireless which is one of the reasons I plug in, but I don't have lossless audio downloaded nor do I have good enough speakers for it to matter. I also didn't realize HUs have different DACs for different audio sources, never seen anything about that in support manuals for any of my head units. Hopefully someone will have some experience that helps - most I've seen doing HUs are older trucks looking to add CP/AA, or any year truck wanting flexibility for an added amp and speaker setup. In my case it was because the factory CP was awful and not so much anything else, though I eventually do want an amp and speakers.

 

Wouldn’t wired or wireless car play use the same DAC as plugging in a USB? it’s transferring a digital file in a streaming format.

 

I got the Sony from Trail Grif Pro and it’s very fast and responsive …. Other head units are not and lag a bit …. 6000 Sony for reference