Replacing head unit

Thoughts on after market head unit? Leaning towards Pioneer. Anyone have experience with Rockville? I know it’s a Chinese product and considered lower quality. But, a friend of mine has a couple of their powered subs in his car, and they sound as good as any I’ve heard.

 

I've got a Stinger Heigh10. I love that thing. I was contemplating putting a giant Android screen in though. Just to see how it turned out, ha.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxwm3cmOitY

 

If I ever swap mine out, these two are on my short list:

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_130DMC6600/Pioneer-DMH-WC6600NEX.html?tp=5684

https://www.dasaita.com/products/da...g-dts-gps-navigation-head-unit-optical-output

 

I'm on my second Dasaita. The first one was dead on arrival, the second is still working to date.
They are not without their quirks, however, and the learning curve will vary from one user to the next.
I enjoy the product, but when it shits the bed, as I believe it one day will, I will go another route.

 

I went with an Alpine ILX 507. You can get a plug and play kit with everything you need from Trail Grid Pro for $850 or an open box one for just over $700.

https://trailgridpro.com/products/open-box-alpine-ilx-507-plug-play-bundle-16-23-tacoma

I'm skeptical of off brand head units interacting with the other electronics in the vehicle correctly. Stick with Alpine, pioneer, Sony, etc. Keep in my there's a break point between wired and wireless Android Auto/car play. The big stinger head unit is pretty cool if you're ok connecting your phone via cable to use car play.

 

I see a lot of android 13 head units on ebay with some as much as 6 gigs of ram for a very reasonable price. I'm just wondering how well they integrate into factory wiring.

 

I'm guessing you would go blind form having that much light glaring in your eyes.

 

I went through the whole gamut in my Tacoma. I tried two Android units. When they worked, they were great. Problem is they didn't always function as expected. Next, I went to a Kenwood headunit that I absolutely loved. I think the model number was 1037S or something like that. It's a floating screen. Some people don't like them. But if you do, I highly recommend that headunit.

Rockville. I had a cheap commuter car and wanted some decent sounds for my long commute. I purchased one of Rockville's underseat powered subs. I expected very little from it, given the price and form factor. I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised by it. It carried far more bass than I thought it would. It wasn't perfect by any means, but if you're looking for some decent and easy to install low end, I would consider it.

 

Trail grid pro has the best options for plug and play. Buy once cry once. I ordered my Sony xav 9500es from them and it's fantastic

 

Pioneer hands down is the best fit and finish and looks factory AF. Wireless Carplay and Android Auto. Did mine and all new Kicker speakers throughout.

 

How is the built in amplifier? And that unit had been around for a while, is it updated and is it responsive?

 

I did the Pioneer 6600. Very happy with the results. Search the audio forum, and there is a thread on the model, and what is needed to install it.

 

I tried one of those. I couldn't get it to link with the Maestro correctly for the steering wheel controls. Plus my OCD didn't like the tiny gap around the screen.

Here's my Stinger. I like how the install kit tries to look factory.

 

Another vote for either one of these...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/new-pioneer-dmh-wc6600nex-flush-mount-install.668580/

https://trailgridpro.com/pages/toyota-tacoma-accessories#sony-bundles

 

I was ready to add, this is just begging to be a distraction to the driver.

I miss using my old Delco AM/FM/Cassette player with mechanical presets. I didn't need to stare at a screen to change the station, the (radio) band, fast forward, rewind, or eject a tape...

(I still have it... I couldn't junk it with the Buick...)

 

I have a Sony 9500ES installed along with a 5-channel amp. Only thing I don't like about it is that I lost the info on caller/song/artist that displays within the cluster info. screen.

 

Pioneer 6600 FTW. Wireless AA is awesome. Mine didn't really have gaps like a previous member commented about, but I did line the edges of the 2021 radio bezel with felt tape to prevent rattles. Seemed to center the headunit better as well.

 

You can get a good as, or better than OEM fit, finish and look with the China brands at a bargain basement price.
Just know you'll have to also be willing to deal with the eccentricities that come with them, and be willing to roll the dice on reliability.

The clear plastic protrusion on the corners is a screen protector.

 

Which unit is that?

 

It's a Dasaita with a 10" screen, but I honestly can't remember, nor can I seem to dig up the model #.
IIRC, at the time it was marketed towards the Camry, but came with everything needed to wire up in the Tacoma.
I had to buy the GPS antenna adapter, but that was all that the kit lacked to plug and play.