Related
Now that the Nexus One Car Dock is out and it is confirmed that it does indeed support BT pairing, how about some recomendations on some good compatable car stereos to go with it?
In my case, I would like a Double-Din unit. If I want BT, and Satelite, most dealers are trying to sell me a base unit with each feature as an add-on. That would make working with these systems awkward as they are not fully integrated into the unit. Is there such a thing as a unit that does all of this:
Double-Din
BlueTooth
Satelite Radio
HD Radio
Ability to control the music playback on the Nexus
thm92630 said:
Now that the Nexus One Car Dock is out and it is confirmed that it does indeed support BT pairing, how about some recomendations on some good compatable car stereos to go with it?
In my case, I would like a Double-Din unit. If I want BT, and Satelite, most dealers are trying to sell me a base unit with each feature as an add-on. That would make working with these systems awkward as they are not fully integrated into the unit. Is there such a thing as a unit that does all of this:
Double-Din
BlueTooth
Satelite Radio
HD Radio
Ability to control the music playback on the Nexus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Satellite and HD radio are generally going to require add ons, but Bluetooth is often an integrated solution.
My head unit review is here
How on earth are we going to decide what's best? I like mine, but I am quite sure it's not the absolute best.
Alpine FTW!
I always use Alpine headunits. I believe this one will work meet all of your requirements. You may have to purchase an additional bluetooth control unit, but that is pretty much the norm. This one also is compatible with Alpine's imprint technology which is AWESOME! If you don't know you should check it out.
http://ikesound.com/alpine_iva_w505
Here is the imprint module:
http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/pxa-h100
Also found the Bluetooth module:
http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/kce-400bt
ccunningham83 said:
Also found the Bluetooth module:
http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/kce-400bt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has this been tested with the Nexus One, which is pretty picky about what Bluetooth Devices it will pair and work with? A positive report would be really cool.
Ok, instead of 'best' how about most reasonable? This setup is over a grand! If there isn't a unit with these features integraged, I will prefer to go with a bluetooth device first and add the rest later (on a side note, couldn't these extra units interface thru bluetooth as well?)
A feature that I see advertised a lot is an 'iPod adapter' that allows the head unit to control an iPhone and display track information as well. Would a bluetooth connection to the nexus provide this feature?
thm92630 said:
Ok, instead of 'best' how about most reasonable? This setup is over a grand! If there isn't a unit with these features integraged, I will prefer to go with a bluetooth device first and add the rest later (on a side note, couldn't these extra units interface thru bluetooth as well?)
A feature that I see advertised a lot is an 'iPod adapter' that allows the head unit to control an iPhone and display track information as well. Would a bluetooth connection to the nexus provide this feature?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right, this setup is expensive, but it is a very nice setup. I personally don't have it, but I do have experiance using high end alpine products. I did read that when paired with bluetooth, the album information will be displayed. I don't know if that includes streaming Pandora or not though.
I didn't think it would be crazy for someone who spent $530 on a phone to get the best phone out would mind spending the money on a high end radio. If you want to make it cheaper I would suggest getting a single DIN radio, they are substantially cheaper and you can get the same features, plus a storage area above or below in the existing space.
I'm in the same boat as the OP. Tracking....
Sent from my Nexus One using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
I personally despise that Pioneer unit. I bought it originally from Amazon but ended up hating almost everything about it. It beeps every time you do ANYTHING, it is bright blue like a comet even at night and lights up the whole cab, the menus are a mess to use, and the iPod support seizes control of the iPod while the head unit iPod controls aren't even very good at all.
I sent it back and bought a JVC double DIN http://www.amazon.com/JVC-KW-XG700-Double-Receiver-Expandable/dp/B000R3G86K . It has no iPod support or bluetooth though (even though I still consider it to be superior just on a usability basis). There is no bluetooth in it though, so now I am looking at buying a $100 bluetooth adapter for it. I see that JVC is going to release a new model any day though, the XR810. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KWXR810/JVC-KW-XR810.html?tp=5684&avf=N At first I was afraid because it too has blue backlights, but it turns out that all of the lighting is completely customizable. This thing seems to do everything the way I want it to such that I'm thinking of upgrading even though my receiver works fine. Since it has bluetooth built in, its only $200 more than just buying a bluetooth adapter.
That said, if you're looking at buying aftermarket and you dont care about what it sounds like or amplifiers or custom speakers, there are probably cheaper units that still offer bluetooth connectivity.
The more people that check this out and add the better
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=660617
so far we have 4 headunits that work pretty well, if you find another one please place it into the list
-Charlie
bradsh1 said:
I personally despise that Pioneer unit. I bought it originally from Amazon but ended up hating almost everything about it. It beeps every time you do ANYTHING, it is bright blue like a comet even at night and lights up the whole cab, the menus are a mess to use, and the iPod support seizes control of the iPod while the head unit iPod controls aren't even very good at all.
I sent it back and bought a JVC double DIN http://www.amazon.com/JVC-KW-XG700-Double-Receiver-Expandable/dp/B000R3G86K . It has no iPod support or bluetooth though (even though I still consider it to be superior just on a usability basis). There is no bluetooth in it though, so now I am looking at buying a $100 bluetooth adapter for it. I see that JVC is going to release a new model any day though, the XR810. http://www.crutchfield.com/p_105KWXR810/JVC-KW-XR810.html?tp=5684&avf=N At first I was afraid because it too has blue backlights, but it turns out that all of the lighting is completely customizable. This thing seems to do everything the way I want it to such that I'm thinking of upgrading even though my receiver works fine. Since it has bluetooth built in, its only $200 more than just buying a bluetooth adapter.
That said, if you're looking at buying aftermarket and you dont care about what it sounds like or amplifiers or custom speakers, there are probably cheaper units that still offer bluetooth connectivity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right about bright blue. There are two way to deal with that - either turn the display off or wire it to the dimmable dash lights with an inline resistor to drop the voltage a bit more. The dash lights go right to most harnesses, so it's not a big deal. But if it gets 12v straight from the vehicle, it's going to be bright when it's on. I haven't had any issues with with mp3 playback with the N1 since the first day. I can use N1 playback, or I can use head unit controls, or I can use my factory steering wheel controls, which are by far easiest. Beeps? I don't care. They're soft and they don't bother me.
That is another reason I bought the uint I did, full customizable color scheme and (standard) dimming features when hooked up correctly.
its a pain because my vehichle VW GTI has the CAN system to power on the unit vs a standard 12v on source.
what are your best guesses for the video playback bypass for ebrake on a GTI?
-Charlie
dahui9 said:
That is another reason I bought the uint I did, full customizable color scheme and (standard) dimming features when hooked up correctly.
its a pain because my vehichle VW GTI has the CAN system to power on the unit vs a standard 12v on source.
what are your best guesses for the video playback bypass for ebrake on a GTI?
-Charlie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If hooked up correctly, they all have dimming. However, the lights on these are generally far more efficient than the dash lights, which means by the time the dash lights are visible, the head unit lights are too bright. I plan to fix that with a resistor in line with power coming from the dimmer. It's a simple fix. The head unit does have a dimming adjustment, It just doesn't go nearly far enough.
Not sure why video bypass is required on the DVD players, but I have read that a lot of people do it. What is the situation that requires a bypass?
Wish I hadn't posted here. It was a double.
attn1 said:
If hooked up correctly, they all have dimming. However, the lights on these are generally far more efficient than the dash lights, which means by the time the dash lights are visible, the head unit lights are too bright. I plan to fix that with a resistor in line with power coming from the dimmer. It's a simple fix. The head unit does have a dimming adjustment, It just doesn't go nearly far enough.
Not sure why video bypass is required on the DVD players, but I have read that a lot of people do it. What is the situation that requires a bypass?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so when your driving your surrounding peeps can watch music videos, dvd's, and or home made movie clips (no erotic pun intended ) if you don't do it no video will play while the car is in motion.
-Charlie
dahui9 said:
so when your driving your surrounding peeps can watch music videos, dvd's, and or home made movie clips (no erotic pun intended ) if you don't do it no video will play while the car is in motion.
-Charlie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So there is a circuit the emergency brake is supposed to close that indicates it's safe to play video? Seems like that would be easy enough to circumvent right at the head unit. Easier than connecting the head unit to the emergency brake.
as far as I am aware there is no fm transmitter chip in samsung galaxy s therefore please share all news about available car kits -------------------
there are tons over at DealExtreme
http://www.dealextreme.com/search.dx/search.fm
they all good, i was using one with my old WM phone
If you can though, it would be better seeing if you can add Aux support to your headunit.
andrewluecke said:
If you can though, it would be better seeing if you can add Aux support to your headunit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that is like asking him to buy a new head unit
Not really... Aux can easily be added to some (and I had NO car experience, and discovered it was easier than I thought with my car to wire in a new headunit). Head units cost a ridiculous amount of money for what they are.
Sometimes if you are willing to try to do the work yourself, you will find that adding aux support costs less than some good FM transmitters.
Cheers guys _ going to search net based on yours ideas and update with my choice when purchased and tested.
Over and out.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
andrewluecke said:
Not really... Aux can easily be added to some (and I had NO car experience, and discovered it was easier than I thought with my car to wire in a new headunit). Head units cost a ridiculous amount of money for what they are.
Sometimes if you are willing to try to do the work yourself, you will find that adding aux support costs less than some good FM transmitters.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this. Although the difference between good and bad fm transmitters is unknown to me, you can get workable ones for under 5 bucks on amazon without shipping.
Even assuming anything that price never works, you can pick up a bluetooth speakerphone/fm transmitter for like 30-40. To me, that beats the hell out of taking wire strippers to your car stereo. Especially since you can take an fm transmitter with you when you are in someone elses car at no extra cost.
My preferred fm transmitter is a Jabra SP700. The trick is finding a clear channel, and if you travel more than an hour in any direction, be prepared to retune as you run into new stations. Normally you'll be able to find a frequency that's clean for their daily use. I found that having my SP stock to the dash instead of to the sun visor greatly increased sound quality and reduced interface, so if you cant get perfect reception, try that.
I get near CD quality, although there is some fuzz on the very end (high cymbals hiss rather than crash).
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Protip: You rarely need wire cutters or strippers. I'd be surprised if any cars didn't use a wire harness which allowed you to simply connect the module in between (unless the person who installed your stereo is an idiot, or its a poorly designed unmaintainable car). Many simply connect through the CD stacker jack.
FM tuners work, but, every new car I've seen these days ships with an aux jack anyway. So it's a better option long term, if it's possible. An FM tuner can be easier to install though, if you don't want to learn anything. But messing with the head-unit of your car is something every guy should do once in their life
I bought this one from play.com for only £3 (although its gone up to £4 now).
edit: cant post links but if you type in Wireless FM Stereo MP3 / Ipod Transmitter you should find it.
It works well, the battery life is great. the quality is not perfect but definitely listen-able. (looses some bass).
as a budget transmitter it definitly gets my approval and you don't have to wait weeks for delivery like dealextreme.
Any thoughts/recommendations on a cassette adapter to link the phone output to the car stereo? I'm interested in audio from apps (navigation), music/podcast playback, and streaming audio.
From the reviews of various options I've seen, the quality of the adapters is highly variable, but the Phillips adapter here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Philips-USA-PH-62050-CD-MP3-MD-To-Cassette-Adapter-Brand-New-Free-Shipping-/370582468700?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item56486fb85c#ht_1621wt_1396 seems reasonably priced.
This will be used in a 1996 Saturn. A quick and simple low end solution like a cassette adapter is desired vs. an expensive stereo upgrade.
Thanks!
Just a follow-up to my previous post. I ordered and received the listed adapter and it has working well for the first few days. Will see how longer term usage goes - it does not appear to be the most durable item I've purchased , but it should do the job if not abused.
I sure hope yours works better then the Chinese one I had a few years back...so crappy even the FM transmitter was better.
Honestly, I would recommend a new head unit for your car. They're very easy to replace and are something you will likely have for a VERY long time. I've had mine in all three different cars I have owned so far, and have never had any problems. You can pick up a cheap one with USB and aux inputs (and even bluetooth) for relatively cheap. The sound quality really is so much better than an FM adapter. They're an investment, but they're worth it.
Can't find much of anything for USB-C headphones yet. I have a bluetooth set (actually a couple) but don't always bring them or charge them. Part of that is b/c I haven't had to yet. I suspect I'll eventually just keep them with me more often and charge them more regularly - but we're not there yet.
I found these JBL ones through HTC that have some potential. I usually like JBL stuff and these are the style that I like (with the little wing to keep it in place). They're marked down a LOT right now to $80 at HTC.com (from $200, also seen them at $150). I just placed an order to give them a try - can't really be sure they're 100% compatible yet, but I think they're worth a shot. I also haven't really found them sold at any other reputable places online (there's also an Apple Lightning version too).
http://www.htc.com/us/accessories/jbl-reflect-aware-c-earphones/
Anyone found any others they're going to try?
ack154 said:
Can't find much of anything for USB-C headphones yet. I have a bluetooth set (actually a couple) but don't always bring them or charge them. Part of that is b/c I haven't had to yet. I suspect I'll eventually just keep them with me more often and charge them more regularly - but we're not there yet.
I found these JBL ones through HTC that have some potential. I usually like JBL stuff and these are the style that I like (with the little wing to keep it in place). They're marked down a LOT right now to $80 at HTC.com (from $200, also seen them at $150). I just placed an order to give them a try - can't really be sure they're 100% compatible yet, but I think they're worth a shot. I also haven't really found them sold at any other reputable places online (there's also an Apple Lightning version too).
http://www.htc.com/us/accessories/jbl-reflect-aware-c-earphones/
Anyone found any others they're going to try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The JBL's you bought from HTC should work. I know the HTC USonic earbuds won't, though, which is a bummer. They sound great on my U11. Can't comment on any other USB-C earbuds yet.
hx3 said:
The JBL's you bought from HTC should work. I know the HTC USonic earbuds won't, though, which is a bummer. They sound great on my U11. Can't comment on any other USB-C earbuds yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya, I remember reading somewhere that HTC's stuff isn't necessarily compatible with other USB C phones - which is dumb.
I just ordered those from HTC as well...seriously hope they're compatible, but I guess we'll see. I'd really prefer to never pull this dongle out of the box haha, but at this point I'm just happy to have that box in my possession after that whole launch/shipping fiasco
I tried pumping 1More for some info to see if they had any plans of make the quad driver (or even the triple driver) earbuds with USB C, since they already make it with that dopey lightning connection...and the response I received was that they may look into if some bigger companies begin using USB C...guess Google and others aren't quite big enough for them
Just tried my pair of usb Jbl headphones with the essential and I confirm it works.
Sent from my PH-1 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
Headphones are here! As mentioned, yes, they do work fine. I'd give them a 6/10, I guess.
I didn't even realize these are active noise canceling too. That's really not something I even care about but I guess nice to have? Generally I find that most in-ear buds cancel enough noise on their own for my needs. The ANC just isn't really something I'd seek out and pay extra for.
Anyway - I like the headphones. The buds are BIG compared to others I've had. Like I think I already mentioned, I like the wings with any of my in-ear buds to fit better and stay in place. And just like any others, these come with various sizes of both the in-ear portion and the wings.
Sound isn't bad. There's a JBL app for them where you can setup your own EQ and control the noise cancelation (you can also do that from the inline remote). I don't really notice a difference in the settings, but maybe I'll play with that more next time I'm flying (later this year). Since they are active noise canceling, they will draw power from your phone (and there's a permission popup when you first connect them).
Biggest complaint is that they are not loud enough. I wish it had maybe 2 or 3 more clicks of volume than it does. Maybe I won't care as much with the noise canceling, but I don't want to feel like I have to max them every time.
I also want to try this Xiaomi set: http://c.mi.com/thread-226064-1-1.html
These may have compatibility problems like the HTCs though. I have a set of regular Xiaomi in-ear buds and really like them (comfort and sound quality). I'd like to believe these would be similar.
I've tried two different USB-C audio dongles from Amazon, neither worked. So far the only converter to work is the one that shipped with the phone. It will be good to see more headphone options.
simmons777 said:
I've tried two different USB-C audio dongles from Amazon, neither worked. So far the only converter to work is the one that shipped with the phone. It will be good to see more headphone options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's unfortunate for those going the dongle route.
Were the ones you tried random "off" brand dongles that were just cheap? Or were they any sort of reputable brand?
Joseche and iTParts are the brands. I bought two of each and tested them all. They claim Moto Z support. Since it was Amazon, I send them back, no harm but I haven't found a dongle that works, other then the one that shipped with the phone.
I found an extra charger and adapter on eBay.
simmons777 said:
I've tried two different USB-C audio dongles from Amazon, neither worked. So far the only converter to work is the one that shipped with the phone. It will be good to see more headphone options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same experience here. I emailed Essential to purchase more adapters (I like to keep them around the house, in the car, on my keychain, etc.) and they informed me that they do not sell them at this time. Bummer, so I went to Amazon and bought two of the Motorola-branded ones and of course, they don't work.
I think if I understand correctly, it has to do with Legacy USB audio. Some adapters have the DAC/amp in the dongle (which is what we apparently need on the Essential) and some route legacy audio through the USB-C port (like Motorola). So now I don't know where to turn.
Has anyone tried the HTC headphone adapter? If their USB-C headphones work on the Essential, then perhaps their dongle does as well. I guess it's worth another $20 gamble to see. Maybe it will even improve the audio
-Collin-
Edit: HTC is now sold out of the dongles. LOL **sigh**
CollinFX45 said:
Same experience here. I emailed Essential to purchase more adapters (I like to keep them around the house, in the car, on my keychain, etc.) and they informed me that they do not sell them at this time. Bummer, so I went to Amazon and bought two of the Motorola-branded ones and of course, they don't work.
I think if I understand correctly, it has to do with Legacy USB audio. Some adapters have the DAC/amp in the dongle (which is what we apparently need on the Essential) and some route legacy audio through the USB-C port (like Motorola). So now I don't know where to turn.
Has anyone tried the HTC headphone adapter? If their USB-C headphones work on the Essential, then perhaps their dongle does as well. I guess it's worth another $20 gamble to see. Maybe it will even improve the audio
-Collin-
Edit: HTC is now sold out of the dongles. LOL **sigh**
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the good news is, I just tried the HTC adapter and it for sure works. :highfive:
tw1tch175 said:
Well the good news is, I just tried the HTC adapter and it for sure works. :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much for confirming this!
simmons777 said:
I've tried two different USB-C audio dongles from Amazon, neither worked. So far the only converter to work is the one that shipped with the phone. It will be good to see more headphone options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reason is the dongle that comes with the PH1 has a build in DAC, when you plugged it in after the latest software update for the phone, you got a message to update the software for the dongle.
I just found this adapter for 3.5 mm headphones and USB-C to USB-C. https://www.amazon.com/Headphone-Connector-Converter-Charging-Motorola/dp/B0714DYLW4
I've tried the HTC MAX320, no luck.
I used the ones included with the LeEco Le Pro 3 and they worked fine
Has anyone tried the Libratone Q Adapt USB-C Earphones sold by google they are also $150
I just purchased the Fiio BRT1 bluetooth adapter which has a high quality DAC in it (AK4376). Might be the way to go to charge and use headphones at same time without the dual-dongle approach. It should come today. Initial reviews for it seem positive. I have other AK-series DACs on other devices and really like them, so hopefully Fiio implements it well in this unit.
I think the best route though is to get a USB portable DAC/Amp unit and a usb-c otg cable for best sound quality -then you can use whatever headphones you want.
Hey everyone! I am brand new to this forum and joined because I saw the most quality forum threads on the Joying head unit line of products here than any other forum I could find. I have a 2000 Chevrolet Corvette that I am hoping to install an 8" Joying Snapdragon radio in and could use some help gaining legitimate reviews and maybe some answers for questions I have regarding the Snapdragon and other Joying products. I'll number the talking points below for anyone willing to contribute and help me out. Thanks!
1) How is the Joying Snapdragon product that you have experience with, EXCLUDING all experiences pertaining to steering wheel controls? the C5 did not offer steering wheel controls, so I'm out of luck for that luxury.
2) How bright are the screens? Given the radio location in my car, glares when the roof is on is very unlikely, but a brighter screen is always better and would help if I chose to use the radio while the top is off and the sun can shine in almost directly onto it.
3) This is a very, very niche inquiry, but does anyone have a Joying snapdragon or android 10 head unit happen to also own an Xbox 1 or newer? If so, could you please tell me if you can download the Xbox app from the Google Store and install it on the radio? Furthermore, if this can be accomplished, can you please see if it is possible to Remote Play your Xbox on the Joying head unit via the Xbox app? The way I am thinking about it, doing this would require you to pair a wireless Xbox remote to the head unit via Bluetooth and then having the radio connected to WiFi (hotspot or sim-card, I suppose), OR it might work with a USB-wired remote connected to the radio via the USB port(?). I wouldn't be playing games while driving, but it would be something very cool to do at things like car meets or whatever. IF someone tries this, AND it works... how is it?
4) I see a lot of reviews in certain places here and there that say the Joying head units really don't offer any improvement over factory radios. Can someone please school me on this? A Best Buy employee told me once that almost all aftermarket radios (grant it, he was referring to Kenwoods, Alpines, etc.) will inherently improve the sound (either by volume or quality) over the factory radio because the aftermarket units "push" more power (in watts?) than factory units. I've replaced the factory Bose "twiddler" speakers in my car with aftermarket JBL speakers that can be found at Best Buy, so I'm hoping the Joying Snapdragon can make the most of them. Other than that, my car's sound system remains the same.
5) Does anyone happen to also have experience with these units and their communication/compatibility with the OBD2 adapter? Joying offers a deal to get their wireless OBD2 device, which I assume may be used on apps like Torque and such. Furthermore, does anyone think you could buy an OBD2-to-USB cable and run a wired connection to the radio for a faster, more responsive reading when using apps like Torque to view engine and ECU data?
Thank you to everyone who chimes in! I really appreciate it and I hope to hear from you all soon.
Chris Laymon said:
Hey everyone! I am brand new to this forum and joined because I saw the most quality forum threads on the Joying head unit line of products here than any other forum I could find. I have a 2000 Chevrolet Corvette that I am hoping to install an 8" Joying Snapdragon radio in and could use some help gaining legitimate reviews and maybe some answers for questions I have regarding the Snapdragon and other Joying products. I'll number the talking points below for anyone willing to contribute and help me out. Thanks!
1) How is the Joying Snapdragon product that you have experience with, EXCLUDING all experiences pertaining to steering wheel controls? the C5 did not offer steering wheel controls, so I'm out of luck for that luxury.
2) How bright are the screens? Given the radio location in my car, glares when the roof is on is very unlikely, but a brighter screen is always better and would help if I chose to use the radio while the top is off and the sun can shine in almost directly onto it.
3) This is a very, very niche inquiry, but does anyone have a Joying snapdragon or android 10 head unit happen to also own an Xbox 1 or newer? If so, could you please tell me if you can download the Xbox app from the Google Store and install it on the radio? Furthermore, if this can be accomplished, can you please see if it is possible to Remote Play your Xbox on the Joying head unit via the Xbox app? The way I am thinking about it, doing this would require you to pair a wireless Xbox remote to the head unit via Bluetooth and then having the radio connected to WiFi (hotspot or sim-card, I suppose), OR it might work with a USB-wired remote connected to the radio via the USB port(?). I wouldn't be playing games while driving, but it would be something very cool to do at things like car meets or whatever. IF someone tries this, AND it works... how is it?
4) I see a lot of reviews in certain places here and there that say the Joying head units really don't offer any improvement over factory radios. Can someone please school me on this? A Best Buy employee told me once that almost all aftermarket radios (grant it, he was referring to Kenwoods, Alpines, etc.) will inherently improve the sound (either by volume or quality) over the factory radio because the aftermarket units "push" more power (in watts?) than factory units. I've replaced the factory Bose "twiddler" speakers in my car with aftermarket JBL speakers that can be found at Best Buy, so I'm hoping the Joying Snapdragon can make the most of them. Other than that, my car's sound system remains the same.
5) Does anyone happen to also have experience with these units and their communication/compatibility with the OBD2 adapter? Joying offers a deal to get their wireless OBD2 device, which I assume may be used on apps like Torque and such. Furthermore, does anyone think you could buy an OBD2-to-USB cable and run a wired connection to the radio for a faster, more responsive reading when using apps like Torque to view engine and ECU data?
Thank you to everyone who chimes in! I really appreciate it and I hope to hear from you all soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From reading the forums what learnings do you have regarding FYT based chinese origin head units so far?
Your post reads like solicitation - the information is here for you to read.
marchnz said:
From reading the forums what learnings do you have regarding FYT based chinese origin head units so far?
Your post reads like solicitation - the information is here for you to read.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, like I said, I'm new to this forum and, admittedly, I didn't look into the existence of any community guidelines that this post might violate, such as the solicitation you think my post reads as. If that's the case, I understand it if you choose to remove my post. I am probably wrong to assume that this forum is similar to car forums in that a user may post a thread whether to distribute or obtain information. For example, in the Corvette forums I use, I can post a thread about a new exhaust system I put on my car and list some things I liked and dislike about it to help future buyers, or I can ask a question about how other Corvette owners have enjoyed or disliked their experience with an aftermarket seat that I might be interested in. In either of those scenarios, I wouldn't be accused of solicitating because it's kind of the normal thing to do on a forum. So I don't potentially make the same mistake in the future, can you please tell me why my post "reads like solicitation," what the community guidelines (or whatever they are) that I may have violated, and what you mean by "the information is here for you to read?" For example, am I not allowed to post questions here?
However, I can't post a question like this on the Corvette forums because 99% of the boomers on there only buy "American, REAL QUALITY" aftermarket radios and never give android head units a chance. The other 1% seem to use the Joying 8.8" head unit because they want to retain the factory radio bezel. So, nobody over there is doing what I'm thinking of doing, so I'm coming to the only forum I found where users post information about the Joying unit.
But, to answer your question about what I've learned, I saw and read a thread started by @tRidiot under the "FYT Android Head Units" category that was titled "Do not buy a Joying Snapdragon unit - actually, Joying's customer service in general pretty well sucks." which can be found here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...service-in-general-pretty-well-sucks.4419619/ .
By reading this thread, I learned that @tRidiot had a really sour experience with Joying's customer service and was thoroughly disappointed with the way the radio interfaced with the steering wheel control canbus system (or whatever its called). So, I learned to not have any high expectations for the Joying product line to interface well with steering wheel controls. I've also read Facebook posts about this issue being consistent in other user experiences. As stated in my original post, I'm not really concerned with steering wheel controls because my car doesn't have any.
I also read a thread by @lowridincrew, with no title, in the category "Android head-units," that talks about the snapdragon product line by joying and compares it to their previous models. What i learned there is that the hardware in the snapdragon products doesn't seem to be as competitive (or fast or as powerful, etc.) as their less expensive products. It seems like some of those who commented on that thread have purchased a Snapdragon product and, in first impressions, seem to be okay with it. There seems to be an appeal for the new UI and that older models most likely won't be given the updated UI.
I've also tried to reach out to a YouTuber, SaabUnleashed, as he has done several android head units including the Joying Snapdragon, but he has not responded.
SO, that is all the information I have learned by reading threads on this forum. I would still appreciate any and all contributions that pertain to answering the questions listed above, and if I need to take my questions elsewhere, please tell me where I need to take them. Thanks!
Chris Laymon said:
Hey everyone! I am brand new to this forum and joined because I saw the most quality forum threads on the Joying head unit line of products here than any other forum I could find. I have a 2000 Chevrolet Corvette that I am hoping to install an 8" Joying Snapdragon radio in and could use some help gaining legitimate reviews and maybe some answers for questions I have regarding the Snapdragon and other Joying products. I'll number the talking points below for anyone willing to contribute and help me out. Thanks!
1) How is the Joying Snapdragon product that you have experience with, EXCLUDING all experiences pertaining to steering wheel controls? the C5 did not offer steering wheel controls, so I'm out of luck for that luxury.
2) How bright are the screens? Given the radio location in my car, glares when the roof is on is very unlikely, but a brighter screen is always better and would help if I chose to use the radio while the top is off and the sun can shine in almost directly onto it.
3) This is a very, very niche inquiry, but does anyone have a Joying snapdragon or android 10 head unit happen to also own an Xbox 1 or newer? If so, could you please tell me if you can download the Xbox app from the Google Store and install it on the radio? Furthermore, if this can be accomplished, can you please see if it is possible to Remote Play your Xbox on the Joying head unit via the Xbox app? The way I am thinking about it, doing this would require you to pair a wireless Xbox remote to the head unit via Bluetooth and then having the radio connected to WiFi (hotspot or sim-card, I suppose), OR it might work with a USB-wired remote connected to the radio via the USB port(?). I wouldn't be playing games while driving, but it would be something very cool to do at things like car meets or whatever. IF someone tries this, AND it works... how is it?
4) I see a lot of reviews in certain places here and there that say the Joying head units really don't offer any improvement over factory radios. Can someone please school me on this? A Best Buy employee told me once that almost all aftermarket radios (grant it, he was referring to Kenwoods, Alpines, etc.) will inherently improve the sound (either by volume or quality) over the factory radio because the aftermarket units "push" more power (in watts?) than factory units. I've replaced the factory Bose "twiddler" speakers in my car with aftermarket JBL speakers that can be found at Best Buy, so I'm hoping the Joying Snapdragon can make the most of them. Other than that, my car's sound system remains the same.
5) Does anyone happen to also have experience with these units and their communication/compatibility with the OBD2 adapter? Joying offers a deal to get their wireless OBD2 device, which I assume may be used on apps like Torque and such. Furthermore, does anyone think you could buy an OBD2-to-USB cable and run a wired connection to the radio for a faster, more responsive reading when using apps like Torque to view engine and ECU data?
Thank you to everyone who chimes in! I really appreciate it and I hope to hear from you all soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can answer question #4 as I've dealt with high end Kenwoods, Pioneers etc. It does improve sound and the person that said it's not any improvement over factory radios are delusional. The android radios offer a crossover and wide band EQ's. That alone improves sound quality a ton. I have a 08 Lacrosse and I've went from Factory to Kenwood DMX7704S to a Joying 4GB - 64GB 7 inch head unit. The Joying had way more control over the Kenwood. Whoever got in my car thought I had a amplifier installed but it was just my Headunit. I was able to fine tune it nicely. The only issues would be when adding a amplifier, either use the factory cables to go back to RCA cables straight to the amp or a crossover. The RCAs tend to be 1v and under as my Kenwood had 4v which makes a huge difference.
Chris Laymon said:
Hey everyone! I am brand new to this forum and joined because I saw the most quality forum threads on the Joying head unit line of products here than any other forum I could find. I have a 2000 Chevrolet Corvette that I am hoping to install an 8" Joying Snapdragon radio in and could use some help gaining legitimate reviews and maybe some answers for questions I have regarding the Snapdragon and other Joying products. I'll number the talking points below for anyone willing to contribute and help me out. Thanks!
1) How is the Joying Snapdragon product that you have experience with, EXCLUDING all experiences pertaining to steering wheel controls? the C5 did not offer steering wheel controls, so I'm out of luck for that luxury.
2) How bright are the screens? Given the radio location in my car, glares when the roof is on is very unlikely, but a brighter screen is always better and would help if I chose to use the radio while the top is off and the sun can shine in almost directly onto it.
3) This is a very, very niche inquiry, but does anyone have a Joying snapdragon or android 10 head unit happen to also own an Xbox 1 or newer? If so, could you please tell me if you can download the Xbox app from the Google Store and install it on the radio? Furthermore, if this can be accomplished, can you please see if it is possible to Remote Play your Xbox on the Joying head unit via the Xbox app? The way I am thinking about it, doing this would require you to pair a wireless Xbox remote to the head unit via Bluetooth and then having the radio connected to WiFi (hotspot or sim-card, I suppose), OR it might work with a USB-wired remote connected to the radio via the USB port(?). I wouldn't be playing games while driving, but it would be something very cool to do at things like car meets or whatever. IF someone tries this, AND it works... how is it?
4) I see a lot of reviews in certain places here and there that say the Joying head units really don't offer any improvement over factory radios. Can someone please school me on this? A Best Buy employee told me once that almost all aftermarket radios (grant it, he was referring to Kenwoods, Alpines, etc.) will inherently improve the sound (either by volume or quality) over the factory radio because the aftermarket units "push" more power (in watts?) than factory units. I've replaced the factory Bose "twiddler" speakers in my car with aftermarket JBL speakers that can be found at Best Buy, so I'm hoping the Joying Snapdragon can make the most of them. Other than that, my car's sound system remains the same.
5) Does anyone happen to also have experience with these units and their communication/compatibility with the OBD2 adapter? Joying offers a deal to get their wireless OBD2 device, which I assume may be used on apps like Torque and such. Furthermore, does anyone think you could buy an OBD2-to-USB cable and run a wired connection to the radio for a faster, more responsive reading when using apps like Torque to view engine and ECU data?
Thank you to everyone who chimes in! I really appreciate it and I hope to hear from you all soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1 I've had 3 of the last 4 joying units and if you're okay with tinkering a bit to get it to your liking it's a worthwhile purchase. With a few caveats, you can't use Google assistant to make voice calls and sometimes the radio app starts when you start the stereo
2 the screen is very bright. I used to use one in my BMW convertible and even in direct sunlight I could see the screen. There is also a screen protector for some joying units on Amazon and I believe one is anti glare
3 yes you can install the Xbox app but you'd have to download the apk. The play store won't allow you to.
4 changing the EQ might offer a better experience but don't expect a mind blowing difference
5 you can ONLY use the joying obd2 with joying head units if you want to go the bluetooth route. As far as wired usb Idk but I can't imagine it not working.
Got word from a manufacturer on Aliexpress about one of their units They said the far better Snapdragon 665 versions of HU would possibly come out around June
There's no reason to go with a slower Snapdragon 625 compared to the UIS7812 imo
#1 If you are looking at Joying snapdragon units I believe they are all button less, which not having swc is going to be a pain in the butt as you will have to click on the volume icon and slide the volume up or down, hard to do while driving. But other. Than that it's solid. People complain at the fact that the 625 is an older chipset but this is a head unit not a tablet porformance is more than enough for radio stuff. One other thing people don't look at is LTE bands, the snapdragon units support band 4 and 12 which are big in the T-Mobile network, but i will note my Joying headunit has a 4g issue so haven't been able to experience a fully connected drive currently still going through customer service to rectify this issue.
#2 The screen is bright I haven't had issues with not being able to see the screen content. That being said it glares a lot, my unit being mounted 100% vertically reduces the chances of having glare issues but i can see it being an issue on my Avalon where the screen has a slight angle facing the windshield. When I had a Joying unit in that one glare was impossible to combat making the screen useless around mid day.
#3 you can download any android app as on any android device but you will not be able to pair a controller. I tried pairing my Xbox series x controller for hours, couldn't get it to connect, it seams Joying changes something in the Bluetooth interface that voids being able to access the main Bluetooth settings. For me that would make this point useless. I haven't tested USB connection only Bluetooth.
#4 This can be true. There are a lot of generic android radios for under 100 bucks that use the cheapest audio chips to get a product out and sold. This gives you the Android experience but overlooks the audio experience. Joying on the other hand is fairly expensive for a Chinese company sourcing android radios. The reason for this is they implement higher end components to also improve audio quality, and although it is not on par with high end pioneer or Kenwood's it does compare to radios in it's price range. In most cases if your car has only 4 speakers meaning 1 on each door and no factory amplifier the Joying will improve your sound. If your car has a premium audio system from factory IE. JBL, Bose, mark Levinson ext where you have 8-12 speakers in your car and bypass that with this radio it will sound like crap. It would sound like crap with any radio as factory amplifiers have different impedance and crossovers to compensate for special speaker wiring that your radio won't have. Another thing is if you plan to install a sound system in your vehicle you are told to stay away from these units as they distort at low volumes not allowing you to maximize the audio. Also true of old Joying units, these new ones get pretty close to 3v out of RCA before distortion at around 75-80% volume. I tested them with my DM-RTA. Granted this is not 4v as standard by pioneer, Sony and other headunit manufacturer it should suffice and or can be improved by a 200$ line driver. At 700$ still cheaper than any large manufacturer radio with similar specs as in size and functions like wireless car play And android auto.
#5 This I don't know but would advice to ask and see if you are able to pair a Bluetooth model and phone at the same time.
Thanks everyone for chiming in! I know this is a very dated thread by this point, but I felt like I had a few things worth mentioning in case anyone comes looking for it.
Per Joying's customer service, the snapdragon product line (currently) ONLY allow pairing with JOYING-brand Bluetooth products (i.e. steering wheel controller, TPMS, or the OBDII device) and devices categorized as phones.
I think this is a bummer because, well, I feel like one of the biggest reasons to buy an android head unit over other devices is because of the open-source, "do what you want" liberty that isn't given by its competition. This also stinks because it means that a device like an Amazon Echo Auto cannot be used at all -- this device would allow hands-free navigation or music, etc., but it requires a Bluetooth or AUX connection, both of which Joying does not seem to afford for the snapdragon products
I am still going to wait to see how/if the Snapdragon product line is improved as was rumored. I'm also curious to see how Apple's announcement of iOS 16's new and improved Apple CarPlay will change on these devices.
I don't want to discount Joying as a consideration when selecting a head unit -- as of now, I think they are the only brand to offer an 8" all-screen option. I think I still want to go with an android head unit, but I may find myself switching to a different brand or even non-android based unit.
I think @surfer63 wrote about fyt units needing to install obdII before any other Bluetooth devices like cell phones. He has really taken the time to post great info about these units, it just takes a little time and more knowledge than I have to sift through the info and determine if it applies to your unit. I have the hengcheng pro S9.
Chris Laymon said:
Thanks everyone for chiming in! I know this is a very dated thread by this point, but I felt like I had a few things worth mentioning in case anyone comes looking for it.
Per Joying's customer service, the snapdragon product line (currently) ONLY allow pairing with JOYING-brand Bluetooth products (i.e. steering wheel controller, TPMS, or the OBDII device) and devices categorized as phones.
I think this is a bummer because, well, I feel like one of the biggest reasons to buy an android head unit over other devices is because of the open-source, "do what you want" liberty that isn't given by its competition. This also stinks because it means that a device like an Amazon Echo Auto cannot be used at all -- this device would allow hands-free navigation or music, etc., but it requires a Bluetooth or AUX connection, both of which Joying does not seem to afford for the snapdragon products
I am still going to wait to see how/if the Snapdragon product line is improved as was rumored. I'm also curious to see how Apple's announcement of iOS 16's new and improved Apple CarPlay will change on these devices.
I don't want to discount Joying as a consideration when selecting a head unit -- as of now, I think they are the only brand to offer an 8" all-screen option. I think I still want to go with an android head unit, but I may find myself switching to a different brand or even non-android based unit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You still don't appear to understand that there is no "joying" headunit. Your comments apply to a factory type sold by a seller called JOYING.
Without posting the details of the unit from Android system information including the MCU, the comments lack context which may mislead others.