Best Double Din Head Unit 2015

Apple CarPlay Pioneer AVH-4100NEX

Meet the Pioneer AVH-4100NEX – Forget best double din 2015, this model is quite possibly the best double din head unit EVER.

Pioneer really hit a home run this year.  I think it’s pretty safe to say the Pioneer AVH-4100NEX is the best double din head unit of 2015.  Lately, it’s all I sell at the shop. Customers are initially attracted to this model based largely on the great cell phone integration features.  This unit is flexible in that it supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As of this writing, no other brand offers a model that does both.

Pioneer set it up in a pretty smart way.  For two phone families (or the person who has an iPhone for personal use and Android for work), you can change a simple setting in the menu to switch between modes.  Both devices can be connected at the same time as Apple users will connect to USB 1 and Android users will connect to USB 2.  This unit is so jam packed with great, functional features.  The only reason you’d want to move up in head unit is if you needed something with on board GPS.

Google Maps Android Auto on Pioneer AVH-4100NEX
Google Maps using Android Auto on Pioneer AVH-4100NEX

With Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, you can effectively turn this head unit into a GPS unit – assuming you have cell service.  That’s the only downside to these features.  If you drive into areas that lack cell service, you lose these Android Auto and Apple CarPlay features because they rely on a cellular data connection from your phone. Depending on where you live and drive, this may not be a concern.

In our area, it’s not much of a concern for most.  For the customers who really rely on GPS and drive into areas without cell service, they prefer to have on board GPS which works regardless of cell service.  These folks usually step up to the AVIC-7100NEX or AVIC-8100NEX both of which have on board navigation in addition to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Apple CarPlay Pioneer AVH-4100NEX
Apple CarPlay displayed on Pioneer AVH-4100NEX

Most people are sold on this stereo once I plug their phone in and they see the awesome integration ability of Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.  However, aside from these two very popular and convenient interfaces, the AVH-4100NEX actually has a lot more to offer.

Disclaimer: Android Auto is supposed to work on all Android devices with Lollipop 5.0 and up, however I’ve had a few customers with Lollipop 5.0 where it was not yet functional including the Nexus 6 – I’m sure this will be resolved soon, but to really test functionality I recommend you try connecting your own phone in a showroom with a functional, up to date model. Apple CarPlay will only work with iPhone 5 and up.  UPDATE 5/11/15 – Just tried with a customer’s Google Nexus 6 with Lollipop 5.1, worked no problem.

That’s a resistive touch screen?  Really?

Yes, I’ve had tech savvy customers ask this upon first meeting the AVH-4100NEX because they can’t get over how bright and responsive the screen is.  Although this is a resistive touch screen, it’s the best quality resistive touch screen I’ve seen (also used on all other 2015 NEX models except for the 8100 which uses a capacitive touch screen).  It’s very bright, rich and responsive.  It’s a huge improvement over last years models – not that they were bad, they’re just that much better. In fact, these new resistive touch screens are more responsive than the App Radio 4 which was released just last fall and features a capacitive touch screen.

Sound quality and audio control features galore!

So a few years ago I’d tell you Pioneer sounded like garbage and to never build a high fidelity audio system using a Pioneer double din.  They were usually good with features, but they typically sounded muddy and lacked warmth, clarity, richness and detail.  Thankfully, Pioneer really stepped up their game in the sound quality arena, most recently with their App Radio 4 and these sound quality features carry through to all the 2015 NEX models.  I can’t say for sure that this unit sounds better than my Sony XAV-701HD.  I have a feeling using an iPod or CD as a source, the Sony will still have the slight advantage.  However, I’m sure the Pioneer will sound better playing FLAC audio files because – oh, yeah, it can play FLAC audio and guess what, my Sony can’t.

Best Double Din Head Unit 2015 - Pioneer AVH-4100NEX EQ
Best Double Din Head Unit 2015 – Pioneer AVH-4100NEX EQ

The best double din head unit of 2015 includes a lot of convenient audio control features including a 13 band EQ.

Best Double Din Head Unit 2015 - Pioneer AVH-4100NEX Digital Time Alignment
Best Double Din Head Unit 2015 – Pioneer AVH-4100NEX Digital Time Alignment

Digital time alignment – both a basic version and advanced.

Best Double DIn 2015 - Pioneer AVH-4100NEX Listening Position
Best Double DIn 2015 – Pioneer AVH-4100NEX Listening Position

Listening position is time alignment for the less tech savvy.

Best Double DIn Head Unit 2015 - Pioneer AVH-4100NEX Crossover Adjustments
Best Double DIn Head Unit 2015 – Pioneer AVH-4100NEX Crossover Adjustments

Built in crossovers for front, rear and subwoofer with slope adjustment. 

With all of these audio control tools along with a 4 volt pre-amp output and FLAC audio playback ability, the AVH-4100NEX can easily serve as the source in a high fidelity audio system.

Convenience features up the wazoo – CD/DVD, Bluetooth, SiriusXM Ready, Pandora, Reverse Camera, HDMI and Detachable Face

I think most consumers expect these features, but they are surprised to find out similar head units such as the App Radio 4 or Alpine iLX-007 lack some of these options.  If you want Apple CarPlay and SiriusXM this is where it starts.  Both Pioneer’s App Radio 4 and Alpine’s iLX-007 are not SiriusXM ready.  Although I don’t care for SiriusXM, some people have to have it.  The aforementioned models also lack a CD player.  Not a deal breaker for most, but sometimes you want to keep your options open.  And that’s really what this head unit does.  I can’t think of anything it lacks other than on board GPS and if you need on board GPS, check out the AVIC-7100NEX or AVIC-8100NEX.

It’s one of the very few quality double din heads I’ve come across that has a detachable face.  I think this thing belongs in my Jeep because of that feature alone.  It’s all these little features that add up to make this such a great head unit.  Unlike Alpine’s iLX-007, if you don’t feel like connecting your cell phone through the USB port, this model does have Bluetooth for both handsfree calling and audio streaming.  You just can’t use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto unless you’re connected.

Pioneer AVH-4100NEX Review
Pioneer AVH-4100NEX – Best Double Din 2015

Although Pandora is supported with both iPhone and Android Auto I will tell you it’s a bit quirky to switch to this source for Android users.  Because Pandora communicates through Bluetooth with Android devices, Android users must change their Smartphone settings when they wish to use Pandora.  Oddly enough, in the Smartphone Menu it appears as though Pandora is an optional source when Smartphone settings are set up for Android Auto:

Best Double Din 2015 - Setting up Android Auto on AVH-4100NEX
Best Double Din 2015 – Setting up Android Auto on AVH-4100NEX

However, Android users will not be able to select Pandora when connected through USB 2 in this mode.  I believe this is due to the Android Auto software interfering with Pandora.  Once Android Auto is launched it locks the phone out so you must control everything from the stereo. The idea behind this is to get you to stop playing with your phone while you’re driving and rely more on voice control.  Well, that’s great, except Pandora isn’t an Android Auto compatible app so it leaves you no way to launch the app.

Depending on what Android device you have, you may simply have to disconnect your phone from USB 2 in order to launch Pandora OR you may have to go back into the Smartphone Setup and switch Android Auto to Off or switch the Connection type to Bluetooth.  A bit of a pain in the arse right now, but something I think Pioneer, Pandora and Android Auto are working out.  This is only an issue for Android users, Pandora doesn’t have any hiccups for iPhone and Apple CarPlay users.

Best Double Din Head Unit 2015 - Apple CarPlay Smartphone Settings
Best Double Din Head Unit 2015 – Apple CarPlay Smartphone Settings

Thankfully it’s easy enough to switch between Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth for Android users wishing to access Pandora.  The settings menu of this head unit is laid out in a very functional and logical way.  For anyone who will be accessing this menu often (multi-phone users), you can simply create a shortcut and make the Smartphone menu a favorite.  Favorites are accessed by tapping the star on the upper left tab.  Below you will see a few favorite menu pages I selected based on use in our store demonstrating this model:

Best Double Din 2015 - AVH-4100NEX Favorites Menu
Best Double Din 2015 – AVH-4100NEX Favorites Menu

It’s the little things that matter

Although this may seem like a frivolous feature to some, the ability to customize and personalize the display is important – to me and to a lot of consumers.  Matching the display to your vehicle’s interior is a perk that makes this double din head unit even more desirable.  The Pioneer AVH-4100NEX has a very flexible and customizable display menu.

Best Double Din 2015 - Pioneer AVH-4100NEX Display Features
Best Double Din 2015 – Pioneer AVH-4100NEX Display Features

Users can select from several illumination options or go into the custom color menu to fine tune a button color. Additionally, they can select from several different color themes for the main menu as well as select from several different background images (or upload your own).

Best Double Din 2015 - Pioneer AVH-4100NEX Display Features
Best Double Din 2015 – Pioneer AVH-4100NEX Display Features

You can also populate the home page with your favorite and most commonly used sources.  It’s really easy to do.  Drag and drop to the top bar and you’re done.

Best Double Din 2015 - Pioneer AVH-4100NEX Display Features
Best Double Din 2015 – Pioneer AVH-4100NEX Display Features

Pioneer AVH-4100NEX – Best double din head unit 2015

As previously mentioned, I can’t think of any features this head unit is missing.  It even has an HDMI input – not that I think you should be using it for anything, but it has it. The attraction begins with the Pioneer AVH-4100NEX when you see the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, but it really reels you in with all the other features:

  • 4V RCA Preouts
  • 13 Band EQ
  • Digital Time Alignment
  • Built in Crossovers with Slope Adjustment for Front, Rear and Sub
  • Source Level Adjustment
  • Detachable Face
  • Bluetooth
  • Dual USB
  • Rear A/V in
  • Reverse Camera Ready
  • SiriusXM Ready
  • HD Radio
  • Pandora
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Android Auto
  • Flexible and Customizable Display
  • Bright and Responsive 7″ Resistive Touch Screen Display
  • CD/DVD Drive
  • FLAC Audio Playback (via SD card)
  • SD card slot (behind motorized face which by the way you can also tilt/angle)
  • iDatalink Maestro/Steering Wheel Control Ready

Unless you need on board navigation, you should visit a shop that carries it and take the Pioneer AVH-4100NEX out for a spin. It’s something you really should see in person and try with your own phone so you can get a feel for how it works. Until Kenwood releases their long awaited Apple CarPlay/Android Auto DDX9902s and DDX9702s or Parrots releases their RNB6, I think it’s safe to say the Pioneer AVH-4100NEX has the lead for best double din head unit 2015.

Recommended install accessories and tips for the DIYer

If you’re going to buy the AVH-4100NEX and install it yourself, there’s a few accessories you may want to pick up to make your install clean and functional:

  • PAC TR7 – Read this install tip from PAC Audio.  The tech tip is required if you plan on using the HDMI input, A/V input or DVD function.  TR7 is required either way.
  • USB-CBL – Flush Mount USB Port – the head unit only comes with one USB extension cable so it’s a good idea to grab one or two of these for flush mounting and routing USB1 and USB2.
  • HDMI and USB Flush Mount Port – Convenient if planning of accessing video content from a phone.  Will need phone specific adapter.
  • IS335 – in case you want to use the rear auxiliary input, allows you to flush mount an AUX port.

 

Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS

Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS displays Yelp ratings.

The Pioneer double din AVH-X2700BS is by far the best value double din touch screen head unit I’ve seen so far for 2015

In terms of double din touch screen head units, it’s quite common for manufacturers to try and pack as many possible features and attractive logos on the box in an attempt to entice as many customers as possible.  Marketing gurus think “Who cares how well the feature works?  Just get the label on the product!”.

Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS displays Apple Maps.
Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS displays Apple Maps.

In the case of the Pioneer double din AVH-X2700BS, the long list of features and functions are not only impressive, they’re actually quite useful and functional!  What a refreshing surprise.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been disappointed by a label or logo on a product box or advertisement only to find out when the product arrives you need a very specific application, device and accessory to make it work and even when you do all that, it works miserably. Thankfully, you can forget all that with the Pioneer double din AVH-X2700BS.

Check out this long list of features and functions that actually work QUITE well:

  • 6.1″ Resistive Touch Screen
  • Bluetooth audio streaming with Pandora control for iPhone and Android
  • Bluetooth handsfree has clear call quality, phone book access, call history, number pad and includes Voice Activation button that works with Siri and Google Voice on select Android devices (Note: This is not a feature Pioneer advertises or guarantees because it does not work with all Android devices and they are unable to test and verify compatibility on all Android devices.  You may have to disable S Voice on certain Samsung Devices – try it on a store display model with you’re own phone if this is a must have feature) 
  • SiriusXM Ready – requires SXV300 or SXV200 tuner
  • Standard steering wheel control input – requires Metra ASWC-1 or PAC Audio SWI-CP5
  • iDatalink Maestro ready (advanced steering wheel control integration for select vehicles – see idatalink.maestro.com for details and vehicle compatibility)
  • 4 Volt Preouts for Front, Rear and Subwoofer
  • Built in crossovers for Front, Rear (HPF) and Subwoofer (LPF) with selectable frequency (50 – 200 Hz) and slope adjustment (- 6 dB to -24 dB).
  • 13 Band EQ
  • Digital time alignment
  • Multicolor display with advanced customization options (multiple themes to choose from, upload your own background image or keep it simple and clean with no background at all – 5 display colors, 112 key colors, 13 background/splash images to choose from)
  • App Radio One integration – this is cool – offers easy integration of iPhone or Android via USB connection.  Allows access to Maps, Music, Weather and Notifications – Oh, and you don’t need any special adapters!  Just a free software update and a free app.
  • Reverse camera input
  • Rear A/V in
  • Rear USB port

App Radio One

Okay – the name sucks and Pioneer has gotta know it’s hella confusing.  First we had the stereo model called App Radio (1st edition) and it required the App Radio App.  Then there was the subsequent App Radio 2 and then the App Radio 3 and now there’s an App Radio 4.

Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS displays App Radio Live interface.
Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS displays App Radio Live interface.

After pissing everyone off with compatibility issues and inherent quirkiness on their previous App Radio models and modes, Pioneer now has a whole new line of double din DVD stereos that feature a NEW App Mode and it requires the use of two apps and a free software update:

However, it’s really nothing like the old App Radio Mode.  Once you get past the name you’ll find It’s responsive, accurate and aesthetically pleasing.  It has a totally different layout and user interface than App Radio Mode.  It’s what App Radio Mode should have been.  So they’re calling this new app feature App Radio One. Confused yet?

The “One” is referring to the simple connection.  One cable.  No ugly adapters and HDMI connections.  iPhone users simply connect their USB to 30 pin or USB to lightning to the USB input on the stereo (Even though Pioneer doesn’t list the iPhone 4 as compatible, I did try and test it and it works).  Select Android users can connect using a USB to micro cable like the CD-MU200 – please check the compatibility chart for your phone and software.

What App Radio One Does Do

App Radio One allows you a really clean way to access Media, Maps, Events and Calendar all from one screen. If we tap the navigation icon on upper left quadrant from the App Radio Live home screen, we will be shown our current position with a space on top enter an address or point of interest.  Let’s see how it fares trying to find me the Cheesecake Factory (not really a fan of the food, but I am a fan of Big Bang Theory).

Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS displays Apple Maps in App Radio One mode.
Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS displays Apple Maps in App Radio One mode.

Initially it tried to search for Cheesecake road until I tapped the POI icon on the bottom right of the screen.  After selecting POI, it brought up a list of restaurants nearby with *GASP* Yelp ratings. How COOL is that?!

Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS displays Yelp ratings.
Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS displays Yelp ratings.

Interestingly enough, when you select a restaurant you do see the option to “Read Reviews”, however it doesn’t appear to work.  It launches the browser on screen and you see the request from Yelp recommending you use their app, but nothing works when you tap anywhere on the browser screen.  Maybe eventually?  Not that you should really be reading Yelp reviews and driving at the same time ANYHOW, but that’s besides the point.

Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS shows you the weather in App Radio One mode.
Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS shows you the weather in App Radio One mode.

Here in Connecticut, I never know when we’re going to get hit with a freak snow storm or arctic blast so I think it’s pretty handy that I can pull up the latest forecast.  Not that the forecast is ever that accurate anyways.  I took this picture Thursday.  Yeah, it didn’t even get CLOSE to 25 on Saturday.

While driving around in single digit weather, I like to crank up the heat and crank up the tunes and forget how frighteningly cold it really is outside.  I try to let my mind escape into the music.

Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS genre search in App Radio One mode.
Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS genre search in App Radio One mode.

Not sure what you’re in the mood for?  Do a Genre search.  Have something particular in mind?  Try an Artist search.

Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS displays Artist list with album art.
Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS displays Artist list with album art.

Once you’ve put on some soul soothing Adele, you can enjoy the album art displayed by the Pioneer double din AVH-X2700BS.

Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS now playing screen in App Radio One mode.
Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS now playing screen in App Radio One mode.

Can’t remember if you have an important meeting or concert to attend?  Take a quick peek at the events tab to see what’s coming up.

Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS displays upcoming events from your calendar.
Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS displays upcoming events from your calendar.

What App Radio One Does Not Do

  • App Radio One will NOT do video from your phone.  

The lack of HDMI means no streaming YouTube videos from your phone (do you really need that feature anyways?).

  • App Radio One will NOT provide turn by turn voice guidance.

Hey, they can’t give it all away for free.  Pioneer may add this feature at a later date at an additional cost.  My guess is they will charge a monthly fee for a premium version of the app.

Did I mention I love the customizable display?

This might seem trivial to some, but for me, this is one of the things that makes this stereo a great option for everyone. You can customize the look to your own taste.

Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS has multiple splash screens to choose from.
Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS has multiple splash screens to choose from.

There are multiple background images to select from and you can even upload your own image if desired – Or leave it completely blank with a plain, black background.

Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS display customized in plain, non flashy manner.
Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS display customized in plain, non flashy manner.

There are 112 key colors to choose from and 5 background illumination options to choose from. You can keep the look plain jane with no background and white lighting like you see above.

Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS has a highly customizable display.
Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS has a highly customizable display.

Or you can add some color and zest to your life with blinky backgrounds and vibrant navigation themes.

Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS display customized in a colorful and flashy way.
Pioneer Double Din AVH-X2700BS display customized in a colorful and flashy way.

What doesn’t it do?

There are a few reasons to step up from this Pioneer double din model.  If you want voice recognition and access to multiple apps (think Siri and you own an iPhone 5 & up) then you should consider the Apple CarPlay compatible App Radio 4 or Alpine iLX-007.  These models will allow you to use Siri to tell the stereo what music to play: “Hey Siri, play artist Death Cab for Cutie”. They also allow access to other CarPlay compatible apps – scroll to bottom of this link to see latest apps.

If you want Android Auto integration you’ll want to check out the new 2015 models that feature Android Auto integration from Pioneer, Parrot or Kenwood.  These models integrate with Google Voice for more than just handsfree functions: “Hey Google, play artist Death Cab for Cutie using Spotify”.

So if you’re looking for more advanced cell phone integration like more voice control and the ability to have your text messages read to you and allow you to dictate a response back – then you want to save up a few more bucks and go for an Apple CarPlay or Android Auto compatible model.

For those of you interested in using your cell phone for GPS you will also have to consider how and where you will be using this feature.  When you’re relying on your cell phone, you’re relying on good cell service and data usage.  If you travel into areas with spotty cell service or no cell service and you need consistently reliable GPS, then you may want to consider a double din with built in GPS.

If you are an audiophile and appreciate subtle nuances, details, depth, clarity and you can differentiate between the quality of one head unit’s digital to analog convertor and another – you will want to step up to something like the App Radio 4 or Sony’s XAV712HD.  You won’t get the same App Radio One integration with either model, but you will get great sound quality and excellent audio control tools.

At the end of the day, unless you design and build your own double din stereo, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to find one that has EVERY feature you’re looking for.  However, chances are pretty good the Pioneer double din AVH-X2700BS will have most of the features you’re after.

 

Video Post – Best Double Din Navigation 2014

Easy Source Select AVIC-5000NEX

Car Stereo Chick Hands on Review – Best Double Din Navigation for 2014

I write some pretty long posts.  Not everyone feels like reading them.  Don’t worry.  I started making videos again.

Here is my video reviewing the best double din navigation systems for 2014.  This is a hands on review of the Kenwood DNX691HD, Kenwood DNN991HD, Alpine INE-W940, Alpine INE-W957HD, Pioneer AVIC-5000NEX and Pioneer AVIC-7000NEX.  Enjoy!

Jeep Wrangler Stereo Upgrade

Jeep Wrangler Stereo Upgrade Double Din Installed
Sony Double Din Installed in 2013 Jeep Wrangler
Sony Double Din Installed in 2013 Jeep Wrangler

Thinking about a Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade, but not quite sure where to start?

Be sure to check out my other Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade articles which can be found here. Looking to upgrade your 2018+ Wrangler JL/JLU stereo? Check out this article here.

If you own a 2007 up JK 2 door or 4 door Unlimited, you know what I’m talking about.  At lower volume levels the Jeep Wrangler stereo is tolerable.  However, as soon as you try to crank it up – like when the is top off – forget it.  You can’t turn it up loud enough to hear over the wind noise.

You may also notice this other annoying peculiarity in your Jeep Wrangler stereo.  As you turn the volume up, the only frequencies that seem to get any louder are upper mid range and treble frequencies.  The bass level stays kind of flat.  This self attenuation feature is to prevent you from blowing stock speakers and to save Jeep the cost of having to replace them under warranty.

There are a number of things working against you with the factory Jeep Wrangler stereo.  Luckily, it’s relatively easy to overhaul this system and do a Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade.

Where to start with your Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade?

We see a lot of Jeep Wrangler’s in our shop and for the most part, we’re replacing and upgrading everything – head unit, speakers, amp, subwoofer.  I realize, that’s not always in everyone’s budget and for a lot of people out there, you may have to do your Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade in different phases.  I recommend you start with what is going to give you the biggest impact and biggest improvement overall – the subwoofer.

Even if you installed the best 6.5″ speakers money could buy, they would still be incapable of reproducing the natural frequency range so effectively produced by an aftermarket subwoofer.

When adding a subwoofer to a upgrade a Jeep Wrangler stereo, most of my customers are looking to keep the installation discreet for a couple reasons.

  1. There’s not exactly a ton of extra cargo space in these things to begin with.
  2. They’re such easy targets for theft (I will address this as well later on in the post – there is an easy way to add an alarm to these vehicles.  I recommend you protect your investment and you can do so without any additional remote control.  The alarm I recommend works off the factory key).

For a Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade, I highly recommend installing JL Audio’s Stealthbox subwoofer.

 

Stealth Subwoofer Enclosure by JL Audio for 2 door model Jeep Wrangler 07 up
Stealth Subwoofer Enclosure by JL Audio for 2 door model Jeep Wrangler 07 up

They offer it for both the two door model and 4 door unlimited.  Check it out.

JL Audio offers a Stealth Subwoofer Enclosure for 2007 and up Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Stealth Subwoofer Enclosure by JL Audio for 4 door model Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 07 up

Note – if you have the factory subwoofer enclosure in the Unlimited model (2011 and up), you will also want to purchase these two additional Mopar parts to replace the trim that goes around the seat belt bolt. A plain (without subwooofer) passenger side rear cargo trim panel (part #1PU12DX9AG) and a cover for the upper seat belt / roll bar (part #1PU18DX9AD) from Jeep/Mopar parts.  If you have the rear 12 volt outlet as well, you will lose that feature.

If you start your Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade by adding one of these options, you will also need to add a separate amplifier as well.  Additionally, if you’re going to be running this off the stock head unit, I also highly recommend using Audio Controls LC2i line output converter.  This product helps to correct any factory attenuation that occurs in the signal being fed to your new amplifier and subwoofer.  In this scenario, with the factory Jeep head unit maintained, we’re still receiving audio signal from the factory stereo.  The same factory stereo that limits the increase in bass frequencies as you turn the volume up.  Because of that attenuation feature, it’s beneficial to have a line output converter that is designed to integrate with such a head unit.  The Audio Control LC2i will provide a more seamless and smooth increase in subwoofer volume as you turn your stock volume knob up.  If you’re doing an aftermarket head unit at the same time, don’t worry about this aspect.  Replacing the stereo also addresses this annoying attenuation feature.

Either way you go with your Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade, you will want to have a separate subwoofer control knob.

Bass Knob Jeep Wrangler
Bass knob for Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade

I think this is a must in any installation, factory head unit or aftermarket.  Especially if you listen to a variety of music.  Every recording is different; some songs have more bass, some have less.  A bass knob gives you an easy way to tweak the bass level on the fly from song to song for ultimate listening enjoyment.  In the Jeep Wrangler, there is room right in front of the center console behind the shifter for such a knob.

Let’s talk amplifiers for your Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade

Okay, so hopefully I’ve convinced you to invest in one of the subwoofers discussed above in order to upgrade your Jeep Wrangler stereo.  And by now you realize you will also need an amplifier to power it up.  If you see yourself also eventually upgrading and amplifying the speakers (highly recommended) then you’ll want to buy yourself a nice, high powered, yet small, 5 channel amplifier.  Remember, space is limited in these vehicles.

My favorite amp for a Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade is the Alpine PDXV9.

Alpine PDXV9, perfect 5 channel amp for Wrangler Stereo Upgrades
Alpine PDXV9, perfect 5 channel amp for a Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade.

This baby puts out 100 watts X 4 RMS to the interior speakers and a whopping 500 watts RMS to the subwoofer.  For comparison, most stock head units put out around 10 -15 watts RMS per channel, aftermarket head units are around 18 watts RMS per channel.  So in terms of power and output, this is a huge upgrade.

If you’re building your system in stages, you can always wire up the amp for the subwoofer channel only until you invest in some higher quality interior speakers.  The bass knob for this amp is the RUX-KNOB, pictured above in my own Jeep Wrangler center console area.

There is room to mount the amp under the passenger or driver seat in either the 2 door or 4 door model.

If you’re feeling a little sticker shock on the price of the amp, I do have an alternative suggestion.  Consider purchasing an Alpine head unit like the CDE-153BT and using the Alpine KTP-445A power pack amplifier.  It’s very tiny, compact amplifier that is easy to install and it will boost power to your interior speakers to 45 watts x 4.  It’s designed specifically for Alpine head units.  It’s pretty easy on the wallet too.  You could then purchase a mono or single channel amplifier such as JL Audio’s XD 600/1V2 for the Unlimited enclosure or the XD 300/1V2 for the 2 door enclosure.  Both of these JL Audio amps will work with the HD-RLC bass knob.

Let’s talk about your source for your Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade

One thing I always stress with customers in my own shop is this.  The source of your music is like the heart of your stereo system.  You could buy and install the best car audio speakers and amplifiers money can buy, but if it’s all being pushed through a crummy, basic stock head unit, it’s like taking two steps forward and one step back.  You’re still limited to the sound quality and capability of your source.  Technically speaking, you could install something like JL Audio’s Cleansweep processor and keep the stock head unit.  However, it’s really not the same as an aftermarket head unit.  That’s just cleaning up and leveling out what’s already there.  The Cleansweep is not really capable of improving detail and resolution.  That still comes down to your head unit’s digital to analog convertor.

Desirable features like detail, richness and vibrancy come across in the quality of your head unit’s digital to analog convertor.  Because of this, I highly recommend replacing the stock head unit.  If you have the budget, I recommend you go for a nice double din touch screen head unit.

Double Din Jeep Wrangler
Double Din Sony in my Jeep Wrangler

Having the large touch screen just makes it so much easier to access and search all your music sources.  Connect an iPod and search by artist, playlist, song title, etc.  Stream Pandora from your phone and search by channel and category.

Whether you decide to go for a single din or double din head unit, you need to be aware of some key features that will be beneficial to your Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade.  When shopping for head units, look for features like these:

  • 3 high voltage RCA preouts 4-5 volts (the higher the sensitivity here, the more kick and efficiency you will get out of your amplifier)
  • Bluetooth (seriously, everyone should have this feature by now.  It’ so convenient and in some states legally required for making and receiving calls.  Android users – this feature will also allow you to stream your music pre-amp level which is better sound quality than through a head phone jack connection)
  • USB (best sound quality for iPod or iPhone.  In general, try to avoid connecting any device via headphone jack.  When you connect via the head phone jack, this uses the amplifier in the device, as well as the amplifier in your stereo – so it’s like amplifying an amplifier – not the cleanest way to listen to your tunes)
  • Steering Wheel Control Capability (most Jeep Wranglers stereos have this and it’s a really nice feature to retain – consider PAC Audios RP4-CH11 to make your installation easier)

Jeep Wrangler owners should consider the new Alpine X009-WRA which is the biggest, baddest and coolest double din head unit I think you’ll ever see for a Jeep Wrangler. However, it isn’t cheap so if the cost of this head unit is beyond your budget, you can check out this post for help selecting the best double din head unit.  Or if you’re interested in a navigation double din stereo, check out this post.

Update 5/10/15 – Be sure to check out my post on the Pioneer AVH-X4100NEX.  This model is new for 2015 and is both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible and has a detachable face – ideal for Wranglers!

Speakers for Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade

Okay, so we’ve addressed the subwoofer, the amplifier and we’ve addressed your source for your Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade.  Now let’s talk about speakers.  The stock Jeep Wrangler stereo system was redesigned in 2007.  This redesign eliminated the previous standard issue front 4″x6″ speaker housing.  We can now accommodate a standard 6.5″ component system.

I can haz tweeters?
I can has tweeters?

Thanks to the assistance of one of Alpine’s engineers, who worked with Jeep on this redesign, Wrangler owners now have standard sized speakers front and rear.

Jeep Front Speakers
Jeep Front Speakers – Don’t believe Crutchfield, you can fit a 6.5″ there no problem.

The rear sound bar accommodates 6.5″ coaxial speakers.

Jeep Rear Coaxial Speakers
Jeep Rear 6.5″ Coaxial Speakers

Previous model Jeeps were very limited in speaker size and thus potential output – it’s not exactly easy to find a good quality, high power handling 4″ x 6″ speaker.  Luckily for 2007 and up Jeep Wrangler owners, it’s pretty easy to find good quality, high power handling 6.5″ speakers.

Pick the best of the best

When it comes to purchasing car stereo equipment for your Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade, I always recommend to cherry pick among brands.  Alpine tends to excel in those PDX series amps – they’re the best sounding, high powered, compact amplifiers I’ve heard in the past 14 years.  JL Audio tends to excel in their XD series amplifiers and their American made subwoofers and Stealthbox enclosures.

Every company excels in a couple areas.  It varies from brand to brand and price point to price point and that also changes from year to year.  However, when it comes to speakers, I recommend choosing a company that specializes in speakers.

Morel is one such company, they excel in speakers.  That is all they do.  From $100 speakers to $10,000 speakers and everything in between.  So for speakers in your Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade, I recommend Morel.

Morel has a few different series speakers in their line up and I will describe the pros and con’s of each.

Morel Maximo Series – Entry level

Morel Maximo Series ranging from 80 - 90 watts RMS
Morel Maximo Series ranging from 80 – 90 watts RMS

The Morel Maximo series are considered entry level, but they’re an excellent value and perform well against other entry level brand speakers.  The tweeter is very detailed, yet still smooth and the mid range is a clear improvement over stock.  These speakers are pretty efficient and will perform with limited power output.  However they can also handle a decent amount of power and thus perform even better with proper amplification.  In the front, you could do the Maximo6 and in the rear, the Maximo6C.  The mid range is not as clean as what you will find in the next level up from the Tempo series.  However, you will still find these speakers give you a night and day difference in performance and quality over stock.

Morel Tempo Series – Mid level

Morel Tempo Series speakers, handle between 110 - 120 watts RMS
Morel Tempo Series speakers, handle between 110 – 120 watts RMS

These are some of my favorite speakers that we sell in our shop.  The tweeter is very smooth and mellow, and the mid range is very warm, clean and punchy.  However, these babies really need an amplifier to perform and achieve their full potential.  Capable of 110 – 120 watts RMS, that Alpine PDXV9 will do them well.  In the front, you could use the Tempo6 components and in the rears, the Tempo6c coaxes.  If you prefer more detail in your tweeter, consider the Hybrid series.

Morel Hybrid Series – High end

 

Morel Hybrid series speakers are very smooth, detailed, accurate and warm. Handling between 100 - 140 watts RMS.
Morel Hybrid series speakers are very smooth, detailed, accurate and warm. Handling between 100 – 140 watts RMS.

The Morel Hybrid series speakers are really quite awesome.  The tweeter is very open and airy, yet incredibly smooth and delicate to the ears.  The mid range is clean, accurate, warm and natural.  This is what we have in our own Jeep Wrangler, but honestly there’s no way I can appreciate the full quality of these when the top is off.  Here in Connecticut, we typically have the top off for only 3-4 months out of the year, so we definitely have plenty of time during the rest of the year to appreciate their performance and quality.  In the front, you could use the Hybrid 602’s and in the rear, the Hybrid Integra 602’s.

Ultimate performance and quality does come at a premium price.  For practicality purposes, many of my customers choose the Tempo series or Maximo series and are quite happy with their choice.  Keep in mind, speakers are just one piece of the puzzle in your Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade.

Installation gear for your Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade

Whenever you install an aftermarket amplifier in a vehicle, you will need quality power and ground cable, a fuse, fuse holder, speaker wire and RCA cables.  Always choose 100 percent oxygen free copper.  We use Stinger wire and Stinger RCA cables in our own shop.  If you’re installing the amp under the front passenger seat, you can get away with 6 foot RCA’s.

Metra and Best Kits both make a double din dash kit for this car, however we prefer the fit and finish of the Best Kits BKCDK642 kit.

Depending on whether or not your car has steering wheel controls, you will probably want to buy a PAC Audio interface harness.  The C2R-CHY4 is fine if you do not have steering wheel controls (provides retained accessory power, turns on any stock amp if equipped and if being retained) or go for the combo piece RP4-CH11 if you do have steering wheel controls.

Sound deadening material – Dynamat definitely helps to cut down on rattles and reverberations in all vehicles.  I highly recommend it to any customer who is upgrading their stereo.  In the Wrangler, I would recommend a Trunk kit and a Wedge pack.  Definitely do the back cargo area and sound bar area.  It really does improve sound quality, cut down on rattles and road noise.  Overall, it helps to give you a cleaner bass and mid range response.

Protecting your investment – get an OEM style alarm for your Jeep Wrangler

These vehicles are easy targets for theft so you want to think about protecting what you’ve invested in your Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade.  Consider the add on alarm available from DEI aka Directed Electronics (parent company of Viper).

3903T Jeep Add on Alarm System
3903T Jeep Add on Alarm System

The 3903T is an aftermarket alarm designed to work with your factory Jeep key.  It adds basic alarm features such as a shock sensor, starter kill relay and it also comes with a standard outboard 6 tone siren.  Besides the 3903T, Jeep owners should really add the 508D proximity sensor.

When properly installed, the 508D creates a radar bubble around the vehicle.  The sensor can be installed under the center console.  You really want it towards the center of the vehicle for best performance.  If that field is disturbed – say by someone reaching into the open vehicle – the alarm goes off.  It’s a great theft deterrent.

It’s very important to have this type of product professionally installed.  You need to adjust the proximity field to the point where it is effective and not over sensitive.  It’s easy to over do it.  If the radar bubble is too large, the alarm will go off anytime anyone walks by your car in a parking lot.

Here is another cool product to consider from Tuffy.  Keep in mind, it does require modification to the JL Audio Stealthbox Unlimited enclosure.  That enclosure sits higher than the Tuffy security deck is designed for (speaking from experience here).

Protect your stuff in your Jeep Wrangler when the top is off
Protect your stuff in your Jeep Wrangler when the top is off

Tuffy offers this product for several model Jeeps, please refer to their website to order the correct one for your vehicle.

In my own 2 door Wrangler, we’ve removed the backseat and have fabricated a custom down firing subwoofer enclosure mounted where the backseat was.  Next Spring, we will be installing the Tuffy Security Deck.  Note, if you have the 2 door like we do with backseat removed, you will want to order the 4 door model security deck to cover the full cargo area.

Jeep Wrangler Stereo Upgrade Conclusion

As you can see, it’s not that difficult or complicated to upgrade the stereo in a Jeep Wrangler.  We do it all the time at our shop in Brookfield, CT.

If you have to build your system in phases, I would recommend starting with the subwoofer.  Add in the frequency range that you’re missing.  Next step would be an aftermarket head unit.  This gives you more output and control over the stock speakers.  Most aftermarket head units have crossovers built in.  This feature will allow you to filter out the bass that would normally go to the stock speakers.  This will allow them to play only mid range and treble frequencies while the subwoofer plays all the bass.  After that, I recommend upgrading your speakers and lastly, make sure you amplify those speakers.

The end result?  Investing in these quality car audio products, and having them properly installed and tuned, will do wonders for your Jeep Wrangler driving experience.  When you upgrade the stereo in your Jeep Wrangler, you’ll be able to crank it up and actually hear and enjoy the stereo system.

Don’t forget to check out my other Jeep Wrangler stereo upgrade articles which can be found here.

Best Touch Screen Car Stereo 2014

Pioneer's Double Din Touch Screen Car Stereo Featuring Apple Car Play

Best Double Din Touch Screen Car Stereo 2014 – Hands on review by Car Stereo Chick

Pioneer's Double Din Touch Screen Car Stereo Featuring Apple Car Play
Pioneer’s Double Din Touch Screen Car Stereo Featuring Apple Car Play

Estimated read time: 12 minutes 21 seconds.  Want to read later?

Update 5/10/15 – Be sure to check out my post on the Pioneer AVH-X4100NEX.  This model is new for 2015 and is both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible.

Selecting the best touch screen car stereo can be an overwhelming and confusing process.  I’m here to help break it down for you and make your selection easier.

There are subtle differences in features between these touch screen car stereo models that make one option a better choice over another depending on your needs and individual taste.

Each touch screen car stereo reviewed here comes with the expected standard features such as:

  • USB
  • Bluetooth
  • Single CD/DVD
  • AM/FM tuner
  • Reverse camera input
  • Rear aux in

Unbiased information to help you choose

My aim with this post is to provide you with the same knowledge and guidance that I provide to customers in my own shop.  My job is to merely present you with the features, benefits, pros and cons of each touch screen car stereo in unbiased manner.  I do this so that you, the individual consumer, can decide which model is best for your own unique needs.

In our shop, we carry three touch screen car stereo models from Pioneer, three models from Kenwood and one model from Sony.  In case you’re wondering why I don’t carry Alpine double din touch screen car stereos, it’s because they tend to be lacking in features and value in this particular niche.  For example, the Alpine touch screen car stereo model IVE-W535HD is not even SiriusXM Ready – yet for about the same price you can buy an Alpine touch screen car stereo with navigation and SiriusXM capability.

So who has the best double din touch screen car stereo?

It truly depends on what features are most important to you.  Read on to find the best touch screen car stereo for you.

Entry level touch screen car stereo models from Pioneer and Kenwood

I recently reviewed our two entry level double din head units from Kenwood and Pioneer, the DDX371 and the AVH-X2600BT in a more detailed review found here. If you’re looking to stay in the entry level price range, you’ll want to read this in depth post detailing the pros and cons of each unit.  In this more elaborate double din head unit post, I’ll briefly summarize the pros and cons of these two entry level double din head units.

Pioneer’s entry level double din touch head unit for 2014 is the AVH-X2600BT.

Double Din - Bigger is Better
Double Din – Bigger is Better

Pioneer AVH-X2600BT Pros

  • Excellent Bluetooth Handsfree call sound quality with voice dial feature
  • Mutlicolor illumination, various background illumination/graphic choices
  • Esthetically attractive home menu and user interface (it’s pretty)
  • Relatively intuitive and easy to use
  • 3 Preouts for Front, Rear and Sub (2 volt)
  • App Radio Mode Feature (For iPhone 4/4s users requires CD-IUS201s, for iPhone 5 users requires CD-IV203, an Apple Lightning to VGA Adapter)
  • Mirrorlink Capable (CD-MU200 required and Mirrorlink phone required – According to Pioneer, this allows you to access music and phone from your stereo)

Pioneer AVH-X2600BT Cons

  • Only 2 Volt Preout (not good for sound quality if you’re adding amplifiers)
  • Requires tricky parking brake bypass or additional TR7 interface
  • No Volume Knob – Volume rocker instead, however this double din is Steering Wheel Control ready.
  • Does not come with Double Din Sleeve and Trim ring, designed for iso mount only – if your car does not have iso mount kit option you will need additional part ADT-VA133 (think VW Jetta 2002 – 2005).
  • NO SiriusXM compatibility – This unit is not Sat Ready and I know that can be a deal breaker for some, but you can stream Bluetooth Audio with your phone using Pandora or other music apps that sound WAY better anyways – SiriusXM is majorly compressed audio, like 32 kbps (yuck).  That compression rate is fine for talk/entertainment, bad for music.

Introducing Kenwood’s entry level double din head unit, the DDX371.

DDX371 - Best Double Din for the Money?
DDX371 – Best Double Din for the Money?

Kenwood DDX371 Pros

  • Volume Knob – Many consumers find this much easier to use even if their car is equipped with Steering Wheel Controls (which by the way both radios support with additional SWC interface)
  • 4 Volt Preouts for Front, Rear and Sub (Provides better sound quality when using external amplifiers connected through RCA)
  • Easy Parking Brake Bypass
  • Comes with mounting sleeve and trim ring if needed (Which can save some car owners $35)
  • Multicolor illumination
  • SiriusXM Ready! (Requires SXV200 tuner)

Kenwood DDX371 Cons

  • Poor Bluetooth Sound quality for handsfree calling – Kenwood has not updated the Bluetooth processor or mic in this unit – it’s the same as last years model and if you’re on the phone a lot, the Pioneer definitely has better sound quality for handsfree calling.  You may get complaints like “you sound like you’re under water”, “are you in a tunnel or something?” or plain old and pissed off “I can’t hear/understand you, call me later” Click.  If you’re using the Bluetooth mainly to stream your music, this may not be a concern.
  • Slower searching on iPod when connected to USB compared to the Pioneer – not by a lot, maybe 2-3 seconds, but for many consumers every second counts and when I show them the difference on our display, that makes their decision. If you’re the type of consumer who will just leave their iPod on random anyways and skip tracks, that won’t really effect you – same if you’re using Bluetooth audio as you’ll mainly be controlling/selecting music from your phone and just streaming it wirelessly to the stereo.
  • Extremely limited App Mode Feature – designed only for iPhone 4/4s users, mainly for Garmin app priced at $49.99, requires KCA-ip202 accessory – limited music search and control if operating on anything newer than IOS 5.1.1

When we look at the next model up in both lines we come to the Pioneer AVH-X5600BHS and the Kenwood DDX771.

Mid level touch screen car stereo models from Pioneer and Kenwood

Pioneer offers two different 7″ double din touch screen car stereo models.  The AVH-X5600BHS and the AVH-4000NEX.

Meet the first 7″ touch screen car stereo in Pioneer’s line up, the AVH-X5600BHS.

Pioneer's AVH-X5600BHS 7" Double Din Touch Screen Car Stereo
Pioneer’s AVH-X5600BHS 7″ Double Din Touch Screen Car Stereo – Best Double Din Head Unit?  Maybe for your unique needs.

AVH-X5600BHS – The 7” Pioneer double din touch screen adds a few benefits over the 6.1” option such as:

  • SiriusXM capability
  • Built in HD Radio
  • 4 Volt Preouts
  • Motorized screen with optional tilt adjustments

Kenwood’s 7″ double din touch screen car stereo is the DDX771.

Kenwood's 7" Double Din Touch Screen Head Unit 2014
Kenwood’s 7″ Double Din Touch Screen Car Stereo 2014

Kenwood’s DDX771 adds little over the DDX371 other than it’s 7” motorized touch screen with tilt and angle adjustments.

Curiously, both the DDX371 and DDX771 display the Waze icon on their website, however I could not find any detailed information in the owners manuals or supplemental documentation provided by Kenwood on how to utilize this app. I inquired about this with my Kenwood rep and was slightly disappointed with what I found out.  Their answer was this, “Technically you can mirror Waze, or any video content from an iPhone 4/4s, by using the Kenwood video iPod cable”.  To me, that doesn’t really warrant displaying the icon as you still have to control and operate everything from the phone, not the stereo itself.  To get into any sort of real app mode with Kenwood, you need to step up to a model with an HDMI input such as the DDX8901 from their Excelon series.

Looking for app integration with Kenwood?  Check out the DDX8901.

Kenwood's Double Din 7" Touch Screen with App Control feature
Kenwood’s Best Double Din 7″ Touch Screen Car Stereo with App Control feature

The DDX8901 is part of Kenwood’s Excelon series which features 2 year warranty, better sound quality, and more equalization control. Within the DDX8901 there is an app mode for both iPhone and for Android and like Pioneer there is a long list of compatible phones, requirements and limitations which can be viewed in this PDF here:

This is kind of like the missing manual for how to mirror your phone using a Kenwood double din touch screen.

Like most touch screen car stereos featuring app mode for iPhone, you will need a regular USB to lightning cable, an HDMI cable and Apple’s lightning to digital A/V adapter.  Kenwood’s app mode for iPhone is somewhat disappointing.  Even though the DDX8901 features touch screen control over the Waze app, it does not integrate with the Apple keyboard, meaning you still have to input address information from your phone. Also, Waze is the only compatible app for iPhone 5 users.

When it comes to mirroring and controlling Android devices, it’s a different story. It’s actually not too difficult to set up. You’ll need an HDMI to MHL cable (Kenwood has one, the KCA-MH100) and depending on what type of phone you have, you may need one of those 5 to 11 pin tip adapters (I needed that for my Samsung Galaxy S4). You’ll also need Kenwood’s app installed on your phone, the Kenwood Smartphone Control App.

With the few Samsung phones I’ve tried this with, I’ve found no matter what I do, the home screen is always in the upright position, even if I turn the phone horizontally. Once I open up an app, it switches to the proper orientation. The other really quirky thing to note here is the control. Yes, it’s two way control and mirroring, but it’s not very responsive or accurate. On the Kenwood touch screen you see a little mouse cursor. And it seems no matter how many times I calibrate the screen, I can never get that cursor to respond and actually select where I’m trying to select.

I’ve showed this feature to a few customers who were eager to see Kenwood’s mirroring for their Samsung phones and they were sorely disappointed. The interface leaves a lot to be desired. If it’s difficult to control standing around in a stationary showroom, imagine how difficult it would be to use while driving.

I wish I could say Pioneer does mirroring and app interfacing better, but in my experience, (for Android users anyways) it’s still kind of an uphill battle. Another thing to note, the screen quality on the DDX8901 does not appear to be as sharp and vibrant as the DDX371 or DDX771. I think this may have to do with the two way control and mirroring capability.

There are some true benefits of the DDX8901 over the DDX771 which include:

  • Excelon sound quality and equalizer with advanced audio control
  • 5 Volt preouts
  • Better handsfree sound quality with noise cancellation and microphone adjustments
  • iDatalink Maestro Control

Top of the line double din touch screen car stereos from Pioneer and Sony

For high end touch screen car stereos, we will discuss the AVH-4000NEX from Pioneer and the XAV-712HD from Sony.

Pioneer’s other 7″ double din touch screen car stereo features Apple CarPlay.

Pioneer's Double Din Touch Screen Car Stereo Featuring Apple Car Play
Pioneer’s Best Double Din Touch Screen Car Stereo Featuring Apple Car Play

When we look at Pioneer’s top of the line double din touch screen non navigation car stereo, we come to the AVH-4000NEX. I feel this model is definitely the most promising for consumers that want phone mirroring and integration. Again, depending on what phone you have and what software version, there are limitations to what apps are compatible and truly functional.

Limitations aside, there are a lot of additional features with the AVH-4000NEX compared to the AVH-5600BHS.

  • HDMI input which allows plain old phone mirroring (no control) and also AppRadio Mode for Android – requires CD-AH200 adapter (also works with iPhone 4 using CD-IU201S and iPhone 5 using CD-IH202, Apple Lightning to USB and Apple Digital A/V Adapter)
  • Compatible with Apple’s CarPlay for iPhone 5 (via a free software update and just your standard USB to lightning cable).
  • Pioneer’s Supertuner for FM/AM
  • 13 band EQ with digital sound retriever circuit and digital time alignment
  • SD Card slot
  • 2 USB ports

A note about mirroring. I’ve mentioned this in other posts, but I’m going to assume readers of this post haven’t read every one of my posts. Mirrorlink, App Radio Mode, Car Play and plain old mirroring your iPhone are actually 4 different things.

Mirrorlink is a very iffy technology. I’ve talked to Pioneer tech support about this and the problem is that it’s not a consistent or truly standardized technology. Mirrorlink can go ahead and certify a phone to be Mirrorlink compatible, the phone manufacturer can go ahead and slap the Mirrorlink logo on their product and at the last minute the phone manufacturer can decide to produce the phone without the technology actually built in. If it does get produced with Mirrorlink technology, there’s no guarantee firmware updates by the phone manufacturer won’t make the feature obsolete.

As a result, Pioneer made their own app, the AppRadio App which is designed to integrate specific apps to Pioneer stereos. Please note not every app is compatible with every phone. You can see on Pioneer’s website, which apps are available for iPhone 4, iPhone 5 or Android devices. However, in some cases only 5 or 6 apps may actually be compatible with your specific Android device.

It’s up to developers to write the software, not Pioneer. As a result, there have been other apps developed to allow full connectivity and full mirroring. A popular one is called App Radio Unchained, but it does require users to root their phones and install a few other apps and I’d say my average every day customer isn’t comfortable doing that and are not that tech savvy. If you are, you can read about the process in this great write up from CNET.  For Android users that don’t want to root their phone and install unapproved developer software, stick with Pioneer’s App Radio App.

Pioneer is doing a great job at trying to keep on top of phones, software and limitations and they have a great detailed chart on their website that tells you which phones are compatible with AppRadio Mode and what version software they will work with.  So what if you have the right phone, right software installed and correct settings checked off? Well there’s one more thing to note about AppRadio Mode – it’s not perfect.

In a recent install with a Samsung Note 3 and Samsung Galaxy S4 we had a lot of glitches.  The picture was cutting in and out on certain apps, but working fine on others. It’s not uncommon to have to do things like unplug the phone and plug it back in if it’s not working properly.  You may even have to reset the app, reset the stereo or reset the phone occasionally.

This is a new frontier for car stereo and it’s going to have a lot of hiccups and bumps along the way. Consumers need to realize it’s not perfect. I’ve also found there’s very little obvious information and support from manufacturers. This is unfortunate because consumers like to make their decisions and assumptions based on recognizable app logos and brief product descriptions.  Unfortunately, those don’t tell you the whole story and in many cases neither does the owner’s manual.

For some consumers, the ideal solution may be a more simplified set up.  For a simpler way to integrate your cell phone apps to your car stereo, consider investing in a quality cell phone holder (check out Pro Clip USA) and vehicle specific bracket from Panavise.

All of these touch screen car stereos have bluetooth audio streaming capability. So if you’re listening to bluetooth audio as your source and have the navigation going on your phone, you will hear the navigation prompts from your phone over the stereo. If you need a visual map, you can glance at your phone in its nice holder to the right of your stereo.

This is probably the safest and most reliable way to utilize navigation apps from your phone through your stereo (short of Pioneer’s Apple CarPlay interface which is only compatible with iPhone 5 and up).  With cell phone screen size continually increasing and screen quality continually improving, it’s not like your car stereo’s touch screen is THAT much bigger and that much easier to see than your phone’s touch screen.

In conclusion, if sound quality and ease of use is your main concern, consider Sony’s XAV712HD.

Sony's 7" Double Din Touch Screen Car Stereo Head Unit Features Great Sound Quality
Sony’s 7″ Best Double Din Touch Screen Car Stereo Head Unit Features Great Sound Quality

I have last year’s version of this in our Jeep and it is a great sounding unit. This is actually the only Sony head unit I carry and it’s right up there next to Kenwood Excelon in terms of sound quality (maybe even better). It comes with a 3 year warranty and is part of Sony’s premier line, kind of like their old Mobile ES series products (better sound quality). In addition to an awesome digital to analog processor, it features:

  • 5 volt preouts
  • Digital time alignment and 7 band EQ
  • Great Sony picture quality
  • Two USB ports
  • HDMI input (so you could technically display your phone with some adapters, but no on screen control).

Sony pushes their Mirrorlink feature with this model, but again, unless you truly have a compatible phone or feel like installing a hacked developer app, forget it. Samsung users have to use the Drivelink App which crashes before it ever even loads. One drawback to note with this Sony double din stereo is the large lip on the front of the unit.  Depending on what kind of car and what kind of dash kit is available, this can usually be recessed nicely, but it all depends on the application.

Sony Double Din Installed in 2013 Jeep Wrangler
Sony Double Din Installed in 2013 Jeep Wrangler

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Aside from sound quality, features and ease of use – looks should be considered in your double din car stereo purchase as well.

Pioneer units do not come with a mounting sleeve – as long as you can iso mount using the dash kit, you’re good and it will look nice and flush.  Depending on your install skills, if you go motorized 7” with any model, there may be some tweaking and shaving necessary to allow the motorized screen to open and close properly. Kenwood double dins always come with a nice mounting sleeve and trim ring and the Sony does as well.

So who has the best touch screen car stereo for 2014?

As you can see, there are a lot of different double din touch screen head units out there and they all have subtle differences between them.  I hope this post has helped explain the differences in features, pros and cons on each model allowing you to choose the best double din head unit for your needs. Thanks for reading!

Ready to buy? Shop Amazon.com for the best deals on double din head units.

What is the best cheap double din head unit?

Double Din - Bigger is Better

UPDATE – 2/8/2015 – Looking for the best cheap double din head unit for 2015?  Consider the Pioneer AVH-X2700BHS.  You can read more about this model in my review here.

Double Din Touch Head Units with Value – When bigger is better

Double Din - Bigger is Better
Double Din – Bigger is Better

What is the best cheap double din head unit? Read on to find out.

Estimated read time: 7 minutes 17 seconds.  Want to read later?

In this particular write up I am focusing on VALUE.  There are a lot of double din head units out there (and I have a full write up on 7 different models between Kenwood, Pioneer and Sony found here), but in this particular post I am really looking at bang for buck, features and quality.

The majority of double din head units sold in my showroom are either the Pioneer AVH-X2600BT or Kenwood DDX371 and both get the job done very effectively.  These are our two main entry level double din touch screen head units to choose from and I will tell you the pros and cons of each just as if you were in my own shop.

Why go double din?

With the price of these head units coming down each year, it becomes a better option for more and more people that may not have originally entertained the idea of a double din head unit for their car.  I say if you have the room in your dash, go for it.  You can check www.metraonline.com and follow their application guide to see if there is a double din kit for your car.

Search phone contacts easily on a nice double din touch screen head unit.
Search phone contacts easily on a nice double din touch screen head unit.

It is just so much easier to access your music files, search your iPod, search your phone contacts from a large touch screen vs a tiny one or two line dot matrix single din display.  There is also the added benefit of having the option to add a back up camera too!

The Pioneer AVH-X2600BT and the Kenwood DDX371 are both considered slightly above entry level in the double din line up.  Both come with bluetooth whereas truly entry level double din head units typically do not even come with bluetooth.

Both the Pioneer double din and Kenwood double din discussed here come with a lot of features for your money.  Despite their similar features, there are some additional costs to the Pioneer that you would probably have been largely unaware of until it came time to install the unit.

The Pioneer does not come with a mounting sleeve and trim ring.  This is an additional part with an additional cost IF your vehicle requires it.  That’s the ADTVA133, not every car requires it – check your dash kit and see if there are side mounting arms like those pictured in the 2006 up VW Jetta Kit here.

Do you need a mounting sleeve?
Do you need a mounting sleeve?

Both products feature an App Mode, however both require additional parts and a compatible phone and each has their own limitations.

Pioneer’s App Mode in this case is specifically for iPhone users.  A quick visit to Pioneer’s website will show you which apps are compatible with which iPhones and Android (in this case you want to look at iPhone only as that is all this model will support in App Mode).

Pioneer App Mode shown on AVH-X2600BT
Pioneer App Mode shown on AVH-X2600BT

With the AVH-X2600BT and the necessary adapters (listed below in bullet points), iPhone users can launch compatible apps on screen in App Mode and alternatively have the option to mirror their iPhone when selecting iPod as a source and selecting the hands on icon on the lower right.  In this mirroring mode, you must launch and control the app from the iPhone itself, but audio will be heard and video will be displayed on screen.  Depending on which iPhone you have, the cost of these additional cables and accessories can quickly add up.

Pioneer also offers Mirrorlink capability which requires a Mirrorlink compatible phone and additional adapters (CD-MU200).  Additionally, in this model, Mirrorlink is only listed as supporting USB MTP music playback.  Mirrorlink compatibility seems to be hit or miss.  Sometimes phones that are produced as Mirrorlink certified can end up becoming incompatible after something as simple and common as a software update to the phone’s operating systems.  So although the feature is listed, it’s not one I would count on working.  There are too many variations and too little standardization on Mirrorlink phones for Pioneer to really ensure compatibility.

Kenwood’s app mode is limited to iPhone 4/4s users and a Garmin Navigation app priced at $49.99.  It also requires an additional cable, the KCA-ip202.  Another slight limitation, if you’re running IOS 5.1.1 or greater you will be limited in search and control of music or video stored on your iPhone to things like pause/play, track forward/back.  However if you just use a standard apple to usb cable and connect for music purposes, you have full search and control capabilities.

With both models, if you choose to utilize their respective app mode, you’ll either need to have the parking brake engaged or you need to find another way to address the video safety bypass.  With Kenwood, you can simply ground out the parking brake wire.  With Pioneer on the other hand, you will either need to rig up a switch that you’ll have to flick every time you start it up OR you can purchase a PAC Audio bypass called a TR7.  I highly recommend the TR7 if you go with the Pioneer.

Confused yet?  Here’s the easy breakdown to summarize the difference between these two decks.  Depending on what features are important to you, you will find one is more suitable over the other.

Pioneer AVH-X2600BT Best Double Din for the Money?

Pioneer AVH-X2600BT Pros

  • Excellent Bluetooth Handsfree call sound quality
  • Mutlicolor illumination, various background illumination/graphic choices
  • Esthetically attractive home menu and user interface (it’s pretty)
  • Relatively intuitive and easy to use
  • 3 Preouts for Front, Rear and Sub
  • App Radio Mode Feature (For iPhone 4/4s users requires CD-IUS201s, for iPhone 5 users requires CD-IV203, an Apple Lightning to VGA Adapter)
  • Mirrorlink Capable (CD-MU200 required and Mirrorlink phone required – According to Pioneer, this allows you to access music and phone from your stereo)

Pioneer AVH-X2600BT Cons

  • Only 2 Volt Preout (not good for sound quality if you’re adding amplifiers)
  • Requires tricky parking brake bypass or additional TR7 interface
  • No Volume Knob – Volume rocker instead, however this double din is Steering Wheel Control ready.
  • Does not come with Double Din Sleeve and Trim ring, designed for iso mount only – if your car does not have iso mount kit option you will need additional parts (think VW Jetta 2002 – 2005).
  • NO SiriusXM compatibility – This unit is not Sat Ready and I know that can be a deal breaker for some, but you can stream Bluetooth Audio with your phone using Pandora or other music apps that sound WAY better anyways – SiriusXM is majorly compressed audio, like 32 kbps (yuck).  That compression rate is fine for talk/entertainment, bad for music.
DDX371 - Best Double Din for the Money?
DDX371 – Best Double Din for the Money?

Kenwood DDX371 Pros

  • Volume Knob – Many consumers find this much easier to use even if their car is equipped with Steering Wheel Controls (which by the way both radios support with additional SWC interface)
  • 4 Volt Preouts for Front, Rear and Sub (Provides better sound quality when using external amplifiers connected through RCA)
  • Easy Parking Brake Bypass
  • Comes with mounting sleeve and trim ring if needed
  • Multicolor illumination
  • SiriusXM Ready! (Requires SXV200 tuner)

Kenwood DDX371 Cons

  • Poor Bluetooth Sound quality for handsfree calling – Kenwood has not updated the Bluetooth processor or mic in this unit – it’s the same as last years model and if you’re on the phone a lot, the Pioneer definitely has better sound quality for handsfree calling.  You may get complaints like “you sound like you’re under water”, “are you in a tunnel or something?” or plain old and pissed off “I can’t hear/understand you, call me later” Click.  If you’re using the Bluetooth mainly to stream your music, this may not be a concern.
  • Slower searching on iPod when connected to USB compared to the Pioneer – not by a lot, maybe 1-2 seconds, but for many consumers every second counts and when I show them the difference on our display, that makes their decision. If you’re the type of consumer who will just leave their iPod on random anyways and skip tracks, that won’t really effect you – same if you’re using Bluetooth audio as you’ll mainly be controlling/selecting music from your phone and just streaming it wirelessly to the stereo.
  • Extremely limited App Mode Feature – designed only for iPhone 4/4s users, mainly for Garmin app priced at $49.99, requires KCA-ip202 accessory – limited music search and control if operating on anything newer than IOS 5.1.1

My thoughts on Pioneer’s App Mode with the AVH-X2600BT

App Radio Mode isn’t perfect.  It’s kind of quirky and if you have an iPhone 5, the end result of all those required adapters is a pretty ugly looking pigtail.  The end coming off the required VGA adapter is so short, that you usually can’t avoid seeing it and the bulky connector attached to two other cables.  If you can hide it in the glove box or center console, that’s great.

Most customers are interested in App Mode for the navigation purposes.  In most cases, my customers feel they are better off investing that accessory money in a nice cell phone mount.  This way they can glance at their cell phone for a visual map while hearing the audio prompts through their stereo via Bluetooth Audio.  This is also a more esthetically pleasing option as this can be done without unsightly wires and the other route cannot.  Panavise makes some great vehicle specific brackets and to those brackets, you can add a nice phone specific holder from Pro Clip.

For the best phone mirroring, I will discuss several options on the market and the soon to be released software update for select Pioneer double din radios (AVH-4000NEX) that will be featuring the much anticipated Apple Carplay integration.  Check here for the latest update on Pioneer Carplay.

In Summary

App Modes aside – If you are concerned about sound quality and plan on using external amplifiers go with the Kenwood DDX371.  Additional features that may sway consumers to Kenwood would be the volume knob and ability to add SiriusXM.  Also – If you don’t give a damn about people trying to call you when you’re listening to your tunes – the Kenwood DDX371 may be the better choice for you.

If you have to talk to people on your cell phone while you’re driving, the Pioneer AVH-X2600BT is the better choice for you, it is much more functional in this aspect.  Additionally, if you can benefit from App Radio Mode and enjoy browsing for music quickly and easily – go with the Pioneer AVH-X2600BT.

If you’ve found this article helpful and plan on buying either model, please support Car Stereo Chick by purchasing through her affiliate link below.  Thanks for reading!

Shop Amazon for the Kenwood DDX371 and Pioneer AVH-X2600BT

 

Best Double Din Car Stereo Head units for 2012

Best Double Din Car Stereos

Looking for the best double din car stereo head unit for your car?

Every customer is unique and their needs are all very different. My customers come into my shop looking for double din head units for a variety of reasons. They often feel that double din car stereos:

  • Have a cleaner look, fit and finish
  • Are easier to use thanks to a nice large touch screen
  • Have attractive features like Bluetooth handsfree, Bluetooth audio streaming, USB, Aux, Nav capabilities, DVD playback, App integration, easy iPod integration, large bright controls, customizable displays and more.

Update – To read about the best double din head unit for 2014 – Click Here

So what makes one double din head unit better than another?

Simply put, the answer is features. For the purposes of familiarity, I will focus on the models that I sell in my store so that I can give you honest, tried and true information as if you were with me in my showroom. First up, Pioneer.

The Pioneer AVH-P2400BT is a nice entry level, but full featured, double din head unit.
The Pioneer AVH-P2400BT is a nice entry level, but full featured, double din head unit.

 

So what do you get for your money with the Pioneer AVH-P2400BT? Quite a bit actually.

This head unit is a great option for people looking for a nice large touch screen that will make it easy to access the music in their iPod/iPhone or other USB based MP3 player. It also has Bluetooth Audio streaming. So if you have an Android, Blackberry, iPhone or other smart phone you can pair your phone to the stereo and wirelessly stream music from your cell phone to the stereo. This is a great feature if you like to listen to a lot of music apps.

I often suggest to customers to use their cell phone apps for things like their favorite radio stations that may not come in clear in the area that they drive in. Using a cell phone app, you can listen to virtually any radio station in the world! As long as you have cell coverage, you will have 100 percent clear sound quality. Imagine that. No static on your favorite AM talk radio station. Of course you would need a smart phone, a pretty good data plan and good cell service for this to work.

With Pioneer’s CD-IU51V  iPod cable, you can use your iPhone for advanced apps. Enjoy Pandora radio on your iPhone? Simply use this optional cable and connect it to the front USB/Aux on the stereo and connect your iPhone. Then launch Pandora from your iPhone. Your stations and all artist and song title information will appear on screen along with a thumbs up and thumbs down icon. Full Pandora radio control from your iPhone on screen! How cool is that?

Additional cool features include a backup camera input, it’s satellite radio ready (although who really needs that if you have a smart phone), an 8 Band equalizer and 3 preouts (2 volt). This stereo also has a wired remote input for steering wheel control integration and a wireless remote control.

One additional cost to be aware of with all Pioneer double din head units is that they do not come with a mounting sleeve or trim ring. Most installation kits will not require this, but some cars will and this is an additional cost. If your vehicle requires a mounting sleeve and trim ring, you will need to buy the ADT-VA133 in addition to any installation kit, wiring harness or antenna adapter.

Who is this stereo NOT for?

For anyone looking to build a high fidelity audio system. The low voltage on the RCA preouts will effect your sound quality should you ever decide to add additional amplifiers. If you are planning on upgrading speakers, adding and amplifier and/or subwoofer. Check out the Pioneer AVH-P4400BH or the Kenwood DDX419.

Pioneer's AVH-P4400BH gives you a nice large easy to use touch screen
Pioneer’s AVH-P4400BH gives you a nice large easy to use touch screen

 

So what does the Pioneer AVH-P4400BH offer?

Additional features over the AVH-P2400BT include:

  • A larger touch screen 7″ vs 5.8″
  • The screen is also motorized and offers 5 different viewing angles.
  • Higher voltage preouts 4 Volt over 2 Volt
  • Build in HD Radio
  • Rear USB (cleaner look, no cables dangling from the front of the stereo)

Not a fan of Pioneer? Check out Kenwood’s DDX419 for a nice double din car stereo head unit.

 

Kenwood's DDX419 is a great option for a Double Din Car Stereo
Kenwood’s DDX419 is a great option for a Double Din Car Stereo

 

So what does the Kenwood DDX419 have to offer?

For one, they look awesome in European cars. Check out the matte black finish. The Pioneer’s have a shiny black. The illumination options also really capture the Red, Blue and Amber lighting of the European cars very well.

  • 6.1″ touch screen (entry level Pioneer had a 5.8″)
  • Bluetooth handsfree and audio streaming
  • 4 Volt preouts (good for aftermarket amps!)
  • Front USB/Aux
  • App mode with Pandora control for iPhone, launch any audio/video app from your iPhone and hear and view playback with the including Garmin Stree Pilot App with optional KCA-ip22F
  • SiriusXM Ready
  • Back up camera input
  • Wired remote input for steering wheel remote integration
  • Multicolor illumination
  • Volume Knob (as opposed to Volume Rocker with Pioneer)
  • Comes with mounting sleeve and trim ring
  • 3 Band EQ (Pioneer had an 8 band)

So for the cash this will set you back (if you were to also purchase the app integration iPhone cable), you get a LOT of features for the money. Remember, this head unit comes with the mounting sleeve and trim ring. The entry level Pioneer had a more advanced EQ, but a lower voltage preout. When you add in the trim ring, mounting sleeve and App cable with the entry level Pioneer, you’d be spending about the same amount of money.

So the DDX419 gives you a few features over the AVH-P2400BT

  • Higher voltage preouts
  • A volume knob
  • Larger screen

Going for the latest and greatest in cool features? Then you have to check out Pioneer’s AVH-P8400BH.

 

Pioneer's AVH-P8400BH offers Mixtrax and Advanced App Mode
Pioneer’s AVH-P8400BH offers MIXTRAX and Advanced App Mode

 

MIXTRAX was all the rave at the Pioneer booth during CES2012. What the hell is MIXTRAX? Besides being a great excuse for Pioneer’s CES organizers to hire a hot girl in short shorts and give her her very own DJ stage to entertain CES attendees and Pioneer employees, I’m not really sure who MIXTRAX would appeal to and why they would want it. You don’t get the cute girl in the short shorts when you buy the AVH-P8400BH and I certainly don’t think it will attract any cute girls in short shorts volunteering to be your own personal DJ while you drive around town listening to your car stereo.

It’s kind of like Pandora in that you tell it that you like what it’s playing and it will continue to search your music to play music with similar beats per minute. I think you can even select the beats per minute and it will find songs that match. It’s definitely geared towards customers that are into the club scene. According to Pioneer’s website:

“MIXTRAX is an innovative Pioneer technology that creates a non-stop mix of your music library complete with a range of DJ-inspired effects. Drawing from Pioneer’s rich DJ heritage with our passion for music, MIXTRAX delivers a unique DJ infused listening experience to listeners in the car. MIXTRAX takes the music from an iPod, iPhone, or USB device and plays it back with added transitions and effects, creating a virtual DJ inside the AVH-P8400BH.

MIXTRAX works by first having the MIXTRAX PC software automatically analyze a track’s BPM, bar, beat position, vocal position and mood, then adds the analyzed data to the music file. The AVH-P8400BH reads the embedded MIXTRAX data from your audio device as you enjoy precise, full featured non-stop mixes in your vehicle complete with album art that dances to the beat! You can also experience MIXTRAX as an app for the iPhone 4/4S or iPod Touch (4th Gen) and using Advanced App Mode to control the MIXTRAX app through the receiver’s touchscreen display.”

So, yeah, it’s a cool feature. Worth the additional cost? Probably not. The advanced app mode however probably is worth it.

Advanced app mode on the Pioneer AVH-P8400BH

Using the optional CD-IU201S iPod/iPhone cable you can essentially turn your double din head unit into a double din navigation unit. The advanced app mode is advanced control over select apps like MotionX GPS Drive, INRIX traffic, Rdio, and hopefully many more as developers turn out more apps.

The major difference with the preceding models app mode is the control feature. With the AVH-P4400 and the AVH-P2400BT you are launching the app from your iPhone and still controlling and entering information on your iPhone. Whatever your iPhone is doing is then reflected on screen and the audio is heard throughout the speakers in your car. Advanced mode means you’ll actually be able to control the navigation (using a specific app such as Motion X GPS).

Once you add in the additional cost of the advanced app mode cable (and don’t forget your mounting sleeve and trim ring if you need it), this stereo ends up costing quite a bit more for just a few features. That’s just my opinion anyways. I don’t ever go anywhere where I really need GPS and I don’t listen to the type of music you would hear playing in a club. For customers that own an iPhone and can appreciate the GPS app feature (or for those that listen to a lot of dance, dub step, house, etc.) it’s probably well worth it to spend the extra dough.

Now that you know what your choices are and what each model has to offer, it’s up to you to weigh what features are most important and decide what is the best double din car stereo for YOU.

Need more help making your decision? Please make a comment or email me with any questions. I’ll do my best to guide you in the exact same personalized manner that I do with my customers at my shop every day.

Thinking about getting a double din with navigation? Check out the Best Double Din Navigation section here.