Android Auto head unit with BT and SWC

[RichardCranium]

All of these different options the trucks have is making this more of a chore than anything, just to make sure I get the right adapters to make everything right. There are a few write-ups I've found on here, most are oriented towards Bose equipped vehicles and/or those with XM or Nav. Although I found a nice write-up from some 9 years ago with a fella who added an amp and replaced all of his factory speakers, for cheap. That'll be nice if I decide to go a bit further, which could happen once I put in a new head unit that will clearly give these shit OEM speakers more wattage.

 

[RichardCranium]

Anyone else?

 

[RichardCranium]

Almost pulled the trigger this morning, kind of in a hold pattern.

I'm a hardcore Android person, that will never change. To see that Google has developed wireless compatibility with AndroidAuto, but has limited the push of this software to their own devices and a few select non-Google devices is really discouraging. Might just suck it up and get the one I was going to go with anyways, which was still via USB. But damn.....

 

[GlensHOE718]

I also have an android based in-dash.

 

[The_Burban]

That is awesome. Where is your write up with all the details?

I plan to keep my Burban for the long hall. Trans dies? New one. Motor dies? Swap it. Seats get aged and show it too well... new leathers.

 

[The_Burban]

The Phoenix HU is under $500.

I see some reviews for their products in other cars and hesitate. I'd love this kind of solution... Really do get gun shy though understanding these are tablets whose performance tends to degrade quickly....

 

[The_Burban]

I also have an android based in-dash. View attachment 228039

Any follow up? Still enjoy it? Issues? Do it again? Love, hate?

 

[T-rev]

I also have an android based in-dash. View attachment 228039

Not a bring upon old thread but what is your final opinion? do you still have it? any issues? for what you paid are you happy?

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

 

[RichardCranium]

Not a bring upon old thread but what is your final opinion? do you still have it? any issues? for what you paid are you happy?

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

I know you didn't ask me, but I can give my opinion on the Alpine iLX-w650. It has been awesome, zero regrets.

Only 2 issues:

1. Occasionally AndroidAuto goes berserk and acts like the phone is disconnected. Ultimately it will reconnect itself and act like it didn't happen. Hoping the next firmware fixes that.
2. The algorithm built into the head unit to randomize songs is terrible. When connected to USB, and both random features are selected, I've had so much as the same song play back to back. But about 80% of the time I can manually skip to the next track and it'll cycle through about only 20 songs, with the occasional randomly different song. That is rather annoying, but short trips it's no biggie. Longer trips I will stream via AndroidAuto and Pandora.

 

[RichardCranium]

Installed the Alpine KTA-450 with my previously installed Alpine iLX-w650 head unit. I chose this head unit before for many reasons, one being this amp. When I got the head unit, the KLA-445 was model. This 450 now has a little more wattage (4x50w RMS), but also has DPP. Glad I waited...

It comes with a bracket to attach it to the back of the head unit, and still is shallow enough to fit our dash with zero modification. Super easy hookup, since the head unit has a pre-amp plug for RCA's and speaker outputs. Its plug and play except for connecting the amp speaker outputs to the factory harness to the speakers.

Here is a dry fit with the head unit and the amp, amp being the top part in the photo. I initially cut out part of my installation rails to accommodate the amp wiring harness, but later found it beneficial to run the harness up through the middle, so have plenty of clearance side to side.

View attachment 268441

Here is the amp harness connected, you can see how I ****** it down to come out the back where the other harnesses and wires exit.

View attachment 268442

Overall view of the back, ready to drop into the dash.

View attachment 268443

And a shot with most of the harness in view. The box hanging near the bottom is my door chime, part of the CarXTC install kit from Amazon.

View attachment 268444

Sounds great so far. I'll wake myself up otw to work tomorrow morning for sure. The Kicker coaxials I put in have a broad response range (40-20k Hz), and they can handle 250W.....but the amp definitely has woken them up.