Double DIN head unit...who has what

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Bonestock

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2015
Posts
220
Reaction score
66
Got an 03 Suburban with no xm but with bose speakers. No aux is one of the first things I'll change. Been reading on adding etc but it seems that to add one without tapping xm is going to run about $100. I'm trying to see who is running what HU that also controls Spotify and or maps. I'm using an iPhone 7 so Bluetooth it is. I use my phone for gps so that's no important at all in the unit. Post some pics and let's talk about it. I know nearly nothing about what's out there in the aftermarket either so I'll be learning as I go. I know there is a wealth of knowledge on this board so thanks in advance to all!
 

03YukonNH

Full Access Member
Joined
May 9, 2010
Posts
188
Reaction score
8
Location
Manchester, NH
I'm on my second Pioneer AVH model. The only reason I switched from the 2012 AVH-P4400BH to the 2016 AVH-X5800BT is for XM. You can buy a SiriusXm tuner (SXV300) that will plug right into the back of the head unit. The radio also has spotify and Pandora on it that will integrate with your phone on the screen via Bluetooth or usb. Also, if you can get it to work, they have AppRadio which will display your screen on the radio face. I say that because it doesn't work with my Samsung s7 edge. Iphone may work better. In my experience Pioneer is the cheapest option for a double DIN radio and I have never had a problem.

As for the XM antenna, I removed my onstar antenna by dropping the headliner, which gave me access to the bolt holding the antenna in place. I disconnected the two coaxial lines from the antenna and hooked up the blue coax to a buick rainier xm antenna I found on ebay ($20). That xm antenna will go right in the hole in the roof the onstar antenna left behind. The xm lead from the buick antenna is the orangy brown one. You can then find the other end of the blue coaxial wire under the passenger side dash by simply dropping the glove box out of the way. It is plugged into the onstar module under there. Unplug it and remove the blue outer plastic shell then plug it into the Siriusxm tuner. It was a good solution to make the roof still appear factory and not use the magnetic xm antenna that comes with the SXV300.
 

YukonXL04

The Riverboat
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2013
Posts
2,489
Reaction score
175
Location
Arlington, TX
I second pioneer. Have always enjoyed the ones I have owned.

Currently have a avh4300 I'll be looking to replace sometime in the future just because it doesn't have bluetooth.

Also have a avh5700 that does just about everything I want it to do, android integration could be better though.

I think you get the most bang for buck with pioneer. Also like kenwood. Not really a fan of jvc or sony
 
OP
OP
B

Bonestock

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2015
Posts
220
Reaction score
66
Thanks for the replies. Seems pioneer is the way to go. Local store tried sell me a Kenwood exelon that was $899 plus $150 for a harness and $200 for install. What harness will I need? $150 sounds like a lot
 

mals

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2016
Posts
332
Reaction score
363
Location
Western Mass
Thanks for the replies. Seems pioneer is the way to go. Local store tried sell me a Kenwood exelon that was $899 plus $150 for a harness and $200 for install. What harness will I need? $150 sounds like a lot
These are the items that I currently have in my Amazon cart:
I haven't pulled the trigger since the MVH-AV290BT is the only BT unit in the Pioneer lineup that doesn't have integrated control of Pandora and Spotify. Really this shouldn't matter since no previous head unit I've use has had that feature, and I've always managed to play music or podcasts directly from my phone via BT audio. Knowing that I could have that feature in the Pioneer AVH-X3800BHS makes me want it, but I don't need the HD or Satellite Radio option, nor would I ever use the DVD/CD slot, so it's hard to justify the bump in cost.
 

jerryjoe28

That Guy
Joined
Nov 24, 2013
Posts
2,709
Reaction score
671
Location
cabot AR
guess ill come in here and go a totally different direction lol ....... i ave a JVC KWV420BT. i love it. it is the first non Pioneer head unit i have ever owned. when i was buying a few months ago i just assumed i would get Pioneer again. after messing with a pioneer that a buddy of mine has i wasn't impressed with the EQ adjustment. after talking with @yates ™ about it i decided to check out JVC. i love this thing! blue tooth, Pandora, back up camera, and a full 7" screen. i wouldn't hesitate to buy another
 

jerryjoe28

That Guy
Joined
Nov 24, 2013
Posts
2,709
Reaction score
671
Location
cabot AR
if you want to see exactly what i did/bought click the "04 crew cab link" in my signature. i think the radio starts around page 19-20
 

Forum statistics

Threads
132,373
Posts
1,866,951
Members
97,001
Latest member
natedbrown

Latest posts

Top