Database Users

Are there any Chinese HU's without any problems?

Wow, just when you think you've found a headunit that is perfect, what happens instead? You read some reviews that are written after the user owned it for a short amount of time, and then you discover the problems.
Is there an Android HU that gets good FM/AM reception? Doesn't need to be rebooted? Won't disappoint? I previously got burned on a cheaper model and don't want to repeat that again. Hell - I could have just gotten a Kenwood and avoided all the headache and a $195 install job.

Hi,
I think that depends on your definition of "problems". My definition of a real problem is when there is no solotion on xda developers
OK, first I would recommend that you buy a head unit that was made for your car brand and model if available. I own a 2013 Skoda Rapid (similar to VW Polo / Golf, no "dirty" jokes please lol) and bought a VW specific model ("Autopumpkin" (reseller) 2 DIN for VW, RK3066 processor with Android 4.4.4 @ 800x480px, firmware is KLD2).
Installation: Plug in the quad lock CAN bus and the head unit was ready. Nothing else to do.
AM/FM:
In some cases, your car antenna needs +12V power to work properly. My head unit has a "phantom power adapter" (don't know if this is the right word in english). If you don't connect +12V to antenna, the reception is awful, I only received 4 stations with poor quality. Once the pantom power was connected (in my special case, I also needed a FAKRA adapter to connect the head unit with the car antenna since the plugs from the head unit didn't fit in the car connector), I received 18 stations (more can't be saved) on 88-95MHz (band goes from 88-108 here) using auto scan mode.
"Doesn't need to be rebooted":
I don't know exactly what you mean, would you like to specify that? The head unit can't be always on due to the high power consumption which would kill the battery very fast. Boot time is about 20-30 seconds but it remains about 5 minutes in standby if you pull out the ignition key.
Sound quality:
If sound quality is as important for you as for me, you MAYBE have a problem with those cheap head units but that also depends on what you like to do and to what kind of music you do listen.
On FM, sound quality doesn't matter for me because I use FM only for traffic announcements and news / documentary). The built in EQ is not the best one, at first I was thinking about to send the unit back because of the bad quality. After some days, I tried Poweramp with it's EQ and the difference was HUGE. Sounds better that the original car radio. Later, I tried Viper4Android (EQ app) since the Poweramp EQ only works for Poweramp and I thoght better radio sound quality would not be bad, but AFAIK AM/FM (and Bluetooth) sound output is not processed in Android what means only the build in EQ can influence the sound quality of that parts.
Traffic announcement (TA):
But one thing about TA feature does really drives me crazy: If you have enabled TA and the radio app detects traffic announcements (what happens also if the radio is in "background" respectively not explicit opened), a "modal popup" appears and you can't do anything (you can't skip TA or switch to another app) but vol up / down or disable TA with the "Close" button at all what means that you have to go to the radio app and enable TA again manually.
Bluetooth:
Bluetooth works much better than expected. If I get into the car in the morning, my phone (Sony Xperia Z2 with stock rom) connects with the head unit in seconds. If I press the "Play" button in the head unit's bluetooth app, it almost instantly continues playing my Spotify playlist from the phone (Spotify app doesn't work on my head unit, don't know why...).
3G / Wifi:
About 3G: Sometimes the HU loses connection because the power supplied by the USB ports is not enough. In that case, I have to power off and on the unit again (but "soft" reboot, done in seconds). Wifi (if you use your smartphone as hotspot with teathering) does work very well but not on distances over approx. 10 meters.
About GPS:
The GPS signal fixes very, VERY fast (2-5 seconds, but thats maybe because Android fixes the signal at boot time) and the supplied navigation app (iGO Primo) can calculate a route from south germany to a random forrest in Poland (I tapped on a random place on the map) approximately 1500km away in less than 10 seconds.
Dual way CAN bus:
Does work with my car, I can control radio stations via the buttons of my on-board computer / MFD (Multi Function Display as called by VW, my car doesn't have SWC) and the MFD shows the station frequency. I can also control the Media Player App (next / prev track, not volume), but only the built in one, not Poweramp.
Conclusion: If there is a HU for your specific brand / model, you should not have as much trouble as if you buy a generic one, especially with installation. You should have at least some basic Android, car and technical knowledge and (most important) the will to play around with your device, try out new apps, firmwares and roms, play with the settings etc... If you want a real plug and play solution, you maybe have to pay 1000€ / $ +. You get what you pay for
I hope my reply was helpful.

Nice Text. So it is.

hippelsepp said:
I hope my reply was helpful.
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Click to collapse
It was, thank you. Which HU do you use?

My question is: Is there an American/Japanese/Anywhere else head unit that can do as much as these Chinese head units??

Android HU: Junsun DVD-9.0-AN Android 4.4.4 9.0 inch

I was considering this HU for my 2016 VW Polo since I don't care much about having a DVD slot. The title for this HU says DVD but it doesn't sport a drive. Though the spec seems good (RK3188) and the price isn't much either I didn't find any reviews or information about this HU on XDA (or outside).
There are couple of places this is being sold from Ali express to GearBest and also on their own website.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this one? Specifically I was looking for community support (root, custom firmware). Since this sports a RK3188 chip can other ROMs be used on this? Also the HU has a very thin form factor (compared to other HUs) - so would heat be an issue?

Who knows?
It doesn't have a volume control knob, if you can live with that. Personally, on screen adjustments for volume, track selection, "back," and on/off is very unhandy and annoying. You can't just reach up and adjust it with out looking. Also the volume steps of the touch controls are not always small enough to set a precise level. These units, with no US contacts or service, are a pain if you need something. Carjoying is in the US and quite responsive. Updates are also made.....who knows about those other relatively unknown products. They may never update and may no work with other software. I have never seen a 9" screen wonder if the thin bezel is just a half inch smaller and uncovering the edges of an 8" panel. This is just conjecture but perhaps worth considering.

cardio77 said:
It doesn't have a volume control knob, if you can live with that. Personally, on screen adjustments for volume, track selection, "back," and on/off is very unhandy and annoying. You can't just reach up and adjust it with out looking. Also the volume steps of the touch controls are not always small enough to set a precise level. These units, with no US contacts or service, are a pain if you need something. Carjoying is in the US and quite responsive. Updates are also made.....who knows about those other relatively unknown products. They may never update and may no work with other software. I have never seen a 9" screen wonder if the thin bezel is just a half inch smaller and uncovering the edges of an 8" panel. This is just conjecture but perhaps worth considering.
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Thanks for the response. I ended up placing an order for this unit instead. I dropped the other one mainly due to there being hardly any orders and reviews. I also did not get any proper responses from the sellers regarding that unit - probably since its new and they are themselves unaware of its features/fit. I agree about the support issues but I also had a tight budget and as long as it works fine :fingers-crossed: I should be OK. Importing these into India attracts a sizable customs duty The unit I bought costed me about $190 shipped via FedEx so I expect the customs would be proportionately lower.
Regarding the volume I have steering wheel controls which should serve the purpose of physical buttons. Though I agree that having a knob is more convenient I also kind of like the flush surface of these full touch units - lesser issues of dust settling.
I will post an update here once I get the unit and install it. BTW the reviews for this on AliExpress are excellent - would love to hear from anyone already owning this. I asked the seller about rooting and custom firmware (kind of essential for android units) but didn't hear anything positive This lack of support and the fact that this is an AllWinner solution (R16 QuadCore Cortex A7) were the only two drawbacks I saw in it (given its price).

How to root Junsun Android 4.4.4
I purchased this unit also from gearbest and like some things about it, but question other things.
The good:
1. The unit is ridiculously thin for a car stereo. There is no CD/DVD player
2. Sound is actually decent. Little difference from the stock unit
3. The home page with rotating icons is cool and different. I can also put a live wallpaper behind it
4. Mirroring app works ok, but I'd rather tether.
5. I can play videos and music on a USB flash drive
The bad:
1. I can't launch other apps and listen to music at the same time. (i.e. when I load Google Maps, radio stops)
2. No native capability to bluetooth tether. USB tethering with EasyTether also didn't work.
3. There are no microsd inputs like other Chinese Android units I've see thus far. I can connect a USB drive to 2 available connectors routed from the back of the unit. This isn't necessarily bad. Just requires different process for rooting that's TBD.
4. Instructions are only in chinese. Don't know who really makes this device, or how to get their technical support. So far, gearbest has provided some answers, but they're far from accurate!
So that said, I'd like to root and install some different apps and drivers that might make USB or bluetooth tethering possible. And that might allow me to listen to radio or USB music or Pandora while I have something else like Torque or Waze running.
Here are settings from the unit:
OS Version/Build Version: JAX1602191130G-WQ-16EN
MCU Version: 201512161416-SLX7786-GEN
CPU Model: RKPX3
Android: 4.4.4
There is also a 'system' page, where I can go to advanced, press 1234 as the password (found it through trial and error) . A screen is then available to upgrade MCU or firmware. However, I don't know where the files should be placed for this screen to register them.
Any pointers on process to root this and/or install something like Malaysk Firmware? Thanks!

poseidonsf said:
I purchased this unit also from gearbest and like some things about it, but question other things.
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Congratulations! Like I said I dropped the idea of buying this due to reasons mentioned above.
poseidonsf said:
1. I can't launch other apps and listen to music at the same time. (i.e. when I load Google Maps, radio stops)
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This is really bad since it defeats the whole purpose of an Android-based HU. Are you using the stock music app or trying something you installed?
poseidonsf said:
2. No native capability to bluetooth tether. USB tethering with EasyTether also didn't work.
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I think all these units restrict the bluetooth to the MCU and is generally not available to other apps. Though I am not sure how Torque works.
poseidonsf said:
3. There are no microsd inputs like other Chinese Android units I've see thus far. I can connect a USB drive to 2 available connectors routed from the back of the unit. This isn't necessarily bad. Just requires different process for rooting that's TBD.
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Click to collapse
I think you mean micro-USB and not micro-SD? I too have the same issue with my unit. I don't know how to connect it to the PC.
poseidonsf said:
4. Instructions are only in chinese. Don't know who really makes this device, or how to get their technical support. So far, gearbest has provided some answers, but they're far from accurate!
So that said, I'd like to root and install some different apps and drivers that might make USB or bluetooth tethering possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a problem with most Chinese purchases - informed support is almost non-existent. However since you have an RK3188 based unit I think some of the support threads here may match your unit (at least partially). First try to get into the extra setting menu using the passwords given in the RK3188 threads and rooting as well. You need to find the thread that matches best to your unit/firmware based on trying out the various settings/tweaks. Don't flash anything till you are certain you are in the correct support thread. All the best!

poseidonsf said:
I purchased this unit also from gearbest and like some things about it, but question other things.
1. I can't launch other apps and listen to music at the same time. (i.e. when I load Google Maps, radio stops)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure that this is some soft/firmware restriction. Android 4.4 has a native support of multitasking, so it should be by default in any of core versions of this OS. Main problem that I didn't find any resources where this issue was resolved.

Mine will !
VladVell said:
I am sure that this is some soft/firmware restriction. Android 4.4 has a native support of multitasking, so it should be by default in any of core versions of this OS. Main problem that I didn't find any resources where this issue was resolved.
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From home screen touch Radio icon, then from Radio app touch home icon on top left, back to home, start app you want. Radio continues on my radio from CarJoying. Works fine;

cardio77 said:
From home screen touch Radio icon, then from Radio app touch home icon on top left, back to home, start app you want. Radio continues on my radio from CarJoying. Works fine;
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If it was so easy... )) On this HU someone just ****ed up with firmware configuration... I'll try to fix it .... well on my free time. Luck for us it's an opensource os

VladVell said:
If it was so easy... )) On this HU someone just ****ed up with firmware configuration... I'll try to fix it .... well on my free time. Luck for us it's an opensource os
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Click to collapse
This is really awful - how can they sell a "Android" HU with such limitation? You should give the seller an earful and a bad review for the unit so they are forced to fix it!

I have the same unit also , the camera doesn't show when I am in reverse mode , the steering wheel don't work with the radio, rkpx3 model

I need to know what MCU is installed on this unit . Someone has any clues ?

You can have a glance at this Pumpkin HU for VW, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pumpkin-Android-Navigation-Subwoofer-Multimedia/dp/B01D30XDXY/

Lol. Even on the official video where this HU was demonstrated , MCU version is 'unknown' ))) http://screencast.com/t/RnQxbkAZBaWX

VladVell said:
I need to know what MCU is installed on this unit . Someone has any clues ?
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I bought this device.
The menu is exactly the same, firmware is the same: JAX1603281325G-WQ-16EN.
There's a microSD slot on the front panel.
MCU version: 201601251011-SLX7786-GEN .
Built-in player and radio can not work in the background, and this is the biggest trouble. There is not a full solution is to install third - party players who know how to work in the background, for example: BlackPlayer. But unfortunately, in third-party players do not switch tracks from the steering buttons. Adjust the volume and MUTE works as it should, because these buttons are programmed for the entire system. I liked that as a quick call navigation, you can assign any button on the steering wheel and choose any app.
The unit is decent, especially for the price. But such silly mistake with a built-in player and radio can wipe out all the pluses. Wrote to the seller, promised to talk to the engineer, perhaps

Typo?
dahkob said:
There's a microSD slot on the front panel.
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Is that a typo? There is NO microSD slot on this unit. You can connect a USB Flash Drive to the USB connections on the back of the unit though.

poseidonsf said:
Is that a typo? There is NO microSD slot on this unit. You can connect a USB Flash Drive to the USB connections on the back of the unit though.
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No. I have already found it when disassembled this HU. Its located on left edge of device. You can use it to flash ROM , or like normal SD... Now I working with stock firmware, trying to solve all issue mentioned in this thread. Its not so easy... bcz this MCU and firmware are not usual for this type of HU, and I didn't worked with this OS before ).

VladVell said:
No. I have already found it when disassembled this HU. Its located on left edge of device.
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Click to collapse
Ah yeah, you're right! Don't know how I overlooked that before. Good find VladVell!

VladVell said:
No. I have already found it when disassembled this HU. Its located on left edge of device. You can use it to flash ROM , or like normal SD... Now I working with stock firmware, trying to solve all issue mentioned in this thread. Its not so easy... bcz this MCU and firmware are not usual for this type of HU, and I didn't worked with this OS before ).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noticed that the built-in player and radio do not have the manifest permissions to change the audio system settings ("modify audio settings"). Using APKEditor added this line to manifest, but to save, unfortunately, did not work, because I get the error message: the program is already installed and is missing a digital signature. If necessary I can put the modified and the original source code of the apk "music" and "radio"... Now are struggling with receiving the digital signature, the idea is APK Editor must sign the modified apk with the native signature. Apparently, there is some protection.

n the process of using the device revealed the following shortcomings (about the first two already written):
1. Not running in the background built-in music player . That is, when playing music you can't use Navigator. You have to use one or the other.
2. Not running in the background built-in radio programme. That is, while playing the radio you can't use Navigator. You have to use one or the other.
3. Not running in the background audioclub built-in bluetooth . That is, when playing music from phone via bluetooth you can't use Navigator. So you have to use one or the other.
4. After the completion of the incoming call via the bluetooth Protocol SOMETIMES falls off the sound of the entire device. Most likely, the audio service bluetooth does not give audio device. You have to reboot the head unit by switching off the ignition.
5. I really want the joystick on the steering wheel could switch tracks on ALL the audio players and not just on the built.
6. Lost sound player and radio when you lock the screen (press on the power button), which is very inconvenient at night, since I want to eyes did not detract.
7. It is unclear how sync contacts via bluetooth. Some appear, some don't.

I received from the seller working firmware, music is now able to work together with NAV. If anyone needs - let me know.

[Q]: Any Android Head unit with immediate Radio-On feature?

Hi there,
I´m looking for a Android Head Unit for my 2009 Toyota RAV4.
Some points are really important for my (because my wife also drives this car ):
- FM Radio has to be immediate on (so I guess this should be controlled by the MCU, right!?)
- it has to be a 2-DIN unit
- would be cool if my OEM GPS antenna could be used (dont know it this works)
- reverse camera should also work immediate
Are there any Android HU out there (and there are tons of it) which fit my personal wishes? Andy recommendations on that?
Thanks in advance
regards
Daniel

Since the radio app runs on the android OS (at least on the MTCB/MTCD head units) you have always to wait the boot sequence to complete before start listening to a station.
The reverse camera starts immediately after ignition on.

Well, from reading some reviews online, there should be some out there where the MCU is in control of the FM radio and the Android OS puts just a graphical interface over it. But there are tons of different devices and its hard to find out how its working at the specific device...

Unfortunately the station select and play commands come from the radio app, so no radio playing is available before the app is up and running (on MTCB/MTCD HUs).

Is it that hard to wait 30 seconds?

Easy. Remote starter. By the time your butt is comfortably in the seat and your seat belt fastened you are good to go.

Suggestions on which HeadUnit

GrowlAudio have a model specific version for my car (growlaudio.com/nissan-navara) but finding real specs on it seems to be next to impossible.
All the suppliers have been able to tell me:
The units are not upgradable as in OS updates. OS 4.4 is the most stable of the OS available. Yes you can see other units with OS 5 and 6 available from china at a cheaper price but there is a known fault with them that they are unstable and crash a lot.
Price includes Growl unit with built in fascia, all cables and adapters needed for install, GPS antenna and free reverse camera.
Android Head Unit:
OS: Android 4.4
CPU: Quad Core Processor
RAM: DDR3 1Gb
ROM: 8G EMMC
SD: Built - In 16GB
Capable of reading 1TB external Drive
Mobile Connectivity : iOS and Android Devices
VIDEO: RMVB,MKV,MOV,WMV,AVI,MPG
AUDIO: MP3,WMA,WAV,OGG,FLAC
GPS MODULE: Support
GPS Navigation software: Sygic, Waze and other android compatible maps. Capable on connecting to WiFi via Mobile Hotspot or wifi connectivity
Bluetooth Audio and Handsfree Calls: Supported
Steering Wheel controls: Supported
Rear view video: Automatic Backup Camera turn on when reversing
Other users that have purchased and installed the unit seem to think it's the best thing ever, but every video I can find of it is slow to startup (30-40 sec), reverse camera not coming on till full boot. And no one I talk to is able to provide any details on audio quality.
What I am looking for in a HeadUnit:
Required:
* Reverse camera capable of being used within a few seconds of ignition
* Bluetooth hands free with iPhone compatibility
* Music streaming from either iPhone or USB / Flash storage
* Google Maps / GPS compatible
* 3G/4G sim/USB Dongle compatible
* Steering Wheel Control support (CANBUS)
* Audio quality at least equal to or better than stock
* Responsive screen / controls
Optional / Extras
* Multiple camera support
* Side-by-side picture
* Able to connect to iPhone Bluetooth, Internet, OBD Reader/Torque, TPMS at the same time, or at least without having to go into settings and change connected device
Does anyone have any suggestions of a suitable HU?

I've been digging for info on these, reading Amazon reviews, reading threads here, reading marketing on the mfr/reseller websites and was contemplating starting a thread for this. In lieu of starting another thread I figure to just contribute on yours. It all started not long ago when I finally installed a 2-year-sitting-in-closet Pioneer Appradio 3... what a piece of junk!!! (but it does sound good)
Is anyone comparing the pros/cons of these things? It's pretty difficult to compile information on them when there are a ton of brands nobody has heard of combined with new hardware/software coming out all the time. From what I've read there are a few major dealbreakers that make me want to wait, after all who wants to swap their head unit out on any regular basis?
I head not heard about sticking to 4.4, why are 5.1 and 6.0 not good? I read somewhere they aren't as snappy but in any video I've seen they look fine.
I'll put my lists here and maybe others can chime in with what they want/like/dislike so we can paint a bigger picture for these head units.
Here are all the things that make me hesitant to buy one of these right now:
Dealbreakers for me:
No hands-free voice control for things like Android Auto, Google Now, Google Maps, Calling... "OK Google"
Boot times any more than 5 seconds.
Lack of external microphone - I know I can add one but geez is it too much to ask for a jack?
(some may have) independent volume for media/nav/phone/etc
Cons:
No ability to USB tether to use phone's internet connection (someone's probably done this here)
Seemingly weak future update support
Problems that can be handled with apps and mods:
No light sensor for auto dimming
speed dependent master volume change​
Here's what I would put on a wishlist:
Must haves:
fast boot time (<5-10 seconds)
voice control
external microphone (or jack so can add)
option resume playing last thing on startup (car start)
Independant volume for Media/nav/phone/etc
Good audio quality
Like to have:
permanent button for Nav app
headlight or auto dimming
speed dependent volume
DVR support for dashcam AND reverse camera input
USB tethering option for data connection
ability to work with aftermarket bluetooth steering wheel remote
full Android Auto support with voice commands
ability to update in the future
Bluetooth 5 with internet connection sharing would be nice (IPSP)​
The Newsmy Carpad 4 has some things I love: 4G SIM card capable, 2 camera DVR with ability to act as a car security system and send alerts to your phone, but it costs way too much and will surely come down like every tech does in the near future.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=71220653&postcount=24
https://de.aliexpress.com/store/pro...32789646411.html?spm=2114.12010608.0.0.Qi1q42
Also looks like the Onwice C500 has 4G SIM card slot
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android-auto/android-head-units/ownice-c500-released-t3478747
http://www.gearbest.com/car-dvd-player/pp_597322.html
Joying has nice stuff and I've seen reviews that describe their low-power "dormant" mode that keeps the unit ready for a zero-delay startup even after the car is parked for a day (some units seem to only have a short dormant period before they shut down)... dormant time would of course be all dependent on how much power they draw whilst dormant.
ATOTO claim they can handle voice commands: http://www.myatoto.com/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=15&id=5
This is just the tip of the iceberg, I know. I can never seem to find one that does everything I/we all want, and that means time to wait. Anyone compiled up-to-date info so we can make an informed decision?

RedbeardPete said:
Dealbreakers for me:
Boot times any more than 5 seconds.
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Click to collapse
From what I've been able to read, you will not get this in any pure Android head unit. Its simply not possible. Do you know Android phone/tablet that is capable of powering on in less than 5 sec?
Sure they can all 'wake' in that time frame, but that's because they are running from a battery. Yes the car has a battery, but the constant drain from the head unit being in sleep mode will likely flatten the battery if the car is not started in 3-5 days.
Your demands list is something more inline with an Alpine/Kenwood/Non-PureAndroid head unit.

The fairly new Joying Intel Sofia Head Units do go into a deep sleep and only draw about 10 mAh once the vehicle has been shut off for five minutes or so. To clarify, my JY-UL134N2 unit only takes a second or two to start up after being off for days, and it begins playing music from the Sandisk 200GB micro sdxc card in a few seconds. It will also display the reverse camera instantly like the older rk3066 and rk3188 units. Please note that this HU is in a spare vehicle that only gets used every few days or on weekends, and the battery drain has not been an issue at all. Please also note that if the system is shut down completely (not in dormancy mode), the boot time is 15 seconds to a minute depending on how loaded up the system is with apps etc...
Anyway, regardless of the start up time, I doubt you will find any Chinese Android Head Units that will check all or even most of the boxes on your wish list out of the box. To date, they all appear to need software and or hardware mods in order to work half way decent and even then they are far from perfect. For sound quality, Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer, or Sony would be far better out of box. The bottom line is that for the cost, the Chinese Android Head Units can be fun to tinker with and decent with work, but you get what you pay for when it comes to sound quality (IMHO).
Best of luck,
R

rhacy said:
The fairly new Joying Intel Sofia Head Units do go into a deep sleep and only draw about 10 mAh once the vehicle has been shut off for five minutes or so. To clarify, my JY-UL134N2 unit only takes a second or two to start up after being off for days, and it begins playing music from the Sandisk 200GB micro sdxc card in a few seconds. It will also display the reverse camera instantly like the older rk3066 and rk3188 units. Please note that this HU is in a spare vehicle that only gets used every few days or on weekends, and the battery drain has not been an issue at all. Please also note that if the system is shut down completely (not in dormancy mode), the boot time is 15 seconds to a minute depending on how loaded up the system is with apps etc...
Anyway, regardless of the start up time, I doubt you will find any Chinese Android Head Units that will check all or even most of the boxes on your wish list out of the box. To date, they all appear to need software and or hardware mods in order to work half way decent and even then they are far from perfect. For sound quality, Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer, or Sony would be far better out of box. The bottom line is that for the cost, the Chinese Android Head Units can be fun to tinker with and decent with work, but you get what you pay for when it comes to sound quality (IMHO).
Best of luck,
R
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I'm looking for! How do you find the HU? Would you recommend it to aynone?

Google for Joying, they have a fairly decent website. I definitely noticed that feature mentioned and demonstrated in some YouTube videos of newer Joying units and seems like a winner... Boot time is my biggest gripe (without having ever owned one of these). I'm not sure of the downsides for Joying units although I think they don't have external mic jack, will look into that and report back.
I should have been more specific, a usable dormant fast-boot mode that can do 24 hours before shutdown/draining top much battery would be totally usable... That way the daily driver fires up the head unit right away.
So what head unit do you guys think checks off the most boxes for you?

Confused with options for a Highlander

I found this site from a comment on a youtube video where I was researching options for getting a head unit that is better than Toyota included for my Toyota Highlander Limited Hybrid. I'm sorry for the length of this post but I spent hours reading and watching youtube and I think I'm on right path, but I feel like I just need a little validation...
For reference, I'm an Apple mobile and tablet user but I owned a Samsung phone for about 3 months so I know what an Android launcher and the marketplace is. I know there are stores for hacked products, but I ended up with ads all over that phone so I prefer not to go that route. I'm not a big tinkerer - once I get something set where I want it, I won't usually change the settings unless I find a need.
I think my post will give you a good idea about what level of knowledge I have - at least you know I tried. If there is highlander or hybrid specific feedback I'm overlooking somewhere, please let me know. If I'm missing something key to decide between systems let me know.
1. When I look at the forum categories, they are broken up into terms I'm not familiar with. I believe FYT Android is where I need to focus because I see references to the units I'm researching there. But I don't understand why they are considered FYT.
2. I'm trying to stay in the $500 range and get something that works well enough that I'll use it for more than just the radio - without breaking functionality but the canbus thing is new to me. I get the concept - my car's personal IoT/LAN. But does the dash operate independently of the headunit? I sort of feel like somethings will be independent and others will not. For example, I suspect the dash display will know my speed, trip miles, direction (compass), when I need an oil change. But I feel like the option for the radio is fed from the head unit. I feel like anything that appears on my dash when I'm using the GPS (like turn next left) is fed from the head unit. Is that correct? If yes, do those functions usually stop displaying on the dash with a replacement head unit?
3. I have buttons on the dash for different features on the car. I suspect most of those work independently of head unit - like the mirror heaters. But what about accident avoidance features? Those tend to display on my dash - are those possibly affected by a different head unit? And I have a button so I can turn on 360 video - I mainly use it to see how close I am to the car in front of me when parking in a tight space. I suspect that button will work with any head unit that has front camera and/or 360 degree integration.
4. From my research, I have been focusing on units that are 4 GB/64 GB although it sounds like 2 GB/32 GB would work just fine as long as I don't store over 32 GB of apps and data.
5. Items that don't differentiate: I expect these options to be the same result across all units. Please let me know if you know differently.
-Apple car play - All have it & should function exactly the same. (I don't need android phone integration but I know this does differ on units)
-Phone call integration - looks like all use same default android app. I am very interested in how clarity of calls might differ, but I think all are using same default android function and all are able to use an included external microphone.
-Toyota OEM microphone integration - it's unclear if any will integrate with existing Toyota mic but I suspect this won't yield a result I'm happy with in either case.
- Toyota speaker button on wheel control - I think this button fails to work on every integration. I would like this to work but even the Toyota system is so unreliable I don't use it.
- Marketplace apps - All should integrate with marketplace apps exactly the same.
6. So here is my list of options I came up with in order of most likely to least. Is there another brand I should research...
- Teyes CC3 (for highlander 2015-18) - It looks like it matches integration with the best out there. I don't care about the "Porsche simulator", but it still looks like the easiest to use launcher on the market & they are actively updating it. I cannot find the same level of highlander specific details I find on the SYGAV, but reviews seem overwhelmingly positive so I suspect it'll work just as well. My concern is that I have to order directly from alibaba and wait a month to receive and they seem to send wrong parts. I haven't used alibaba but it looks like the customs costs are included in the price of $435 (364+70.76). Does anyone know if this is accurate or if there are other fees? The main complaint I hear with this unit is that it is locked down, but I think that means for adding launchers and the like that I am not interested in.
- SYGAV (for highlander 2015-18) - I don't really love the user interface on this one. But this one is the one I have found most highlander related data on and it gives me some comfort I might have less issues getting it to work. I can find nothing close to this level of detail on the other brands about highlander installs.. I have read user responses that Carplay & android auto require no additional parts to install, 360 degree camera works as well as front camera view, Hybrid info displays. For the camera inputs, it sounds like I can use my OEM cameras but I may need a camera cable adapter (unclear if included in package). One user stated that to get it to work in a highlander, I need to get the Motorola 1 M 2 F & GM adapter to Motorola (for reception). One user states that they have TPMS working, but it's unclear if they connected to the TPMS already in tires or if they had to buy separate TPMS tire plugs. The main complaint is the GPS mapping if basic IGO.
- Dasaita (for highlander 2015-18) - This brand seems like the next most popular after Joying. It looks like they have 3 launchers they develop and you can install whichever you like best. In regard to the UI, I feel like this brand comes in 2nd after Teyes. But I can't find as detailed user experiences with highlander and which functions work and which do not.
- Joying - I am not actively researching this one but everyone seems to be using this one. I was considering this one but I couldn't locate any highlander option anywhere - not even from their website (joyingauto.eu). That sounds like I'd have to figure out the canbus thing on my own and find the plastic frame to put it in my dash & I don't feel like I'm knowledgeable enough to go that route. I really don't understand why this one is so popular above competition - it is one of the highest priced if I buy from the US markets. Everyone that uses it seems to add a separate launcher which makes me question whether Joying's UI development isn't all that great. I know some others lock down their products so you can't tinker as much. Is that why it's popular - because it isn't locked down? If so, I see similar hardware on cheaper units. It sounds like the UI development/support/upgrades is quite a bit of what one is paying for when buying these.
7. Maps - this is one of my major complaints from my Toyota unit . I do not see anything that makes me feel that the maps included with ANY of the units are any better. Most seem to use IGO GPS which seems to get the same complaints I have when using my GPS. I believe the only solution is a unit that includes apple car play. Or am I overlooking any with better mapping functions?
8. JBL audio - I know I have the JBL system in my car and on regular car head units this seems to make a difference with integration, but from my list above, I can't find anything to indicate that any will not work with the JBL system. I'm assuming it is because the car based units have hardware incompatibilities that android based do not, but it's really unclear to me. Can someone provide clarification? On the SYGAV unit, I read a review that it needs an amp to sound as good as an OEM unit, but I think that would apply to all of these units equally. In either case the Toyota JBL system has an AMP under my center console. I can't find this level of integration information but I think all units will connect to the amp.
9. 12 speakers - I feel like this will determine which system is best if I can figure it out... The JBL audio has 12 speakers (one of which is a subwoofer) in 10 locations in the highlander. I can't locate specific details on any of these if anyone gets all the speakers to connect successfully. I did see that one of these brands have 5.1 outputs but I don't really know what I need to be looking for in descriptions to figure this out on each unit. Any suggestions how to figure this out.
10. Video playback - All of these support video playback but it sounds like auto carplay may block mirroring while the car is actively moving. Is the behavior going to be the same across all units? I sort of feel like this is something that works differently across different brands, but I can't find details to figure out which allow video playback when car is moving.
11. Hybrid integration - SYGAV is the only unit I've seen where someone has hybrid info working on a highlander, but I feel like all the systems may work very similarly. I believe the dash display will work independent of the head unit so I can always switch the dash display when I want to see what the hybrid system is doing. I think another brand states it has hybrid integration but I couldn't find any responses where someone had it working successfully.
12. Daytime/Night time modes - I need to validate across all, but I know multiple have tried to integrate this. I do not think any have integrated without a bug. I feel like the ones that are likely to get this right first are Teyes and Dasaita since they are actively developing their UIs. Since these are all android based, I feel like all will have an android setting to dim the display even though the color scheme may not change.
I'm really leaning toward the Teyes because if I imagine myself driving, it looks like the easiest interface to use and they are actively developing. When looking at default display, it looks like the most 'modern' design also.
In case someone else reads this thread trying to figure all this stuff out, XM and HD radio integration may differentiate these units also. I know it doesn't work on some but I don't use either of those so it isn't important to me.

I'm mainly responding to my own post in case someone else is considering a T'eyes unit. I purchased one and I highly under estimated what is involved with getting these units to work. The T'eyes cc3 in my car may go up for auction - just too much of it is unusable.
Note that if you do not like tweeking your cell phone, you might not like these units to begin with - don't expect they'll just work out of the box. Consider hours if not days to configure these things. Also, look at the back of the units - this one came with a 'Toyota" harness which is a bunch of wires to convert all the cables in the back. And it isn't a single harness of wires - it's multiple bags of cables that you have to pick and choose from. You have extra cables and I'm pretty sure the set is missing cables. My car has 2 cables where I only have one adapter that matches them in all harness wiring. So one is unplugged. I have no idea what each cable from my car is used for. But most of the wires only have a single place they can connect in the primary harness. It's all a confusing mess even though I think I have 90% connected to the correct spots.
Not all units are made this way. There is going to be something converting the cables, but some units have some sort of box on the back that has all the cabling converting done for you - so it looks like the cables from the car attach into the unit directly. After my harness was attached, I did not have cables that match everything coming from the car. I feel like that is why things like my my surround cameras do not work. I also have no back up camera working now. That is a pretty big deal.
Also, car play isn't all I thought it would be. It seems to only mirror Apple written apps to the device. I can install apps onto the unit and connect to my phones hotspot, but the connection is very flaky. Unless you are willing to connect the unit with its own sim card, you may be severely limited. I wanted to be able to stream youtube and such while making a weekly 90 minute drive I make. Well, this just doesn't happen because half the time the unit will not connect to my hotspot. It usually connects within 30 minutes of me driving, but I haven't found a reliable way to get it to connect to the hotspot. Usually I'm driving with my phone playing through my phone speakers because audio streaming won't work with wifi/hotspot.
All in all, I wouldn't purchase this again. If I were going to attempt again, I'd go with one of the models that removes the 'harness' from the equation.