Android HU install.

2011 Nismo#91

I finally decided to stop waiting for a major name brand retailer to put out a full Android HU and went with a pure Chinese unit. Joying 2Din 5.1.1

I am getting rid of my old Apline INA-W900BT because is't pretty limited in what it can do from a AV file perspective. It will only play video files from the DVD drive and only if they are MPEG-1 or 2 with no compression. It can only play audio files MP3, WMA, and AAC. Also their support wasn't very helpful besides suggesting to buy more alpine products to fix issues.

For the past 4 years I had this unit I have been waiting for an actual android system to hit the market, the few that have only use a very old version (parrot) or some proprietary version that only allows a small handful of apps (20 or less) to run. Not to mention costs around $1k.

So I'll keep this thread updated, as of now I got all the parts on hand and should be installed Wednesday with the help of bigaudiofanat.

Thyristor

the Joying unit looks pretty nice and the price is right. im interested in seeing how everything turns out

sgosh

Looking forward to seeing how this thread progresses. Thanks 2011 Nismo#91 for starting it.

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bigaudiofanat

LOL oh Pete can't wait to pull the alpine out and upgrade you to something that hopefully works better. I know the 910 I had was good for a while but I was bored of it. Looking forward to seeing you Wed to get this upgrade done.

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Jayhovah

Looking forward to your experience! I was seriously considering the same model but decided to go with a pioneer model instead only because, knowing myself, customizing and configuring an Android unit would turn into a science project and this car is already a cornucopia of projects for me. In buying the simpler pioneer unit, I kind of "took the toy away" from myself.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

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2013 Gun Metallic Sport - Gamma V3 Twin Turbogized
DIY Gamma V3 TT Install * Jayhovah's Gamma V3 TT Install Pic'Z and Vid'Z * DIY: Washer Reservoir for the Boosted

Tenny

Sub'd. Definitely curious to see how this turns out! real interested in android head units.

2011 Nismo#91

First I updated my feelings towards Alpine on the OP because when we removed the system we found that the original installer (not Bigaudiofanat) had done a completely **** job and that was what was causing the Bluetooth connectivity issues. I still feel they are past their prime and don't offer anything better then the other players at the same price. But moving on.

The install, it went well, there are no instructions on installing this unit besides 1 index card telling you want wire color is what, which would be useful if the wires didn't already come labeled. If your good at googling you can find out all you need to do the install. Also if you get a laugh from reading engrish there's plenty in this box.

Somethings to note installation wise:
1. The GPS antenna connector on the HU will not match the connector on a stock or other typical car gps antenna.
2. The steering wheel controls connector on the HU is 2 wires. So you will need an very simple adapter to connect the 2 wires to a METRA AXXESS or PAC SWI unit's 3.5mm jack.
3. Programming the steering wheel controls is a bit too simple and we over though it, Bigaudiofanat could probably give more info since he was messing around with it the most.

Running the unit: I does have some quirks but overall for sub 300US its well worth it.
1. It boots up pretty fast much faster then any smartphone I had before.
2. The rear view is ready quickly too, down side is that right now it cuts the current audio/video that's playing, which isn't too bad because it makes you pay a bit more attention when driving reverse.
3. Connectivity: Excellent, had it connected to a WIFI hotspot, while streaming BT Audio from my phone, and the Torque app (pre-installed) connected via Bluetooth as well reading engine info.
3. Apps, it comes with all the basics installed. Generic Audio app, Video app, and browser. Google maps and Torque is on there too. Can't remember off the top of my head right now the others.
4. Adding apps. It does have google play preloaded so just be in range og a wifi signal and download pretty much everything and anything.
5. No preloaded maps. It seems most people use SYGIC and it's free. I have yet to install it.
6. The HD screen and animated background are amazing.

Much more to come as I work with it more.

Jayhovah

When I was looking into it - I didn't think you even needed a steering wheel adapter for steering controls... the inputs to the deck can supposedly just take the input directly.

__________________
2013 Gun Metallic Sport - Gamma V3 Twin Turbogized
DIY Gamma V3 TT Install * Jayhovah's Gamma V3 TT Install Pic'Z and Vid'Z * DIY: Washer Reservoir for the Boosted

2011 Nismo#91

That could be true, we didn't even try since I already had the adapter in place from the prior install.

bigaudiofanat

Ok I'd like to add to everything Z has posted.

First up the unit runs off of detecting resistance between two wires. Could this possibly be done off the canbus wires of the Z? Possibly but I doubt it. It's why I went ahead and kept the metra installed. You will need the adapter brown and brown and white wires from 3.5mm jack if using the Metra. The Pac should have dual output wires to detect off of.

To program the steering wheel controls....is stupidly simple. To the point where I thought the unit wasn't recognizing button presses. Let me explain. When entering steering wheel controls menus you are greeted with a blank screen with a reset and save button. Once you reprogram your metra (it will detect the unit as a JVC) you can press any button. This is where it gets easy. Once you press a button you are greeted with a dual menu setup. One with a short press and one with a long press. Under these menus is every control you could possibly program. So for the source short hold will return you to the home screen. A long hold I programmed for shutting down the unit. You can program any button with two commands. A short press and a long press. Once you select one or both you click done, then hit your next button. Once you're done programming your last button you hit save and you're done.

Next, up one thing that had me worried. Sound quality. More directly pre-output distortion. I set all gains with an SMD DD-1 distortion detector. This is highly accurate and tells me what's the highest volume a head unit can go to before clipping or distortion is detected. Happy to announce the unit was able to go to the maximum volume number with 0 distortion (with all EQ settings flat). A big positive for this unit. Now you could add a DAC to one of the USB outputs for the best signal but we didn't do this. Once thing that raised an eyebrow was only a MONO sub output. This isn't a big deal but would have liked to seen a L and R.

Is there a gap? NO! Not even able to fit a credit card between the DASH KIT and the unit. Not a single bit of gap period. For all you out there that love no gap this unit is for you.

Final thoughts, I like the unit. Would I buy one? Probably not but that's just me and my stickler for something that feels better built. Don't get me wrong this thing will play anything you push to it. Adding the app POWERAMP is HIGHLY recommended by myself. It's what I use on my phone.

__________________
Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know
Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com
Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below
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2011 Nismo#91

Menu


Torque Running


GPS Sygic Offline Map


Phone


Pandora


Netflix (not working atm)

bam1020

Really digging this head unit I'm a android freak honestly didn't know this was out there...only thing that has me worried is installing it haven't done a good install in years so would definitely be seeking professional help hopefully can get this done....great review! And information

iTeaBagDrums

Subscribed. I remember seeing some people use this unit on the BRZ/FR-S' with great results.

mtbdave

Very nice... couple questions

1. Did you connect this to a Bose System?

2. Where did you get the mounting Faceplate?

Thx

2011 Nismo#91

1. This was not with a Bose system. (Car started with a base system but that's completely replaced)

2. No dash kit was used from what I remember (If one was it was from Crutchfield). Face plate of the unit itself is what came in the box, there was another optional one in the box too but it wasn't needed.