Another DigitalWorkz Navi Delete

The Weapon

Just wanted to post my experience with DigitalWorkz Navi Delete (radensb)

I would say everything went smoothly except for making the harnesses. If you have no experience doing it, then pay someone else to do it for you.

I ended up installing an Ipad Mini slider kit and Pioneer 7600nex 9" float screen.
I really thought hard about going with a Android HU, or Brainiac but for the things i wanted this seemed like the best solution for me.

After 12 years of living with the Bose system there were some things I was accustomed to and not willing to give up.
1) Warranty - a lot of mixed reviews on Android HU and issues with SQ.
2) Ipad - Flac/Hi-Res music (SQ)
3) Back-Up Cam
4) All Steering Wheel Controls working
5) Split screen (Ipad Ecutek Gauges/Music/Map/phone info)
6) I'm not a fan of streaming so didn't really care about that, but i do like Android Auto for voice commands. Alexa is another plus on the Pioneer and i had to have Wireless Android Auto.

My workaround was fine for the last few years but i wanted a cleaner look, and I've always felt i was leaving "something" on the table with the Bose HU.

I went from this:


I used the ipad as a hard-drive to store all my music, and stream if i wanted with any of the apps installed connected through a lightning to 30pin adapter. As much as i hate Apple products, i just really like the ease of use of i-tunes versus trying to get music on a android device.

I also used the Ipad for updated maps/navigation if i needed. I would have kept everything as is, had I been able to just install the ipad over the stock screen and have my ac controls show up on the ipad but that was not an option.


I had to install the Pioneer unit outside the leather surround as the buttons on the left would be covered. Someday i'll have someone recess the screen and cut up the surround, but my skills are not up to the task.


An 8inch screen would have been perfect but there's only one and it was out of stock everywhere and did not come with Wireless Android Auto.



I thought about mounting the stereo screen where the Ipad Mount was located but it's just too tight with the AC vents, there are issues with the left buttons on the headunit screen and it looked more out of place there on the outside.

I also purchased a 4660Nex Double din unit originally but it looked boring and out of place next to the ipad screen and i just really liked the screen resolution on the 7600.

The ipad slides out and on docks and is held in place by the glued dock connector and right surround.

For the Navi Delete board, DigitalWorkz has thoroughly explained everything on his site and the instructions are very easy to follow once you get the harnesses out of the way. His support and willingness to help answer questions and guide me have been more than anyone could expect.

Flashing the board was a little intimidating to me but after he created the walkthrough video it was a breeze.

As for sound, there's a a noticeable upgrade compared to the stock bose HU. I was able to obtain a clean signal and create RCAs from the HU to my DSP, but i had my DSP and amps gains as high as i could get them without introducing any distortion and now i would say the Pioneer is able to take some load off the equipment and producing about 20-30% louder sound.

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Boosted Performance Comp Turbo - Tuner- CJM Fuel Return- Modified Berk CBE- ZSpeed Stage 4 Clutch - Southbend Flywheel - Tuned by Seb ~650whp - HKS Coilovers - SPL - Focal Audio 4 way Active - Audiocontrol DSP - Work CR 2P

SeeThruHead

Can you go into more detail about how the ipad and head unit are integrated?

Do both output rca audio to the amps? So you can play music from the ipad or the head unit? Assuming the headunit is used to play audio then why do you need the ipad? Just for lossless audio? What did you use for rca out from the ipad?

Also what iPad mount is it?
Also dual screen looks awesome. I just ordered a brainiac android setup but if that doesn't work well I may try this!

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The Weapon

Ipad connects via USB to Pioneer. Pioneer DAC and controls the ipad. I can access all the music, playlist etc through the Pioneer headunit.

The ipad is mostly a music storage drive in the background while the primary need with the ipad is for Ecutek/gauges/logging. I also use the ipad to access my dsp settings.


I got used to storing my music on a ipod since the 09 only had a 30 pin proprietary nissan connector.

I was hell bent on looking for a optical output option and found a couple but they have draw backs in someway either in ways of controlling the volume, or lack of features. After comparing the sq difference between optical and rca, i could barely tell the difference with the music i have saved. I don't have anything higher than cd quality it might be worth more debate if i had access to higher quality music but it also made my choice easy to stick with rcas to my dsp.



Ipad charges/data usb>Pioneer headunit > rcas to DSP> to 7 channels
Focal 6 channel amp for tweeter, mid, and woofer, mono sub amp > 2× 12 inch subs.

__________________
Boosted Performance Comp Turbo - Tuner- CJM Fuel Return- Modified Berk CBE- ZSpeed Stage 4 Clutch - Southbend Flywheel - Tuned by Seb ~650whp - HKS Coilovers - SPL - Focal Audio 4 way Active - Audiocontrol DSP - Work CR 2P

SeeThruHead

yeah so for my android brainiac setup i picked up
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B08...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

which will allow 2 channel optical out from the android tablet to the optical input on the JL vxi amp i'm using. Could probably do the same for the ipad i suppose. the vxi amps have a port for connecting a volume knob which i'm going to do. That kind of thing would still work nicely with this setup.

how does the pioneer recognize the ipad as far as a usb device is concerned? is it mounted as external storage? so the music is actually playing on the pioneer?

or it acts as a controller and sound passthrough for the ipad?

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The Weapon

Ipad sends via data in the USB. The Pioneer has uses its internal DAC to to decode the digital information and converts to analog. The music is played through the Pioneer. Much like if you plugged your Ipad/ipod to a pc and you played music through the PC in itunes.

The Pioneer has a source for "IPOD" and i just change the source for it to recognize. I'll try to take some video and post here of how everything works. When i plug in my phone in the usb to update firmware it knows its my phone. There's only one USB.

For my setup there a few more steps than i would prefer in the chain but i can't really notice any issues.

Ipad Digital>Pioneer (Digital to Analog) > DSP (Analog to Digital then back Analog) > Analog to amps.

If i was able to find a optical out i would eliminated a couple conversions and it could have went Digital (Ipad)>Digital (Headunit)> (Dsp) Digital to Analog at the last step > Finally Amps. I looked at the Sony GS9 but i would lose volume controls on my steering wheel and have to control volume through my DSP for any digital source playback and of course no backup cam.

There was a Stinger headunit "Elev8" that looked like it might do everything i wanted but it was out of stock everywhere. The smaller unit appears to be discontinued, but i would have given that one a try had been able to find one. The lines on the bezel look like it would have "flowed" better but i would have had to still install outside the leather surround and it had a slighly larger footprint.

I also tried this as a DAC. from IPAD to USB to Toslink -
Topping D10s

I recommend you look into the Topping D10s for your USB>Optical conversions its highly recommended over others out there.

but the loss of volume control on my steering wheel made me stick skip the the optical out.

__________________
Boosted Performance Comp Turbo - Tuner- CJM Fuel Return- Modified Berk CBE- ZSpeed Stage 4 Clutch - Southbend Flywheel - Tuned by Seb ~650whp - HKS Coilovers - SPL - Focal Audio 4 way Active - Audiocontrol DSP - Work CR 2P

SeeThruHead

I actually use a topping D50 as my desktop dac. Since the amp i'm getting has digital input as well as volume control I think i'll be fine with the Douk audio interface. It uses the same XMOX XU208 as the Topping you linked. I don't need any line out from my android tablet. I may attempt to add steering wheel control back in via some bluetooth controller. People have done it with the brainiac. But I never use those controls so I will probably be too lazy. Thanks for the info! The iPod as source is something I didn't know about. Very nice integration.

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radensb

Happy to help and the install looks great! I have made some modifications to the board and designed factory harness adapter boards to greatly simplify the wiring as that was giving most people issues. V2 is planned to only require simple barrel crimps or pigtail soldering to complete

The Weapon

Happy to report the firmware update fixed all glitches and its functioning 100% as expected. Couldn't be happier.

__________________
Boosted Performance Comp Turbo - Tuner- CJM Fuel Return- Modified Berk CBE- ZSpeed Stage 4 Clutch - Southbend Flywheel - Tuned by Seb ~650whp - HKS Coilovers - SPL - Focal Audio 4 way Active - Audiocontrol DSP - Work CR 2P

radensb

All the glitches? I thought it was just the one?

Glad to hear all is well!

The Weapon

Yes correct bad choice of words, it is 100% functioning as expected.

__________________
Boosted Performance Comp Turbo - Tuner- CJM Fuel Return- Modified Berk CBE- ZSpeed Stage 4 Clutch - Southbend Flywheel - Tuned by Seb ~650whp - HKS Coilovers - SPL - Focal Audio 4 way Active - Audiocontrol DSP - Work CR 2P