1st gen tundras! Touch Screen head unit. Who's got what?

I went with the Alpine Halo 9 a while back. An additional USB input would be nice, but I have an HDMI input I can do something with. Maybe next time I'd go with something that has wireless Android Auto.

Everything else is pretty solid.

 

I have a Kenwood DMX906S that I installed last year with the Maestro iDatalink interface - its a pretty solid setup. It brings the factory speakers alive (I didn't want to completely upgrade the entire audio system). Install was pretty straightforward and I like having the OBD II interface to show gauges on the HU. I love the Wireless Apple CarPlay!! Its cool you can turn on the rear camera at anytime - just not when you are in reverse.

Overall - I'd recommend it. I've had a very small number of reboots - totally random and intermittent. Not enough to really complain about.

 

I went with the Atoto A6 Pro (Less than $300). It's been working great. It doesn't have a CD player but it's 2020 so... If I were being picky, the accuracy of the touchscreen has been SLIGHTLY off on some occasions (as you can see in the picture, the icons at the bottom are pretty small so it COULD be me). I used their backup camera which works great. Quite a few accessories they sell with like the ODBII Bluetooth adapter which I have and also works great.

The screen is plenty bright and does everything I need. Being an Android device you can add apps, use Google Maps, YouTube, Google Chrome etc. I wish my car had this type of app feature set and upgradability. I hotspot my phone when driving my truck and use it with the "internet" which has been great. It has an extra mic but I haven't had any complaints about the built-in mic.

Lastly, I was also able to hook my steering wheel volume controls up without an adapter.

 

I have the

$280 Alpine iLX-W650 7" Double DIN Touchscreen Digital Multimedia Receiver with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Alpine iLX-W650 as well. Like the head unit, capacitive touch screen was a MUST. Price was right. I do need to update the firmware on it though as I got a first run unit with original firmware and it is a little buggy at times, mainly to do with the carplay aspect. Unplugging the phone and plugging it back in solves this though as it "resets" the carplay. Other than that, love it! I'm sure the firmware update will fix the problem just haven't gotten around to it. With being working from home that just might happen today though!

 

I will say the one thing I miss with the aftermarket HUs is a physical volume knob... just makes it easier to adjust volume quickly if needed.

 

That is one thing I love the power button is also a mute button so when I go to Dunkin donuts for my morning coffee I can quickly hit the button to order.

 

Just posted this in another thread, figured i'd put it here for search/analytics:

I just installed one in my Dad's. Fit perfectly, no filler panels needed.

Edit - Pioneer AVH-1330NEX. I believe I used the factory mounting brackets and it all went in perfectly. I used the Metra 70-1761 Radio Wiring Harness as my dad had the standard 4 speaker system. I did have to remove the factory amp and use the connections from that into the Pioneer, but wow his audio is so much crisper and there is some bass now. He says he loves how his music sounds now.

I drilled out a spot in between his cig lighters and put in a USB connection for him (

$8 BATIGE Square Single Port USB 3.0 Panel Flush Mount Extension Cable with Buckle for Car Truck Boat Motorcycle Dashboard 3ft

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078LRSZDB/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

 

I’m totally stealing that usb spot whenever I find a console...

 

Yeah, for the price of the USB and the relative ease of installation - it works great.

And it keeps the phone low so my dad won't text and drive - not that he should, Apple Carplay blew his mind.

 

I like that there's no need for filler plates on that dash. I had to use them on my 05 DC. Guess they decided to make the headunit opening larger on the later models.

 

I ended up going with Kenwood DMX 9706S from crutchfield. Got it installed a couple nights ago. Didn't take that long and our dashes are super easy to take apart.

Haven't purchased a backup cam yet as I was reading reviews doing research from responses on here. I'll probably end up in the tailgate handle with that about the only good spot. So far I like the unit only issue is AA really only works consistently with USB. While on phone wait with crutchfield it randomly started working then quit. Walked through it with guy on phone and got it working again...got off phone and haven't been able to get it to connect again.

Just for the next guy, you don't need to run the parking brake wire down to the actual brake. You can just bypass/ ground it with a ring terminal to one of the screws on the back of the unit and be done. It does need to be connected for AA wired or wireless to work.

 

That looks really good! Which backup cam are you leaning towards? I also want one in the tailgate handle, but haven't had enough time to research them much.

 

Kenwood DDX9905s wireless Android
Installed it myself with brake bypass.

 

I'm thinking about this one. https://www.tundras.com/threads/06-dc-daily-driver.48447/#post-1685140
Decent price and OP of this build thread doesn't seem to have any issues thus far. I'm probably going to use something rubber rather than washers when I do it. I'm sure I've got something laying around that I can modify to make work.

 

Yeah, that'll do.

 

UPDATE: This thing is gonna get sent back. Didn't pay that kind of money for something to half work. Wireless AA works when it feels like it but only 2x and never when I actually try to get it to. It's not any sort of upgrade other than having a touch screen and being able to occasionally work correctly. Today, doing nothing differently than I had before wired AA was not working correctly. BTW. The JBL systems sound like shit with a stock or after market stereo. Maybe worse with aftermarket. FML.

 

Which unit?

 

Kenwood DMX 9706S

 

How did you go about the steering wheel controls? Did they sell an adapter?

 

I have the DMX906S and use wireless Apple CarPlay - it’s pretty solid unit. Not sure about AA, but for wireless CarPlay to work you need the GPS antenna for the Kenwood HU working good. Early on I installed a firmware update that fixed my sporadic CarPlay issues - maybe there’s a firmware update available for your unit?

 

As a former car audio installer, I would highly recommend physically playing around with different brands and models to figure out what works for you. So go to your local car audio place and figure it out instead of taking advice from internet strangers that may not desire the same features as you. Would you want a volume knob or have to tap the volume up button repeatedly to increase/decrease volume. How about the button layout? Menu layout? Do you want front/rear camera input? Are you planning on adding amps? Do you want a CD player? GPS? Do you want CarPlay? Do you want a usb on the front or back of the unit? The list goes on.

 

i think i have the same worked out great except for the steering wheel remote not working anymore.

 

I did as I think most people do initially. For the last month if not longer that really hasn't been an option anyways. I'd rather ask questions on here and get a more unbiased opinion than to someone at a retailer anyday.

 

These look sharp on the gen 1. Makes me want one with a DVD player

 

I went with the Pioneer AVIC W8400 NEX about 6 months ago. Install went pretty easily considering there was an older Pioneer 1440NEX already there when I bought the truck, it was literally plug and play. And yes, keep your stock radio brackets, you will need them for your new unit!

The wireless Android auto is nice but couple things to know:

Your phone must be capable of this, and not all are. I had a Moto G7 that I spent an hour trying to sync up with no success... After some googling, I realized I'd have been there all day if I was super persistent. I have a pixel 3 now and it works fine. I really don't take advantage of the wireless part in reality though because I always plug in to charge anyway.

I don't notice any delays with buttons not to say they don't exist, I just haven't noticed so if it's there it's probably minimal. I do miss the volume knob of a stock head unit, it's just easier. I do like the tilt function on the screen which allows you to preset the screen angle in the programming and it returns to that setting whenever the radio is powered up or when the screen returns after installing a CD.

Another nice feature and this may be more of a hidden feature is that you can do the "bypass" virtually instead of with the parking brake wire. There's a hidden location on the screen that when enabled (during a particular screen display)w enable a virtual bypass function.

I also added Kicker 6.5" speakers on each of the 4 doors (Access cab w/suicide doors) though I left the stock tweeters alone.

I'm really not proficient in car audio so I'm sure It could be better but it will have to wait until I get the courage up to install some kind of sub and a woofer in the rear under seat storage compartment. The sound is definitely better than it was though.

I also chucked the license plate frame camera and set up a new camera in the tailgate handle which is working out much better for me. Again, this was easier in my situation because previous owner had already run the wiring to the back of the truck for the old cam.

 

Getting ready to install this same model on my F-150. I know, I know wrong forum. LOL. When it arrived, I powered it up on my test bench and that wireless mirroring is pretty sweet. I was watching YouTube and Hulu and anything else I fired up on my S10. The only thing that I would want on this unit to make it completely perfect for me would be if it had a higher resolution capacitive AMOLED screen at least 720p and also if it was a short chassis like the DMX706s in my 05 DC. Been using Kenwood units for years now and have always been happy with their sound and features.

 

Pioneer AVH 3800BHS I believe with backup camera in the tailgate handle. USB and AUX input adapter in the place of one of the 12V plugs. Happy with the performance of the unit, sounds great, no carplay though. Did the parking brake bypass as well.

 

I haven't messed with the screen mirroring yet enough to get it to work. I think I need to download an app. I haven't found great setting for majority of music to sound good in.my truck with factory jbl system. I think it's just the speakers needing replaced. If any 1 has any insight into sound settings I'm open to anything at this point.

 

Pioneer dmhx3000

 

In for later