Android Headunit

I finished my install tonight. I love how it looks and thus far performs. The latest batch seem to have fewer bugs out the box imo.

There are a ton of wires to wade through, but there is a post in this tread with pics that was very helpful. I spent the most time getting my front cam installed and figuring out the wiring to be all in dash.

Now on to loading apps and customizing!

 

Definitely interested in this. My baby is a '16 1794 with JBL of course. I've skimmed thru most of the pages on this but still have a question regarding sound quality. Once tweaked, are those of you who have this unit finding the ability to remove the god awful "over bass" in the front doors? I have read that sound quality is "better" and "amazing". Someone also mentioned their surprise of how well the JBL speakers sound now. Is this actual? Any specifics would be appreciated.

 

I’m interested in anyone that installed this in a 2nd gen Tundra

 

If you order the unit from Phoenix you have 30 days to return it, I was shocked by the sound improvement with only the stock speakers. Get off the fence you only live once! Opps I've been drinking agian

 

+1

The sound quality improvement is what I would call drastic. Lots more volume output from the speakers, and it has extensive DSP control to lower excessive bass to the stock speakers. The only thing I wish it had was the ability to independently control the volume on the factory 8" woofer. Other than that, WELL WORTH the $550 I paid for it (IF you can get in on a group buy for $550).

 

I installed mine yesterday and unfortunately I am not impressed. It lagged from time to time, app sometimes force closed. I really don't have the time to try this and try that to fix issues.

I will take a lost, I am selling mine for $530 shipped. Its the latest version with two knobs on top corners. Android 7.1 on it. It still have 10+ months warranty on it. It particularly still new, I was trying it might be for 30 minutes only. screen protector still on.

 

Sorry to hear that. If you join the Facebook group below (if you're not already a member), you might find someone on there who may want to purchase it. At the very least, the group is full of tips and tricks to get the most out of your head unit, and possibly fix any issues you may be having. I finally joined the Facebook world just to get in the group, and it's been an invaluable resource.

 

I agree, with the tops from the FB group I have mine dialed in perfectly to my liking

 

I've had mine for about 9 months so far. Literally if you run through the FB group and mark some of the things you want to do and spend an hour or two on the weekend getting it dialed in and learning its qwerks its by far perhaps the best mod. Got mine dialed in within the first 2 weeks I had it. Been perfect ever since.

 

Do you have to do anything special everyday to connect your phone to the BT? I'm interested in this system and ok with working through some of the issues for the looks and better sound.

 

Nope. Connects every time. For WiFi, I just make sure I've turned on my hotspot on my phone within the time frame that the seat belt chime is active and it connects every time as well.

 

Are you using an iPhone or an Android phone? I can’t get my head unit to connect automatically to my iPhone hotspot every time I crank up. If you’re using an iPhone, is there anything special you did to get it to connect every time, other than your timing of turning on the hotspot?

 

iPhone X. Sometimes when I swipe down to turn on my hotspot its already green. I turn it off, then re-activate it and it works as long as I'm in the "chiming time frame" I'm good.

 

This is almost exactly how I felt when I first installed the 7.1 unit. First and foremost, upgrading the firmware to the latest fixed a lot of the issues I was having of app crashing, it made the unit load a bit better, etc. But it also took me a good few weeks to a month of running the unit while driving, making notes of small things I didn't like or that didn't work perfectly and then going into the deep settings that this thing has to tweak everything.

The "lagging" I get and I assume what other people refer to is when the unit is first turned on and is loading all the apps, the navigation etc. takes a good 2-3 minutes to get everything loaded up to where it runs smoothly. If audio is playing during this initial boot up period, it crackles, jumps or lags. This is pretty normal for something of this price point. Its basically an android device with 1 gb ram, capable of 2 gb. If someone is playing music on a cheaper price point laptop, a pad or a phone, its very similar. If the unit is trying to initialize or boot a bunch of apps while also trying to play music, of course its going to lag or crackle a bit. Don't expect this thing to run like it's a Predator laptop or something... But once your apps are loaded and you don't have a bunch of crazy apps in the background, it runs very smooth. It's mainly the GPS/map app loading that cause most of the laggy audio. But again, once it loads, it's pretty smooth. And by the way, Waze is the best map app for the unit, it formats to the display the best.

Some people on the Russian forum for the unit have opened it up and soldered additional ram to the board, but I really don't think its necessary unless you have the time and think the effort is worth it. It would def be nice if Phoenix just had the extra gig of ram, but to me even with the 1 gb ram, it still functions way better than the factory nav headunit I had. (I have a '14 Platinum with the JBL system.)

Everyone's experience is different, but I hated the factory nav headunit. And I absolutely hated the factory AC control unit. On the factory nav headunit, mine locked up and "lagged" and froze up all the time. It would lock up all the time while driving. My music would freeze and my nav map would just lock up. And you cant just reset on the fly if it locks up while your driving like you can with the Phoenix unit. You have to pull over and cycle the truck on and off to reset the unit. Or a couple times that didn't even work and I had to wait till I got home and disconnect the positive battery terminal to reset it. Or even through normal use and play, the factory headunit was very "laggy" for me as well. I could be driving and then press the nav app button to get to my map, sometimes it took a full 2 mintues (after the unit had already been on for 20 minutes) to load up. And don't get me started on the factory AC controls. I hated the way it cycles through the air venting (never seemed to cycle consecutively, always seemed more random to me... I feel the proper way to cycle the vents is to start with front, then when you press the cycle it goes to front/floor, then floor, then floor/defrost, then back to front) The factory one had the most random cycling on mine. When I first start the car it would mostly always start with floor/defrost, sometimes start with floor and if I pressed cycle it would go to a random vent, never in the order I just stated above. It didn't matter what mode it was on when I turned the car off. I would either prefer it to start with the same mode it was on when I turned the car off, or always start with front. Again this was just something I didn't like about the factory AC control unit. Some people may have different experience with how theirs works. But anyway, my point is that the way the Phoenix headunit controls the AC is superior in my opinion as well. The Phoenix HU has memory and just starts the AC controls exactly the way you left them when the truck is turned off.

For people who don't have too much time for setting things up or don't like tweaking settings, who don't like electronics that need firmware upgrading often, or for those that just simply over analyze everything and need more reviews before they make a purchase, then maybe just stay away. You may not be satisfied because it's def not perfect. But nothing is, especially the OEM Nav...

Or to those who are 90-100% satisfied with their factory system, then probably stay away. Again I hated the factory setup and I couldn't be more happier with the 7.1 Phoenix Headunit.

Now on to the audio quality. A big one for me. I was the one who after getting my unit installed and finally working out the audio settings, I stated it sounds "amazing".
After another month now with the unit, I actually think that is an understatement. I can't believe the difference this unit makes on the factory JBL speakers. Now I can't speak for those who don't have the JBL package, I have no idea what the Phoenix headunit sounds like on the normal speakers, but to those that do have the JBL package, your factory headunit doesn't even come close to making the JBL speakers sounds like what they are supposed to sound like.

The OEM Nav HU, at 35-40 volume, it sounds very over processed and its not even loud. And the bass had no clarity whatsoever. Horrible software running the OEM and JBL Nav units.

With the Phoenix headunit, you can set the gains for each source of sound independently. The advanced equalizer can adjust 14 bands and you can even set the frequency of each band. You can set your bass more on the low end or mid range depending how you like your bass. And the low end bass doesnt sound distorted like many times when you put an aftermarket radio into a car pushing factory speakers. The bass and highs are super crisp. The main thing is how loud it can get while still being true to the clarity and power of the audio coming through. I truely can't believe how loud I can turn it up and it still sounds super crispy and clean, not distorted or over processed.

And any issues with audio quality on the Phoenix HU, it's almost always because a setting is off and needs to be adjusted. The settings for audio are deep and it's just like with any system, just because you spend $3000 on amps, speakers and a HU, doesnt mean you plug it all together and make it sound great. I've know guys who have expensive, amazing systems that I really wasn't digging the audio quality, simply because they didn't know jack about how to set it up. A big one I see a lot is people setting the gain at full for all channels. Not always ideal, sometimes it sounds better to set gain around 65-80% and raise your bass, mid, and treble levels. But on an all aftermarket system, generally you'd start with your amps and set those gains and levels and move up to your HU and set everything up there and it would be a months of trial and error of tweaking settings to get it sounding perfect.

That's kinda how the software for the Phoenix HU has been for me. And for me it's an enjoyable experience, and it's awesome that the Phoenix HU has all the functions to control the audio and amp the way it does.

Then for those with the JBL system, the Phoenix HU will let you can access the Amp console which gives even more audio quality settings.

Here are some links for research or help to those who already have the Phoenix HU and may need support.

This is the Russian forum where they have the links to the newest firmware and all kinds of good info, just make sure to use your translate option on your browser:

https://4pda.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=877711

Here is the link to XDA with tons of good info:

https://forum.xda-developers.com/android-auto/android-head-units/tesla-style-headunits-t3512709

 

This is spot on. You said everything I haven't been willing to sit down and type haha. As you said, the sound is night and day. That alone justifies the purchase. I was going to replace the entire sound system with a $1500 system. But with the increased sound quality this unit provided I felt like all I needed was a sub. Hence, I jumped in on the 10" Jbl sub group buy. Once I get that I think Ill be good to go in terms of sound.

I actually haven't done a single update to mine. I got it dialed in soon after I got it and its been working perfect. So to me, there's no point in messing with the firmware. I just think if you're willing to drop the money for it, why not spend some time to figure it out? What it provides once you figure it out far out ways the time spent to do so.

Just my 2 cents.

 

You guys confirmed what I thought was in my head the past few months but after sitting in another Tundra the other day, same stock nonJBL as what I had, it is a drastic improvement. I’m wondering if the OEM HU is so anemic, it’s a common experience for anyone who upgrades their HU, no matter type of unit as long as it’s decent.

I’m not after anything too audiophile, I too feel all I need to do is just add a sub (for now), just not sure which one as I didn’t have an existing one.

The next warmish day, I’m installing my front parking cam.

 

Very well said, for what I paid I was satisfied with just the sound improvement.

 

I installed mine last weekend. Gen2 with buttons. Overall it's been pretty much what I expected. I had a few issues but ran out of time to really play with it Sunday. Driving with it this week I like it.

Here's what I haven't figured out yet. Appreciate if anyone has suggestions.

-The radio reception seems really poor. Several stations now cut out during my normal commute that didn't before. Hopefully I just need to double-check the attena connection.

-AC controls work but don't show the temperature, just says LO all the time. I read this is specific to 18-19 years with the dual zone system. I am set to TUNDRA HI. Anyone know of a fix yet?

-if I connect the tundras factory USB port the HU doesn't turn on at all. If I connect it when already powered on screen instantly goes blank, almost like something is shorting out. Other usb devices work fine.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

 

1. I actually never listen to radio. However, when I did I just used a radio app to listen to whichever morning show or whatever it was I listened to. Using an app avoids the need for reception. Maybe try that?

2. Mine still does this. Was annoying at first, but Now I usually keep mine on "Auto" and just adjust the temp (not fan speed) according to how I'm feeling.

3. idk

 

1) Make sure when you have the Radio app on that the icon that is circular with some dots around it (upper left corner of Radio app next to EQ icon) is set to DX STEREO and not LOCAL. DX seems to have better reception.
2) The folks at Phoenix Android Radios said a fix for the temps on TUNDRA HI 2018 and 2019 Tundras won’t happen for another month or two. They need an actual Tundra to test it on from what they are saying. This is really my only remaining complaint about the unit.
3) I’m stumped on this one too. I have never heard of this on this forum, or the FB page. I agree with you, sounds like a short. Definitely contact Phoenix (or whichever company you bought it from). For sure a warranty issue. INSIST on a new unit from China, or they may possibly send you a used/refurb unit.

I hope this helps!

 

Just an FYI, but people are reporting that the group buy code/price is still active. Purchase through Trinity Auto Solutions.

 

^^Worked for me last week

 

Who all has one in a 2nd gen? I’m considering getting one.

 

Thanks for the tips D3Tundra and DarthMurdicide.

I pulled it out again yesterday to double check the antenna connection. Looked good. I even checked the continuity through the wiring harness all the way to the actual antenna stud to make sure. Tested again this morning and there's no change. Generally it starts cutting out when i head in to a canyon. San Diego is fairly hilly but I've never had this problem with any other car/radio.

I also noticed when streaming (Amazon Music) with it cranked to a decently high volume it sounds a little over-driven. Are there any settings i should check? The OEM JBL didn't have this problem at high volumes (but still sucked at any volume).

I've written phoenix about the radio, sound quality and my USB issue. Ill post back if they provide anything useful.

 

I have noticed that one of my local stations is like fading in and out but others are ok.

 

Anyone having balance issues? I move it over to the drivers side and dead silence, move it to the passenger side and it is loud. Tried rebooting it, haven't pulled it back out to check the connections yet, I can't image both sides are on different fuses?

 

Anyone....

 

There are quite a few guys on the FB page that have installed it in the Gen2's

 

I installed my 2nd gen unit w/buttons today and noticed that I had balance issues...except mine are different. I have good left/right front sound but have NO sound when I change it to left/right rear...that being said though, it does output sound to all speakers when I change the setting back to center on both left/right and front/rear.

 

What’s the FB page?