Double DIN stereo recommendations - Non Delorean

[dmcerik]

I'm toying with the idea of swapping out my stereo on my 2014 WRX. If i'm going to do it I want all the bells and whistles. I'm looking for something that is completely touch screen. Can integrate my phone via bluetooth. Has a good, reliable, possibly upgradable NAV capabilities. Can play back video during driving (for the kid if needed). Has internet capabilities via my phones hotspot (does that exist in aftermarket radios?)

Does anyone have any suggestions? Personal reviews?

[David T]

I'm toying with the idea of swapping out my stereo on my 2014 WRX. If i'm going to do it I want all the bells and whistles. I'm looking for something that is completely touch screen. Can integrate my phone via bluetooth. Has a good, reliable, possibly upgradable NAV capabilities. Can play back video during driving (for the kid if needed). Has internet capabilities via my phones hotspot (does that exist in aftermarket radios?)

Does anyone have any suggestions? Personal reviews?

New stuff comes out all the time. Hard to keep up. Try Crutchfield.com or a big store like Best Buy. Once you decide on what you think you want price it on Amazon. Might be better to buy several units instead of trying to get everything all in one box.

[dmcerik]

Pioneer 8100NEX looks to have what i'm looking for...except for a reasonable price. Looks like i'll keep looking for awhile.

[Jedidentist]

I usually skip over Crutchfield and Best Buy because they're too run of the mill and can be dated. I say check out http://www.onlinecarstereo.com or http://www.woofersetc.com They have a lot more options, albeit the market is smaller than it once was.

[DMCMW Dave]

The aftermarket car audio business is in big trouble. New car dashes are much too integrated to change out head units easily. Most new cars are no longer DIN/double DIN. Pull the radio/ICE unit and half the car stops working. It's going to require much more customization to upgrade a car than when all the radio units fit the same size hole in the dash.

As cars age out and become predominantly more modern design the aftermarket gets smaller and smaller. Ultimately the market is only older cars, and that's much smaller than when many people would upgrade the audio system in a brand new car.

[dmcerik]

Fortunately for me (in this case) I have a Subaru. My 2014 WRX is just the way I like it...basic. You could only get it in a manual, it has basic creature comforts, and it's fast as hell. Replacing the stereo won't mess with the other stuff.




The aftermarket car audio business is in big trouble. New car dashes are much too integrated to change out head units easily. Most new cars are no longer DIN/double DIN. Pull the radio/ICE unit and half the car stops working. It's going to require much more customization to upgrade a car than when all the radio units fit the same size hole in the dash.

As cars age out and become predominantly more modern design the aftermarket gets smaller and smaller. Ultimately the market is only older cars, and that's much smaller than when many people would upgrade the audio system in a brand new car.

[Flicky]

I like the Kenwood DDX8901HD. You can get the more expensive models with Nav built in, but it is not needed when you consider that you can just hook your phone up via HDMI/MHL and then see the phone's screen on the head unit's screen. They have an app that then lets touching the head unit's screen be inputs for your phone. So run Google maps and now you forever have updates and traffic info. You can do all the other cool things that smart phones can do. I like to use a chrome cast hooked into the HDMI so I can cast the screen from any of my devices to the screen easily.

Look to places like sonic electronix for a good deal on stuff like this:
http://www.sonicelectronix.com/

Kenwood info:
http://www.kenwood.com/usa/car/excelon/ddx8901hd/index.html

[acaciolo]

I've got the Pioneer nex8000 and really like it. It was the first aftermarket unit to have apple carplay, and it really works great.

[acaciolo]

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/NEX/AVIC-8000NEX