Sub-Subaru

I am after a new double din stereo for my 2004 WRX as mine broke and I haven't replaced it yet. There seem to be lots of different ones and I keep going round in circles.


I was going to get an Xtrons one as they seem to have a high spec for cheap. However, after a few comments around it sounds like I might be better going for a secondhand premium brand.


I would like it to be touch screen and to have an SD card slot to load music. Does anyone have any recommendations of what sort of range or ones to look out for?


I also am not sure how the stereos actually work from SD cards etc. Do they just play a huge load of songs in a random order or does the stereo organise them into groups?

romford-boy

I always go with alpine. Solid and reliable head units, not too pricey either.

Trinity

iTrader: (28)

I prefer Pioneer myself, the BT range is excellent.

Alpines good too, but the processors in Pioneer stuff are so much better for sound enhancement.

The Trooper 1815

iTrader: (31)

Buy cheap, pay twice.

ven

Stay away from xtrons,i made the mistake,it did work ok BUT the gps either crashed or would not upload............drove me mad! Paid £160,now had it refunded...........utter crap.


Threw the JVC back in for now that is quite new,just wanted a gps unit all in one.
.............buy once cry once

Raptorman

iTrader: (1)

As above, avoid the xtrons they are complete junk. I got one in my
bugeye when I bought it and it had a life of its own, opening the
motorised screen whenever it felt like it, and when it wasn't opening
itself it jammed closed and flattened the car battery.

Oh and the satnav never worked.

themaskedunit

hi mate. ive installed car audio for quite a few years now and id be the 1st to say avoid chinese brands like xtrons... heres the irony. i wanted a unit that....

played my usb flash music
had a tidy minimal clutter front
had an av in - recording camera
tidied up the lost single din unit

the xtrons for just £105 delivered with a year warranty... hmmm..... i took a gamble as i can always send it back under warranty if it goes wrong.

the main thing working in my advantage is that 9/10 times the main faults ive come across with chinese stuff/ripspeed etc from what people have brought in is that its always the moving parts that fail. with the gps ive never come across a problem (unlike the chap above) but didnt want the nav anyway. being as im not using the dvd player or flip front the unit ive had in for a good few months now has been perfect for what i need and performed flawlessly. its also got a nice subaru logo built in on start up.

if i was using the dvd/cd/moving parts side of things id probably opt for some used kit on ebay and go for something with a brand name like pioneer or kenwood and click nearest first so i can actually pick it up or see it working first.

thats my two cents.... good luck with whatever you get

Sub-Subaru

Thanks for the replies. I am not sure what to do as when I search on ebay or on websites there are just so many different models that I don't even know how to narrow it down.


I would just like to have something touch screen with sat nav that can load music via sd card.


Does anyone know how these stereos load music from sd cards or usb devices. I mean do you have to pre arrange it within the sd card/usb?

themaskedunit

as for my xtrons dude its got an sd card slot behind the fascia and the usb is on a remote lead. gimme an hour and ill upload some pics for you

themaskedunit

ok here we go

1 had to cut out a chunk of the fascia to make it fit... made it a few mm wider and cut above and below (quite a bit) to account for the fascia sliding

themaskedunit

sd card slot

themaskedunit

3 usb on a remote lead that plugs into the back and tracks round into the drivers lower cubby



and 8gb mini usb

themaskedunit

main menu

themaskedunit

2 menu screen swiped to the right

dabiscuit

I just installed a Pioneer Appradio 3 and am very happy indeed with it.

Surprisingly good touch screen too.

themaskedunit

press usb and then get access to the folder menu in the usb device

themaskedunit

touch the folder to open up the tracks within

themaskedunit

all in all its pretty good and does what i need and for £105 im not complaining however i will stand by anyone on here that complains that theyre not all that good as ive come across quite a few faultys myself. i can easily send it back via hermes for £3.20 odd so not too fussed if it goes wrong and i can easily wait a week or so for the turnaround.

as to the chap above the pioneer app radio is also very good ive fitted a few of those. the parrot headunit is very good aswell

Decayes

I am in no way defending Xtrons, I how ever do have one in my scooby, it was already in it when I bought the car. I am actually really happy with it, cycling through the pages to look at different apps is abit slow but as for the sat nav, that's fantastic. I've normally always used my tomtom, since I've had this though I haven't used tomtom.
I'm an apple person myself but I am happy with my Xtron

ronjeramy

iTrader: (1)

Another vote for Pioneer Appradio if you have a smartphone

Sub-Subaru

Thanks for the info and pictures of the Xtrons. I am not keen on cutting the plastic surround even though it is probably easy and not a big deal. I am also not keen on getting one with a motorised front.


All I really want is a touch screen system with GPS and a SD and USB port.


I had a brief look at the Appradio stereos but I am not keen on my stereo being dependent on a smartphone.

dabiscuit

You don't have to rely on the phone. It can work with out it, you just won't get the best features.