For people looking to upgrade their head unit

Hi,

Just curious, did you use an idatalink or similar to hook up to steering controls and get vehicle info to the head unit?

Trying to figure out if this standard practice in the US (and ultimately a dumb question), no resellers in Australia so shipping will cost extra $$

[emoji16]

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When I installed my pioneer head unit I used metra axxess aswc-1. It didn't automatically find my unit and I had to set it up manually but it works fine. There is another one people use but it's a bit more expensive and I can't of the name. Maybe someone will chime in but I think it's made by PAC.

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shabtraxx said:
Hi,

Just curious, did you use an idatalink or similar to hook up to steering controls and get vehicle info to the head unit?

Trying to figure out if this standard practice in the US (and ultimately a dumb question), no resellers in Australia so shipping will cost extra $$

[emoji16]

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I used the Maestro by idatalink, I think there is another maybe slightly cheaper option. Try searching the forum I know it has been posted before on here.
 
Ok cheers, yep heard of the PAC ones, didn't know about Metra. Cool guess I need to decide, thanks for that [emoji6]

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I'm going to hijack this thread for a second...

I currently still have the 130 head unit, uconnect & sat radio w/ the alpine speaker upgrade. I've been debating pretty much since I ordered the jeep about grabbing a 430n or going aftermarket since it was a $1k factory option. I figured I would have LOTS of room to figure out what I wanted. And that is the current problem, there are SO many options, and I'm not an "audio guy".

If I were to do a 430n I think I would be pretty happy with it, being that I could pick one up in decent shape from $500. But dealing with the updates and the lag of the uconnect system would be the downfall... but not any worse than what's in the jeep today.

Going aftermarket, we either are stuck with custom made units specifically fit for the jeep, or installing (IMO) cheap looking installer kits to fill the dash.

This leans me towards "custom fit units"
But, what am I actually getting and which is the one to buy? Is someone like me even going to notice/care about the difference between a 430n w/ uconnect vs. An aftermarket?
New for new each of these units can be had for ~$1200.

I've been eyeing the insane audio units for a long time, but being that they seem to be a few updates behind, and hardware limited, so much so that their 1001 unit is basically a paperweight today in terms of updating ANYTHING...it pumps the brakes for me a bit. Especially since I didn't BUY the 1001, but if I HAD, it would have been an expensive mistake now that the new unit was released. I'm already running android 7.2 on my phone, but the latest and greatest insane audio unit is running android 6.0, and has less hardware power than my S8. Not to mention the obnoxious "Insane Audio" badge on the front of the head unit which IMO looks like garbage and just begs some thug to slice my soft top windows just to rip it off...

I guess their marketing is what has me so interested. But with my little care to understand everything audio, and the few trustworthy reviews I can find, seem to be rather mixed.

Then of course you have the higher end units from kenwood and alpine? Fit the dash, nav, mirror link, etc. Not the $3k alpine restyle, I'm talking factory dash units... adapters to use the steering wheel controls, not plug and play, blah blah blah... what's a jeeper to do?

...I figured for a thread titled
"For people looking to upgrade headunits" this would be the best place to drop this relatively noob thought and see what sticks...





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DZZ Build thread
 
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Haha I'm kinda glad someone else is in the same headspace as me (sorry!).

I'm with you mate, except my uconnect system doesn't have satnav so anything is an upgrade, plus I'm over unconnects BT system, with the advancements of siri and Google assistant, this was leant me to aftermarket.

I guess it's horses for courses, personally I can deal with smartphone GPS, plus the newer head units have a GPS receiver that boosts the signal wen using your phone via Carplay or Android Auto. Other people may not like or want this and prefer the GPS built into the unit.

I'm really into the Kenwood DDX9018DABS, just came out, has loads of bells and whistles.

I'm just trying to find the right adapter in Australia that not only retains steering functions but also sends vehicle info to the head unit like doors, tyre pressure, coolant temp etc. Ultimately these are all nice to haves though.

I was looking at the Alpine ilx 207D and one of the pioneer ones too..

Hope that helps, it hasn't for me haha

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shabtraxx said:
Haha I'm kinda glad someone else is in the same headspace as me (sorry!).

I'm with you mate, except my uconnect system doesn't have satnav so anything is an upgrade, plus I'm over unconnects BT system, with the advancements of siri and Google assistant, this was leant me to aftermarket.

I guess it's horses for courses, personally I can deal with smartphone GPS, plus the newer head units have a GPS receiver that boosts the signal wen using your phone via Carplay or Android Auto. Other people may not like or want this and prefer the GPS built into the unit.

I'm really into the Kenwood DDX9018DABS, just came out, has loads of bells and whistles.

I'm just trying to find the right adapter in Australia that not only retains steering functions but also sends vehicle info to the head unit like doors, tyre pressure, coolant temp etc. Ultimately these are all nice to haves though.

I was looking at the Alpine ilx 207D and one of the pioneer ones too..

Hope that helps, it hasn't for me haha

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Click to expand...
I have a Pioneer Avic 4200NEC, with the maestro adapter. I like that it interfaces with the vehicle through the obd2 port, and if I had steering wheel controls i could custom program them.

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Factory head units are carp as far as power output, I think they only push about 18 Watts LOL. You can hear noticeable improvement in sound just by replacing the head unit rather then speakers. All aftermarket double din radios are same size and need to installed with a trim kit, not a big deal if you ask me I like the factory JK dash. Units like those big fancy Alpine is a bit much in my opinion. Another opinion would be Insane Audio head unit that is the same size as factory unit and doesn’t need any trim kits, I found mixed review on that one during my search when I was upgrading my head unit.
 
shabtraxx said:
Haha I'm kinda glad someone else is in the same headspace as me (sorry!).

I'm with you mate, except my uconnect system doesn't have satnav so anything is an upgrade, plus I'm over unconnects BT system, with the advancements of siri and Google assistant, this was leant me to aftermarket.

I guess it's horses for courses, personally I can deal with smartphone GPS, plus the newer head units have a GPS receiver that boosts the signal wen using your phone via Carplay or Android Auto. Other people may not like or want this and prefer the GPS built into the unit.

I'm really into the Kenwood DDX9018DABS, just came out, has loads of bells and whistles.

I'm just trying to find the right adapter in Australia that not only retains steering functions but also sends vehicle info to the head unit like doors, tyre pressure, coolant temp etc. Ultimately these are all nice to haves though.

I was looking at the Alpine ilx 207D and one of the pioneer ones too..

Hope that helps, it hasn't for me haha

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Click to expand...

My 130 Head Unit doesn't have nav, But I did opt for the factory uConnect w/ sat radio, so I have the OEM nav antenna as it is built into the satellite receiver for XM Radio. As far as I know anyway. :idontknow:

As far as I know, the 430n would be plug and play.

duktrx said:
I have a Pioneer Avic 4200NEC, with the maestro adapter. I like that it interfaces with the vehicle through the obd2 port, and if I had steering wheel controls i could custom program them.

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Click to expand...

I would like to retain use of the steering wheel controls as well. :thumb: I dont really care if I can program them so much as them still being functional. I.E. press the "phone" button, and it activates the phone book, etc.
 
19YJ94 said:
I am looking at Insane Audios JK2001, i like the idea of all plug and play and will work with Go Pro equipment. Fits in stock location and no modifications.

Anyone have one in their Jeep?
Click to expand...

Just installed one in my Dad’s jeep. GPS is super fast and has some cool features. The only thing I don’t like is that you can only play satellite radio through an AUX cable connected to a separate tuner not through the radio


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I skipped to the end, so forgive me if I miss someone's input. The 430N sucks. My dad has the 730N and it sucks too. Resolution is atari grade. I sold mine for $600 and put in a Pioneer AVIC NEX8200 with the full cruthfield gamut (sat adaptor, idatalink, harness, mounting, etc. It works PERFECTLY. Awesome integration. EVIC shows that I'm listening to XM, or whatever. Steering wheel controls work. Back up camera is awesome. Bluetooth/speaker is much better. The only gimmick I don't use is the vehicle gauge stuff through the diagnostic port. The plug always falls out and it always says it can't read the instruments. Not really useful anyway. The sound is way better and the screen is awesome. Having nav to me is only useful when I'm out of cell range off-road, which has saved me a few times in the Appalachian mountains.
 
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DWiggles said:
My 130 Head Unit doesn't have nav, But I did opt for the factory uConnect w/ sat radio, so I have the OEM nav antenna as it is built into the satellite receiver for XM Radio. As far as I know anyway. :idontknow:

As far as I know, the 430n would be plug and play.



I would like to retain use of the steering wheel controls as well. :thumb: I dont really care if I can program them so much as them still being functional. I.E. press the "phone" button, and it activates the phone book, etc.
Click to expand...

I have a 430n and the uconnect module just sitting around my house if you’re interested. Send me a PM.


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JMFK said:
I have a 430n and the uconnect module just sitting around my house if you’re interested. Send me a PM.


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Click to expand...

Im looking for info still, not wanting to buy twice, you know.

Im leaning towards an android unit I think. mainly so I can allow internet though BT/activate hotspot on my phone, and we can (FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT) youtube music or whatever basically. I dont know, Im scared to buy into the marketing, but as great as the insane audio 2001 appears to be, there is so little feedback... IF it was really THAT great, wouldnt everyone be running one?? oh, and I'm not a big fan of the logo on the front of the unit... just looks like a theft target to me...

2018-06-01 11_01_40-Insane Audio's JK2001 Multimedia_Navigation Head Unit is Built Tough.jpg
*Taken from their website

At the end of the day, I want it to work well, and for a long while. and of course, sound decent with the revamped factory alpine system (2015-2018 JK). It would also be cool to be able to run something like the inclinometer app when wheeling. Off camber stuff really puckers me up. But I just haven't found enough to buy in yet. that or I know to little about audio and head units in general to really understand the hardware I'm looking at. I get the computer tech stuff. (CPU vs RAM vs BUSS vs HD) but I'm an infant in the audio world. Hell, I dont even HAVE a sound card in my new-ish PC. it just goes though the MOBO and HDMI out to the Bose system. Sounds fine to me. :idontknow:

BACK in the day, I had a flip out screen DVD player in my DSM, used the video-in for my laptop so I could monitor DSMLink (OLD-school tuning software) I think I actually used the audio maybe a handfull of time. It was always music off, windows down, boost on... awe, the good-ol days...

But older, wiser, and married... we now "NEED" decent audio on road trips...

and that is about the extent of my "aftermarket head unit experience"
 
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I can't say enough about the iPad/Carrichs mount. I love it. Surprised more guys aren't running that. Granted I'm no audiophile, but it does everything I could possibly want. I got the cellular version so I use it along with Pandora and Amazon Prime Music so I listen to whatever I want. The apps are endless. The only thing I haven't figured out yet is the backup camera. There are wireless options out there - I just have't taken the time to look I guess :twocents:
 
Ddays said:
I can't say enough about the iPad/Carrichs mount. I love it. Surprised more guys aren't running that. Granted I'm no audiophile, but it does everything I could possibly want. I got the cellular version so I use it along with Pandora and Amazon Prime Music so I listen to whatever I want. The apps are endless. The only thing I haven't figured out yet is the backup camera. There are wireless options out there - I just have't taken the time to look I guess :twocents:
Click to expand...

Yeah... but that is made specifically for an apple product... which I am not a fan of. While we do own a ipad, it is an ipad2; and when we upgrade, it wont be for another iProduct :crazyeyes: :twocents:
 
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DWiggles said:
Yeah... but that is made specifically for an apple product... which I am not a fan of. While we do own a ipad, it is an ipad2; and when we upgrade, it wont be for another iProduct :crazyeyes: :twocents:
Click to expand...

I gotta admit I hate apple shit except in this case where the alternative is several hundreds/thousands of $$ difference. The flexibility of this thing is really hard to beat. Plus I can watch porn while I'm driving down the highway :D
 
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