Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Best single din digital stereo  (Read 1201 times) previous topic - next topic

Best single din digital stereo

Looking to upgrade our radio and I'm not seeing any current (2018/19) recommendations.
  I'd like to be able to use Apple car play, Sirius radio and potentially 4 camera inputs. Driver and passenger side cameras along with the camera in the back of the coach.  Front facing cam would be optional.  I guess the least I would want is passenger and rear view.  The forum search brings up the pioneer AVH-3300 nex 7" but I'm wondering if those are still the best option??  Seems there's and endless amount of rabbit trails to go down on an Amazon.

  So, what are all of you single din stereo upgraders happy with.
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Best single din digital stereo

Reply #1 –
I don't have this unit. But if I were upgrading. This would be the one that I would be giving a serious looksee. it is a single din with a permanent 9" screen.

Apline 9" halo display
Jerry & Nona and Kimeru the cat that thinks she's a dog
1998 36' WTFE U320  #5314 Motorcade #17711
USAF 1975-1995
2019 Subaru Crosstrek 'toad'
2003 Subaru Legacy touring car
jerry Fincher | Flickr

Re: Best single din digital stereo

Reply #2 –
Well,,  I wanted to like the Alpine halo one but the amazon reviews were not so pretty. And there were only 3 or 4 of them.  Lots of great features but at $1000 bucks. Dang. 
  Think maybe I'll check CNET and maybe irv2  also.  Thanks dog for the response.
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Best single din digital stereo

Reply #3 –
Though it sounds like you're an apple guy, the android auto system is very impressive, integrating navigation, voice commands, even plays music.  In general, it seems like the important thing is to get the head unit features you want regardless of "watts" output.  Then feed one or two integrated amps for good sound. 
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Best single din digital stereo

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Bob & Sue –
Well,,  I wanted to like the Alpine halo one but the amazon reviews were not so pretty. And there were only 3 or 4 of them.  Lots of great features but at $1000 bucks. Dang. 
  Think maybe I'll check CNET and maybe irv2  also.  Thanks dog for the response.
I think there is a slightly lesser model.
As for internet reviews. I tend to throw them in the trash where they belong. Only the pissed off (mostly) are motivated to post a review. Squeaky wheel and all that. Want a big screen that one can navigate and see a camera image. You are gonna pay. The motorized screen 1 din units are problematic.

I would buy the Alpine. BUT. I use my ipod classic on random (5500 songs) through a Klipsch boom box that sits on the dash next to the VMSPC. And that is all I need.
Jerry & Nona and Kimeru the cat that thinks she's a dog
1998 36' WTFE U320  #5314 Motorcade #17711
USAF 1975-1995
2019 Subaru Crosstrek 'toad'
2003 Subaru Legacy touring car
jerry Fincher | Flickr

Re: Best single din digital stereo

Reply #5 –
I would advise you to visit several electronic stores that have automotive head units on display and where you can try them. Some may be a little more intuitive than others and there may be a considerable difference in the quality of bluetooth sound. After narrowing the field, read as many reviews as you can. I replaced ours with a Kenwood as it had excellent reviews. While it does sound great, the readability was poor and for a Mac user, it's not very user friendly. I've had great luck with Pioneer products in cars and home units. None has ever failed or given any problems.

Most of the new head units will take flash drives/ SD cards and with the inexpensive prices and huge capacity, you can put a large library on one. Check to make sure they will play FLAC as well as ALAC so your unit will sound as good as possible. Unless recorded at 320kbps, MP3s, even with older ears, are not as good but for older tunes, may be the only thing available.

Online searching can often find better prices, no tax and free shipping.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Best single din digital stereo

Reply #6 –
I have the Alpine Halo (ILX-F309) and love it.  I set up my VMSpc to display on the screen and I can toggle between VMSpc and rear view camera with the flip of a switch.  Sounds good and works with Android Auto and Apple. 
2000 U295 40'
Build 5635

Re: Best single din digital stereo

Reply #7 –
Well....  the fact that both of our cars have Sirius radio ( free w/purchase) at least for a while is what started this new radio motivation.  Also  the desire to add one or two side cameras which I'll need a device to view them.  I'm soooo slow to accept new technology that I'll probably never update the MH radio again so I thought I'd go big and get it all.      I did buy a Foretravel after all.    That could say something about needing all the bells and whistles 😜
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Best single din digital stereo

Reply #8 –
For Sirius we have that on Rhonda's car only and in my pickup, the Wrangler and the Coach use their mobile app along with a CarPlay radio in each.  The Car Play we put in the coach is wireless and that is really handy.

Of course, no signal, no Sirius, but that's not a significant problem when compared to their subscription cost.
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: Best single din digital stereo

Reply #9 –
To answer the question,do you want a stereo or a camera monitor?Pioneer makes a good single din audio grade,single cd radio,also
plays all the other formats.Get a dedicated monitor for the cameras and velcro it to the dash.The ones that have everything in one
usually don't sound the best,do what Pierce said,go look and try,another tip,some swear by crutchfied but I've found things for sale that they have told me are not out there,plus you pay for their"advice",and remember it's only going to sound as good as your speakers.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Best single din digital stereo

Reply #10 –
Why is everyone worried about updating in dash radios I found a killer deal at goodwill on a older top of the line ONKYO home receiver that will leave any in dash in the dust,. Wired to my Samsung smart tv that I use to READ/NAVIGATE a 1TB portable hard drive full of everything from AEROSMITH to ZZTOP . A small diplex antenna across the front cap for broadcast radio. 700 watts to power surround speakers and a sub, plenty of real estate for a nice set of older klipch or jbl 's and I can run the tv through them also sounds GRATFUL (deadhead) The best part is I only have about $400 in everything all controlled by my samsung remote or my onkyo remote. Nothing like blowing the head off your cold one with the power and sound quality this puts out. Just saying 
What a long strange trip it's been

Re: Best single din digital stereo

Reply #11 –
Why is everyone worried about updating in dash radios.

 Mostly cause I want 1 unit that will do it all AND that I can control while I'm driving. I don't need world class sound or world class HD picture for the side/ rear cameras and don't care for a lot of stuff on my dash.
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Best single din digital stereo

Reply #12 –
I've used the Alpine CDE-164BT for the past two years.  This now discontinued 2015 model has done all I needed and I was able to connect to the original FT original surround system.

The mid line single din Alpines have been in my last several diesel pushers with 100% satisfaction.

I always picked out the features I wanted on the Alpine web site and then matched them up to a unit, ran them by a couple local stores, and bought from one of them.
97 U295 40, Build #5040, 6C8.3 325 HP
Oregon Continuous Traveler
Samsung Residential #RF20HFENBSR,
Xantrex SW2012, (3)AGM8D Hse, (2)AGM Grp24 Eng, Victron BMV-712, 1800w Solar 4 LG & 2 Sunpower
Extreme Full Body Pt w/hdlmps, new furn/floor, 4 down Lexus 2004 GX470 AWD curb weight 4,740 lbs
Prev: 1990 Barth, 10L 300 2 yrs; 91&92 Monaco Signature, 10 yrs, 10L C 300 &  6C8.3 300; 1997 ForeT 6C8.3 325 since May 2017.  Employed by Guaranty RV 14+ yrs.  Former VW New Car Dlr/Service Dlr, Sales Mgr, Rv Sales, and Service Adviser from 1968-2017
"Don't criticize what you can't understand" Bob Dylan

Re: Best single din digital stereo

Reply #13 –
Tonka,

The 12V audio world has come a very long way from just a few years ago. There are head units and 12V amps that win many contests today. You can equalize, delay, etc, etc. your music, put it on a flash drive and just insert it in any available USB port. For great sound, head units today are able to play ALAC, FLAC or 320 MP3 all without the need for a inverter or 110V. Another good option is just to plug your smart phone/tablet into the head unit and away you go. Our MacBook Pro (or PC/Chrome laptop) does double duty into a sound system and then with an HDMI cable, play movies with sound into the 4K TV (that does need the inverter on).

With any audio system, vehicle or home, it's the speakers that determine how good a system sounds.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Best single din digital stereo

Reply #14 –
Good morning Bob
I'm just saying think outside the box a little. Nothing sitting on my dash but my remote if I choose to put it there ( I don't like a cluttered dash either)  I have everything mounted right above me, receiver and a combo cd/dvd player. Dvd player is mostly for watching movies and some movies do sound better with a good sound system. Smart tv was moved to center location when I upgraded that easy peasy. Yes it does run thru the inverter  but the alternator is spinning if your driving anyway. And why not enjoy world class sound you do drive a world class RV don't you? Now we just need to settle on the music genera, I do love most types maybe some cool jazz or even some Willie nelson. Ok NO opera that would make me drive over someone lol .Please enjoy both responsibly.

Tonka
What a long strange trip it's been