We have handed our much loved '97 Altera over to our son & I would like to upgrade the sound system for him as it is not working properly. There is so much on the market & my head is spinning reading reviews. In the end I thought I would post here for some advice. Have searched the forum but not really come across a recent thread that could assist.

I'm only looking to spend up $300-$400 but would prefer less.
This is one unit my son looked at today in store. On special around $250 atm I think. Big difference to this ticket price.
http://www.frankiesautoelectrics.com.au/sony-xav-64bt-dvd-receiver/
I think this unit doesnt display song titles when using Bluetooth, maybe through Pandora. Not enough options for screen colour changes etc but you can't have everything for this money I guess.

Some basic requirements:
- Want a screen to hook up reversing camera
- Bluetooth, CD, tuner & all the standards inputs these days
- Would be good to have antenna auto up/down (how does that work with none OEM units?)
- It would be good if it had GPS capability (apparantly you can input from phone?) I guess you dont get maps :) But for the money I'm looking at perhaps this is a big ask?

At some stage would like to upgrade speakers but not going to put an amp in, just using the head unit. Any ideas on this would be helpful but without an amp maybe not worth it?

While on this subject, the antenna just went RS as gear has stripped. Any tips on a replacement item non OEM?

Also would like advice on a good reversing camera that is easy to hook up.

Thanks for any help.

Am helping mate put one of these in his Triton tomorrow
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/In-Dash-Double-2Din-Car-DVD-GPS-Stereo-Head-Unit-1080p-Iphone-6-Ipod-CD-MP3-USB-/151602426546?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item234c3572b2, I bought one as well for my project - will be putting a reverse camera as well and remote bluetooth microphone - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/151471115192?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT and http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/311181869592?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT - it comes with GPS and map built in including voice direction.

The head unit has an RCA input for the camera which is fairly straight forward to hook up. We haven't powered the unit up yet but will be tomorrow - Hope this helps.

Hi Blueport.

I certainly don't want to bag out Ronrabbit, but I bought the same unit about 12 months ago to put into a car I was selling. Mainly because it was cheap and looked ok..

I don't know where they are made, it didn't say on the box or the unit, but all the writing on the box was in Russian as were the instructions. It was very flimsy and poorly made in my opinion. These items are NOT Australian stock.

When I finally got it installed the sound and picture quality of the unit was appalling.

If it is going in your son's car and it plays up you'll never hear the end of it. Check out the lower end pioneer, kenwood, jvc or alpine models. Yes they're made in China, but they're made under licence to the Japanese manufacturer.

In my experience good things aren't cheap and cheap things aren't good..

Re the antenna wire, I can tell you that aftermarket Kenwood models with this feature work perfectly with the OEM electric antenna masts. Presumably it's a standard operation (eg. +12V = 'UP', no volts = 'DOWN') but that's a guess.

Have a look at nakamichi na2820 or the na2750 .i have the 2750 and the sound is better than my old kenwood ddx-814

Look at my profile page picture of head unit fitted

Hi Mudfish, thanks for letting me know - we got these units within two days of ordering - the box it's in is in English? so is the manual - It looks quite well made, IMO and anyway the proof will be in the fitting to the car today - Will advise. Thanks

Am helping mate put one of these in his Triton tomorrow
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/In-Dash-Double-2Din-Car-DVD-GPS-Stereo-Head-Unit-1080p-Iphone-6-Ipod-CD-MP3-USB-/151602426546?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item234c3572b2, I bought one as well for my project - will be putting a reverse camera as well and remote bluetooth microphone - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/151471115192?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT and http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/311181869592?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT - it comes with GPS and map built in including voice direction.

The head unit has an RCA input for the camera which is fairly straight forward to hook up. We haven't powered the unit up yet but will be tomorrow - Hope this helps.

Hi RonRabbit,

After mudfish issue I will stay away from this unit but I would like feedback on how the camera goes. That seems really cheap to me. When you get a chance, could you please advise on the viewing area, night time use etc. Thanks.

Have a look at nakamichi na2820 or the na2750 .i have the 2750 and the sound is better than my old kenwood ddx-814

Look at my profile page picture of head unit fitted

Hi Wombat, these both look to be good units, esp the 2750 that you have. Strange that I cant find a review anywhere except for some youtube vids on different models but if you are happy with the quality & performance I may end up going this way. Btw I cant see the picture in your profile but no worries as it looks a nice unit on ebay pics.

Hi Blueport - no probs - my mate is using one of these - http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/141281137870?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT in his Triton- but it is too big, I reckon, for my wagon - My camera won't be going in for while as I have a whole pile of other things to do to the car before before I get to it - but will let you know.

If you want to hear it in the car i live in Sydney....Near Parramatta

Hi Mudfish, thanks for letting me know - we got these units within two days of ordering - the box it's in is in English? so is the manual - It looks quite well made, IMO and anyway the proof will be in the fitting to the car today - Will advise. Thanks

That's good news then. I'd be very interested to hear your opinion once it's in and working.

I just installed one of these yesterday in my Magna TL:

http://www.dx.com/p/joyous-j-2818w-7-android-4-4-4-universal-car-radio-w-gps-bt-dvr-obd-swc-wi-fi-black-379822#.VXoyLvmqqko

Its one of the new generation that runs Android 4.4 rather than Windows CE or Android 2.X. It has a capacitive touch screen as well which is more like the modern smart phones, rather than the resistive which is like the tablets years ago (that need a stylus to be responsive).

First impressions is that its touchscreen is very slick and responsive, quicker than my iPhone 4S (which is a bit laggy cos of IOS8). Sound quality seems fine through the stock speakers, and it looks really nice on the Magna dash (its not branded at all). There is about a 15sec startup time when the car is first turned on, which is a bit slow when I'm used to the radio coming on straight away. Its feature packed, reverse camera (haven't installed yet), GPS, front and rear crash camera recording (although I can't seem to find any reasonably priced USB crash cams for sale). The WIFI and web browsing seem quick and work well. Bluetooth also works well and streams music from my phone (although doesn't show song titles).

Time will tell how reliable it is, but I'm very happy with it for now. It has no DVD/CD slots and relies totally on Micro SD or USB inputs, but that suits me fine I haven't used a CD for years anyway.

I would, as recommendation, invest your hard earned cash in a brand like JVC, or similar.. They use proven DVD/CD mechanisms, better amps than the chinese stuff, better Dac's. All over better built really.. Better support, and the knowledge that they usually last a long time..
Plus a parametric EQ :)
Something like this maybe
http://www.ryda.com.au/JVC-KW-V20BT-6-1-Multimedia-DVD-Car-Stereo-p/kwv20bt.htm

I have wanted to pull out the original multi-stack unit in my Solara for a while now but have always been put off by the horror stories of the HVAC controls stuffing up because of the installation. Just how hard is it to put in a dual din unit?

I have wanted to pull out the original multi-stack unit in my Solara for a while now but have always been put off by the horror stories of the HVAC controls stuffing up because of the installation. Just how hard is it to put in a dual din unit?

It is easy. I did it on my in 1 hour (first time changing head units in a magna). The only concerns with the HVAC controls are to be careful to unplug them from the back when taking off the facias and them remembering to plug them back in when you are finished. Also, on the TL's the air vents are part of the assembly that pulls out but has the clips on the back of them holding the facia in, which makes them a weak spot so you need to be a little gentle pulling on it. Mine had been broken by some previous installation but a bit of super glue and gentle re-assembly and its fine now.

The tray under the single DIN unit is just screwed in place and can be just unscrewed to make room for the double DIN unit.

Thanks TL. I am lusting after this wonderful dual din touchscreen unit I am watching on Ebay. Just waiting for the auction to close.

Have a look at nakamichi na2820 or the na2750 .i have the 2750 and the sound is better than my old kenwood ddx-814

Look at my profile page picture of head unit fitted

Thanks for the recommendation for this unit Wombat. I got the NA2750 also & it's a nice unit with excellent sound. So good I don’t think I will change the speakers as I intended. It also has the auto up/down for the radio antenna which was a bonus as the seller couldn't tell me beforehand if it had that function. Love the hidden cd/dvd slot with the snazzy action to fold the screen down to access.

I still have to put in a rear camera & GPS antenna plus hook up to the handbrake to use the dvd but that’s not liable to be used much, if at all. I did duck over to Frankies Auto to pick up a $15 wiring loom that would fit between the standard plug & the unit. This way I could solder the wires together on the bench instead of under the dash & I didn't have to cut the original plug off.

The original brackets didn’t fit properly so I had to drill out the holes to adapt it. The whole process took me a few hours, in between watching youtube videos to show me how to get the dash off. Thank god for youtubers otherwise I wouldn’t have known what I was doing. All in all not that difficult but just a few frustrating issues getting this thing fitted.

It does seem to have a bug though in that I can't dim the display or turn it off when driving. My son is finding this distracting, esp at night. I looked in the manual but couldn't find any function to do that. Do you know if there is a function for this on this unit?

I also now have to get the ashtray panel replaced as I broke it trying to pop it back in. You do have to be pretty careful popping these dash panels off & on. I will try & pick one up from the wreckers plus some auto window surrounds as they have worn the colour off.

Just a question Blueport...
the 2750 is listed as having a dimmer control... did you wire that lead in?

Just a question Blueport...
the 2750 is listed as having a dimmer control... did you wire that lead in?

Got me thinking now. I used the standard plug plugged into an adaptor to suit the 2750. I think there was a caable that wasn't connected out of the 2750 as it had nowhere to go into the original standard plug, which probably makes sense as the original unit doesnt dim the lights, does it? So where would this wire go?

No Dimmer..use the remote it dims it... the gps aerial is expensive $110 i made my own .....the gps software i have...it works very well igo primo...Happy to help if you need it

Got me thinking now. I used the standard plug plugged into an adaptor to suit the 2750. I think there was a caable that wasn't connected out of the 2750 as it had nowhere to go into the original standard plug, which probably makes sense as the original unit doesnt dim the lights, does it? So where would this wire go?

I look everywhere for a wiring manual for it.. couldn't find one online at all....
I think the orange wire from the magna is the dimmer wire, if your harness has it....
If its remote only, that would be a real Pain...
Let me know if you get stuck, I talk to the Naka Rep quite often....


No Dimmer..use the remote it dims it... the gps aerial is expensive $110 i made my own .....the gps software i have...it works very well igo primo...Happy to help if you need it
Man thats rough, No auto dimmer is a pain... There looks to be a dim button upper right, below the IR sensor...

How is the Time alignment work out?

No Dimmer..use the remote it dims it... the gps aerial is expensive $110 i made my own .....the gps software i have...it works very well igo primo...Happy to help if you need it

Hi Wombat, you weren't kidding about how expensive the gps aerials are, have you got any detail on how you made yours you could share? I assume it works well for you? Did you buy the igo primo off ebay?

One of the gps sites had a write up about it ... will check when i get home

http://fixmygps.info/forum/showthread.php?tid=3674&page=3

http://fixmygps.info/forum/showthread.php?tid=3674&page=3

Hi Wombat, thanks for the link but I'm still not sure what items I have to buy to make the antenna? I'm afraid I'm not technically up on these things.