Best In-Dash Multimedia Headunit

[Jekmyster]

Hi there, bit of a noob here, so need some advice. Ive read some of the forums looking for something that could help me decide, but did not find anything specific... so better ask my question...

I'm a Toyota Innova G model owner and i'm thinking of buying a new Headunit. But i'm looking for something specific and i was wondering if there are any available in the Philippine market.

You see i'm a bit of a gadget geek. Bunch of computers, smartphones, multimedia player both at home and portable ones. I'm not much into audio, but digital videos, i'm definitely a fan. I bough an archos 5 internet tablet and car mount for he innova so that i can play videos on the road for people in the car plus it also has a gps (its not that great but it works, most of the time). But the problem is that it has a small screen, only 5 inches. Then i saw that i friend of mine bough a pioneer in-dash multimedia dvd player and it had a large touch screen. Could even play other videos, i told myself that it could be the solution, but the problem was it was picky on the kinds of videos it can play.

So my question is, is there a product out there that can play a lot of video formats? Preferably with a suitable screen size? The ones i've seen on the market are mostly, mp4 player because there ipod compatible, and have divx wmv, mp3, and some have avi. But there are a lot of media out there. You have mpeg, you have MKV, you have OGG file formats, ACC, H.264 formats and the list goes on. I have the Popcorn hour at home for media players, i have the xtremer sidewinder for my portable, and i have the archos 5 also for portable but with a 5" screen, and all of these plays everything you can download from the internet. I was hoping that theres a headunit that can play the files these other gadgets could play. Input device is external, meaning the videos will be coming from either a flash disc or preferably an external hard disc, but if theres one where i can load videos on to it, that will be great.

The other stuffs are ok, if they're included like the gps and stuff, but primarily I just a good video player.

Worst case if that isn't available, can anyone recommend a good roof mount or in dash screen that has a/v RCA inputs? If there's no unit that can play all of these, i might as well use the sidewinder or archos as an output device and send the videos to another screen.

Thanks for the input guys.

[oj88]

I have a Kenwood 2-DIN HU. It can play almost all videos I have which I sourced from the Internet except mkv. I say almost all since there are still a small percentage of badly-encoded movies that it seems only VLC can open and play. But then these are few and far between.

FWIW, model is DDX8034BT.

[Jekmyster]

I have a Kenwood 2-DIN HU. It can play almost all videos I have which I sourced from the Internet except mkv. I say almost all since there are still a small percentage of badly-encoded movies that it seems only VLC can open and play. But then these are few and far between.

FWIW, model is DDX8034BT.

I'm looking into the Kenwood model. It looks good. How much did you pay for it? Also how do you load the videos? usb? can it see a 2.5 portable hardisc like western digital?

I went to banawe and a shop there recommended the Pioneer AVH-P4350 dvd and the AVT EN-7210D. Both of these have roughly the same play functions as the Kenwood altho i still yet to find people who have these units for a good comparison for your suggestion. They priced these units at 25k and 30k receptively which includes installation already.

I just wish there was a place to test these units out so that i can do a proper video test of the video formats that they play.

[oj88]

Yup. It has two USBs. One is dedicated to my iPod Classic. The other is connected to a 320GB HDD. I like to keep music and movies separate.

I've tried out the AVH-P4150 and I didn't like it and replaced it with the Kenwood. I have a video of it in action here: http://m.youtube.com/#/profile?user=...HE&view=videos

Sorry if it's not too helpful.

[Jekmyster]

Yup. It has two USBs. One is dedicated to my iPod Classic. The other is connected to a 320GB HDD. I like to keep music and movies separate.

I've tried out the AVH-P4150 and I didn't like it and replaced it with the Kenwood. I have a video of it in action here: http://m.youtube.com/#/profile?user=...HE&view=videos

Sorry if it's not too helpful.

the link seems to be wrong. I keep going to a page where its a weird layout of youtube.

[oj88]

the link seems to be wrong. I keep going to a page where its a weird layout of youtube.

Drat! iPad quirk. Will post the proper link when i get home. Sorry.

[oj88]

Here you go: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvqQvq8ewHE"]YouTube - DDX-8034.wmv[/ame]

[Jake Di snake]

Here you go: YouTube - DDX-8034.wmv

Astig!!!!!!

[kapitan88]

Here you go: YouTube - DDX-8034.wmv

sir how much and saan shop po nyo nakuha yan? pa pm nman kung di pwede dito. tnx.

great system, btw.

[oj88]

sir how much and saan shop po nyo nakuha yan? pa pm nman kung di pwede dito. tnx.

great system, btw.

Thanks! Bought it from LA Cars last Dec 2009. Paid over 50k for it.

[jeff18ms]

Dito siguro sya bumili ng Kenwood..
daming options.. http://www.laaccessories.com/

[jeff18ms]

Thanks! Bought it from LA Cars last Dec 2009. Paid over 50k for it.

Sir Sulit ba? for 50K? ano Audio setup nyo? at magkano inabot?
Anong features ang wla jan sa Kenwood? meron na bang GPS yan for 50K?

[oj88]

Sir Sulit ba? for 50K? ano Audio setup nyo? at magkano inabot?
Anong features ang wla jan sa Kenwood? meron na bang GPS yan for 50K?

Na post ko na to before somewhere. Anyway...

It's expensive talaga dahil nabaon ako sa utang for several months. But I wanted the best HU. I didn't want to pay for something that won't satisfy my eyes and ears. For 25-35k (my original budget), the choices I have is to either go for an HU that's simplistic but has good SQ or go with a multimedia one but with mediocre SQ. I wanted both (sakim ako eh :D ) and this Kenwood was the top of the line back then that has everything I needed and it was available locally.

The HU powers a pair of DLS R6A front seps directly (no outboard amp), a Blaupunkt THb210 powered sub, and I also added some deadening in the doors. It was tuned to perfection by no less than his SQ'ness, elco.

I got the GPS module just early this year from eBay for an additional 14k.

All in all, this ICE cost me around 85k and yes, they're insured. :D Mahirap na.

[jeff18ms]

Na post ko na to before somewhere. Anyway...

It's expensive talaga dahil nabaon ako sa utang for several months. But I wanted the best HU. I didn't want to pay for something that won't satisfy my eyes and ears. For 25-35k (my original budget), the choices I have is to either go for an HU that's simplistic but has good SQ or go with a multimedia one but with mediocre SQ. I wanted both (sakim ako eh :D ) and this Kenwood was the top of the line back then that has everything I needed and it was available locally.

The HU powers a pair of DLS R6A front seps directly (no outboard amp), a Blaupunkt THb210 powered sub, and I also added some deadening in the doors. It was tuned to perfection by no less than his SQ'ness, elco.

I got the GPS module just early this year from eBay for an additional 14k.

All in all, this ICE cost me around 85k and yes, they're insured. :D Mahirap na.

Hehe Very Nice ICE setup nyo Sir, pag-nagkapera ako ganito din gusto kong setup.. Thanks for the info Sir.

[kapitan88]

whew. kaya pala maganda, maganda din ang price! way out of my league.

Na post ko na to before somewhere. Anyway...

It's expensive talaga dahil nabaon ako sa utang for several months. But I wanted the best HU. I didn't want to pay for something that won't satisfy my eyes and ears. For 25-35k (my original budget), the choices I have is to either go for an HU that's simplistic but has good SQ or go with a multimedia one but with mediocre SQ. I wanted both (sakim ako eh :D ) and this Kenwood was the top of the line back then that has everything I needed and it was available locally.

The HU powers a pair of DLS R6A front seps directly (no outboard amp), a Blaupunkt THb210 powered sub, and I also added some deadening in the doors. It was tuned to perfection by no less than his SQ'ness, elco.

I got the GPS module just early this year from eBay for an additional 14k.

All in all, this ICE cost me around 85k and yes, they're insured. :D Mahirap na.

[arionyoshi]

hi sir

question lang po am not sure if this is in line with the thread but opinion lang kung pinaka-ok na brand ang Kenwood or if those like AVT equal in quality for the multimedia headunit?

any suggestions as to what brand so I can narrow my choices po?

I'm canvassing for the 2009 Montero Sports GLS SE

thanks

Na post ko na to before somewhere. Anyway...

It's expensive talaga dahil nabaon ako sa utang for several months. But I wanted the best HU. I didn't want to pay for something that won't satisfy my eyes and ears. For 25-35k (my original budget), the choices I have is to either go for an HU that's simplistic but has good SQ or go with a multimedia one but with mediocre SQ. I wanted both (sakim ako eh :D ) and this Kenwood was the top of the line back then that has everything I needed and it was available locally.

The HU powers a pair of DLS R6A front seps directly (no outboard amp), a Blaupunkt THb210 powered sub, and I also added some deadening in the doors. It was tuned to perfection by no less than his SQ'ness, elco.

I got the GPS module just early this year from eBay for an additional 14k.

All in all, this ICE cost me around 85k and yes, they're insured. :D Mahirap na.

[oj88]

I haven't owned an AVT HU so I can't make a definitive comparison between it and Kenwood.

FWIW, as far as quality, reliability, and reputation is concerned, my opinion is that the multimedia HUs are ranked accordingly:

1. Alpine, Kenwood, Clarion, Pioneer
2. JVC, Sony
3. AVT
4. China HUs

Again, this is my opinion and also based on a number of user reviews on the net. Take it with a grain of salt.

[Jekmyster]

I haven't owned an AVT HU so I can't make a definitive comparison between it and Kenwood.

FWIW, as far as quality, reliability, and reputation is concerned, my opinion is that the multimedia HUs are ranked accordingly:

1. Alpine, Kenwood, Clarion, Pioneer
2. JVC, Sony
3. AVT
4. China HUs

Again, this is my opinion and also based on a number of user reviews on the net. Take it with a grain of salt.

I agree with oj88. Since i made this post i have been going around banawe and other places trying to ask around whats their preferred Unit, everyone comes with there own line depending on what they are selling. Basically i'm just looking for a place where they can demo the units and i can test them out, so far nada. I hope that the coming Manila Auto Salon this April at the World Trade Center will have a few demo units to test out.

In anycase it really depends on what your're looking for in a unit, and how much your budget is. From all the things i've read on the internet you cant have it all, your usually missing one or two things from one that the other has and vice versa. But for most cases most reviews do recomend the Kenwood and the pioneer models.

I found a few websites than might help you guys out. The one below is a gadget review website that covers everything from phones to sterio units for cars. its not all there but theres a lot to see.

http://www.testfreaks.com/

This other link below is another one dedicated to car stereo, You can do a side by side comparison if you want to.

http://www.stereo-car-radio.com/