Having recently acquired a new and very different form of transportation (see "What Do You Drive" thread) with no Bluetooth hands free kit, and wanting more functionality and quality than what I'd gain by installing a standard Bluetooth kit, I'm in need of a new head unit, as well as some speakers, probably an amp and maybe even a sub. I used to install this stuff years ago, but everything has changed so much that I have no idea where to begin other than to give a spec and ask someone else for advice on what to buy. I am a huge music fan and listen to something almost every minute that I'm driving, and like any music fan and borderline audiophile, I like to listen in awesome quality as well. The stock system in the van is far from capable of this. So, obviously maximum functionality and audio quality are important. The system must have; Sadly I *think* that I'm restricted to a single DIN Head Unit Phone Bluetooth (hands free calling/receiving etc.) Aux input(s) Either wired or wireless iPhone integration (A2DP stremaing, Apple CarPlay via cable or some form of AirPlay) Tweeters (van has tweeter locations on the dash) Excellent audio clarity If I could adapt the dashboard to fit a double-din HU my problems would all be solved, I'd purchase and install a Pioneer NEX unit, supporting speakers, amp etc and be fully satisfied with it. Unfortunately I don't see any way of installing a 2-DIN unit and hours of Googling have turned up no mention of being able to fit a different dash insert to achieve this. There was a little hope in achieving this not in the traditional stereo HU location but high on the dash where the LCD screen displaying date, time & other info is located. On some models this space would be occupied with a SatNav unit which I thought might be Double-Din size but I haven't been able to confirm that or even find the relevant fascia adapter yet. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!
Alpine UTE-72BT (should do all you're looking for) Gladen M 100 (if the kangoo is really limited to 10cm speakers) Pioneer TS-WX77A (active sub, you can throw up to 100kg of stuff on it - which might be useful)
Vehicle Stereo Help I didn't mention it in the original post, but it might be nice to have a fold-out touch screen in the unit I haven't looked at the speaker mounts yet, but I presume they're the same as the Clio's 13cm mounts. I pulled my Clarion speakers out of it so I might re-use them for a while. The audio clarity in the Clio was good with them. Not brilliant, but good. I put the lack of top end down to me running them from the factory HU instead of a better aftermarket one (it was in my plans though ) and no amp.
So i withdraw my recommendation. The 10cm openings came up in a quick search for the Kangoo, but i didn't check what model/year. Yet, for a low-effort-but-better-than-low-end-crappy-subwoofer i wholeheartedly stand behind the Pioneer-sub.
Vehicle Stereo Help I appreciate your recommendations nonetheless. Having drawn a blank on Google, I am performing some 'investigative disassembly' this afternoon to see if the paper tray area can indeed be converted to double-din
My investigative disassembly went pretty well, I got the entire centre console out as well as the clock/info screen and its bezel, but the actual paper tray itself is screwed to the back of the upper dashboard, which needs to come out to change it. I also found out that the SatNav fascia (which is what I'd be using to try and convert it to double DIN) is £55. Shock horror, an expensive dealer supplied piece of plastic. Where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, every single thing I ever replaced on the Clio I don't mind paying that if it achieves what I'm trying to do, but I'm still unsure if SatNav units are actually 2-DIN and even if they are, if the space behind the new fascia would be deep enough for a large head unit. I have since discovered that the Kangoo has tweeter ports, but no tweeters installed, and my Clarion 13cm speakers which I pulled from the Clio are two way with woofer and tweeter, so I'll avoid using them in favour of fitting dedicated tweeters high on the dash where they should be: I have also discovered that the stock speaker size in the Kangoo II is actually 10cm, but I will not be fitting 10cm speakers. I will buy a set of 16.5cm adapters to convert it to 165mm and enable the installation of good speakers. The door cards in the van are rattling terribly with any bass whatsoever, so I'm going to buy a roll of dynamat and Armacell Ensolite to line the area behind each door card as well as the outer skin of the door itself. I had to do the same thing in the Clio to stop some annoying rattles, but the problem is ten times worse in the van!
Those tweeter pods could be very nice, do they aim flat up or are they curved? Mids look to be mounted nice and low so with some decent structure behind them you could get some nice mid bass out of them. Headunit wise ive been out of the game for a few years but my new cars urging me to do what you are now. Dont forget with Dynamat, silent coat etc a little heat before you apply it and itll go one far more easily.
The tweeter pods are mounted pretty much horizontal, running almost parallel to the road. That might hurt the performance slightly but that's exactly how they were in the Clio as well so at least I'm used to that configuration. I didn't pull the tweeters out of the Clio because it was cold, dark and extremely wet the night I went to the auto salvage yard to pull bits off/out of it and there was literally 12" of space on 3 sides of it, with other vehicles dumped nearby hampering my efforts. The mids are indeed very low in the van, practically on the floor! I have been out of this for so long that I've bit the bullet and asked for professional advice, as well as nailing down a supplier. A local specialist, Audio Advice, will be fitting my Clifford alarm and GPS tracking system in a couple of weeks time, and is going to supply almost all of the components for the sound system as well. He's looking at another MKII Kangoo over the weekend to see if there's space to make and fit a custom MDF, fiberglass & leather clad double DIN fascia in the paper tray/LCD clock area. I think I'll have them do the parking sensors and camera as well. I would be more than capable of installing them myself, but I can't see me finding the time to pull half the van apart and do it. Unitl 3 weeks ago I wouldn't have had parking sensors or a camera near a vehicle of mine, but three weeks driving the Fiesta with them showed me just how tight a spot you can get a vehicle into with them.
I would just like to throw in my general Alpine recommendation. I have a single DIN bluetooth Alpine HU with 3 pre outs and front and back USB with AUX. Top sound and build quality, simple clean looks and functionality.
Thanks, Alpine and Pioneer are definitely at the top of the list. As I have quite a lot planned for the van, there's a good chance this will turn into a project thread. As if I need another project!
+1 for Alpine here - I have a single DIN unit as well - bluetooth, with at least two pres, iPhone support, all that jazz, and I can't fault it. It's why I keep going back to Alpine, I guess! I had grand plans to uprate the whole system in the car, but best laid plans and all that!
What phone do you have? I used to be a massive alpine fan, but they have gone down hill a lot lately in terms of staying current, especially with smartphone connectivity. I'd recommended a pioneer unit like the single din touch screen appradio, think it is 7600bt and an android device running appradio unchained. Just keep the android device in the car and use your head unit to completely mirror it. Spotify, waze, Internet, youtube the works I'll video my setup in the gtr later today
I have an iPhone 6 now lysaer. I would definitely appreciate a demo of the Appradio. I'm hoping the guys at Audio Advice can make it possible to install a double DIN HU but if not, one of the Appradio models should do.
Interesting! I'd be keen to get a looksie at the vid, too - I'm thinking about re-hashing the car audio/general entertainment in the new year (perhaps)
Single Din had me thinking of mcintosh, Becker and Denon units This appradio stuff looks interesting though. Unicorn, you planning to amp the speakers that go in at all?
Yes, going the whole hog with this build I think. I only half did the car install with plans to upgrade it in the future, but never got around to it, so I think I'll do it properly from the outset this time. Mids, tweeters, sub, amp and head unit.
Good man, ive a stash of speakers amp and cabling to put into mine when i get the time so ill be watching this with interest and envy
Vehicle Stereo Help Not 100% sure what I'm going for, but I was gravitating towards the Pioneer active sub mentioned above. I'm open to suggestions for speakers and an amp!
I have the Pioneer 560BT in my mX5, lovely little mechless unit with great hands free. Bluetooth, Aux and USB all covered. Single DIN. http://www.halfords.com/sat-nav-aud...er-mvh-x560bt-car-media-player-with-bluetooth
