Nissan Titan Forum banner
Cancel

Need help picking a stereo

2231 Views 21 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  mkelee, 
0
Hey everyone I am having hard time finding a stereo to replace my stock one. I don't have the Rockford system. I would like one to have Bluetooth, need to be capable for a back up camera (to hitch up trailor). Also want to keep my steering wheel controls which I know require an adapter. Trying to keep it around $300 if possible
Not sure if even possible but can you charge a phone from it. Was thinking of maybe seeing if there was a way to turn one of the blank plates next to the tow mode button into a usb connection to charge a phone.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
Tritonus
You want to keep the steering controls. Good luck with that. Yes there are 3rd party gadgets out there, but I don't believe they will ever work 100% like factory oem radio. For example. The volume will work but the channel changer won't. I don't remember the complete details, after installing it, the configuration to get it to work sucked. So I gave up. Admit defeat. No more steering controls.

I bought a $50 camera that had LED lights. Cool. I sent all three wires to the Head Unit HU. Neg, Pos, and Video. This made life easier. I also bought the "Zombie" toggle switch to turn On/Off the camera. Why? Because you will have the LED lights ON, and that is just asking to get pulled over. When the truck is running, I turn the Zombie toggle light switch to ON, then press the button on the HU to camera view and it works great. Just remember to shut off the Zombie toggle lights when you are done. Search titantalk for Zombie toggle switch. It is a very easy install.

I am currently using a DD HU from Kenwood. I think I paid around $300. I can charge my andriod and use Pandora for music.

I paid $230 for Pioneer AVH-X3800BHS In-Dash DVD Receiver with 6.2" Display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM-Ready, HD Radio. It is a piece of crap. I'll sell it to you for $75. It works. The screen is not scratched. I used it for a little while and had problems with it. The system functions differently when you don't have your smart phone with you. Slower to respond. But it does work and YOU are trying to keep cost under $300.

I suggest skip the 3rd party steering wheel controls until you have the radio + camera set up.
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
Blackbeauty
You CAN have it all... and you don't need to pay a fortune.

I would check out Tech12volts' website. Many brands make headunits that will do what you need. The top end is around $1000... but there are options for a lot less money...
Reply
Save
Like
T
With my steering controls it the answer and hang up for the phone that doesn't work. Volume and channel change works just fine. Not a big deal to me. I've got a Kenwood DDX series. So it pops up big "buttons" on the touch screen when someone calls. Like blackbeauty said, talk to tech. I'm sure he can get you something in your price range that will work. That's who I got all of my stuff through.
Reply
Save
Like
0
Teitonus just sent you a pm I just ended up ordering that same stereo. With your review now I am questioning the decision and may take you up on your offer. Please let me know


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply
Save
Like
M
First you need a Metra ASWC-1 for steering wheel controls. This need to be installed when you install the radio or you will be cutting back into the wiring and doing it twice. And correct it will most likely loose the phone control.

Second, I personally do not like Pioneer. The wiring is to small and so the internal amp clips from not enough power. Also Pioneers operating software is horrible and hard to navigate. Kenwood or Clarion is my choice

For a backup camera, get a low lux or a camera with IR emitters. Not "LEDs". No reason to need to turn it off when not in use. Also you can power it of the reverse wires so it only comes on in reverse. . The radio will automatically switch to it when you put it in reverse either way if you hook up the radio correctly
Reply
Save
Like
0
Thank you all for the info please keep it coming cancelled my order after the advice from you guys and back to square one lol I would rather be here then stuck with a radio nightmare


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply
Save
Like
R
Which aftermarket radio is 'better' is certainly subjective. I have absolutely no problem with Pioneer products. I have installed four or five different units in autos for myself and friends over the last 10 years. I find Pioneer provides the best performance and features for my money.

I find Kenwood to be very problematical. I don't like the sound quality and they are quite fragile. The last three Kenwood units I installed failed within a few months - don't want to touch another one.

Nissan used a lot of Clarion radios as OEM equipment. I have a stack of five or six of those OEM radios in my junk room - horrible sounding stuff!

I find JVC to be very weak on power and Panasonic is low on features for the price.
Reply
Save
Like
Tritonus
I only owned 1 Pioneer. The one I am selling. I hated it.

1.)it functioned differently than when I did not have my smart phone with me.

2.) No volume knob. It is a button. Sometimes I find myself wanting to turn the volume down quickly. Can't do that with button. I guess the remote had a mute function. Oh great. One more thing to lose in the car while driving. The darn remote.

3.) The touch screen worked if I pressed the top part of the section.

4.) Pioneer model I bought got rave reviews. Wow. Amazon must be getting all these fake face book people to give 5 stars.

Kenwood was to me a much better product. I do believe the better quality video goes to Pioneer. But I ain't watching videos while driving.

The Kenwood is still new, let's see how it is a year down the road. As for sound quality, I honestly could not tell. We are speaking of the DAC inside these unit.
It would be nice to have the gamma2 (amb.org) , but they don't do automotive.




Camera
-----------------
It's dark outside and I have a camper. I bought a camera with LED
https://www.amazon.com/Esky180°-Vie..._SR160,160_&psc=1&refRID=MKCMFGH7AZ87NB7E0RSE

I added a switch otherwise the LEDs will always be on. Life gets oh so much easier if you send all 3 wires to the HU. +, -, Video


You will need a wiring harness
https://www.amazon.com/Metra-70-755...7_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=DPDGSB0VMH5Y8K6CVQCE


You will need a dash to match colors, year,...
https://www.amazon.com/Metra-95-740...7068&s=car&vehicleId=1&vehicleType=automotive

Correct on the 3rd party steering wheel controls. Install them when you install radio.
My dash is in such bad shape, it has Goop to fix the cracks in the plastic. I don't mind opening it up again because it can't any worse that what it looks now.
I also solder all my connections and the ground wire is connected to the chasis of the radio.
See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
Tritonus
reeakes said:
Which aftermarket radio is 'better' is certainly subjective. I have absolutely no problem with Pioneer products. I have installed four or five different units in autos for myself and friends over the last 10 years. I find Pioneer provides the best performance and features for my money.

I find Kenwood to be very problematical. I don't like the sound quality and they are quite fragile. The last three Kenwood units I installed failed within a few months - don't want to touch another one.

Nissan used a lot of Clarion radios as OEM equipment. I have a stack of five or six of those OEM radios in my junk room - horrible sounding stuff!

I find JVC to be very weak on power and Panasonic is low on features for the price.
Click to expand...

FYI. reeaks just joined this month and has 2 post. :serious:
Reply
Save
Like
R
For the record: I joined in 2004. I was on vacation when all the passwords got hosed and could not get in without opening a new account - look for 'eakes', my prior screen name.
Reply
Save
Like
Blackbeauty
Tritonus said:
FYI. reeaks just joined this month and has 2 post. :serious:
Click to expand...
Knowledge is knowledge. Without knowing the experience or background of the individual, why point out the post count if the information is credible? He had some bad experiences with Kenwood, which is unfortunate, but I can't discount the other comments. Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions. No one knows everything. It's the internet for crying out loud.
Reply
Save
Like
LSturbointeg
I don't have all those fancy features you guys have as far as steering controls but I love my Pioneer AVH as I'm able to watch DVD's and set all my EQ controls and features and so forth. I've had it for quite sometime and never thought about changing it for something new
Reply
Save
Like
Tritonus
Blackbeauty said:
Knowledge is knowledge. Without knowing the experience or background of the individual, why point out the post count if the information is credible? He had some bad experiences with Kenwood, which is unfortunate, but I can't discount the other comments. Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions. No one knows everything. It's the internet for crying out loud.
Click to expand...
I didn't jump to conclusions. You did. All I did was point it out. Let the reader decide and have them come up with their own conclusions.
Reply
Save
Like
Blackbeauty
Dude... you had 13 posts when you posted that. :rofl:
Reply
Save
Like
  • Like
Reactions: 1
LaxDfns15
Tritonus said:
FYI. reeaks just joined this month and has 2 post. :serious:
Click to expand...
Coming from someone with 17 posts?

OP if you want good stereo info/advice I've never seen any bad advice from eakes, blackbeauty, or mbquart. They know their stuff and I've learned a lot from what they say.

Pioneers can work, they're just hit or miss with our trucks.
Reply
Save
Like
Tritonus
LaxDfns15 said:
Coming from someone with 17 posts?
Click to expand...

17 posts of evidence that I own and work on a Titan. Compared to ?????

Thanks for the heads up. My pics were moved, I fixed them so they now show in the threads.
Reply
Save
Like
M
As stated above. It's a lot of personal taste in head units.
I have installed several Pioneers. I think moron designed them. Wires are to small to power them. Some jacks are on the back (which causes a depth issue) while some are pig tails. I hate the software. I have not seen one break tho.

The guys who like them like them. They can give you 100 reasons they like them. We arnt trying to bash each other's views. Just give ours.
It's all personal taste

Honestly I have never seen a camera with LEDs (execpt IRs) don't think I would want that in a camera. IRs are industry standard on cameras. They generally only turn on in low light and the light they emit isn't visible to blind anyone or get you a ticket.
Reply
Save
Like
BubbzWasHere
I've used Pioneer in my last 3 vehicles. Never had an issue with the wiring or them cutting out, but that's me. Before that I ran Alpine. Haven't done that since I started going DD touch screen and all the Alpines were way too expensive for me. I don't really like Kenwood, but I can't give a good reason for it. I would just say to find a Car Toys or something near you where you can test a few different models, and see what works for you. There are a few different brands that can do what you want in your price range.
Reply
Save
Like
BubbzWasHere
06Raven said:
Not sure if even possible but can you charge a phone from it. Was thinking of maybe seeing if there was a way to turn one of the blank plates next to the tow mode button into a usb connection to charge a phone.
Click to expand...
Most of them now a days seem to have USB plugs on them. If it does, it should be able to charge your phone. Maybe even able to play Pandora. Or your iTunes if you have an iPhone. I did exactly what your asking and ran a USB cable from the back of my HU to the blank next to the tow button. Just cut out a hole and super glued the wire in. Looks pretty good too.
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 20 of 22 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Nissan Titan Forum
Nissan Titan Talk Forum is a community for truck owners to discuss the Titan Cummins, Warrior, Midnight Edition and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Titan General Discussion Buy/Sell Titan Performance Modifications Titan Suspension Titan Parts & Accessories
Top