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I recently purchased all new speakers, amp, and a head unit. I am one who does research a lot before I purchase anything. After talking with several people i know that are really in to audio and Crutchfield, i went with a Kenwood DMX4707S. It can be wireless or line in. I like line in myself. Most of the sound quality comes from speakers, amp, wiring. The head unit has some to do with audio quality but not as much as people think it does.
I installed an Alpine ILX-W650 head unit with the KTA-450 amp in my 93 FD. Works great...I also installed the Alpine KTX-C10LP license plate frame with a HCE-C1100 backup camera
I'd suggest a smaller body double-din headunit (without CD/DVD player) like the Apline shown above, otherwise fitting a full size headunit and having it flush may not be perfectly achieved.
I ended up going with a Sony xav-ax6000. It has wireless Android auto or wired, but only wired Apple carplay for whatever reason, and it has Bluetooth. Shes is pricey but the internal amp is amazing and everything about the head unit is great. To install it I did use the all-famous Pioneer double din install, which seems to be back in stock places? Seems like Crutchfield has them again Pioneer ADT-VA133
I ended up with a pioneer DMH-W3050NEX.
Ended up using a Metra dash kit from bestbuy to fit it https://www.bestbuy.com/site/metra-d...?skuId=7198392.
Looks pretty much identical to the Pic up the thread.
I had the bose setup, but currently have the rear acoustic wave setup out to refurb the amps.
I also replaced the door speakers, and dropped a small kicker sub in the trunk.
Used an alpine 4 channel Amp behind the head unit for the sub https://a.co/d/el4rNG8, and running the door speakers directly off the head unit.
Plenty loud enough to hear over the exhaust.
Door speakers: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/kicker-...?skuId=6571148
Mounts for door speakers:
I installed an Alpine ILX-W650 head unit with the KTA-450 amp in my 93 FD. Works great...I also installed the Alpine KTX-C10LP license plate frame with a HCE-C1100 backup camera
At the suggestion of another forum member (Topolino), I went with a Joying 8". It doesn't exactly sit flush because it's a little too big for the hole, but it sits fairly flush to the dash. And being it's Android instead of just Android Auto, it's very versatile. I have an OBDII cable running directly to it from the Haltech and I use two different apps, depending on which one I like better at the moment, and have two pages of gauges. It also will play videos and music directly from a hard drive, so I can take pretty much all of my movies, TV shows, and music with me for long trips. Plus you can change the software so you aren't stuck with the screen that it comes with. Also, I was able to get the Mazda logo as the opening screen, although the Joying logo still plays after that. It doesn't fit your requirement of being flush, but I love this thing. I might also try to get a 360 camera system set up.
At the suggestion of another forum member (Topolino), I went with a Joying 8". It doesn't exactly sit flush because it's a little too big for the hole, but it sits fairly flush to the dash. And being it's Android instead of just Android Auto, it's very versatile. I have an OBDII cable running directly to it from the Haltech and I use two different apps, depending on which one I like better at the moment, and have two pages of gauges. It also will play videos and music directly from a hard drive, so I can take pretty much all of my movies, TV shows, and music with me for long trips. Plus you can change the software so you aren't stuck with the screen that it comes with. Also, I was able to get the Mazda logo as the opening screen, although the Joying logo still plays after that. It doesn't fit your requirement of being flush, but I love this thing. I might also try to get a 360 camera system set up.
what other features? And you have step by step install? Wired android auto? I have haltech 2500. Can I use it?
Features of just the head unit or apps and things like that? This is pretty much the one I bought. There might be some differences by now since it's been a year or two, but it looks the same.
I didn't do a write-up, it's pretty straightforward, the same as installing any other stereo. You might have to get creative with mounting solutions. I think I used the Pioneer kit but I don't remember for sure. The launcher I'm using (the app for the home screen) is Car Launcher. Mine has changed a bit because the Mazda logo disappeared for some reason (it did that a couple times already) and I messed up some other stuff trying to get it back, so I have to get back in there and change it back, but it's somewhat complicated to make changes. The good thing is you don't HAVE to use a different launcher. It's not really at the top of my list of things to do so I haven't gotten around to it yet. It doesn't have Android Auto, doesn't need it. It's like having an Android tablet installed.
If you're referring to the OBDII adapter working with the 2500, I don't see why it wouldn't, as long as you have a CAN connection you can plug into. One thing I will note, I noticed a few months ago when troubleshooting that my OBDLink adapter is linking sensor and battery grounds, which is supposed to be left for the ECU to do. I'm not sure if that's a feature or a bug related to my ATX-30 battery overvolting last November. That event did fry one of the gauges in my cluster and is the reason I'm doing a custom digital display now and won't be relying on OBDII anymore. I'm also troubleshooting other issues that might be related to the battery overvolting.
Going to get this one. Has anti glare screen which x7 needs badly. and wired car play and other good stuff.
SONY XAV-AX3700. Check it out. Can find open boxes for under 350
I installed an Alpine ILX-W650 head unit with the KTA-450 amp in my 93 FD. Works great...I also installed the Alpine KTX-C10LP license plate frame with a HCE-C1100 backup camera
Hey. I found this thread. I'm looking at doing the same setup as you with the same head unit/amp pairing. Does the head unit come with the square cover bracket to go around the head unit itself that you show in your picture? thanks.
Somewhat related, last year I wanted to update my head unit to something modern. Really wanted to add android auto and I wanted it be a premiere named brand. The issue was I really wanted to keep my half din for engine related functions. For example, boost control, traction control connecting terminals for the ecu and dash.
Pioneer still makes a modern single din flip out screen head unit that has all the modern features, the AVH-3500NEX. The only thing that was missing was wireless Android Auto which was easy to fix with aftermarket Android Auto/Apple Carplay wireless adapter.
