Upgrading stock Nav and Stereo options 2020 edition
10-03-20, 07:03 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Upgrading stock Nav and Stereo options 2020 edition
Greetings,
I recently purchased a 05 GX470 w/ Nav and after tons of research i’m torn on which direction to go regarding my stereo. My main concerns are interfacing my iPhone with the vehicle for Pandora, sootify, iTunes music and podcasts etc. It would be nice to be able to have Apple CarPlay as well, however it’s not a deal killer.
I would also like to be able to use the full capability and enjoy the sound quality of the Mark Levinson Soundsystem. So hopefully you guys can guide me one way or another. So it seems like these are the following best options and my basic understanding of them.
Beat Sonic - with this wiring harness it allows you to put a single din stereo where currently your tape player resides. Any drawbacks? It Retains the climate control on your oem navigation. Fairly easy install?
Telsa Screen - Aesthetically definitely the best looking. Has its own built-in climate control buttons that don’t seem to be as good as the OEM ones. Seems to be buggy and not all the features work yet. Will it be supported by the aftermarket for a long time? How long will these last, are they durable? How is the overall audio quality?
Non Nav Conversion - Convert to the non-navigation climate controls and this allows you to put a 9 inch android screen or double din stereo in place of oem nav. I like having the climate control off the navigation screen and the prospect of a bother navigation and her control unit. How is the sound quality? Apparently You have to add an adapter or some kind to allow an iPhone to work on it.
GROM - this gives you a charging and USB port interface that allows you to run your iPhone on the old navigation screen or something to this effect? Does it allow for Bluetooth also? How is the audio quality on this?
If I’m missing anything feel free to add. Or if I’ve missed labeled or misunderstood any of these. Thanks and looking forward to buying something soon.
I recently purchased a 05 GX470 w/ Nav and after tons of research i’m torn on which direction to go regarding my stereo. My main concerns are interfacing my iPhone with the vehicle for Pandora, sootify, iTunes music and podcasts etc. It would be nice to be able to have Apple CarPlay as well, however it’s not a deal killer.
I would also like to be able to use the full capability and enjoy the sound quality of the Mark Levinson Soundsystem. So hopefully you guys can guide me one way or another. So it seems like these are the following best options and my basic understanding of them.
Beat Sonic - with this wiring harness it allows you to put a single din stereo where currently your tape player resides. Any drawbacks? It Retains the climate control on your oem navigation. Fairly easy install?
Telsa Screen - Aesthetically definitely the best looking. Has its own built-in climate control buttons that don’t seem to be as good as the OEM ones. Seems to be buggy and not all the features work yet. Will it be supported by the aftermarket for a long time? How long will these last, are they durable? How is the overall audio quality?
Non Nav Conversion - Convert to the non-navigation climate controls and this allows you to put a 9 inch android screen or double din stereo in place of oem nav. I like having the climate control off the navigation screen and the prospect of a bother navigation and her control unit. How is the sound quality? Apparently You have to add an adapter or some kind to allow an iPhone to work on it.
GROM - this gives you a charging and USB port interface that allows you to run your iPhone on the old navigation screen or something to this effect? Does it allow for Bluetooth also? How is the audio quality on this?
If I’m missing anything feel free to add. Or if I’ve missed labeled or misunderstood any of these. Thanks and looking forward to buying something soon.
10-04-20, 11:39 AM
#4
https://phoenixautomotiveinc.com/pro...-470-2003-2009
10-04-20, 07:13 PM
#5
Don’t get the android “Tesla” screen. Just don’t. In the end it looks cool and all but the functionality is lacking, interface is clunky (chalk that up to being android) and lastly the glare is abysmal. No really it is, I cannot see ****. Don’t believe me? Here’s a picture I took of ours showing what you’ll see 95% of the time while driving. I’m working on a solution but nothing has solved this problem yet.
10-04-20, 07:27 PM
#6
Just put an anti-glare screen-protector over it.
Which specific Phoenix Android do you have?
The u-toob vids tell how to rid all the annoyances of initial setup. Did you tweak it right?
Which specific Phoenix Android do you have?
The u-toob vids tell how to rid all the annoyances of initial setup. Did you tweak it right?
10-05-20, 05:32 AM
#7
Driver School Candidate
I put the Phoenix Android in yesterday, and frankly the above comment is true about the interface. It is clunky. It was pretty easy to get it in and hooked up though.
No the Youtube videos don't all apply, some people must have previous editions, and everything I do to match what they tell me does not work. The screen interfaces look different as well. Mine was a 10.4" screen ordered from them directly about 2 weeks ago.
Still can't load a new splash/boot logo, because the YT video that goes into that (from Phoenix) doesnt work. Carplay still doesnt work with the dongle I purchased from them. The bluetooth doesn't seem to pair with the OBD2 connector for Torque App either, though it pairs with the Iphone fine.
And they send you zero instructions on setting it up, you just have to watch the YT vids over and over. I'm going to keep piddling with it until I get something set up better but they could do a better job.
No the Youtube videos don't all apply, some people must have previous editions, and everything I do to match what they tell me does not work. The screen interfaces look different as well. Mine was a 10.4" screen ordered from them directly about 2 weeks ago.
Still can't load a new splash/boot logo, because the YT video that goes into that (from Phoenix) doesnt work. Carplay still doesnt work with the dongle I purchased from them. The bluetooth doesn't seem to pair with the OBD2 connector for Torque App either, though it pairs with the Iphone fine.
And they send you zero instructions on setting it up, you just have to watch the YT vids over and over. I'm going to keep piddling with it until I get something set up better but they could do a better job.
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10-10-20, 04:20 PM
#8
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Don’t get the android “Tesla” screen. Just don’t. In the end it looks cool and all but the functionality is lacking, interface is clunky (chalk that up to being android) and lastly the glare is abysmal. No really it is, I cannot see ****. Don’t believe me? Here’s a picture I took of ours showing what you’ll see 95% of the time while driving. I’m working on a solution but nothing has solved this problem yet.
10-10-20, 04:23 PM
#9
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
I put the Phoenix Android in yesterday, and frankly the above comment is true about the interface. It is clunky. It was pretty easy to get it in and hooked up though.
No the Youtube videos don't all apply, some people must have previous editions, and everything I do to match what they tell me does not work. The screen interfaces look different as well. Mine was a 10.4" screen ordered from them directly about 2 weeks ago.
Still can't load a new splash/boot logo, because the YT video that goes into that (from Phoenix) doesnt work. Carplay still doesnt work with the dongle I purchased from them. The bluetooth doesn't seem to pair with the OBD2 connector for Torque App either, though it pairs with the Iphone fine.
And they send you zero instructions on setting it up, you just have to watch the YT vids over and over. I'm going to keep piddling with it until I get something set up better but they could do a better job.
No the Youtube videos don't all apply, some people must have previous editions, and everything I do to match what they tell me does not work. The screen interfaces look different as well. Mine was a 10.4" screen ordered from them directly about 2 weeks ago.
Still can't load a new splash/boot logo, because the YT video that goes into that (from Phoenix) doesnt work. Carplay still doesnt work with the dongle I purchased from them. The bluetooth doesn't seem to pair with the OBD2 connector for Torque App either, though it pairs with the Iphone fine.
And they send you zero instructions on setting it up, you just have to watch the YT vids over and over. I'm going to keep piddling with it until I get something set up better but they could do a better job.
10-12-20, 09:13 AM
#10
Driver School Candidate
There are other stereo system head units that will go into the dash and work fine, and there are bluetooth adapters. Vaistech was something I looked at a lot.
After a week of fiddling its still very clunky, Carplay may connect or it may not connect, even wired, depends on how it feels like behaving that day. You have to make it connect with the Autokit app. Once it activates it works fine.
The radio is abysmal, which I don't understand. The antenna jack is seated but it doesnt pick up all the stations it used to pick up. It used to pick up better than my Tacoma and now the opposite is the case.
AC controls work fine. Volume controls work fine.
I've tried 3 different OBD2 adapters, even the one they sell, and none will connect to the unit over wifi or bluetooth. It also doesnt connect quickly to the iphone's hotspot, and tends to drop that connection often.
After a week of fiddling its still very clunky, Carplay may connect or it may not connect, even wired, depends on how it feels like behaving that day. You have to make it connect with the Autokit app. Once it activates it works fine.
The radio is abysmal, which I don't understand. The antenna jack is seated but it doesnt pick up all the stations it used to pick up. It used to pick up better than my Tacoma and now the opposite is the case.
AC controls work fine. Volume controls work fine.
I've tried 3 different OBD2 adapters, even the one they sell, and none will connect to the unit over wifi or bluetooth. It also doesnt connect quickly to the iphone's hotspot, and tends to drop that connection often.
Last edited by takervader; 10-12-20 at 01:22 PM.
10-13-20, 07:17 PM
#12
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
After much research I ended up going with a BT45-TOY. I ordered it last night and i’ll update everyone after I get it installed. It gives me wireless BT connectivity and usb charging and was fairly inexpensive. Install doesn’t seem super hard and most users are reporting very reliable operation of it.
10-26-20, 09:36 AM
#13
Honestly I have no idea what I would of done. Perhaps the Grom unit? I dunno.
10-26-20, 09:52 AM
#14
I have a fast boot PX6, their latest unit with the latest OS. And yes I know how to and have set it up correctly—most of my problems are not related to setup or lack thereof. I have gone round and round with Phoenix support and they have now ghosted me since they cannot resolve my outstanding issues / problems. I’m really rather frustrated that I wasted almost $700 on this thing. I’m not ordering from them ever again.
10-26-20, 01:17 PM
#15
Driver School Candidate
That’s because our 470’s have two antennas. I believe there is a topic here or on ih8mud about it. You can buy a y-adapter and another cable (forgot which one, but it is an adapter to accommodate the different sized factory cable) to use in order to get proper reception. I’m sure someone else can confirm the specifics.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071DTCDF5...ing=UTF8&psc=1
.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071DTCDF5...ing=UTF8&psc=1
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