Android head unit

[Marc Berry]

Hi all, please see below for a post i added to avforums where i had initially discussed it with.
I went with the Erisin Es5060pb. Its the best spec I could find. Runs full android 6.0. Octa core processor. 2gb ram. 32gb storage.

Overall it went in much easier than i thought, simply plugging into the standard connector. We wired the included ext mic and routed it close to my head in the drivers seat. Routed the gps antenna close to the windscreen. I also connected the rear usb and put through a hole in the glove box which I connected the separately bought 3g dongle (might eventually just use wifi tethering from my phone) and that works well.

The amount of things it does are fantastic. Dvds, cds, usb thumb drives for both music and videos, and the same for micro sd. Google maps work ok, see below, as does youtube.

Issues –

1) The radio sounded terrible at first and needed a lot of tweeking in the equilizer app. Bit better now (still not great though) but oddly is different with music played from files (still not great). I can’t find an app that actually uses the FM antenna to see if it’s better.

2)The fader thinks I’m in left hand drive so doesn’t sound right if changed to only driver. Also when moved to only rear speakers it also still plays in the front centre, only turning off the front sides

3)When playing audio /video while accessing Internet via either wifi or data, (such as a YouTube video) there is low volume interference in the background. After a while this stopped but was annoying.

4)Due to having the ‘Loud’ option enabled in the inbuilt equilizer app which improved sound not just volume, it is only for music such as the radio, all other sounds are much lower. This means that if i have google maps on while playing the radio, the Google maps voice is way too low. By turning the volume up it increases but so does the radio which then gets too high.

5) due to all the messing with audio i have started to realise that i havent got a clue how to get the best out of an equilizer. i prefer the ‘pop’ type config of a higher setting on the middle sliders and a bit lower either side but i just cant get it right. any suggestions?

Hopefully this helps others and if anyone can help with any thoughts on the issues , I’d appreciate the help

Marc

[The Duke]

With regards to nav sound vs media sound, the only good nav app that let’s you manually change the nav volume independently of the media volume is Here Maps.

Ive found here maps uses a nav algorithm than Google maps, I don’t think it is as good for daily stuff, but if your going to a crowded end point, it will give you a completely different route to all the sheep using Google nav. So it stays on my phone for that alone.

Also its free, and has a better interface than the comp, Impo and doesn’t require a data connection.

Regarding you radio streams, they are never on par with fm/dab feeds. Also i think the streams are only two channel, but this may of changed.

Lastly it sounds like you need an amp. The head unit probably had a DAC that is related to the ones in android phones. The majority are poor. The good ones not much better.

I plug my phone into my car daily, I have to push the phone to 100% and then up the head unit volume to 58, this is for Audible (books) , normal volume for listening  to Dab radio is 11. If I was interested   in music, this set up wouldn’t surface.

Ive never played with one of these head units, but know all the people that fit nexus 7s (remember them) all heeded an added amp

Do you have a picture or video of your set up. Just nosey tbh.

I was talking to the wife, about getting a fiesta St at some point. With their poor interior, it’s will be ripe for a retro fit.

She said, why don’t you get a panda, I like them. I said learnt to drive I’ll get you one! Frigging panda. Ironically that was my mum’s first car when I was a kid. So I have some nostalgia for the old ones, but I don’t want one. The point was to have a town car with a bit of go in it. Especially as I’m soon be be getting a larger car.

I have a soft spot for warm hatches. Lol a fiat panda…

[Marc Berry]

The Duke wrote:

With regards to nav sound vs media sound, the only good nav app that let’s you manually change the nav volume independently of the media volume is Here Maps. Ive found here maps uses a nav algorithm than Google maps, I don’t think it is as good for daily stuff, but if your going to a crowded end point, it will give you a completely different route to all the sheep using Google nav. So it stays on my phone for that alone. Also its free, and has a better interface than the comp, Impo and doesn’t require a data connection. Regarding you radio streams, they are never on par with fm/dab feeds. Also i think the streams are only two channel, but this may of changed. Lastly it sounds like you need an amp. The head unit probably had a DAC that is related to the ones in android phones. The majority are poor. The good ones not much better. I plug my phone into my car daily, I have to push the phone to 100% and then up the head unit volume to 58, this is for Audible (books) , normal volume for listening to Dab radio is 11. If I was interested in music, this set up wouldn’t surface. Ive never played with one of these head units, but know all the people that fit nexus 7s (remember them) all heeded an added amp Do you have a picture or video of your set up. Just nosey tbh. I was talking to the wife, about getting a fiesta St at some point. With their poor interior, it’s will be ripe for a retro fit. She said, why don’t you get a panda, I like them. I said learnt to drive I’ll get you one! Frigging panda. Ironically that was my mum’s first car when I was a kid. So I have some nostalgia for the old ones, but I don’t want one. The point was to have a town car with a bit of go in it. Especially as I’m soon be be getting a larger car. I have a soft spot for warm hatches. Lol a fiat panda…

this is the one.     http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Android-6-0-1-Car-Stereo-GPS-Opel-Vauxhall-Zafira-Antara-Astra-Corsa-Vectra-DAB/142405416086?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648

overall it’s awesome. just a shame i cant get the sound right.

1. any ideas how i’d fit an amplifier? the stereo fitted to the standard connector so no way of fitting between the connector and stereo. i’m not good with this sort of stuff.
2. any suggestions for android apps that use the fm transmitter instead of data?
3. any help with good equilizer settings for ‘pop’ type sound as i find this to be the best all rounder for me, the wife and kids

cheers mate

[The Duke]

Sound is not my thing. Sorry.

Did you purchase the Dab+ box, it looks like it wad an optional extra at $38, I think with out this it can’t receive a digital signal. The built in app will should cover the FM band, but regards to an android app for FM tuners, I’ve never looked into one. I known only small se tin of phones, come with FM available, usually the very cheap ones, and they all come with an built in FM app.

[Bob Williams]

Steve, why not one of these tricky little Fiats?

https://tinyurl.com/y9ozuz4o     – 145 BHP

Or its more powerful brother:

https://tinyurl.com/yc5gfya4   –   190 hp (140 kW) @ 5750 rpm 0-62 in 5.9 secs and 143 mph in a tiny Fiat!

A roller skate, or a GT roller skate?

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[Marc Berry]

The Duke wrote:

Sound is not my thing. Sorry. Did you purchase the Dab+ box, it looks like it wad an optional extra at $38, I think with out this it can’t receive a digital signal. The built in app will should cover the FM band, but regards to an android app for FM tuners, I’ve never looked into one. I known only small se tin of phones, come with FM available, usually the very cheap ones, and they all come with an built in FM app.

i didnt get the dab as i dont really listen to it, i’ve always turned dab off and used fm on the old stereo. fm seemed to sound better.

[The Duke]

Have you seen the price of them bob! All it is is a posh ka. Lol. (half)Jk aside, the Biposto is a mental little fiat, both the 595 and the 695 are not ment for the road, you can order the 695 with a dogleg sequential for iirc £17k optional extra. But neither have compliant suspension, which wouldn’t do for ones back.

5.9s in a car that small is gonna feel stupid quick, matched with its “firm” and short wheelbase,  it would be dam dangerous on the local country lanes. One slight skip and you’d be over the hedge.

But yea, they are my type of car. But couldn’t justify £33k on one.  the new Focus RS, All wheel drive 350bhp (+/-) is only £32k. And you know the conversation has gone silly when you use the term “only 32k” in the same sentence as ford focus, a £16k car.

But oh the new RS, is worth the £32k, crappy interior or not. They should of faclifted  it. Same with the fiestas, they look so old now.

Marc. I don’t listen to music, so I’ve never noticed a drop off from Dab to FM, as I list to talk sport if I have to put the radio on.

[PlaneMan]

The current Panda (2012 on) is a great little car, it’s on my watch list for when I NEED a car (probably not that long now). OFC I want the TwinAir engine but many think that overall the 1.2 is the better bet.

Problem is that a half decent spec is about £700 more than an equivalent Skoda Citigo/ Seat Mii. I’d be happy with any of the 3. The VW up is usually a lot more than it’s Skoda/Seat sisters.

[The Duke]

I like the City go, iirc cisterns take of a city car is rear wheel drive. Not that your going to have enough power to get the rear out, bit what it does achieve is a longer string rack so the thing can turn around on a stamp.

Now I own a car that can’t do a u turn on the widest of roads. My car is wider than the stock astra, and has uprated ground suspension (and rear), and it all adds up to about 2meters wider circle than my old laguna estate! So I’d love a bit of pirouetting in the car .

The wv up is nice too. I like all that family of car. Though I’d wasn’t something no smaller than say fiesta, with a proper engine.

And pm, the correct answer is panda 4×4, if you need a little mountain goat. Though I think the Dachia stepway is now a better by than a panda 4×4. Great car for the money, a proper honest workers/beater car, that can take any crap thrown on it, and it it’s really good when of the black stuff.

Other than the 4×4, the panda is never the correct answer ?

[Bob Williams]

There’s also a Panda Abarth Steve –

Getting silly now! My old boss’ son had a Fiat 131 Mirafiori and turned it into a rally car. Basic body was this:

Rally car was something like this:

He took my mate and me to Gatwick for a holiday in Canada in it, rally spec and all. Frightened my mate to death on the M1, door on his side flew open at well over 100.

We got the bus back.

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[Robin Long]

I have read about these units in another forum,  the FM Issue is NOT an easy fix.

If you brought the DAB+ antenna you need to sight it well though different cars have cause different results, my own opinion is that the actually signal reception you get in your area needs to be good.

Others have tried fitting better car aerials to no avail.

Due to the way these Units link into the cars systems you may find the car is no longer supplying enough power for the stereo, though this is a new one on me, I have not heard of others experiencing this, have you replaced the cars stock speakers. There’s also a suggestion that the outputs don’t match their labelling  ie. Front left is not actually front left but right rear you might try that and see if it solves the issue.  There if your car, as it appears is a Vauxhall, there are some active Forums supporting these cars out there and you may find that this unit has been fitted elsewhere.

 

Cheers Knight,

RIP Spike09 Your Missed
If I'm not here, I'm there.

Finally joined Twitter! longr79

[Marc Berry]

Robin Long wrote:

I have read about these units in another forum, the FM Issue is NOT an easy fix. If you brought the DAB+ antenna you need to sight it well though different cars have cause different results, my own opinion is that the actually signal reception you get in your area needs to be good. Others have tried fitting better car aerials to no avail. Due to the way these Units link into the cars systems you may find the car is no longer supplying enough power for the stereo, though this is a new one on me, I have not heard of others experiencing this, have you replaced the cars stock speakers. There’s also a suggestion that the outputs don’t match their labelling ie. Front left is not actually front left but right rear you might try that and see if it solves the issue. There if your car, as it appears is a Vauxhall, there are some active Forums supporting these cars out there and you may find that this unit has been fitted elsewhere.

cheers mate. i have posted in the vauxhall foums and not much joy/answers there.  i have still got the standard speakers. it does identify as left hand drive in the fader menu but i’m not sure how much difference that could make. apart from the front centre still playing when changed to ‘rear only’, the fronts do mute then and when moved to ‘front’ the rears do mute so its mostly correct.

[Robin Long]

mark what model of car do you have and what was the original radio (CD400?) did it have DAB?

 

Cheers Knight,

RIP Spike09 Your Missed
If I'm not here, I'm there.

Finally joined Twitter! longr79

[The Duke]

As a vauxhall owner, I wouldn’t waste your breath (figure tips) trying for an answer of Vx. They are useless.

What was your reception like with the stick head unit. My GTC is garbage, in either FM or Dab, and if you plug a phone into the aux in on the head unit, and try to charge the phone, it creates a ground loop. Also charging any device from the 12v socket kills any miniscule reception it did have.

Just a few of the electrical bugs Vx have failed to fix. Siting a design flaw.

I though this was BS, untill earlier this month, so fool hit my car, so the insurance gave me a brand new astra. 2 years newer than my gtc and an all new design, bit with the identical design flaws!

Also the same intermittent  drivers door card rattle. That Vx can’t seem to fix! I find pinching it works.

The ground loop issue I cured with a £7 isolator off Amazon.

I won’t be going back to Vx for a good while.

I did moan about all this after my last failed attempt at getting something fixed, and two moths later I got an email from Vx, or rather a 3rd party customer service assessment team, asking would I like to take part. It will take zero time out my day, I just need to pick an assessor up round the corner, take him/her in with me, then drop them off. Pick them back up when Im collecting the car and they will pay me £75 +.

I emailed them saying I’ll contact them when my service is due. Which isn’t long as my “oil life monitor” says it has 11%left.

Marc, does your corsa have a mpg read out. The new one, even with Sat nav, doesn’t. I couldn’t believe this when I read the reviews, but I’m my last trip to Vx they gave me one, it was a decent mid spec, leather wheel, half leather seats, Sat nav, cc, sl, auto lights and maybe wipers, but no way to see your average mpg. I found this completely bizarre. Even the £6k Viva has a mpg read out.

[The Duke]

Bob I learnt how to drive in a fiat 126, I’d love one now, but find one that isn’t either wrecked, a late model or over priced, is impossible.

The one we had my dad brought it home from a job he was on, that the guy was short of cash, so this bin of a car turned up. At the time we had a montego (maybe a Sierra by then,  he had alot of them) and mum an xr3i. He proclaimed, this was his new car, and that i would  have to live with it. I told him I’d never set foot in it. Until he said it was mine, and we could take it to out bike meets.

Shitty car, like the panda, that was mum’s first, but both have good memories. Like the cloth glove box!

Not as good as the memories of the xr3i that was the dogs danglies in the late 80s early 90s.

The fiat 126 had an Interesting life, it had not long arrived back from berlin, where it’s owner north of 6′, took out the passenger seat, and packed with foam to make a bed, drove it with a mate from northwest Eng, to berlin and back to watch the Hoff knock down some wall.

He must of been a labourer before fame hit ?

[Robin Long]

Mark, I suspect the FM issue may be a result of This

 

Cheers Knight,

RIP Spike09 Your Missed
If I'm not here, I'm there.

Finally joined Twitter! longr79

[Marc Berry]

hi guys.

the car with the new android stereo is an astra h, 59 reg that had a cd40 i think.  it did have DAB as well as the FM. the reception was great.

not sure that is the issue that was linked as i do get clear fm without issue apart from the sound being poor system wide.

the corsa is an sri, 65 reg and does have MPG read out.

 

[The Duke]

Doesn’t is have a current read out, and an average over x miles in the two trip computers when you twist the left stalk.

The one I had, on the main screen it shown your current, fluctuating mpg, but on the two trip screens mine also shows, how many miles done, average speed, and average mpg since it’s last reset. All standard stuff, but the corsa (also 65 may of been 66)never! I found it bizarre when I heard, so when I got one I spent 5 mins trying to prove the reverse wrong. I couldn’t find it either.

Do you have a 3 door, I do like the style of the new corsa 3 Doors, especially with the sportier exterior trim.

What does SRI denote on the corsa, on mime GTC SRI, I think it means, half (faux)  leather seats (hate full (faux or real)  leather) leather door cards, leather wheel and a differnt colour trim on the dash. Which I prefer the non Sri black over the silver.

Also it has red led interior, which I’m not sure is standard of Sri.

Remember when many words demoted bigger/sportier… Just look and M-sport and AMG, you can get an all AMG’d out merc now with a 2L deisel engine ?

[Marc Berry]

its 5 door the corsa and yes both trips computers have mpg since last reset by ysing the left stalk to select. no leather inside, (i dont think, cant remember now) but has almost every ‘toy’ apart from reverse sensor.

[Robin Long]

SRi denotes level of trim/luxury, there are however,as always variations: SRi, SRi Nav, SRi Leather and SRi Nav Leather. There 1 Spec levels below SRi,  ‘Design’.  The one thing that can be said About VX is their options limitations

That thread I linked to is massive but I think the story ends with nobody being any the wiser it work work or it won’t but there no in between ground, It is possible that the wiring in your car is not fully compatible. Somewhere in there there is a diagram showing which wire powers the Amplifier should you want it, but thats beyond my level of knowledge, if it ain’t plug and play these days expect a challenge.  Older models dependant on spec may have different wiring looms(spec dependant(it’s a VX thing)) which might mean the head unit will never work properly.

Anything VX from 14/64 has the trip computer as do all facelift, however anything before 17 may have one of two types of trip computer, dependant on whether or not you have Onstar. Anything after 67 will almost certainly have Onstar.

 

Cheers Knight,

RIP Spike09 Your Missed
If I'm not here, I'm there.

Finally joined Twitter! longr79

[Author]

Posts