Pioneer SPH-DA120 Car Stereo

[TheBALDpuma]

Just seen a black friday deal on this at halfords - pretty keen on it but I have a few questions for anyone that knows anything about these...

I have a Samsung - what's the compatibility like with one?

Is it possible to use a phone sat nav app that won't use data while on the go?

Will a cheaper cable other than the pioneer one work fine for Android connection?

Any general feedback?

[SonicShadow]

It's a bit rubbish with Android phones. For Android, look for Android Auto.

[TheBALDpuma]

SonicShadow said:

It's a bit rubbish with Android phones. For Android, look for Android Auto.

Haha, just read a review that said it works well!!

Could you suggest any at this price point? (£300)

[SonicShadow]

Was that review using an Android device or an iPhone? It works great with iPhones because of Car Play. The problem on Android is you're relying on AppRadio support, which is nowhere near as good as Android Auto. Have a look at the reviews for the AppRadio app on the Play store - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.p...

The unit itself is good, AppRadio is just rubbish.

As for Android Auto, you'd be looking at the AVH-X8700BT or X8800BT. from the Pioneer lineup.

[TheBALDpuma]

Reviews are pretty bad! Is that for all connectivity with the phone?

The other ones look good but are a wedge more expensive. Any suggestions away from pioneer?

[SonicShadow]

There aren't many aftermarket Android Auto units at the moment. There's a Kenwood one which is ~£500, a Sony one at ~£425.

Apparently Android Auto is now works as a standalone app, so an MHL compatible phone and stereo (I think the DA120 does have that) would let you mirror the phone screen onto the stereo. I don't know how well that works though.

[TheBALDpuma]

SonicShadow said:

There aren't many aftermarket Android Auto units at the moment. There's a Kenwood one which is ~£500, a Sony one at ~£425.

Apparently Android Auto is now works as a standalone app, so an MHL compatible phone and stereo (I think the DA120 does have that) would let you mirror the phone screen onto the stereo. I don't know how well that works though.

Reviews of the standalone app are better than the radio one above that's for sure.

How can I check if the da120 I'd compatible? - I'm not sure what MHL is?

ETA: Is it the cable out the back? I'm pretty ure to connect for AppRadio you need to use an MHL/HDMI Cable (it asks for a specific pioneer one but I assume any would work...?) is this all I need to use it with Android Auto too?

Thanks for all your help btw!

Edited by TheBALDpuma on Friday 25th November 19:17

[kingston12]

I'd agree that it is best to leave this alone if you use Android. I love mine, but that is just based on the functionally of the iPhone. I have experimented a bit with the AppRadio OS and it is pretty horrible

[Ray Singh]

I have one in my Boxster S. I wish it wasnt there and that the car had the original Becker CD player.

Its a pain in the ar5e and once the car is machanically sorted, I will ask a auto electritian to get rid of this once I can afford it.

[kingston12]

It must be a pain to have something like this in there if you are a CD user.

I found the opposite, but then I don't like CDs in the car and the PCM2.1 in my 987 felt much more dated than the CDR24 units in a way because the user interface was so unintuitive it was better to have the standard unit instead.

I'll still keep hold of the PCM2.1 in case I ever sell the car, but the only other way the Pioneer will be removed from mine is if an improved version is released with a better screen etc.