Hey guys,

I am looking for an upgrade for my 2006 Acura TL w/ Navi. I am planning on keeping the stock stereo system, but add on a pair of subwoofers as well. I was looking for your guys' advice as to what GPS system I should get to replace my stock stereo. If there are any things that I should know before getting involved in this project please let me know. I would definitely have a professional install it for me, since I don't trust myself enough to do that. Here are some of the features that I am looking for in the new radio, preferably in the budget range of $200-300:
Note: I have an Android phone if that makes any sort of a difference

- The ability to change songs with the steering wheel controls.
- Some sort of Spotify integration (be able to see the song name, artwork, etc.)
- A wired connection between my phone and the stereo (Bluetooth has never worked on my phone for whatever reason)
- While this is not required, it would be a huge help: See the speed limit of whatever road I'm on on the nav system
- If possible, the ability to use the HFL controls on the steering wheel with my phone through the new system

A couple options I was considering were the Jensen VX7020 and the Kenwood DDX373BT. It's hard to find any professionally done reviews for units in this price range, so I figured I would come to the experts for help. Thanks!

 

from what i see the kenwood doesn't have gps, the jensen one looks to be a pretty good deal. if you plan to use satellite radio though, i hear it's abosultely horrible to change the station. they say you have to go into lists, channels, and then change the station, it's not a simple touch the button and it changes. pretty dumb if you ask me, but other than that it looks like a great deal.

my navigation acted up and pretty much is useless from about two years ago. i ended up buying a dash mounted garmin and it's worked pretty well. lately i got tired of it not looking oem and researched navigation based double dins. i found the pioneer 5200nex to be the best deal mostly because you can tie your phone into it and actually use the screen to control your phone (unlike mirroring which just shows what's on your phone and the screen is non usable...i hate using my small phone screen). they had a rebate recently and i found a local shop that could get down to $500, but now i think it's back up to about 700.

people suggested the higher version kenwoods with gps but they were out of my price range and i still found the pioneer 5200nex to be the best overall value. the jensen one looks like a good deal but read the reviews on amazon and crutchfield to see why it's so cheap. the xm switching station issue would deter me from buying it since i use xm a lot.

i ended up skipping the double din for other reasons (my audio system if very sensitive and lots of background noise...i wasn't getting clean sound from the double din that i temporarily setup in my car), but there is a foztech/krankitup kit that will allow you to mount the double din. you can also use the oem brackets but i read it's a tighter fit and you can't use all the mounting locations so it's up to you. also make sure you get a steering wheel control module while you're in there.

good luck and keep us updated!!

my current setup:

 

Thank you for the reply sockr1! I am definitely considering getting a portable GPS instead of messing around with the stock system. I actually found a kit from a company called Grom Audio, who I had never heard of before. Apparently in the time since I bought my car and when I started looking this second time, they made an adapter that does everything I was looking for. Here's the link: Honda Acura 03+ USB Android iPod Bluetooth AUX adapter
They sell the Bluetooth and auxiliary inputs as separate expansions, but I will be getting both of them just to test it out. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get it installed as I'll be going off to school this week, but I will definitely keep you guys in the loop, and let you know how I like it.

 

That device looks good but that doesn't you much that you already have or could get with an isimple and HFL fix. i have a isimple routed that is connected to an ipod 24/7. i get track info on the screen and can change songs using the steering wheel controls or the stereo itself. i put all the songs on my ipod and then i put it away in the center console and never have to look at it again.

my HFL was repaired recently by Godin technologies.

if i were you i'd get my HFL repaired for $45 and buy an isimple. all that together you're looking at maybe $130 or so and it will be a much cleaner interface since you are using mostly oem items (steering wheel and bluetooth mic)

 

for about $250-$300 you can get a used Nexus 7 2013 tablet, usb dac, and a grom audio aux input or something similar.. you'll get access to google maps plus all the apps.. all you need a phone and a plan that allows you to share your wifi hotspot


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^^ the main reasons i didn't go the nexus route is that there were a lot of bugs that were still being worked out (i'm not too familiar with the android environment) and i wouldn't be able to use my rear camera. i use that thing all the time and there's no way to use the oem camera with the nexus setup.

the other reason was that i have no idea how to create a hot spot and don't think my family plan allows that but i'm not sure.

the camera was the big kicker for me.

 

dont know which bugs your referring to but ive had my nexus car tablet for a little over 2 years and i havent had much problems with it... the only time it ran out of battery was when i was out of the country for a month and a half and car wasnt being used... but all i had to do was plug my power bank up and charge it up and it was good to go..
as far as the hotspot goes, you dont necessarily create a hotspot. You litterally just flip a switch on your phone that enables it
but if you need the oem backup camera then yeah this probably isnt the best route for you. ive got a 05 model so i never had a oem backup cam to start with

 

Since I had a backup camera installed last year, I wonder how the hell I ever got along without it.
.
.

 

this!!!

been using my backup camera since 2008 and now i'll make sure every car i own from now on has one (plus i think it's being made mandatory soon).

someone almost had a solution for the camera integrating into the nexus...until then it's not for me

 

Something like this?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CjB...ature=youtu.be

 

no, it's easy to integrate with an aftermarket camera. it's getting it integrated with the oem camera that is the hard part. i don't want to uninstall my oem camera, rewire, and mount a new one for the same result.

 

Edit by Administrator Ron A:

This thread/post has been edited since it was posted in the wrong forum, and also because you are not eligible to post a thread in the Black Market Forum yet.

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any update OP? my HFL just went out for the 2nd time (first time i fixed it for $45) so i'm thinking i either need a new HFL or just bite the bullet and put in a double din