Double Din Touch Screen DVD/Navigation/iPod System (eBay Edition)

[toy_toronto]

Ok, I’ll start my mini-review bit by bit and will do it by mentioning the different features of this HU. Once again this unit runs a Windows CE based OS v6.0 and it has 128MB of memory. I consider this HU the newer generation compared to the older versions from china that have WinCE v5.0 64MB ram and a ‘clunky’ user interface. What I also liked about this specific unit is the high resolution LCD that does 800x480 unlike the older ones and other commercial head units that can only do 400x240.

Installation:
The installations was super simple. There’s a great tutorial stickied at the top that shows exactly how to swap out the Yaris HU (thanks to Slick’s DIY amp wire running and radio trim removal). The stock dash bezel opening is 200mm x 100mm, it’s perfect for the unit and no modification was needed. I used the same HU hardware brackets and mounting screws for the new HU. I just plugged in the supplied harness and cables into the existing connectors and radio antenna and it’s up and running. Tuck away the wires, screw in the HU and put all panels back.



I routed the USB and iPod cables under the dash and into the glove box… I couldn’t bring myself to drill any holes through. Btw, I leave my ipod nano plugged in the glove box and it charges automatically when the HU is on. I also just discovered that the USB cable can be used as a USB charger since it supplies +5V. It can charge my BT headset, iPhone, my son’s Nintendo DS, etc.. I hope this does not create a problem with the HU.

I mounted the gps antenna on top of the dashboard and not hidden underneath because I want to be certain that the satellite signals can be acquired quickly and easily by the gps.



Sound:
Though I've not yet logged many hours on this thing but for the short time I’ve had it and fiddled around with the treble/bass, I do find the sound VERY nice and it is clearly better than the stock HU the yaris had before. I keep repeating myself but It will take me a while before I can really comment in its overall performance or reliability – it does have tons of crazy features such as picture-in-picture (DVD and gps nav at same time, dual-zone display as in a remote LCD in backseat playing a movie while GPS nav running on main console LCD. It also has capabilities for a rear/backup camera, but you must buy the optional cam which you just plug into the rear of the HU camera input.

I’ll provide more comments later on… so stay tuned

-toy


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