Hey,
Ive been looking to hook my android phone (galaxy s2) to my 2005 S2K to use as a media player. Theres a whole world of Ipod compat head units out there, but when you look for something that is more generic without just being a line in jack it gets a bit harder.

Does anyone have any experience of a good but reasonably priced (Im not an audiophile, and I suspect given the road noise the subtleties are a bit academic anyway!) head unit that can do many (ideally all) of the following:

1. Integrate with dash controls
2. Play direct from android smartphone via usb
3. Charge device via usb (and without getting some hum on the audio)
4. Allow playing by genre/playlist etc
5. (Nice to have) Can play from sdhc card directly (ie plug in a sdhc rather than connect a smartphone)

Any advice gratefully received,
Larn

 

I was using one of these http://www.amazon.com/Clarion-FZ709-.../dp/B001OQEBZ4 until I recently decided to remove all of the stereo components - you need the modifry harness to use the factory controls but it works very well has a usb cable out the back you can route under the center console. It will charge and play music. If you want it to stream audio like pandora or turn by turn nav use the bluetooth audio connection. Also make sure the connector harness is short as possible there is not alot of space back there.

 

Of course. There's no standard Android interface as there is with the iPods/iPhones and not all Android devices have the same capabilities. AVRCP is about as good as it gets for controlling your device from the head unit/audio controls, IIRC.

Are you looking for all audio or support for media on your memory card? Quite often people use what you're saying to mean either or both. Some head units only support reading the memory card as a mass storage device allowing you to play what you have stored there.

You need the DCI. A harness is just wires and connectors. The DCI actually interfaces the head unit with the audio controls.

Specify your budget. "Reasonably priced" is highly subjective and meaningless if you don't qualify what you mean. Never assume that your preferences are universal.

I'd suggest asking in a better suited forum for people interested in using a head unit with Android devices. You're really limiting the responses you'll get by asking here.

 

I was also in this situation awhile back. This is a hard solution since iphones are a standard platform and androids vary by manufacture. The problem with android phones are the file structure is different on every phone. some phones allow you to mount the SD card and not charge, and some will only charge and not mount the SD card. I found that all usb ports on the decks don't charge the phone even though it says charging. There is not enough power through that USB port on the deck. So my setup is:

Deck: Alpine CDA117
Addons:
-Alpine KCE-400BT bluetooth adapter
-Modifry Dash controls

Phone: Samsung Galaxy S
Charger: Rocketfish Micro USB charger
Music App: Doubletwist

I connect my phone through bluetooth to the deck and it will be able to play all the music that doubletwist recognizes as songs (no ringtones thank god). I can use all my dash controls as if I was listenin to a cd (volume +/-, next/prev track, mute). I can pick up my phone and browse the music and select playlists if i needed to. The phone is charged by a standard phone car charger. 0 humming. When my S is back i'll post a picture/video for you.

1. Integrate with dash controls - modifry adapter
2. Play direct from android smartphone via usb - possible with some phones
3. Charge device via usb (and without getting some hum on the audio) - if you play music, it will drain your battery slower even though it says its charging.
4. Allow playing by genre/playlist etc - not possible due to file structure system.
5. (Nice to have) Can play from sdhc card directly (ie plug in a sdhc rather than connect a smartphone) - most decks have a USB port and you throw all your music on a thumb drive and you can browse through there. Play lists are created by creating folders and throwing the songs in the playlist in that folder.

 

http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/cde-133bt
http://modifry.com/products/dci/buy.htm (buy the wired with the PnP adapter (no svc)

very reasonable price and will do the same thing that i'm doing.

 

Great - thanks a lot for the response. That gives me a lot more to work with and investigate