CES 2021: Pioneer Introduces Wireless CarPlay Receiver With Modular Design for Flexible Installation

[JonBOY26]

My car is from 2008 and I've been interested in replacing the factory double-din head unit with one that supports CarPlay, but I've been holding off because most CarPlay head units still required the iPhone to be plugged in.

Ideally, I'd like a wireless charging stand/mount that I can conveniently magnetically drop my phone onto (and easily grab it off when I leave the car) and a wireless CarPlay connection for so that I don't even need to touch my phone to get access to my playlists and Waze navigation.

 

[ncc1701d]

What are the downsides with just installing an iPad? If you've got the space, it can send a bluetooth signal to a receiver which then goes to an amplifier. Heaps of different apps can control aircons, music, even tyre pressure sensors all sorts of things.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

I really like this. I got the older 1 din with slide out screen for my daughters MK2 Golf GTI which is really good. But it was deep and hard to fit with all the wires and DAB box etc.

still a very good solution for older cars.

 

[jakeuten]

My car is from 2008 and I've been interested in replacing the factory double-din head unit with one that supports CarPlay, but I've been holding off because most CarPlay head units still required the iPhone to be plugged in.

Ideally, I'd like a wireless charging stand/mount that I can conveniently magnetically drop my phone onto (and easily grab it off when I leave the car) and a wireless CarPlay connection for so that I don't even need to touch my phone to get access to my playlists and Waze navigation.

I went from using a Bluetooth cigarette lighter FM adapter to using a Kenwood CarPlay capable double din head unit in my 2009 Nissan Altima and I was a little nervous that I wouldn't like having to plug my phone in every time I got in the car but it quickly became second nature, plus I can get a bit of a trickle charge depending on how far I'm going. I'd say don't worry too much about it being wired. Also, both Spotify and Apple Music allow you to control playlists on the head unit or with Siri voice control, not sure about Waze as I use Apple Maps.

 

[SSDGUY]

Totally do it! Replacing the head unit in an old car makes SUCH a difference! And spring for the money to add a backup cam; again so worth it.

You can get good in-depth reviews of many head units here.

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Personally one thing I would concentrate on, which reviews often do not, is how good the screen is in terms of brightness, contrast, and glossy reflection. Too many screens are almost impossible to read when the sun is at the wrong angle of the sky.

Our Alltrack has the whole infotainment screen w/ backup cam and Apple car play, and it all works great, but the car's speaker design is lame. So a mere 3 band EQ doesn't afford much adjustment … some tracks sound pretty good, others are terrible. Lots of mud in the low and treble easily gets shrill. Typical of modern factory sound systems — that boom/hiss scooped sound w/ no real punch. Grrr. I"ll probably go for speaker upgrades first and see where that gets me.

 

[SSDGUY]

Yes, I will completely agree with you on that. And it's really difficult to replace them as they are integral to the operation of a lot of the cars. I guess one could figure our an alternate location for a new head unit and and amps. Then feed improved speakers in the factory locations.

Yes, that's the scenario with our Golf Alltrack, now that I think about it. Everything from milage to tire pressure warnings are integrated. I like this, in some respects, but the audio controls not so much. Hoping some speaker and maybe amp upgrades will help me tune the system better, such that I can run the head unit "flat".

 

[hwojtek]

It's nice to see this. I bet it works better than my iDrive 6 in my BMW with it's jacked up half screen CarPlay.
Sure wish BMW released software updates.......................................

A simple fix https://www.codemybimmer.ca/product/apple-carplay-fullscreen-add-on/

 

[cyb3rdud3]

It's nice to see this. I bet it works better than my iDrive 6 in my BMW with it's jacked up half screen CarPlay.
Sure wish BMW released software updates.......................................

I don’t mind it in our BMW M2. It’s nice and I used the split screen to show the connected drive weather next to CarPlay. For me it is actually 2/3 apple CarPlay and 1/3 connected drive. Also nice to use the excellent built in navigation whilst having Apple Music display on the side.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Yes, that's the scenario with our Golf Alltrack, now that I think about it. Everything from milage to tire pressure warnings are integrated. I like this, in some respects, but the audio controls not so much. Hoping some speaker and maybe amp upgrades will help me tune the system better, such that I can run the head unit "flat".

Sorting the acoustics with some sound deadening material behind the speakers will do wonders for the existing system. And even drop on replacement speakers if you have the basic system opposed to dynaudio.

 

[routine_analyst]

I don’t mind it in our BMW M2. It’s nice and I used the split screen to show the connected drive weather next to CarPlay. For me it is actually 2/3 apple CarPlay and 1/3 connected drive. Also nice to use the excellent built in navigation whilst having Apple Music display on the side.

Your M2 has a smaller screen. You have approx 8.5 and my vehicle is a 10.5. It looks ridiculous.

 

[cyb3rdud3]

Your M2 has a smaller screen. You have approx 8.5 and my vehicle is a 10.5. It looks ridiculous.

Actually the F87 has a 8.8” screen and if you have the 10” it is a 10.25”. Both have the same resolution

I guess bigger isn’t alway better then 🤣 It is clearly 2/3 and 1/3. But if it bothers you and you don’t like split screen then as linked above there is an easy “fix” to resolve that.

 

[SSDGUY]

Sorting the acoustics with some sound deadening material behind the speakers will do wonders for the existing system. And even drop on replacement speakers if you have the basic system opposed to dynaudio.

True. I have done that in the past. Before I crack open the door panels on this VW, which is not so easy, so I've read, I'll probably upgrade components plus drop in some deadening material.

 

[subi257]

Yes, that's the scenario with our Golf Alltrack, now that I think about it. Everything from milage to tire pressure warnings are integrated. I like this, in some respects, but the audio controls not so much. Hoping some speaker and maybe amp upgrades will help me tune the system better, such that I can run the head unit "flat".

I was remembering the days when breaking windows and stealing head units was a thing....leave a POS head unit in the dash and the put a good one mounted in the glove box. Do the modern equivalent.

 

[york2600]

What complete and utter nonsense.

If it's over 100 outside mine will crash and refuse to ever start up until the car has been cool inside for about 20 minutes. When trying to eject CDs the head unit occasionally just stops responding and won't move forcing you to turn the car off/on. Carplay audio routing often doesn't work until you plug and unplug the phone a few times to force it to start carplay on the head unit a few times. It throws errors at least a few times a week that requires you to actually turn the car off and on to fix. The thing is junk. I have a Volvo with their built-in Carplay and it works flawlessly, but this head unit is just trash. The most annoying part is you can update the software on the thing, but they don't release software updates to fix the problems. They got my money once, but never again.