 | Home > In Car Electronics > Pioneer SPH-DA230DAB - best double din? |
 
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| pilsburypie Member Since: 19 Jul 2021 Location: Birmingham Posts: 176   
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I see there is a newer model…… Pioneer SPH-DA250DAB
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15th Dec 2021 2:38pm |
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| MichaelE Member Since: 18 Jan 2020 Location: Crawley West Sussex Posts: 155 
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I bought a Pioneer AVIC Z720DAB last year. One of my more expensive mistakes. I've had misc Pioneer stuff for decades. Home cinema amplifiers, dvd players etc. Always been happy and no problems.
I chose this Z720 for the satnav and twin camera inputs. I'm fully aware that car satnavs leave a lot to be desired when compared to Tom Tom [and maybe Garmin] dedicated stand alone units. I wanted some sort of satnav that I could use when I didn't have my Tom Tom with me, so it's there for when I get caught short. And yes, it does leave a lot to be desired. My main complaint with it though are a couple of other things. I fitted 2 reverse cameras. One points down and close at the rear step and corners, and the second gives a longer view. Switch between the 2 according to needs I thought. Not a chance. Switching between the 2 cameras is such an infuriating unfriendly illogical sh*t show involving going in to menus, sub menus, back to another menu and eventually the second camera will appear. And that's only if you have memorised the selections to make and where to find them. Or written them down somewhere and have it to hand. You have no chance of doing any of this if you're in a parking situation with other cars waiting for you to finish manoeuvring before they can get past. After selecting the second camera then turning it off when finished with, the screen defaults to a blank screen with a camera select button which does nothing so you have to go back through the menus to revert to the other camera. No guidance or instructions are provided on connecting 2 cameras, menus or anything for that matter. Absolute waste of time. My other complaint is the usability of the music navigation. No FF or RWD except dabbing on the progress bar which is too small to be of use when stationary let alone trying to do it while driving. The other basic actions like skipping tracks and moving to other albums don't exactly come easily either. The 7 pressable buttons have a tiny dark silver text on a dark grey background. Very difficult to see in daylight even with their illumination. So again, a memory job. It was described as having a removable fascia. This would lead you to believe that the whole front including screen comes off. It doesn't. Just the 3in x 1/2in button pad at the edge. So a thieving scumbag will probably not notice it missing in the dark until after he'd ripped the unit out and tried to sell it. There is no front USB input. It's on the rear so you have to acquire and find a place to fit a separate USB input somewhere It cost me around £550. I've had enough of it and when I find a suitable alternative it will be gone. And that's the problem. I can live without satnav but it's finding one with a good menu and camera selection function and being able to try it for myself first that will be the problem. I will also go for a less deep mechless one [no cd/dvd player] because it's a bit of a squeeze getting it in. Even then, you have to check the dimensions because there are a good number of mechless ones that have the same depth as standard. Last edited by MichaelE on 15th Dec 2021 9:38pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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15th Dec 2021 6:03pm |
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| pilsburypie Member Since: 19 Jul 2021 Location: Birmingham Posts: 176
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Oh dear. That does sound a PITA. Especially when spunking big bucks. That’s always my biggest fear of expensive purchases. Not having them live up to expectations.
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15th Dec 2021 8:58pm |
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| StephenO Member Since: 03 Dec 2010 Location: Glasgow Posts: 246 
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I fitted one of these to my last Discovery 3 it was a great bit of kit. With the defender you may require a speaker upgrade too, not sure 2007 Defender Puma Tonga Green 2015 Range Rover Sport Autobiography Corrie Grey 1968 Series 2a Bronze Green 1995 Defender 90 Coniston Green 2005 Discovery 3 Zambezi Silver |
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15th Dec 2021 11:14pm |
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| pilsburypie Member Since: 19 Jul 2021 Location: Birmingham Posts: 176
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Speakers in the front will be replaced. Back and sub already sorted.
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16th Dec 2021 7:35am |
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| Stacey007 Member Since: 25 Sep 2015 Location: Cheshire Posts: 3760
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I've had this just over 2 years and works well (or did I have amps etc plugged in and something recently has gone way wood..) I need to start looking at stuff to sort
 Click image to enlarge DAB+, reversing cmaera, Waze, BBC Sounds, AMazon music, reads texts, talk to it to send a message.. All good |
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16th Dec 2021 9:20am |
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| pilsburypie Member Since: 19 Jul 2021 Location: Birmingham Posts: 176
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Anyone fitted the JVC KW-M565DBT?
The pioneer one looks a bit better, but that is a full depth 170mm vs the JVC half depth of 75mm…. I know space is very tight when doing this double din conversion so the JVC has a big benefit in this sense. I just wonder what Pioneer have packed into the extra space or what JVC have omitted? |
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21st Dec 2021 4:39pm |
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| Bluericky Member Since: 26 Jun 2014 Location: Cornwall Posts: 647 
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I have a JVC in one defender and a pioneer in the other .
The JVC was a cinch to fit but the reflection off the screen is something terrible compared to the pioneer. The slightest bit of sun entering the car and I can barely see it ! Another plus for the pioneer is the volume buttons, neither are perfect as they require a delicate and precise touch, not conducive to driving a defender but the pioneer has the bigger more responsive feedback by far. If I could go back I would choose a model with a physical knob. I use both exclusively with CarPlay so have no opinion on satnav etc . Both have reverse cameras wired in and neither trumps the other in that respect . If I had the opportunity would I fit another double din ? .. no probably not, iPhones etc are so good now that I think I’d stick to a single din and save the cash !! https://www.instagram.com/hustynminepark/ |
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22nd Dec 2021 7:52am |
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| pilsburypie Member Since: 19 Jul 2021 Location: Birmingham Posts: 176
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Thanks for that. I know lots complain about volume control knobs.
Someone elsewhere mentioned the screen resolution of the JVC was poor. Do you notice this? |
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22nd Dec 2021 12:37pm |
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| MichaelE Member Since: 18 Jan 2020 Location: Crawley West Sussex Posts: 155
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I do believe that you can get matt film that you can cut to size and stick on |
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22nd Dec 2021 5:47pm |
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| Bluericky Member Since: 26 Jun 2014 Location: Cornwall Posts: 647
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That’s good to know and may help.
The resolution on the pioneer appears ever so slightly better but I wouldn’t say there’s a lot in it. One thing I forgot to say was that they both have appalling software or at least the visuals are. I’ve always found that odd. Presumably they are predominantly designed for use with CarPlay and the Android equivalent . https://www.instagram.com/hustynminepark/ |
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22nd Dec 2021 6:38pm |
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| pilsburypie Member Since: 19 Jul 2021 Location: Birmingham Posts: 176
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There’s another contender in the running…. KENWOOD DMX5020DABS. This apparently won the auto express Best Buy award. The beauty of this one is that it’s not very deep - similar to the JVC.
To be honest, I bet they’re all much of a muchness. Seeing as I’m considering an amp, I guess it’s just preference. It’s a pity there’s not a shop that has all of them lined up to play with. Saying the software and operating system is crap on the others isn’t surprising. We’ve been spoiled with iPhones and the likes for years. Anything else seems antiquated now. Pity Apple don’t make a head unit…. But that would be £2k! |
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22nd Dec 2021 7:39pm |
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