CarPlay Wireless CarPlay Head Unit Recommendations

[Juicy Box]

Looking to get a Wireless CarPlay head unit, and was hoping to have some recommendations.

Prefer double DIN, but could be single DIN for a floating display.
Would really like it to have a volume knob.
If no volume knob, prefer physical buttons over touch buttons.
I want quality audio.
Flexible on a higher price if I feel there is value added.


The last time I did head unit shopping was when I purchased two of the original after market CarPlay head units back in 2015, and a lot has changed since then.

I tried the very first aftermarket head unit with CarPlay for my wife's 2015 Mazda5, which was from Pioneer. While I got a killer deal on it, the head unit was ugly, buggy, slow, didn't have a volume knob and eventually broke, which makes me a little hesitant to try Pioneer again.

I also bought the Alpine iLX-007 (first CarPlay by Alpine) for one of my cars, and it looked okay, but I could never get the audio sounding right. I even bought the stupid TuneIt app that was supposed to allow better tuning (why not just include it on the head unit, Alpine?), but the app was pointless, I ended up returning it and sticking with a cheap JVC that sounded so much better than the Alpine. Oh yeah, I think the iLX-007 didn't have a volume knob.

So, now looking at the options, and it looks like there are over a hundred different CarPlay options now, so it is pretty overwhelming.

Anyone have a recommendation?

 

[StaceyMJ86]

Looking to get a Wireless CarPlay head unit, and was hoping to have some recommendations.

Prefer double DIN, but could be single DIN for a floating display.
Would really like it to have a volume knob.
If no volume knob, prefer physical buttons over touch buttons.
I want quality audio.
Flexible on a higher price if I feel there is value added.


The last time I did head unit shopping was when I purchased two of the original after market CarPlay head units back in 2015, and a lot has changed since then.

I tried the very first aftermarket head unit with CarPlay for my wife's 2015 Mazda5, which was from Pioneer. While I got a killer deal on it, the head unit was ugly, buggy, slow, didn't have a volume knob and eventually broke, which makes me a little hesitant to try Pioneer again.

I also bought the Alpine iLX-007 (first CarPlay by Alpine) for one of my cars, and it looked okay, but I could never get the audio sounding right. I even bought the stupid TuneIt app that was supposed to allow better tuning (why not just include it on the head unit, Alpine?), but the app was pointless, I ended up returning it and sticking with a cheap JVC that sounded so much better than the Alpine. Oh yeah, I think the iLX-007 didn't have a volume knob.

So, now looking at the options, and it looks like there are over a hundred different CarPlay options now, so it is pretty overwhelming.

Anyone have a recommendation?

I use Kenwood in the past and was pretty happy with them. I don’t know if Best Buy still do this, but I had purchased their $99 installation package for my CarPlay head unit , and that was all I paid, even though it took them a couple of hours to install. I know some places charge a labor fee by the hour, so I was happy with Best Buy’s fee. It’s been a while, but I also had purchased certain cables to be able to watch movies on my head unit, which came in handy with my kids when traveling.

 

[Juicy Box]

I am looking at a few head units right now:

Alpine iLX-507, $649 at BB and CF:

Alpine iLX-507

Digital multimedia receiver (does not play discs)

www.crutchfield.com

While it doesn't come with a volume knob, the Alpine has a wireless volume knob accessory for the iLX-507 that can be installed anywhere, and it can adjust the subwoofer volume separately as well. Of course, the knob would make an already pricey head unit more expensive. There are physical buttons, and ones that can be easily identified by touch. Kind of subjective, but the buttons look kind of tacky, although I prefer the practically over the looks. The Alpine also has a really nice HD display on it, and is the biggest of the three, which alone could justify the higher cost. Then again, the built-in amp RMS is rated lower than much of the competition, which might be a problem for my use case. If it wasn't for the price and the RMS, this would be the one to go for, imo.


JVC KW-M785BW, $399 at BB and CF:

JVC KW-M785BW

Digital multimedia receiver (does not play discs)

www.crutchfield.com

The JVC is currently on sale at Best Buy, and about half the price of the Alpine if I got an open box. I am unsure if the wiring harness connector is the same as the JVC that it would be replacing, but if so, it could be a plug and play scenario which would be nice. It is the cleanest looking head unit out of the three. Downside being no volume knob, and it appears to have touch buttons rather than physical buttons. It does have the highest RMS, which is a big plus for my application. Overall, a nice head unit for the price it seems.


Sony XAV-AX4000, $498 at BB and CF:

Sony XAV-AX4000

Digital multimedia receiver (does not play discs)

www.crutchfield.com

The Sony might be the best looking out of the three, but at the same time it looks like it has huge bezels. The display is bigger than the JVC, but for some reason the Sony's bezels look huge. No volume knob, but it does has physical buttons, and while they would be better than touch buttons, I think feeling which button is which without looking at it might be a problem. The buttons themselves look nicer than the ones on the Alpine, imo. The Sony's built-in amp has the highest peak, and middle for RMS, which would be good for my use case. The biggest problem with the Sony the price. It is only $150 less than the overall, much better Alpine.


I am leaning towards the Alpine, but still open to suggestions.

I use Kenwood in the past and was pretty happy with them.

Was it a Wireless CarPlay head unit? If so, how was the connection, did it drop often? not connect sometimes? or take a really long time to do the initial connection?

I currently use an older Kenwood in one of my vehicles, the head unit is 20 years old, but still sounds okay.

The problems with the current Kenwood selection (at least what I have researched) is that there no options of Kenwood Wireless CarPlay head units with a volume button under $1300, and the cheapest one with physical buttons is more expensive than the Alpine iLX-507.

I don’t know if Best Buy still do this, but I had purchased their $99 installation package for my CarPlay head unit , and that was all I paid, even though it took them a couple of hours to install.

Thanks, I know about the Best Buy install deals that they sometimes offer, but in my specific use case, I wouldn't take advantage of the install deal.

I am doing the install myself because I'd rather not have people messing with the particular vehicle that I am planning on getting the Wireless CarPlay head unit for.

 

[StaceyMJ86]

I am looking at a few head units right now:

Alpine iLX-507, $649 at BB and CF:

Alpine iLX-507

Digital multimedia receiver (does not play discs)

www.crutchfield.com

While it doesn't come with a volume knob, the Alpine has a wireless volume knob accessory for the iLX-507 that can be installed anywhere, and it can adjust the subwoofer volume separately as well. Of course, the knob would make an already pricey head unit more expensive. There are physical buttons, and ones that can be easily identified by touch. Kind of subjective, but the buttons look kind of tacky, although I prefer the practically over the looks. The Alpine also has a really nice HD display on it, and is the biggest of the three, which alone could justify the higher cost. Then again, the built-in amp RMS is rated lower than much of the competition, which might be a problem for my use case. If it wasn't for the price and the RMS, this would be the one to go for, imo.


JVC KW-M785BW, $399 at BB and CF:

JVC KW-M785BW

Digital multimedia receiver (does not play discs)

www.crutchfield.com

The JVC is currently on sale at Best Buy, and about half the price of the Alpine if I got an open box. I am unsure if the wiring harness connector is the same as the JVC that it would be replacing, but if so, it could be a plug and play scenario which would be nice. It is the cleanest looking head unit out of the three. Downside being no volume knob, and it appears to have touch buttons rather than physical buttons. It does have the highest RMS, which is a big plus for my application. Overall, a nice head unit for the price it seems.


Sony XAV-AX4000, $498 at BB and CF:

Sony XAV-AX4000

Digital multimedia receiver (does not play discs)

www.crutchfield.com

The Sony might be the best looking out of the three, but at the same time it looks like it has huge bezels. The display is bigger than the JVC, but for some reason the Sony's bezels look huge. No volume knob, but it does has physical buttons, and while they would be better than touch buttons, I think feeling which button is which without looking at it might be a problem. The buttons themselves look nicer than the ones on the Alpine, imo. The Sony's built-in amp has the highest peak, and middle for RMS, which would be good for my use case. The biggest problem with the Sony the price. It is only $150 less than the overall, much better Alpine.


I am leaning towards the Alpine, but still open to suggestions.


Was it a Wireless CarPlay head unit? If so, how was the connection, did it drop often? not connect sometimes? or take a really long time to do the initial connection?

I currently use an older Kenwood in one of my vehicles, the head unit is 20 years old, but still sounds okay.

The problems with the current Kenwood selection (at least what I have researched) is that there no options of Kenwood Wireless CarPlay head units with a volume button under $1300, and the cheapest one with physical buttons is more expensive than the Alpine iLX-507.


Thanks, I know about the Best Buy install deals that they sometimes offer, but in my specific use case, I wouldn't take advantage of the install deal.

I am doing the install myself because I'd rather not have people messing with the particular vehicle that I am planning on getting the Wireless CarPlay head unit for.

No the Kenwood model I had wasn’t wireless. I use an adapter now with my native Apple CarPlay to have wireless CarPlay. I only let Best Buy install it because as a woman who didn’t know what I was doing, I didn’t trust myself to do it, and still be able to keep the steering wheel controls and back up camera. It lasted me the 5 years I had it until I traded the vehicle in.

 

[Juicy Box]

I decided to try the Alpine iLX-507. The main disadvantage to it compared to the others I was looking was the low 16 Watt RMS, so due to this I decided to buy an amp for the front and rear speakers.

I had a very old Pioneer amp already installed for the front and rear speakers, but recently pulled the amp as I wasn't liking the location of it, and ran the speakers directly to the old head unit (the sound quality was reduced).

Originally, I wanted to run the speakers directly to the new head unit to avoid needing a separate amp, but really like the Alpine (besides the low RMS) so decided to get a new amp to go with the new head unit, and moved the amp location to a hidden location.

Now the bad news. I bought the amp from Best Buy, it was delivered a little more than a weak ago, and I went to install it last night, found it it is missing the main harness and some other things. I am thinking it was an open box that BB was selling as new.

Sucks....

This is the first purchase I made since I was quietly boycotting them for stop selling Blu-ray's, and this happened. I probably should have just gone with Crutchfield.

 

[StaceyMJ86]

I decided to try the Alpine iLX-507. The main disadvantage to it compared to the others I was looking was the low 16 Watt RMS, so due to this I decided to buy an amp for the front and rear speakers.

I had a very old Pioneer amp already installed for the front and rear speakers, but recently pulled the amp as I wasn't liking the location of it, and ran the speakers directly to the old head unit (the sound quality was reduced).

Originally, I wanted to run the speakers directly to the new head unit to avoid needing a separate amp, but really like the Alpine (besides the low RMS) so decided to get a new amp to go with the new head unit, and moved the amp location to a hidden location.

Now the bad news. I bought the amp from Best Buy, it was delivered a little more than a weak ago, and I went to install it last night, found it it is missing the main harness and some other things. I am thinking it was an open box that BB was selling as new.

Sucks....

This is the first purchase I made since I was quietly boycotting them for stop selling Blu-ray's, and this happened. I probably should have just gone with Crutchfield.

That sucks. I hope you’re able to get it sorted out.