I know exactly what I want.. is it doable?

**arcooke** · 03-14-2011, 02:55 PM

I found myself looking through a dizzying array of big-name head units. Each of them with some kind of problem or limitation, be it bluetooth issues, missing features, slow UIs, etc. Maybe it's time to look into custom stuff.

Here's what I have:
- 2010 Dodge Challenger, stock basic double-din stereo
- Infinity 5-ch amp (4x door speakers, 1x subwoofer) - not yet installed
- 1x 10" subwoofer - not yet installed

Here are the features I definitely want:
- Bluetooth (audo streaming/phone calls)
- Radio
- Touchscreen display
- AUX input
- Needs to start up quickly.. I don't want to have to wait 20-30 seconds for my radio to turn on because the OS is booting up.

This is a wishlist, but not necessarily required:
- HD radio
- HDMI input for video streaming from my Android phone
- Playback of popular video formats (XViD/DiVX/etc)
- Local file storage for audio/video
- Wifi / Internet browsing
- Back-up camera (don't currently have one but would like to eventually install one.. the visibility in my Challenger is awful)

This is what I DON'T need:
- ipod support
- Internal amplifier (already have a 5-ch amp)
- CD/DVD player

Being completely new to all of this.. is such a setup doable? If so, what kind ballpark price range would I be looking at for something like this? If it's in the thousands, I might as well just go back to looking at regular old brand name stereos. I realize this can vary greatly depending on hardware. Pretty much looking for a rough estimate on the low end and the high end.

Thanks!

**PhilG** · 03-14-2011, 03:50 PM

-Reliable Bluetooth is hit and miss. the only surefire solution that I know of that integrates well are the Parrot products. You may get lucky though and your setup may work perfect.
-I have no experience with terrestrial radio tuners so someone else will have to give you their experience. i use only Satellite radio
-touchscreen is a piece of cake, no significant issues other than sunlight washout and more $$$ spent on the screen can fix that if you choose to.
-Aux input - no issue, easily done
-HDMI is easy to do but I have no experience with streaming Android.
-Playback of video formats is no problem
-Local file storage- the skies the limit
-WiFI easily done
-The other three are doable but you do not need anyways.

**travis1581** · 03-14-2011, 04:10 PM

With sleep mode and an SSD (For lower power consumption) my PC resumes in 3 seconds. Cold boots in 25.

As far as radio reception, this has been my second conquest (MP3 player was the first). I purchased a silabs usb radio. The biggest problem is the reception. It works pretty close to flawlessly when the car is parked. I have been working on this off and on (I am a college student) for the past two months with no reliable reception method. However, Im just starting and there are people on here a lot more experienced than I.

**soundman98** · 03-14-2011, 07:44 PM

i vote for you to get a regular head unit.

my carpc has cost in the ballpark of around $1.5k now..

i guess if you shop really, really carefully, yo can find hardware for cheaper...

**travis1581** · 03-14-2011, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by soundman98

i vote for you to get a regular head unit.

my carpc has cost in the ballpark of around $1.5k now..

i guess if you shop really, really carefully, yo can find hardware for cheaper...

It really depends. I have $800 into mine so far and that includes 4 decent speakers, a 5 channel amp, a sub, computer and touchscreen monitor. Granted, I had a lot of the computer parts just laying around. It should really come down to do you have the time to do it and is it something that will keep you interested.

**PhilG** · 03-15-2011, 10:15 AM

^^^agreed. If you just want the end product and will not enjoy "the ride" getting there (or don't have the time), a head unit will be your better choice.

**arcooke** · 03-15-2011, 10:35 AM

Yeah I think you guys are right. If I had the extra cash laying around, I'd definitely go the car pc route. I do a lot of tinkering with this kind of stuff, and do enjoy it. I built a HTPC at home, which is kind of in the same league as this I guess.. and it definitely isn't cheap. Not really sure why I expected this to be any cheaper.

I'm just getting really sick of reading shoddy reviews on just about every sub-$1000 double din head unit.. and companies leaving out inexpensive features (like bluetooth/HD radio), then turning around and charging $200 for the add-on part.

**PhilG** · 03-15-2011, 12:56 PM

And their BT does not always work any better than our solutions. I did an install on a 03 Ford Superduty a couple of months back with a DDin JVC adding on the BT module. Lets just say the BT did not perform well with the BB Curve. So there are no guarantees that a "preboxed" solution will work either. I had an Alpine DDin with Blackbird which has BT. It wouldn't work with my BB World Edition. All I can say is on the subject of BT; anything by Parrot works!