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Author Topic: double din head unit options  (Read 5047 times)

Offline bradh

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double din head unit options
« on: December 17, 2016, 05:45:35 pm »
hi guys im looking for surgestions for new double din head unit set up for my golf iv a list of things id like :

dab, bluetooth, sat nav,

also id like to stay vw branding too what models would you guys recommend ??

Offline AJP

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Re: double din head unit options
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2016, 06:26:18 pm »
You'll be wanting an RNS510DAB. Although it's a good unit I think there are more modern options now. I'm sure someone properly clued-up will confirm the latest units.

Can't go wrong with a 510 though. They're getting much cheaper now. Apparently they're not great in terms of pure sound quality - you'll need to go aftermarket if you want that out of the box - but I'm pretty sure you can get around it by fitting the 510 with an amplifier and/or signal processor.

Edit.. I didn't read your post properly (I'm good at that). If you want brand new it's a minefield. And from what I've found, for anything that's really worth having you'll be getting your hand in your pocket. There are some budget Chinese Android units that get decent reviews but I'm not sure how long they continue functioning well. And then you can spend over a grand for the likes of an Alpine or Pioneer with all the toys.

I'm personally edging towards a used RNS510 or similar and getting it amped up with good speakers. One advantage of the VW units is having all the nav/track info on the MFD and full function with a MFSW. Whatever way you look at it, doing a proper install aint cheap
« Last Edit: December 17, 2016, 06:44:06 pm by AJP »

Offline bradh

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Re: double din head unit options
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2016, 07:12:51 pm »
yes i should of made it clear new to me ;)

thanks for your reply see im looking at fitting high line clocks into mine so having the info pop up on the dash would be very welcome ill go see what i can find on ebay now :)

cheers brad

Offline AJP

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Re: double din head unit options
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2016, 07:44:15 pm »
yes i should of made it clear new to me ;)

thanks for your reply see im looking at fitting high line clocks into mine so having the info pop up on the dash would be very welcome ill go see what i can find on ebay now :)

cheers brad
Let us know what you find. I like the idea of an Android unit because you can link it to the OBD port and get live readouts for boost, temps, fuelling etc by installing the Torque Pro app on the headunit. So like Polar FIS but displayed on 'virtual' gauges on the big screen rather than the Highline.

But then there's the OEM integration with the Highline display you'd get with a VW unit, and of course Polar would take advantage of Highline.

There's much more to it all these days. Modern headunits can do so many different things that finding one that does them all, and does them well, is going to be an expensive job. So maybe it's a case of deciding what you can live without, what you really want, and narrowing down the options from there.

Offline bradh

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Re: double din head unit options
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2016, 07:52:59 pm »
polar fis whats that then new to me??

yes the andriod systems do look appealing and prices quite well too iv got a pioneer double din sat sav set up just removed from my audi was going to fit this but id like something more oe

Offline AJP

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Re: double din head unit options
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2016, 08:51:20 pm »
polar fis whats that then new to me??

yes the andriod systems do look appealing and prices quite well too iv got a pioneer double din sat sav set up just removed from my audi was going to fit this but id like something more oe
It's an aftermarket module that displays all that info I mentioned - boost, fuelling etc on the Highline. Very handy if you're tuned and like to keep an eye on certain things.

Offline rolexmk5

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Re: double din head unit options
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2016, 09:51:14 am »
I fitted a RNS315 in my MK5
they come with different spec
but you can get then with bluetooth DAB satnav and sd card
will play music from phone/sd card/cd/cd changer/DAB/FM and my cd muti changer
all i needed was a newer can bus module to stop battery drain
fit oem mic a £5 satnav aerial  and dab aerial

Offline bradh

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Re: double din head unit options
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2016, 04:02:38 pm »
Ok thanks guys see what i can find for sale now roughly how much should i be paying approx

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Offline rolexmk5

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Re: double din head unit options
« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2016, 08:49:24 am »
I paid £260 for my RNS315
good price i thought as it was a straight swap
and i got
satnav
dab
sd card reader
bluetooth

Offline coolhandluke

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Re: double din head unit options
« Reply #9 on: December 20, 2016, 02:23:00 pm »
I paid £260 for my RNS315
good price i thought as it was a straight swap
and i got
satnav
dab
sd card reader
bluetooth
What does the RNS510 do that the RNS315 doesn't ?
Does the 315 integrate with the hi line also?

Offline Pashka

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Re: double din head unit options
« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2016, 09:01:26 am »
I paid £260 for my RNS315
good price i thought as it was a straight swap
and i got
satnav
dab
sd card reader
bluetooth
What does the RNS510 do that the RNS315 doesn't ?
Does the 315 integrate with the hi line also?
510 has DVD playback, bigger screen, internal hard drive. Main differents. 510 also can play rear camera and ops pdc on the same time.
06 1.9 TDI Owner. Retrofits: Bixenons, Drls, Full GT/GTI exterior, RNS510+MDI+Premium Bluetooth+RVC+OPS, Full Fis, MFSW, Cruise control, TPMS, Polar Fis, Boot pop up and more.. :)
Coding, diagnostic and retrofits in Leeds
Pre coded Can Gateways for battery drain issues with RNS510 and similar headunits
Premium Bluetooth modules/kit
RNS510 Service - codes, maps/firmware updates
Latest V8 West EU maps update service for RNS315

Offline pudding

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Re: double din head unit options
« Reply #11 on: December 21, 2016, 11:55:29 am »
Ok thanks guys see what i can find for sale now roughly how much should i be paying approx

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You'll need at least £500 for a decent RNS510.  The later the revision, the better.  Preferably an 'R' or higher which has an SSD hard drive.  The physical disk units are slow to boot up.   You'll need to add Bluetooth and mdi modules to that if you want full connectivity.  At that point you're well on your way to a Kenwood DNX525DAB, which is vastly superior in all respects.


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Offline bradh

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Re: double din head unit options
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2016, 11:57:49 am »
Funny you should mention the price .... been looking and theu do seem exspensive so iv decieded to put my pioneer unit in that i removed from my audi it does everything i need it to do


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Offline pudding

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Re: double din head unit options
« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2016, 01:38:12 pm »
It will certainly sound a lot better than the VW radios, so good choice  :smiley:


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Offline rolexmk5

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Re: double din head unit options
« Reply #14 on: February 27, 2017, 04:16:30 pm »
dont you also need a separate box for bluetooth with the 510
the 315 has it all in one lump bluetooth (streams music ) dab sd card and satnav  but no dvd playback or usb