New Head Unit (HU) Recommendations

[farrelltravis]

I am looking for some recommendations for a new head unit. I would mainly use the new head unit to connect an android phone (preferably via bluetooth) to play music.

BACKGROUND
The RCA cords coming out of my current head unit are not working. These RCA cords are what my 3.5mm aux input connect to. I am thinking that to fix this issue, I am going to have to replace the head unit. Here is the link for that "issue": https://jetboaters.net/threads/anyone-have-a-tip-to-clean-the-aux-port-for-music.3165/#post-105362

FEATURES I NEED/WANT
I need and/or want these features for a new head unit. Any recommendations?
- single din mount
- wired remote for the transom
- wireless RF remote that is waterproof (I loved @Detonate 's wireless remote - I saw his at Lake Murray)
- built in Bluetooth

Any recommendations for a new head unit that has these features???

 

[waterboy]

try Hodges Marine for a Fusion IP600. Smoking deal that comes with bluetooth and wired remote for about $260.

 

[farrelltravis]

Is there a RF remote that would work for Fusion IP600 also?

 

[betterwhenitswetter]

Bluetooth is compressed audio and is a down grade in sound quality that you can actually hear very easily. on BT everything sounds "cloudy/muffled", I have BT on my deck but will not use it! its that bad esp... at the power levels I run on my boat. Now for little pod speakers and hands free driving its ok. I would suggest BT is just another type of listening option to have not a primary, I use my iphone USB cable, or USB flash drive

 

[farrelltravis]

Hmmmm. I did not know that. In the boat, I have been having problems with the sound quality from a 3.5mm aux jack playing from my phone. In my car, I have bluetooth and the sound is excellent (in my not so educated opinion).

 

[Bruce]

If you buy a Fusion 700 or the even newer model I believe you can control it from your phone wirelessly. I am happy to swim over to the swim deck to adjust the volume on my IP600.

Bluetooth compression and loss varies by version of the protocol and what is negotiated between the player and receiver. I have switched to DLNA which is available for a similar cost.

 

[betterwhenitswetter]

The loss is about the same almost everyone uses Bluetooth profile "A2DP" (which is the audio compression algorithm where the loss is) just Google BT SQ loss shoot even apple posts the SQ loss in their information and apple forums and that's a big deal, and either version 3.0 or 4.0 (which is data speed) in terms of double speak they will try and tell you its better SQ infact its not its just transfer speed, I have both 3.0 & 4.0. I will not use them on my boat. I would rather flip over to HD radio vs BT in fact I don't even remember how to turn it on in my deck.

A2DP relies on Low Complexity Subband Coding (SBC) to squish the signal, but it can also use other codecs (coder-decoders or compressor-decompressors)

I didn't bring up the AUX cord, I choose the USB cable or flash drive carefully, besides have you check your AUX cord for damage or corrosion, I would get sweat in my AUX cables and ports on my apple shuffles all the time from working out, most of the time a new AUX cord fixed it thankfully, your Samsung has a USB cable. you will see when you get a BT and crank it, you will hear it.

DLNA is better for SQ or for us Apple peeps Airplay, but I prefer direct USB cable. Just food for thought don't put all your eggs in 1 basket. just have BT as an option.

I have a GM vehicle, sadly I don't have Bluetooth for music only for hands free, but even Bose uses paper cones for speaker material shoot when it rains hard I can hear speakers degrade a bit, your wetsounds are a much higher quality speaker than whas in your vehicle unless you have upgraded.

 

[waterboy]

If you want to talk sound quality, sorry about the hijack... you have to bring up mp3, ipod (AAC), etc. Add satellite radio to mix as well. All of those files types are so compressed (I don;t know the details off the top of my head but I do know they sound like crap). That's the way the industry is going to give everyone portable music. Give me my albums back or even CD's for that matter. I just got HD radio in my car and don;t know the details on that but it does sound pretty decent compared to the other sources.

I'm a bit of a sound snob but have given up. I don't have the time or the budget to seek perfection... so I just don;t turn it up anymore.

 

[Detonate]

Mine is a Clarion unit.

For what it's worth, they have several single din units, and of course the most excellent RF remote.

http://www.clarion.com/us/en/products-personal/marine/

I'm sure one of those would fit your needs....

 

[farrelltravis]

Thanks for the help!

It appears that Clarion kinda has market cornered with their RF remote. For the head unit, wire remote, and wireless remote, I am looking at around $500. That is a tough pill to swallow. But I sure did like your RF remote!!!

I was looking into the Kenwood units. I have seen @Jebinok 's Kenwood setup and like his too. But, with the Kenwoods, I don't think a wireless RF remote is possible. With a Kenwood head unit and wire remote, I looking at $220. But, I wouldn't get the wireless RF remote.

 

[Detonate]

The one thing to keep in mind with the RF remote, is that it's treated as wired remote.

Setup is stupid simple, since all you need to do is use a Y and plug into the same bus as the other wired remotes. But you do need to make sure that your head unit supports multiple wired remotes.

Was lucky that my head unit supported 3 wired remotes, because I have the RF Remote, Transom Wire Remote, and then the Tige Touch is considered a helm Wired remote.

 

[farrelltravis]

I really like the Kenwood setup for two reasons: 1 being price and 2 being that it supports Android bluetooth.

But, not having that RF remote is a bummer. The Kenwood can support multiple remotes. But, I don't see a compatible wireless remote for the Kenwood.

The Clarion has all I am looking for, but is about $200-300 more.

 

[Detonate]

Maybe call Odin at Earmark and see if he can do a package deal?

Just a thought.