Can you use BT sport/ NOW TV apps on it? We spend a lot of time sat in carpark waiting… so would love to stream video from apps on our phone to this unit. Thanks
Great Review!: Regarding SatNav, have you noticed more functions after updating to ios9? how do you rate the responsiveness of the unit? we have a double din sony in our car with a TomTom Live module, it is just a regular Tomtom live, but instead of a screen, it sends the video to the unit. All good in written, but speed and responsiveness is awful. So bad that when we're in a rush, I just take the iphone instead. The iphone, with ios9, is good at providing traffic info (jams, accidents, etc), and recalculating routes. Do you get the same functions in the unit as in the phone?. I've seen differences in the navi systems from country to country. Finally, our unit changes to night mode with the headlights, and ours are manual, that means that sometimes we cannot see the screen while driving on the Autobahn (where headlights are compulsory), does your unit dims the screen with its own sensor or it uses also the headlights? Thanks!
+Ricardo Parra Hi Ricardo, thanks for your comments. Your questions are very well thought out and comprehensive which in many ways is a shame because I'm not sure I can do justice to them. Your observations of your current set up are excellent and I can't help but think I should be writing to you for advice and comments ; ) Frankly I don't use the SatNav features enough to offer the sort of answers you're really looking for. Yes, I have noticed improvements in the responsiveness of the unit as a whole since updates, but not necessarily the SatNav which I still find awkward. Recently I ventured on to unknown, quite complex roads and was pleased to have the unit. Sure enough it guided me from my home to the destination without incident. I was pleased. Just over an hour later I returned to my vehicle, tapped in the destination and was greeted with a message along the lines of "Unable to calculate destination." So I was stuck in an unknown location. Fortunately I still have my 10-year-old TomTom shoved in the back of the glove box. I got this out, plugged it in and seconds later it was guiding me home. The Pioneer unit eventually woke up when I was minutes from home... there were no signal issues, etc, and I remind you it had guided me THERE but couldn't guide me back. Strange. Since then I've done the same journey and it HAS worked both ways, but the roads are tricky on the way back (one way systems) and its lack of responsiveness meant that I missed a couple of turnings. On large islands it's particularly frustrating. Whereas a TomTom will match the movement of the vehicle within a few metres, giving you a sense that you could drive without looking out of the windscreen, the Pioneer remains static. Is this the fourth or the fifth exit? Does that count as an exit or is it just a feed road? What's the screen showing? No difference - arrrgggh!!! Right now I still don't think you can beat a dedicated SatNav unit and having tried both Garmin and TomTom, I'd recommend TomTom to anyone. As for night time you, to be honest I'm not sure. I genuinely can't think of an occasion where I've used the SatNav feature at night. I'm sorry. I'll try to remember to try it next time I'm out and drop you a line if I notice a difference, but I don't THINK it does... So again Ricardo, thanks for your question and I'm sorry if my answer doesn't really cover everything you're looking for. Best wishes, Geoff
That's a fair point Daniel. At the time I fitted my unit, ApplePlay was still quite new and THAT was the reason why most folks were going for this head unit. Without the ApplePlay I quite honestly don't think there's anything particularly special about this unit. In fact without ApplePlay, I wouldn't have looked twice at it. No interesting features that I can think of... I'm not sure if this was the response you wanted but it's as honest as I can be for you. Best wishes, Geoff
Had mine a few years but just coming across delamination 😩 can’t believe a stereo at this price can be sold to put in a car... that gets hot... when the screen breaks if it gets too hot! Currently argueing it out with pioneer but wondering whether you’ve come across this? I know quite a few people have
VOG what a coincidence haha. Would you really say 3 years is a good lifespan on a car stereo?!? I’m amazed. I don’t know much about these things but I’d never expect to be buying one every couple of years. What have you upgraded to? :)
They do have a surprisingly hard life. Think of the temperature extremes... baking on sunny days and icing up when very cold. Then there's all that vibration. Do I think it's good? Not really... but it got through it's warranty and a bit to spare and that's about as much as we can hope for I guess. I've gone with the SPH-DA130DAB which is basically the same, though I think the screen is a little larger. It works well with my iPhone and that's all I really care about 😁
+SubConsciousMindd Hi. I believe it was 1.07 for the Pioneer Unit. Haven't a clue about the iPhone update version. I think there's been a couple since I made this video. The first made Siri look prettier but perform less ably... generally ignoring commands. The second presumable contained fixes as these issues did disappear. By an large, I don't think I'd change any of my personal opinions outlined in this review. I hope that's helpful to you.
Thanks for the great honest review! I'm wondering how your experience has changed over time? Car Play, iOS and even the firmware for this head unit have been updated many times since 2015.
Well put it this way Matt, my unit died a couple of months ago now. So I went and bought another : ) Yes, iOS updates made maps much better and that was really my only gripe.
Hi great review Just a quick one In regards to the unit charging your phone. Does it charge it like it would at home. And i mean does it charge it up like as it should. With it being used at the same time does it charge it to 100 percent for example while you are on a long journey? Hank you
It does charge as you go. I can't be sure how fast it charges but I can say that I never charge by any other means... and I only use my car a couple of times each day : )
Nice review. I was considering buing this unit but now I am having serious doubts. Especially regarding the satnav part. It seriously cant redirect if you take a wrong turn somewhere along the way? I was expecting this because the map on the iphone itself does this when driving (I am currently using my Iphone 5c as navigation). But if the apple maps is so much poorer than just using it on the phone I dont really se the point. Has there been any improvements on this? Thank you. Daniel
Hi Daniel. Thanks for your comments. I like the unit, I really do, but I could NOT endorse it as a SatNav. If you want to use your iPhone whilst on the move it's fine, but if you want to map routes on the go, buy a cheap TomTom. The unit has improved over time. It even redirected on-the-go the other day when I came across road works. But then on the return journey it refused to connect to Maps until I driven home (despite full signal). Still got a way to go before I'd think of praising it's satnav skills... Hope this helps. Geoff
+VegOilGuy Thanks for your reply. I will certanly take it into consideration. I just find it hard to believe that this is really a problem. Do you think the problem lies with apple maps or on the software in the sph-da120? Its just that I never heard anybody else complaining about this problem, but maybe their test havent been so thorough. Do you think buying a more expensive airplay car radio would resolve the issue, or is it apple maps that is the cause of the problem? Daniel
Hi Daniel. Being a little cruel here, a lot of the reviews are conducted by people who are sponsored to say nice things... not all of course, but some are. Anyone wanting a fairly nice bit of kit that lets them access some of the functions of their iPhone PLUS make moderate use of iMaps will be happy enough with this unit. Anyone seeking the performance of a Tom Tom will be VERY disappointed. It's good - it does it's job - but it's NOT a Tom Tom. The fault (if there is one) lies with the phone not the unit I believe, and I think as software updates have come out I have seen moderate improvements. I can't tell you how to spend your money and I wouldn't want to. Me I'm happy enough with my purchase - but I also carry an old Tom Tom in my glove box just in case ; )
Daniel Hundahl the CarPlay app on Pioneer head unit only mirrors your phone... so poor navigation (i.e. no redirection), or poor Siri (voice recognition) is Apple's (iPhone) big let down. Nothing to do w/ Pioneer unit. I've used Maps in UK, Portugal, France, Australia and Miami (only accurate in U.S.!) While in London, I tried asking Siri for Gloucester Square, and Canterbury Mews and it will take you to a farm somewhere in Wales!!!! In France or Portugal is far worst and I gave up! In Australia, (even typing), it simply cannot find common street names inner city, let alone outer suburbs... Oh and you'd be very unfortunate to travel to Miami, Gold Coast, Australia - you may end up in Pacific Ocean... I suppose overall it's not as bad as in Malaysia, where there's no support (yet) for Maps at all. So navigation is out of question!
I really wanted to get this unit as it's on sale now days but I'm a little put off by some of the scores you give it. Specially regarding sending sms by voice and general voice recognition. But I am wondering, isn't it limited by Siri on my iPhone rather than the unit itself? Wether I buy this 300£ unit or one for a 1000£ that also uses Siri via apple carplay it's still going to have the same voice recognition? When I use Siri to write messages for me on my iphone (in Norwegian) it works great with very few errors. Thanks for a really helpful review
You're quite right! Siri is the answer and in fairness Siri has improved since I made this video. I'll also say that iMaps is also much better these days, still not a perfect SatNav, but pretty good. If you can grab a bargain, I'm sure you'll be pleased with it : )
Update 7/2-2018 I bought the unit (or rather, the SPH130DAB) as it was on sale like I said earlier and I am quite happy with it. I've now been using it for a month and I got it primarily as a cheap alternative to satnav and on that point it's working fantastic. Since this review was made Apple maps has come a long way in regards to the self updating route correction when I make a wrong turn. It corrects immediately and calculates me back on the right path without any mistakes or long detours. I can also choose what roads I want to exclude, like gravel, highways and even high traffic or tollbooths. It also displays all the alternative roads to my destinations with the time it takes to get there and let's me select which one I want to take. To make it even easier, i'll click the mike button and simply say wherever I want to go and Siri takes care of the rest for me. As for Siri and writing messages with voice is a little more work. Siri doesn't always understand me and will sometimes put words in the message that doesn't even remotely sound like the word I was saying, which leads to hilarious results. But I suspect these problems occur because of the noise the car makes, from tires etc. Siri simply struggles with longer sentences but can cope with short to-the-point commands like starting apps, plotting courses for the satnav and so on. Spotify however didn't work as I hoped. Apple carplay only allows me to voice command songs that I've added to the phone, like mp3's. So no help from her there. I can also not type or do any searches on the car screen. That can only be done via the phone. So finding albums and bands to listen to only works through the library button on bands I'm following and albums I've saved in my phone app. That being said, it's easy to navigate through the fast moving menu to find my music on-screen once I've pre arranged everything beforehand. At the moment there are very few apps available on the unit itself. Spotify, satnav and UA-cam are the only ones that are really being used by me, but I understand that apple will from iOS 12 allow other third party apps to be used by the unit. That means I can have a wide selection on navigation apps like Waze or Google maps available. And much more. Overall I am quite happy that I got this unit. For 350£ it's more than I asked for and I would with no hesitation recommend this to anyone who's looking for a cheap quality car stereo. And this review helped me make the decision, so thanks!
Great review. Can I ask if there are any other improvements in the system since you installed. Has Pioneer updated the firmware at all ? My main area of interest would be the reverse camera do you still have the long delay at start up ? One area you didn't cover in the review is the Radio, is this good and easy to use ? Thanks
Hi Matt. Thanks for the kind comments. There have been firmware updates and whilst I can't claim to have seen any massive changes I will say the sat nav element does seem a little faster, but it's still no Tom Tom. The reversing camera issue remains the same. I'm often well on my way, having reversed up a 40 foot driveway and negotiated traffic on the dual carriageway where I live BEFORE the pioneer wakes up. Pity that. As for the radio, I can't help u. I'm one of those rare sad individuals that doesn't enjoy music on the move. I like to hear what's going on around me ; ) Best wishes Geoff
Hi Jack. I would imagine it uses internet data but I'm afraid I've no idea how much. I can say it's not something I've ever noticed and I use it fairly regularly. Hope this help : )
Hi Gerry. No I don't have steering wheel controls and I'm not certain whether the Pioneer would connect to yours. If you have an iPhone the main idea I think is to use Siri to control the unit.
Thanks Barrie. I can't answer 'what's better' because this is the only one I own : ) I will say with software updates, the unit is better than it was at the time of my review. Siri is a little better (though still has trouble understanding me at times, much to my frustration) but iMaps is more reliable and pretty good. It allows me to take calls on the move - all hands-free - and it does the things I want it to do. So I'm still glad I own it. I hope that helps.
Hi Max. I'm going to be honest, I don't know for certain as I haven't tested it. I do know that waze claims to be Apple CarPlay ready, but I have no experience with it.
Other than screen size, what is the dimensions of this unit in depth? I can not find published info. I know it is double DIN, but little room behind the unit. Hey, would the GPS map thing work better if you drove in the right side of the road?
Hi Does this head-unit actually charge your phone properly? I mean does it charge very slowly because its constantly mirroring or does it charge it good like how it would at home being plugged in? Thank you
thank s a lot geoff!! I would try to make a front frame on my own!! so I need to know the exactly size of the screen (silver curved line+buttons+display)... I saw your video... if I understood right your info... the size should be 17,2mm*99mm!! isn't it?? thank s again!!
+Raffaele Acampora Hi Raffaele, Yes, 172 x 99 mm... but this is approximate. I wasn't using precision measuring tools, just a plastic rule, so my measurements could be off a little. As a reference, my measurements are good, but for finished precision work, I'd recommend buying the unit and taking measurements from that. Who knows, maybe the factory doesn't have exact tolerances. I'd hate you to invest hours of work only to find I'm a millimetre or two out. Happy building!
Thanks for the feedback Pete. It wasn't meant to be critical of anything in honesty, just my honest findings and experiences. At the time I made the recording Apple Car Play was fairly new and THAT was what this unit was pitching itself as... so I didn't separate the two. Actually if you do it's a very bland unit indeed. I will admit that IOS updates have improved the unit considerably, though Siri still has me talking like a demented robot. iMaps has certainly improved and whilst still not a TomTom, it gets me where I need to go. All the best. Geoff
Our family has three SPH DA120 models and problems with all the screens. I contacted Pioneer and they said there are no known issues. It was just out of warranty and they won't do anything.
Sorry to hear that. It's a real shame. Strange that there's three of you with the same issue. Do you live in a sunny climate maybe? I know it's in the instructions to avoid sunlight on the screen for long periods. Mine is still holding up okay but I'll certainly keep an eye on the screen now. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Dan, There is a button that switches between the Pioneer and ApplePlay options. It's not marked but it's fairly intuitive. Or you could unplug your phone. Hope this helps. Best wishes, Geoff
Hi, I think there may have been a misinterpretation. I have hooked up my reversing camera correctly however the image on screen is always black with the text at the top. I was just wondering if this is to do with the handbrake cable being ground
I'll be honest Bradley, I don't know. An obvious question, did you wire up the camera trigger cable? I seem to remember there was a yellow cable for the camera and one for the reversing light (as a trigger). Does that sound familiar?
+Radu Luca Hi Radu, thanks for your question. Unfortunately this is only the second "screen" type unit I've had. The other was a cheap, non-branded eBay affair, and I would NOT recommend that option for you. Pay the extra and get a brand name... it's worth it. The Pioneer flat screen is nice... it's no iPhone, but the touch response works most of the time and it's overall price is very good compared to other similar units. I wouldn't discourage anyone from buying this unit, but I don't believe it's the best of its kind out there. I would imagine there's something better, I just haven't come across it yet. If you find it, let me know. I'll be pleased to share your finding here for others to read. Happy shopping ; ) Best wishes, Geoff
It comes with an external mike which I personally prefer. I fitted mine on the sin visor directly above the steering wheel. It can be rotated and pointed directly towards the driver.
P.S. For accuracy, you better use an Android phone, then you'll really see the potential of this unit! Google voice recognition nowadays is way better than Siri (iOS). Not to mention Google Maps, which are very accurate, w/ real time traffic and updates!
+Raffaele Acampora Hi Raffaele, Sorry mate, I'm not quite sure what you mean... I did do a video giving the dimensions of the pioneer unit which you can see here - ua-cam.com/video/X2oHpgCStyw/v-deo.html - hopefully this will give you the info you need. If it doesn't, drop me another line and just expand a bit on what you mean by silver line. I'll do my best to help.
I'm confused, are you aware that a poor signal or bad routing with navigation has NOTHING to do with the Pioneer unit? It's running everything off your phone bud so that is an incredibly unfair thing to rate. Apple Play is software that is installed on the unit so any issues you have with it is not Pioneers fault. It's like rating a laptop based on how much you dislike Microsoft Office. I appreciate your opinion but I don't think the unit should be involved in your review. Now the backup camera review is VERY useful. I'm having this unit installed in my car tomorrow and I considered the backup camera to go with it but based on your experience I think I'll pass. Thank you for your review, don't mean to sound harsh, hope you know I still think your review is very useful about apple carplay just don't think the Pioneer unit should be faulted for Apple's software. Thank you!
Thanks for your comments. I'm not sure how I worded the video (it's been a while) but I don't think I was saying, "my phone had poor reception AND the sat nav didn't work." I think I was getting at the very opposite. Despite having excellent telephone reception - full strength - the sat nav could not acquire connection. I believe at one point on that journey I pulled over, turned off the engine, rebooted my phone, but still had the same issue. HOWEVER that review is quite old now... I really should update it. A few apple updates have been as gone and iMaps is now a much better Sat Nav. It's still not a TomTom, but there have been many improvements. I'm quite fond of it now : ) Siri communicates with me a little better but there's still a way to go there. The reversing delay still exists and I think that relates specifically to the Pioneer unit, which takes its sweet time loading up. I hope the above has helped. If there's anything specific you need to know, I'll be happy to try my best. Take care. Geoff
Hey Geoff, just to clarify about the reverse camera, did you use the proprietary Pioneer reverse camera or did you use an existing/3rd party camera which you already had? thanks for vid!
+District Six Hi. Thanks for the question. It was an existing 3rd party camera. No brand name. A cheap and cheerful affair from eBay that's worked a treat from day one. If I recall correctly there's a single input lead from any camera source to the Pioneer. I also needed to add a feed from the reverse lights to "trigger" the unit when the car goes into reverse. However, on the review I complain about the sluggish response between reverse gear change and display... I never had this with the previous unit and I also tried another make which a friend had in the boot of his car. It just seemed to be a pioneer thing... strange. Perhaps you're right and a Pioneer camera may be quicker. Hope this helps. Best wishes, Geoff
+Geoff at VegOilCar Thanks for the info. l already have camera fitted, cheap one, but it works well, just wanted to know if i'd have to fork out another £70-£100 quid for the pioneer cam. l've seen very mixed reviews of the Pioneer camera for this unit (ND-BC6) it doesn't display reversing guidelines on the screen either, not sure what they were thinking with that. Thanks again!
+Miguel Zamora Hi Miguel. Thanks for your question. I'm no expert but I believe you can connect most Android phones to the unit. HOWEVER I don't think they'll offer the "ApplePlay" view that I talk about in my video... I think that's just an iPhone thing. To be honest I really haven't tried it. This video seems to show that you can: ua-cam.com/video/bvTU7fVnmRs/v-deo.html But please make sure before you part with your money ; ) Best wishes, Geoff
Get the Waze app for navigation, {pronounced: wayz} it works great on the iPhone, I used to use it on my Sammy Note and defected to apple and it works even better. www.waze.com/en-GB/
No worries. The Pioneer PROVIDES the USB connections. It's a cable that dangles from the back of the unit. I took the cable and turned this into a socket. You can see this on this video - ua-cam.com/video/O6COtsXzzyE/v-deo.html - not a brilliant demo but hopefully it will give you a better idea. Hope this helps : )
Hi Dave, It's quite an old video now. At the time an iPhone 5 was still a little old, now of course it seems ancient (although it's still going strong). There's also been a few updates that have certainly improved upon iMaps, though it's still not as agile as a dedicated sat nav. Hope this helps. Geoff
You're too generous w/ the scoring or maybe you're very calm and don't get very frustrated with techy let downs when driving? Apples biggest let down (anywhere outside US) is Maps! - specially in Australia. Their biggest mistake was to drop Google from its maps, years ago! Second biggest problem (anywhere outside US) is Siri/voice recognition. When I ask to call my wife, in Zcentral London, it will call a business in Canada (not even in my Contacts) Shame the control buttons on head unit are on left hand side, when driver's seating on right, it's too far to reach while driving. Overall, unit & software built mostly for US...
Hi Ric. Certainly sounds like you're a man who gets around : ) You also know your subject well. Good to hear from you. Was I generous? Not really... at the time I bought and installed the device people were saying, "AppleCar?" and at the time its only competitor was itself. The Android market has really helped give Siri a kicking I agree and that's not a bad thing as it will encourage Apple to do better. And they are improving. iMaps is quite good for me these days (but Australia, Malaysia, dunno... I get lost leaving my street) but I agree it could still be better. Thanks again for your posts Geoff
VegOilGuy I lived in those places for wee while (except for US & Malaysia, where I only visited). I liked your review very much. But maybe 'cause I get so frustrated w/maps letting me down half way through my journeys, I get very frustrated and I'm not very generous w/ scoring... You see, I'm terrible w/ directions and depend on Maps an awful lot! Thanks for sharing:)
2 years late but bless you sir, for putting the time stamps in there. That is SO appreciated. Thanks!
Can you use BT sport/ NOW TV apps on it? We spend a lot of time sat in carpark waiting… so would love to stream video from apps on our phone to this unit. Thanks
good "independent" review. thanks for sharing this.
Which camera kit did you use? and how much was it, if you don't mind me asking.
Great Review!: Regarding SatNav, have you noticed more functions after updating to ios9? how do you rate the responsiveness of the unit? we have a double din sony in our car with a TomTom Live module, it is just a regular Tomtom live, but instead of a screen, it sends the video to the unit. All good in written, but speed and responsiveness is awful. So bad that when we're in a rush, I just take the iphone instead. The iphone, with ios9, is good at providing traffic info (jams, accidents, etc), and recalculating routes. Do you get the same functions in the unit as in the phone?. I've seen differences in the navi systems from country to country. Finally, our unit changes to night mode with the headlights, and ours are manual, that means that sometimes we cannot see the screen while driving on the Autobahn (where headlights are compulsory), does your unit dims the screen with its own sensor or it uses also the headlights? Thanks!
+Ricardo Parra
Hi Ricardo, thanks for your comments.
Your questions are very well thought out and comprehensive which in many ways is a shame because I'm not sure I can do justice to them. Your observations of your current set up are excellent and I can't help but think I should be writing to you for advice and comments ; )
Frankly I don't use the SatNav features enough to offer the sort of answers you're really looking for.
Yes, I have noticed improvements in the responsiveness of the unit as a whole since updates, but not necessarily the SatNav which I still find awkward.
Recently I ventured on to unknown, quite complex roads and was pleased to have the unit. Sure enough it guided me from my home to the destination without incident. I was pleased.
Just over an hour later I returned to my vehicle, tapped in the destination and was greeted with a message along the lines of "Unable to calculate destination." So I was stuck in an unknown location.
Fortunately I still have my 10-year-old TomTom shoved in the back of the glove box. I got this out, plugged it in and seconds later it was guiding me home. The Pioneer unit eventually woke up when I was minutes from home... there were no signal issues, etc, and I remind you it had guided me THERE but couldn't guide me back. Strange.
Since then I've done the same journey and it HAS worked both ways, but the roads are tricky on the way back (one way systems) and its lack of responsiveness meant that I missed a couple of turnings.
On large islands it's particularly frustrating. Whereas a TomTom will match the movement of the vehicle within a few metres, giving you a sense that you could drive without looking out of the windscreen, the Pioneer remains static. Is this the fourth or the fifth exit? Does that count as an exit or is it just a feed road? What's the screen showing? No difference - arrrgggh!!!
Right now I still don't think you can beat a dedicated SatNav unit and having tried both Garmin and TomTom, I'd recommend TomTom to anyone.
As for night time you, to be honest I'm not sure. I genuinely can't think of an occasion where I've used the SatNav feature at night. I'm sorry. I'll try to remember to try it next time I'm out and drop you a line if I notice a difference, but I don't THINK it does...
So again Ricardo, thanks for your question and I'm sorry if my answer doesn't really cover everything you're looking for.
Best wishes,
Geoff
You seem to be mainly reviewing Apple's CarPlay here rather than the headunit itself.
That's a fair point Daniel.
At the time I fitted my unit, ApplePlay was still quite new and THAT was the reason why most folks were going for this head unit.
Without the ApplePlay I quite honestly don't think there's anything particularly special about this unit. In fact without ApplePlay, I wouldn't have looked twice at it. No interesting features that I can think of...
I'm not sure if this was the response you wanted but it's as honest as I can be for you.
Best wishes,
Geoff
Had mine a few years but just coming across delamination 😩 can’t believe a stereo at this price can be sold to put in a car... that gets hot... when the screen breaks if it gets too hot! Currently argueing it out with pioneer but wondering whether you’ve come across this? I know quite a few people have
Oh dear... Mine finally packed up a few weeks ago after a good life (electronically speaking). I've replaced it with an updated model : )
VOG what a coincidence haha. Would you really say 3 years is a good lifespan on a car stereo?!? I’m amazed. I don’t know much about these things but I’d never expect to be buying one every couple of years. What have you upgraded to? :)
They do have a surprisingly hard life. Think of the temperature extremes... baking on sunny days and icing up when very cold. Then there's all that vibration.
Do I think it's good? Not really... but it got through it's warranty and a bit to spare and that's about as much as we can hope for I guess.
I've gone with the SPH-DA130DAB which is basically the same, though I think the screen is a little larger. It works well with my iPhone and that's all I really care about 😁
Which firmware version do you have? did you update?
+SubConsciousMindd
Hi. I believe it was 1.07 for the Pioneer Unit.
Haven't a clue about the iPhone update version. I think there's been a couple since I made this video. The first made Siri look prettier but perform less ably... generally ignoring commands. The second presumable contained fixes as these issues did disappear.
By an large, I don't think I'd change any of my personal opinions outlined in this review. I hope that's helpful to you.
Thanks for the great honest review! I'm wondering how your experience has changed over time? Car Play, iOS and even the firmware for this head unit have been updated many times since 2015.
Well put it this way Matt, my unit died a couple of months ago now. So I went and bought another : )
Yes, iOS updates made maps much better and that was really my only gripe.
nuff said!
@@vogman do you still have it? Its very easy to repair!
Hi great review
Just a quick one
In regards to the unit charging your phone.
Does it charge it like it would at home.
And i mean does it charge it up like as it should.
With it being used at the same time does it charge it to 100 percent for example while you are on a long journey?
Hank you
It does charge as you go. I can't be sure how fast it charges but I can say that I never charge by any other means... and I only use my car a couple of times each day : )
VOG thank you
Sometimes the output charge is not enough on most headunits so i didnt want this to be the case incase i bought it
Nice review. I was considering buing this unit but now I am having serious doubts. Especially regarding the satnav part. It seriously cant redirect if you take a wrong turn somewhere along the way? I was expecting this because the map on the iphone itself does this when driving (I am currently using my Iphone 5c as navigation). But if the apple maps is so much poorer than just using it on the phone I dont really se the point. Has there been any improvements on this? Thank you. Daniel
Hi Daniel. Thanks for your comments.
I like the unit, I really do, but I could NOT endorse it as a SatNav. If you want to use your iPhone whilst on the move it's fine, but if you want to map routes on the go, buy a cheap TomTom.
The unit has improved over time. It even redirected on-the-go the other day when I came across road works. But then on the return journey it refused to connect to Maps until I driven home (despite full signal).
Still got a way to go before I'd think of praising it's satnav skills...
Hope this helps.
Geoff
+VegOilGuy Thanks for your reply. I will certanly take it into consideration. I just find it hard to believe that this is really a problem. Do you think the problem lies with apple maps or on the software in the sph-da120? Its just that I never heard anybody else complaining about this problem, but maybe their test havent been so thorough. Do you think buying a more expensive airplay car radio would resolve the issue, or is it apple maps that is the cause of the problem? Daniel
Hi Daniel. Being a little cruel here, a lot of the reviews are conducted by people who are sponsored to say nice things... not all of course, but some are.
Anyone wanting a fairly nice bit of kit that lets them access some of the functions of their iPhone PLUS make moderate use of iMaps will be happy enough with this unit.
Anyone seeking the performance of a Tom Tom will be VERY disappointed.
It's good - it does it's job - but it's NOT a Tom Tom.
The fault (if there is one) lies with the phone not the unit I believe, and I think as software updates have come out I have seen moderate improvements.
I can't tell you how to spend your money and I wouldn't want to. Me I'm happy enough with my purchase - but I also carry an old Tom Tom in my glove box just in case ; )
Thank you again for replying :)
Daniel Hundahl the CarPlay app on Pioneer head unit only mirrors your phone... so poor navigation (i.e. no redirection), or poor Siri (voice recognition) is Apple's (iPhone) big let down.
Nothing to do w/ Pioneer unit.
I've used Maps in UK, Portugal, France, Australia and Miami (only accurate in U.S.!)
While in London, I tried asking Siri for Gloucester Square, and Canterbury Mews and it will take you to a farm somewhere in Wales!!!!
In France or Portugal is far worst and I gave up!
In Australia, (even typing), it simply cannot find common street names inner city, let alone outer suburbs...
Oh and you'd be very unfortunate to travel to Miami, Gold Coast, Australia - you may end up in Pacific Ocean...
I suppose overall it's not as bad as in Malaysia, where there's no support (yet) for Maps at all. So navigation is out of question!
I really wanted to get this unit as it's on sale now days but I'm a little put off by some of the scores you give it. Specially regarding sending sms by voice and general voice recognition. But I am wondering, isn't it limited by Siri on my iPhone rather than the unit itself? Wether I buy this 300£ unit or one for a 1000£ that also uses Siri via apple carplay it's still going to have the same voice recognition? When I use Siri to write messages for me on my iphone (in Norwegian) it works great with very few errors.
Thanks for a really helpful review
You're quite right! Siri is the answer and in fairness Siri has improved since I made this video.
I'll also say that iMaps is also much better these days, still not a perfect SatNav, but pretty good.
If you can grab a bargain, I'm sure you'll be pleased with it : )
Update 7/2-2018
I bought the unit (or rather, the SPH130DAB) as it was on sale like I said earlier and I am quite happy with it. I've now been using it for a month and I got it primarily as a cheap alternative to satnav and on that point it's working fantastic. Since this review was made Apple maps has come a long way in regards to the self updating route correction when I make a wrong turn. It corrects immediately and calculates me back on the right path without any mistakes or long detours. I can also choose what roads I want to exclude, like gravel, highways and even high traffic or tollbooths. It also displays all the alternative roads to my destinations with the time it takes to get there and let's me select which one I want to take. To make it even easier, i'll click the mike button and simply say wherever I want to go and Siri takes care of the rest for me.
As for Siri and writing messages with voice is a little more work. Siri doesn't always understand me and will sometimes put words in the message that doesn't even remotely sound like the word I was saying, which leads to hilarious results. But I suspect these problems occur because of the noise the car makes, from tires etc. Siri simply struggles with longer sentences but can cope with short to-the-point commands like starting apps, plotting courses for the satnav and so on.
Spotify however didn't work as I hoped. Apple carplay only allows me to voice command songs that I've added to the phone, like mp3's. So no help from her there. I can also not type or do any searches on the car screen. That can only be done via the phone. So finding albums and bands to listen to only works through the library button on bands I'm following and albums I've saved in my phone app. That being said, it's easy to navigate through the fast moving menu to find my music on-screen once I've pre arranged everything beforehand.
At the moment there are very few apps available on the unit itself. Spotify, satnav and UA-cam are the only ones that are really being used by me, but I understand that apple will from iOS 12 allow other third party apps to be used by the unit. That means I can have a wide selection on navigation apps like Waze or Google maps available. And much more.
Overall I am quite happy that I got this unit. For 350£ it's more than I asked for and I would with no hesitation recommend this to anyone who's looking for a cheap quality car stereo. And this review helped me make the decision, so thanks!
Great review. Can I ask if there are any other improvements in the system since you installed. Has Pioneer updated the firmware at all ? My main area of interest would be the reverse camera do you still have the long delay at start up ? One area you didn't cover in the review is the Radio, is this good and easy to use ?
Thanks
Hi Matt. Thanks for the kind comments.
There have been firmware updates and whilst I can't claim to have seen any massive changes I will say the sat nav element does seem a little faster, but it's still no Tom Tom.
The reversing camera issue remains the same. I'm often well on my way, having reversed up a 40 foot driveway and negotiated traffic on the dual carriageway where I live BEFORE the pioneer wakes up. Pity that.
As for the radio, I can't help u. I'm one of those rare sad individuals that doesn't enjoy music on the move. I like to hear what's going on around me ; )
Best wishes
Geoff
Great vid! When using maps are you using internet data? Thanks!
Hi Jack. I would imagine it uses internet data but I'm afraid I've no idea how much. I can say it's not something I've ever noticed and I use it fairly regularly. Hope this help : )
VegOilGuy No worries, thanks for your reply and help. 👍😊
Had your land cruiser got radio controls in the steering wheel and if so did they work with the pioneer when fitted.?
Hi Gerry. No I don't have steering wheel controls and I'm not certain whether the Pioneer would connect to yours. If you have an iPhone the main idea I think is to use Siri to control the unit.
Great review so whats a better unit to buy ,,, thanks
Thanks Barrie. I can't answer 'what's better' because this is the only one I own : )
I will say with software updates, the unit is better than it was at the time of my review. Siri is a little better (though still has trouble understanding me at times, much to my frustration) but iMaps is more reliable and pretty good.
It allows me to take calls on the move - all hands-free - and it does the things I want it to do. So I'm still glad I own it.
I hope that helps.
@@vogman can you use waze instead of apple maps?
Hi Max. I'm going to be honest, I don't know for certain as I haven't tested it. I do know that waze claims to be Apple CarPlay ready, but I have no experience with it.
Other than screen size, what is the dimensions of this unit in depth? I can not find published info. I know it is double DIN, but little room behind the unit. Hey, would the GPS map thing work better if you drove in the right side of the road?
This might help - ua-cam.com/video/X2oHpgCStyw/v-deo.html : )
Hi
Does this head-unit actually charge your phone properly?
I mean does it charge very slowly because its constantly mirroring or does it charge it good like how it would at home being plugged in?
Thank you
I found it charged quite well.
thank s a lot geoff!!
I would try to make a front frame on my own!!
so I need to know the exactly size of the screen (silver curved line+buttons+display)...
I saw your video... if I understood right your info... the size should be 17,2mm*99mm!! isn't it??
thank s again!!
+Raffaele Acampora
Hi Raffaele,
Yes, 172 x 99 mm... but this is approximate. I wasn't using precision measuring tools, just a plastic rule, so my measurements could be off a little. As a reference, my measurements are good, but for finished precision work, I'd recommend buying the unit and taking measurements from that. Who knows, maybe the factory doesn't have exact tolerances. I'd hate you to invest hours of work only to find I'm a millimetre or two out.
Happy building!
Lots of criticism against the unit when it should be against the phone and Siri. but a well laid out and structured review.
Thanks for the feedback Pete.
It wasn't meant to be critical of anything in honesty, just my honest findings and experiences. At the time I made the recording Apple Car Play was fairly new and THAT was what this unit was pitching itself as... so I didn't separate the two. Actually if you do it's a very bland unit indeed.
I will admit that IOS updates have improved the unit considerably, though Siri still has me talking like a demented robot. iMaps has certainly improved and whilst still not a TomTom, it gets me where I need to go.
All the best.
Geoff
Our family has three SPH DA120 models and problems with all the screens. I contacted Pioneer and they said there are no known issues. It was just out of warranty and they won't do anything.
Sorry to hear that. It's a real shame.
Strange that there's three of you with the same issue. Do you live in a sunny climate maybe? I know it's in the instructions to avoid sunlight on the screen for long periods.
Mine is still holding up okay but I'll certainly keep an eye on the screen now. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the review. Quick question; how do I switch off CarPlay so I can use Pioneer Appradio? Any help greatly appreciated.
Hi Dan,
There is a button that switches between the Pioneer and ApplePlay options. It's not marked but it's fairly intuitive.
Or you could unplug your phone.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes,
Geoff
Does the reversing camera only work if the handbrake wire is connected to the handbrake and not ground?
Hi Bradley. I haven't connected my reversing camera to the handbrake and it works fine.
Hope this helps.
Geoff
Hi, I think there may have been a misinterpretation. I have hooked up my reversing camera correctly however the image on screen is always black with the text at the top. I was just wondering if this is to do with the handbrake cable being ground
I'll be honest Bradley, I don't know.
An obvious question, did you wire up the camera trigger cable? I seem to remember there was a yellow cable for the camera and one for the reversing light (as a trigger).
Does that sound familiar?
what would u recommend instead? i am looking for a unit just like this with no physical buttons, a flat wide touch sensitive screen.
+Radu Luca
Hi Radu, thanks for your question.
Unfortunately this is only the second "screen" type unit I've had. The other was a cheap, non-branded eBay affair, and I would NOT recommend that option for you. Pay the extra and get a brand name... it's worth it.
The Pioneer flat screen is nice... it's no iPhone, but the touch response works most of the time and it's overall price is very good compared to other similar units.
I wouldn't discourage anyone from buying this unit, but I don't believe it's the best of its kind out there. I would imagine there's something better, I just haven't come across it yet.
If you find it, let me know. I'll be pleased to share your finding here for others to read.
Happy shopping ; )
Best wishes, Geoff
Does this have an external mic or is it built in?
It comes with an external mike which I personally prefer. I fitted mine on the sin visor directly above the steering wheel. It can be rotated and pointed directly towards the driver.
P.S. For accuracy, you better use an Android phone, then you'll really see the potential of this unit!
Google voice recognition nowadays is way better than Siri (iOS).
Not to mention Google Maps, which are very accurate, w/ real time traffic and updates!
hi Geoff !
Can I know the sizes Just of the Silver line? It should be possible 17x10?? thanks!!
+Raffaele Acampora
Hi Raffaele,
Sorry mate, I'm not quite sure what you mean... I did do a video giving the dimensions of the pioneer unit which you can see here - ua-cam.com/video/X2oHpgCStyw/v-deo.html - hopefully this will give you the info you need.
If it doesn't, drop me another line and just expand a bit on what you mean by silver line. I'll do my best to help.
I'm confused, are you aware that a poor signal or bad routing with navigation has NOTHING to do with the Pioneer unit? It's running everything off your phone bud so that is an incredibly unfair thing to rate. Apple Play is software that is installed on the unit so any issues you have with it is not Pioneers fault. It's like rating a laptop based on how much you dislike Microsoft Office. I appreciate your opinion but I don't think the unit should be involved in your review.
Now the backup camera review is VERY useful. I'm having this unit installed in my car tomorrow and I considered the backup camera to go with it but based on your experience I think I'll pass.
Thank you for your review, don't mean to sound harsh, hope you know I still think your review is very useful about apple carplay just don't think the Pioneer unit should be faulted for Apple's software.
Thank you!
Thanks for your comments.
I'm not sure how I worded the video (it's been a while) but I don't think I was saying, "my phone had poor reception AND the sat nav didn't work." I think I was getting at the very opposite. Despite having excellent telephone reception - full strength - the sat nav could not acquire connection. I believe at one point on that journey I pulled over, turned off the engine, rebooted my phone, but still had the same issue.
HOWEVER that review is quite old now... I really should update it.
A few apple updates have been as gone and iMaps is now a much better Sat Nav. It's still not a TomTom, but there have been many improvements. I'm quite fond of it now : )
Siri communicates with me a little better but there's still a way to go there.
The reversing delay still exists and I think that relates specifically to the Pioneer unit, which takes its sweet time loading up.
I hope the above has helped. If there's anything specific you need to know, I'll be happy to try my best.
Take care.
Geoff
Hey Geoff, just to clarify about the reverse camera, did you use the proprietary Pioneer reverse camera or did you use an existing/3rd party camera which you already had? thanks for vid!
+District Six
Hi. Thanks for the question.
It was an existing 3rd party camera. No brand name. A cheap and cheerful affair from eBay that's worked a treat from day one.
If I recall correctly there's a single input lead from any camera source to the Pioneer. I also needed to add a feed from the reverse lights to "trigger" the unit when the car goes into reverse.
However, on the review I complain about the sluggish response between reverse gear change and display... I never had this with the previous unit and I also tried another make which a friend had in the boot of his car. It just seemed to be a pioneer thing... strange. Perhaps you're right and a Pioneer camera may be quicker.
Hope this helps.
Best wishes, Geoff
+Geoff at VegOilCar Thanks for the info. l already have camera fitted, cheap one, but it works well, just wanted to know if i'd have to fork out another £70-£100 quid for the pioneer cam.
l've seen very mixed reviews of the Pioneer camera for this unit (ND-BC6) it doesn't display reversing guidelines on the screen either, not sure what they were thinking with that.
Thanks again!
+District Six
If it works for you, don't replace it. You could always change it later...
Take care ; )
Love a good black country review 👌🏻 🐺🐺🐺🐺
No problum ow'er kid. Yow'm welcum ; )
Im thinking about getting this for my Honda cr z (ex model) . i have a Galaxy Note 5 would it work with it?
+Miguel Zamora
Hi Miguel. Thanks for your question.
I'm no expert but I believe you can connect most Android phones to the unit. HOWEVER I don't think they'll offer the "ApplePlay" view that I talk about in my video... I think that's just an iPhone thing. To be honest I really haven't tried it.
This video seems to show that you can: ua-cam.com/video/bvTU7fVnmRs/v-deo.html
But please make sure before you part with your money ; )
Best wishes, Geoff
What camera is recommended for such an unit?
I don't think their necessarily is an recommended unit. They all pretty much do the same. Mine was just an eBay purchase : )
What's the difference between this DA120 and 8850BT?
Hi Norman. I'm sorry I only have experience of the DA120 so I really couldn't say.
will the maps work without an iPhone connection
No, not at all. It's the iPhone that provides the iMaps NOT the unit.
No phone = no iMaps, no texting, no calls, etc.
Get the Waze app for navigation, {pronounced: wayz} it works great on the iPhone, I used to use it on my Sammy Note and defected to apple and it works even better. www.waze.com/en-GB/
What to do if i aint got a USB output in my car?
No worries. The Pioneer PROVIDES the USB connections. It's a cable that dangles from the back of the unit. I took the cable and turned this into a socket. You can see this on this video - ua-cam.com/video/O6COtsXzzyE/v-deo.html - not a brilliant demo but hopefully it will give you a better idea.
Hope this helps : )
Can you use Viber and messenger apps to make calls ?
hi can you help why is the quality on my phone 100 times better than it is on this unit
Hi Dave,
It's quite an old video now. At the time an iPhone 5 was still a little old, now of course it seems ancient (although it's still going strong). There's also been a few updates that have certainly improved upon iMaps, though it's still not as agile as a dedicated sat nav. Hope this helps.
Geoff
VegOilGuy ok thanks
You're too generous w/ the scoring or maybe you're very calm and don't get very frustrated with techy let downs when driving?
Apples biggest let down (anywhere outside US) is Maps! - specially in Australia.
Their biggest mistake was to drop Google from its maps, years ago!
Second biggest problem (anywhere outside US) is Siri/voice recognition.
When I ask to call my wife, in Zcentral London, it will call a business in Canada (not even in my Contacts)
Shame the control buttons on head unit are on left hand side, when driver's seating on right, it's too far to reach while driving.
Overall, unit & software built mostly for US...
Hi Ric. Certainly sounds like you're a man who gets around : )
You also know your subject well. Good to hear from you.
Was I generous? Not really... at the time I bought and installed the device people were saying, "AppleCar?" and at the time its only competitor was itself.
The Android market has really helped give Siri a kicking I agree and that's not a bad thing as it will encourage Apple to do better. And they are improving. iMaps is quite good for me these days (but Australia, Malaysia, dunno... I get lost leaving my street) but I agree it could still be better.
Thanks again for your posts
Geoff
VegOilGuy I lived in those places for wee while (except for US & Malaysia, where I only visited).
I liked your review very much.
But maybe 'cause I get so frustrated w/maps letting me down half way through my journeys, I get very frustrated and I'm not very generous w/ scoring...
You see, I'm terrible w/ directions and depend on Maps an awful lot!
Thanks for sharing:)
About the audio. Thats completely down the the speakers and stereo system in the car, nothing to do with the headunit or radio
I agree completely. That's why I didn't pass any judgement on sound quality : )
Good review I’ve got a new one n Thayer a lot better
Funnily enough mine has just stopped working : )
glad I saw your review, it's helped me make my mind up not to buy! thanks 👍
Hi Kevin, which one did you end up buying? I'm trying to gather some info on which units will work with my car. Thanks!
Get a microphone!