Dynavin N6 install -Pics!

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Maybe you're the guy to ask - but since I listen to SiriusXM 99% of the time when I'm in my wifes car and its something I really miss since I got the X - what would be the best way to integrate with the N6? Its kind of the only thing holding me back since I had OEM integrated Sirius in my old car.

Should I get a piggyback module that uses an RCA input on the N6? I wouldn't mind streaming it via my iPhone5s and Bluetooth but how do I get by without streaming data all the time in the car? For example a 10 hour round trip to my in laws place on the Southern Outer Banks would take up a ton of data and battery life.

If it were me, I'd probably just stream it from my phone. SiriusXM uses very substandard quality super compression (96kbs I think) and I doubt it would eat up your monthly data supply. I stopped listening to it due to the audio quality. Made my head hurt, plus the commercials were annoying. But I digress... stream it for a good 2 hours solid and then check what your data usage on the phone was to get an idea of the problem. Or, switch to a carrier that does unlimited data. We had Sprint which WAS unlimited, but had terrible data coverage (was always 2G or 3G). So we switched to Tmobile which was cheaper, still unlimited, and has much better 4G. Even allows free tethering to devices up to 7GB/phone. So 14GB/mo. We use it for Plex and Youtube.

But, if really concerned with data... go with the Aux input method. You will have a separate module somewhere, and will probably look very early 2000's though.

Edit: Did a quick search... looks like they have upgraded to 128kbps at some point? Funny, didn't seem to help the quality much last time I listened in a friend's car. But it will affect how much data it requires. I couldn't find any hard data on how much it is per hour of streaming... just anecdotal stuff. Some say it uses very little data and others were saying it uses 2-4GB/mo.

[David D]

Originally Posted by jeffb325

I didnt see an email from you....but to answer your question, Yes it comes with 2 adapter harnesses as there are 2 possible plugs on the X5 depending on year and equipment. You use the adapter harness that matches your car, it plugs into the stock radio harness, then the long extension cable plugs into that and goes up to the dash where it plugs into the back of the Dynavin.

Thanks Jeff! Yeah sorry, I knew the answer was somewhere in one of the many threads I've read about the Dynavin, I was just having a hard time finding it, but I did. It was very apparent when I finally found it (insert headslap here).

Fakra extension harness directly into the head unit, then to the rear of the car, into the appropriate "short" harness that comes with the head unit, and finally into the factory connector that is removed from the factory radio unit next to the battery. Piece of cake.

I'm so excited, I just might hook it up temporarily tomorrow to play with it! Unfortunately, the permanent install will have to wait until after I take it to the dealer to get the passenger side door lock actuator replaced. I can't even open the passenger side door from the inside right now!

[David D]

Well, I couldn't wait. The weather was really nice today, so in spite of the fact that I couldn't get into the passenger side door, I went ahead and installed the Dynavin in the dash and ran the Fakra and radio antenna extension cables from the head unit, down to the floor and over the back seat and into the rear. I temporarily stuck the GPS antenna onto the steel bracing behind the head unit (it works there!), and put the Bluetooth mic on the console ashtray. It's a jury rig, but it'll allow me to get familiar with the Dynavin while I'm waiting on a part to come into the dealer, as well as allow me time to plan my permanent installation.

I didn't get too much time to play with it after I got everything hooked up, but I'm VERY pleased with it. I popped a Don Henley Live Inside Job DVD into the player and the sound is MUCH better, and I'm just running through the factory DSP amp right now. It's obvious that the Dynavin's electronics are superior to the factory setup! I'll be replacing the stock DSP amp with a miniDSP and Soundstream amplifiers, and adding a 10" subwoofer in place of the stock sub, so expect that I'll be very pleased when it's all done.

[Ricky Bobby]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

If it were me, I'd probably just stream it from my phone. SiriusXM uses very substandard quality super compression (96kbs I think) and I doubt it would eat up your monthly data supply. I stopped listening to it due to the audio quality. Made my head hurt, plus the commercials were annoying. But I digress... stream it for a good 2 hours solid and then check what your data usage on the phone was to get an idea of the problem. Or, switch to a carrier that does unlimited data. We had Sprint which WAS unlimited, but had terrible data coverage (was always 2G or 3G). So we switched to Tmobile which was cheaper, still unlimited, and has much better 4G. Even allows free tethering to devices up to 7GB/phone. So 14GB/mo. We use it for Plex and Youtube.

But, if really concerned with data... go with the Aux input method. You will have a separate module somewhere, and will probably look very early 2000's though.

Edit: Did a quick search... looks like they have upgraded to 128kbps at some point? Funny, didn't seem to help the quality much last time I listened in a friend's car. But it will affect how much data it requires. I couldn't find any hard data on how much it is per hour of streaming... just anecdotal stuff. Some say it uses very little data and others were saying it uses 2-4GB/mo.

Yeah I was going to say they are prob around 128kbps nowadays - and I won't be leaving Verizon anytime soon just because I've had friends with other carriers and the service is TERRIBLE - may upgrade my data plan, ours is probably quite low, I think we have 2GB per month and with my wife and I we never go over lol

I listen to Channel 125 Patriot talk radio basically all the time at the office on Wifi, and on long trips its much easier for me to drive longer while listening to talk radio than getting bored of music - basically I really only use 2 channels on Sirius, Patriot and BPM for my Jersey shore beats lol.

I guess I wouldn't mind the Aux Input method with a separate module if it powered up automatically with the Dynavin to the channel I left it at - but you're right, probably too much work. Wish the Dynavin could get the SiriusXM app and just automatically play when the unit is started up - that would be pretty cool. But yeah I guess streaming it off Bluetooth from the phone would be best -

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Wish the Dynavin could get the SiriusXM app and just automatically play when the unit is started up - that would be pretty cool. But yeah I guess streaming it off Bluetooth from the phone would be best -

Yeah, it's a shame there are pros and cons to each one of these types of units rather than just one unit that is superior in all aspects. For example, Dynavin works with DSP and Avin doesn't, Eonon is cheaper but lacks processing power and other features, Avin can do android apps but lacks DSP integration.

I think the siriusXM app would work on Avin since it's android... I'm still up in the air as to what I am going to do with the current X5. I keep changing my mind with all the different pros and cons.

[Ricky Bobby]

Apparently the Avin2 will work with DSP you just have to piggyback the connections on the CD Player and the MID in the trunk area and leave them both plugged in (which isnt a bad thing I guess) - per the DIY thread in the other forum section - I do like the Dynavin a lot however.

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Apparently the Avin2 will work with DSP you just have to piggyback the connections on the CD Player and the MID in the trunk area and leave them both plugged in (which isnt a bad thing I guess) - per the DIY thread in the other forum section - I do like the Dynavin a lot however.

I spoke with them a while back. You are correct that it will work with DSP.

[crystalworks]

I've read about the workaround... but I like to pull all that stuff when installing a replacement unit. Plus, with factory nav, there is no MID (unless referring to the factory nav screen). Unfortunate too, because otherwise I would find a place to custom mount it so I could still use my OBC functions on my cluster.

NBT why must you be so expensive?

[David D]

The only time (pun intended) that I use the OBC on my NAV screen is to reset the time twice a year (daylight saving time), so my intent is to route the connectors so that they're easily accessible and plug the head unit back in the two times a year that I need to reset the time. If I had a MID instead of the NAV screen, I'd find a place to tuck it away somewhere else in the vehicle.

[johnlacson]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Eonon is cheaper but lacks processing power and other features, Avin can do android apps but lacks DSP integration.

I thought the Eonon is a quad-core vs the Avin's dual-core? Wouldn't the Eonon be the more powerful Android HU on the market so far?