Thanks both for the insights.

Are you able to determine the origin Manufacturer (XRC etc..) from the AliExpress listings or is it only after you have it and can pull a version out of the system menu? Would you recommend the sellers you bought from or do you think it doesn't matter?

For those interested (most probably don't care) these are the units & sellers I am comparing I am leaning toward the 7" units.. I think the ***** and buttons style will fit in to the interior look of the car better... The 9" is tempting but I think it looks a bit out of place. The other bonus to me is the DVD/CD player.. I still have a lot of old 'mixed' CD's which would be fun to pull out for Sunday cruising again. The exception is the Ktronton unit, it has a smaller form factor in the back which I think will make the install much easier leaving lots of room for the CanBus and MOST adapters.

HIRIOT from Hiriot Store
DICOLA from Dicola Store
KTRONTON from AE Online Store

All sellers have pretty comparable feedback, and the Dicola has sold a few units and gotten good feedback overall on this particular unit. With shipping the variance is only $30 between them. Leaning toward the Dicola, they have the most detailed listing and seem to layout all the bits and pieces you are getting (something the Hiriot is missing... it never shows the connectors etc...)

Cheers,
MK

 

I got my 9" android radio from AE Online Store (KTRONTON). Have been very happy with it. The single DIN back box does help with installation, but wasn't the primary reason for selecting.
I originally bought from Hiroit Store, but they sent me an 8" version, with Android 7, and it had the double DIN back box.
When i wrote them about it, they wrote back telling me it WAS the 9" version. I had to write back with a picture of the unit with a ruler showing it was the 8" version. They offered to give me partial refund, but ultimately they did give me a full refund when i returned the unit...I had to pay return shipping unfortunately.
For that reason I would avoid the Hiriot Store...

 

For the manufacture you get that from the firmware code, and some stores include a picture of the screen with the firmware version in their long list of product images. Or write to them and ask the version, and the XRC or whatever letters will be there.

It's totally personal preference, but although I was leaning toward the 7" as well, I am really glad I went with the 9". I was very concerned about not having nawbs (why is this always censored?), but found within a few days I was absolutely fine with using the steering wheel buttons for volume all the time. Better in fact then taking your hands of the wheel and more accurate if on a bumpy ride. With the buttons for NAV etc., for most car functions buttons are always better, but what I found is if you are going to be doing something that requires you to look at the screen anyway (music selection or NAV) in these cases it is part of the process anyway, if you know what I mean. Plus now that you have a full Android device, you might find you use many more programs than the buttons can be coded for. I have 3 different NAV programs, Waze, Maps and Sygic (for offline), plus weather and radar apps, and so on. As far as the slots go, I have a USB key with many gigs of music and video that plugs in to the lead from the back that I have under the dash. I take it out maybe once a month to update my music and video collection for the road, no real need to have it on the dash taking up space. Anyways I find the things I thought I would miss not having the PCM3 layout were not as big a deal (for me) as I thought they would be.

But what was a big deal was the 9" inch screen. Main reasons: map detail - for me that is important, I like high-res detailed maps; desktop area - I like having widgets and icons for lots of apps; and finally I just like the way the large screen fills the space close to the edge of the center console. It looks out of place in some shots but it seems hard to take a picture that does it justice. But I think it does look pretty good.




As far as the Hiriot store, they were always really helpful for me, but granted I didn't want my money back and I my orders weren't screwed up. When my CAN BUS gave me problems they sent a new one for free and I didn't have to return the old one, but they did ship it along with another purchase I made (a rear view camera).

 

i'm trying to install my new head unit as well... please help!!
i don't have to worry about wires 3,4,5,6,7,9 right?
wire 8 goes to wire 17? or wire 26?

where did y'all match the 3 wires coming out from the MOST adapter? did you splice it against wires from the harness?

Thanks so much!!

 

Reviving an old thread, and maybe this was already addressed but you can increase the volume within the factory settings of the android HU. You will get a much louder system once the setting is saved, no need to increase the PCM volume. (I have the 9" version but the settings should be exactly the same)

Here's how to do it:

Go to settings > car > factory settings > (enter password:126)

a menu appears

go to "voice" (at the top)



All volume settings are displayed. Increase Sys, BT and Radio to the max [20]

Hit "Apply" the "Exit" and it will adk to reboot the device, hit "Ok"

and voila


hope this helps someone

 

Wow, thanks for posting! I've messed with the unit for hours and always thought that option just reset the HU to factory specs. I had already added two more amps (one for the sub and one for the rear speakers). After increasing the HU output I can shake the entire house from the garage! Not that that is the goal, but it sounds cleaner at normal volumes now I believe. Lots of other neat things too in that menu.

 

this thread is the best android hu review ive seen
thank you so much!!!

 

but im still in doubt
la power bluetooth keeping pcm 2.0 or android hu? lol kkkkkkkkkkkkkk

 

I've done both. I have an LA Power unit in my 997 and an older Android 7 PX3 unit in my Cayenne.

For the money, the LA Power unit is fantastic and the install is a bit easier. But it does require you to use your phone for anything other than skipping music tracks and dialing/answering phone calls. I'm happy with it in my 997 as that car gets driven less and I wanted to retain originality.

The Chinese Android units are very good, but my older unit is low on CPU power and memory by current standards. Buy one with the latest/best specs. The Android unit has a steeper learning/setup curve than LA Power, but once you set it up, the Android unit works great. Guests in my car are always amazed that is not factory. I mostly run Waze and Pandora. I've been thinking about buying the latest version Android unit and upgrading. It'd be hard to go back to just PCM 2.1.

 

Thanks Brainz, all your posts here in the forum improves my experience with the car! I'm thing about this unit: https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/40000...c00vQ2CEo&mp=1
PX5 - 8 core, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 64GB ROM, 9 inch, Already has a FAKRA connector for the oem gps antenna and its single din

look this one with 2,5D screen: https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/40003...chweb201603_53

 

The first one listed above seems to be the current best spec for the Cayenne: 9", Android 9, PX5, 4GB, and 64GB RAM.

The second one is something I've not seen and would avoid for 2 reasons: 1) It appears to use a different CPU chipset - - I prefer the PX chipsets as there's a ton of support for the for firmware, and 2) I think the second one looks a little goofy - - not stock with the bulging trim surround.

It appears that there is a better PX6 chipset too, but I dont see a Cayenne units for sale using it yet. For the price on the PX5 units, I'd just buy one of those and not wait. Note that I think it is possible to upgrade the motherboards of these head units, ie, go from PX3 to PX5 or PX6, but for the cost of doing such (~$100) and the time/brain damage involved, it's just easier to buy a new PX5 unit at less than $300 delivered.

The PX5 units are very well supported - - they're used in pretty much every car available. As such, you can use aftermarket firmware that's been modified to add features and customization to the headunit - - sound adjustments, different radio, etc. But only do that if you're not happy with the stock firmware as it does entail some risk and can take a lot of time to configure.

In a year or two, we'll all need to upgrade to PX6 and PX7 will be rolling out. Such is technology...

 

Just installed similar system but form another re-seller. Post here >> https://rennlist.com/forums/cayenne-...l#post16307090

Has anyone had any issues with radio reception? My car only had one radio antenna and reception is now horrific even worce than original CDR23 hear unit. Connected blue antenna wire from dongle to wiring harness and it still sux. Any insights?

 

I had great radio reception on mine when I installed the dual Fakra I did play around with anoter firmware to see if I could cure my audio cutting out, and that killed my radio reception. I have the original firmware, I just haven't tried flashing it back yet to see if the radio reception comes back. But it could be asa simple as how the head unit was flashed and with what firmware, that the radio may not work. Also there are setting for the radio deep in the hidden Android menu system under factory settings (password 126)

 

Thanks for reply.
I tried the settings for radio under the 126 menu and no change. There are two selections available for the states. I didn't use the dual Fakra as i had only one antenna wire in my car. So i installed the single Fakra that came with the unit and connected the blue wire to the Ant wire on the Head Unit harness.

 

I wish I had seen this post before I ordered mine. I ordered this one: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3282...74bb2e0esjUkJe
The second one that you said you wouldn't get, has something that the first one, nor the one I bought has; FAST BOOT. It turns on pretty much instantly, by staying in a low current draw standby mode when the ignition is turned off. The universal Android headunits I installed in my Nissan and my Honda have had it, but I have had no luck finding ones with fastboot for Android units made to fit specific vehicles. The one I installed in my Jaguar takes 35 seconds to boot. The manufacturer told me the one that I ordered for the Cayenne takes 20 to 30 seconds to boot. I am wondering how hard it is to cancel an order (and get my money back) on AliExpress, so I can instead order the one that has fast boot. Anyone had any experience with cancelling and getting their money back?

Edited to add:
My description of how fast boot works is a little bit off. I found this on XDA developer, while searching to see if there is a way to install a custom ROM that would give me fastboot on a unit that didn't come with it:

"All head units have a hardware part (radio chip, AMP, bluetooth, MCU, USB, etc.) and an Android part. The FYT units (most Joying, some KLD, some FunRover, some Witson and a few more) bring the android part into deep-sleep, and switch off the hardware part completely.
If the non-android hardware parts would remain under power it would drain your car battery in 2-3 days, so that is completely switched off.
Keeping the android memory under power will last at least 30 days, but possibly 50-60 days.
That's why you have the constant power and "switch on/off contact" ACC+ wire (ACC= Accessory power. To power your accessories, whatever they are, which you only need with contact on).
If you switch off contact, the acc off is detected in the FYT units, generating a broadcast "com.fyt.boot.ACCOFF" (and "com.fyt.boot.ACCON" when contact is turned on). Some FYT apps stop "voluntarily". Other apps are killed by the system server (SofiaServer on Sofia, 000000_com.syu.ms on the PX5). And then the MCU only keeps memory under "power" using the constant power line."
Traditional hardware (AMP, radio chip) only take milliseconds to "be ready" when power is put back. Android 3-5 seconds (2 seconds is a very optimistic estimate from Joying)."