Reddit reviews Pioneer AVH-1300NEX Multimedia DVD Receiver with 6.2" WVGA Display/Apple CarPlay/Built-in Bluetooth/SiriusXM-Ready/AppRadio Mode

First, you’re going to have to get a metra dash kit. Here is a link: https://www.amazon.com/Metra-Installation-Chevrolet-Equinox-Vehicles/dp/B005G0AYYG

And you will need an aftermarket Double-DIN radio head unit. There are many options out there for that but you will need a head unit that supports Apple Car Play.

One good head unit I would recommend the Pioneer AVH-1300NEX: https://www.amazon.com/AVH-1300NEX-Multimedia-Receiver-Bluetooth-SiriusXM-Ready/dp/B073BNFTV7/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=apple+carplay&qid=1573091130&s=electronics&sr=1-3

There are many more head units out there which support car play, so I recommend choosing one which you think is best. However keep in mind that you will need BOTH the dash kit AND head unit.

Thanks! It’s the Pioneer AVH-1300NEX

I'm going to be totally honest. 99.9999% of the time putting rims on a car like this just looks really silly. Everyone has different taste but in my experience doing things like that to an economy car like this is a waste of money. Unless they are very simple factory looking rims it just looks tacky. Also if you end up getting large rims it's going to have lower profile tires and mess with the ride on a car that wouldn't benefit in any way from lower profile tires.

I know these cars well I dated a girl that had one and had a good friend that had one. I put in a basic stereo for her so she could have an aux input and better sound. I only replaced the existing speakers with higher quality polk speakers, a JCV head unit and used a wiring harness adapter with face plate kit we ordered online. Personally beyond that I don't know what else you would want to do.

If you were going to do anything to this car a simple stereo upgrade would be the best place to start if you're going to replace the stereo regardless. Something like this head unit would help spruce things up and give you a modern stereo with bluetooth. That with some new speakers and maybe a small sub with amp would be a massive upgrade over factory. Stereo work is pretty simple if you're competent person and can follow instructions. Replacing the head unit using a wiring harness kit is a very doable task. Just follow the hundreds of online guides available. If I personally owned this car besides a head unit upgrade I would leave it mostly stock since most modifications just look silly on this type of vehicle. Just appreciate that you have a clean, reliable car that takes you from point A to B without having to drive a rusted out beater that attracts negative attention.

Looks like Metra has the components:

​

http://www.metraonline.com/vfgapi/vehicle/314850

​

So I would say its totally possible. I myself have a Pioneer AVH 1300 NEX in my 2013 Corolla and love it. Use Apple CarPlay everyday. The unit fits in very seamlessly with the existing dash and looks like it actually came with the car. I used Metra mounting brackets/facets. You can go to Best Buy and ask for a list of parts needed to install the stereo you want and they will print out a itemized list with prices.

​

I put this stereo in my 2006 and I absolutely love it. Apple car play is solid. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073BNFTV7

A double din unit like this or this

Oh goodie, so that's basically the easiest possible combination. (I was asking about steering wheel controls and subwoofers because you'd need even more adapters for those. And auto climate control makes the din kit a pain in the ass, you gotta import it from Japan. But yours looks like a base model without any of that.)

So you're going to need:

• A wiring harness (specific to your Outback). You want to connect the other end of this to the harness that comes in the head unit's box. Personally I used solder/heatshrink to connect these but "butt" crimp connectors are also an option. Please don't use electrical tape, that'll fall apart through time and heat. https://www.amazon.com/Metra-70-8901-93-Impreza-Vehicle/dp/B0002BEQL6/
  
  
• An antenna adapter (for FM/AM). https://www.amazon.com/Metra-40-SB10-2005-Up-Antenna-Adapter/dp/B000K53QAQ/
  
  
• A DIN kit: https://www.amazon.com/Metra-95-8901-Double-Outback-2005-2009/dp/B00K5D2MYE/
  
  
• The stereo itself: https://www.amazon.com/Sony-XAV-AX100-Android-Receiver-Bluetooth/dp/B01MF9W0GU/ or maybe https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-AVH-1300NEX-Multimedia-Bluetooth-SiriusXM-Ready/dp/B073BNFTV7/
  
  Crutchfield also has some good resources. The only thing is that the aux port under the palm rest won't work anymore, unless you can find a way to adapt it to the new stereo. Many new stereos don't even support aux anymore. Also the Sony I mentioned (probably amongst others) has a USB port hanging off the back, so you'll need to get a USB extension and run it to somewhere in the car. Like drill a hole somewhere in the center console and run the cable up.
  
  And here's a guide for actually removing the stereo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIyQGdXUxS4

I forgot to report back but everything is installed and working correctly ... so great to have CarPlay!

I got this head unit and this install kit.

Assuming you've already successfully removed the stock stereo, here are steps to install the above linked head unit (keep in mind this is for replacing the stock/no frills Jeep stereo and no steering wheel controls):

1. Screw dash kit to sides of head unit.
   
   
2. Use butt clamps to wire install kit harness to new head unit connector wires (match color to color). You'll have some leftover wires (just terminate those) ... I attached black to black and it seems to work fine, so the factory ground must be good enough. I'll report back if I start having any issues.
   
   
3. The red wire in the install kit gets attached to the red wire on the head unit connector. The other end gets spliced into the 12v constant wire that powers the cigarette lighter (in my case this wire was pink and black). There is a push/pull clamp at the back of the cigarette lighter that allows to pull out the cigarette lighter electrical and have more access. After you cut the pink/black wire you'll have two pink/black wires and the red wire to attach together. I used a wire nut to do this.
   
   
4. Plug-in antenna adapter, USB cable and microphone to back of head unit (straightforward) and run wires as you wish. I ran my mic cord down next to the steering wheel and attached to the rubbery part of the steering column housing but I'm not sure how well this will work. I ran my USB cable up through the middle air vents for now because I have a phone cradle up on top of the dash. I plan to drill a hole and clean this up in the near future.
   
   
5. Plug-in wired harness to factory harness inside Jeep.
   
   
6. Plug harness into head unit.
   
   
7. Test (you'll have to reattach battery).
   
   
8. Screw head unit back into hole, replace ventilation control power and snap panel back into place.

also wouldnt this be a better buy in terms of functions for the money

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-AVH-200EX-Multimedia-Touchscreen-Connection/dp/B073BNFTV7/ref=sr_1_93?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=car&ie=UTF8&qid=1521394357&sr=1-93&refinements=p_6%3AATVPDKIKX0DER%2Cp_36%3A10000-99999999&th=1

This head unit does Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and works well for me in my 09. Had to run my own camera but you should be able to keep the stock camera.

Pioneer AVH-1300NEX Multimedia DVD Receiver with 6.2" WVGA Display/Apple CarPlay/Built-in Bluetooth/SiriusXM-Ready/AppRadio Mode https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073BNFTV7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_5DxXDbERZQZ1F

I’ve never had a receiver not power up as soon as the car turns on.

Pioneer AVH-1300NEX Multimedia... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073BNFTV7?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Amazon has a few, I tried to link to a 6.2” pioneer unit for $269 but it won’t show for some reason. Obviously “pretty sweet” is subjective but I think just having Carplay is pretty sweet, I very rarely ever do anything with the stereo outside of it-if ever. I think most UIs are pretty ugly comparatively.

Edit got the link to work
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073BNFTV7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ME34Cb839YPNQ