Not sure how people with new audis do it but yeah, with Bell, for $10 a month you can add a tablet to your existing plan and all data is shared across both devices. It’s at the very bottom called “Share Plan” http://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Cell_phone_plans/Tablet_PC_data_plans (that’s if you BYOD. If you buy a tablet from them, it’s only $5 a month to share data with your existing phone).
Cool write up.
I would have done this a long time ago, I just didn’t want to have a bunch of hacked up bullshit behind my dash. I didn’t consider simply using a cheap head unit as the interface between the tablet and the factory stereo. This is certainly a lot cheaper and more functional than RNSE. Doesn’t look quite as OE but I can live with that.
I think I’m going to attach the bezel to the tablet and use magnets/spacers to get a good detachable fit.
On my Nexus 7 install I just used the 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable to connect the headphone out on the tablet into the rear aux on the headunit in the glovebox. And the harness from Enfig to connect the headunit to the factory harness. Mine is set up almost exactly like Axels power wise, that was probably the hardest part. Also, I did not use anything Bluetooth.
Using the aux directly from the device is probably worse than using bluetooth due to the poor audio controller in the nexus 7. You could do a lot better with a USB DAC.
I tried it. I hooked up my Fiio E10k to it when I first hooked it all up, and there was not enough of an audible difference to warrant spending another $75 on the project. The goal was a to have a touchscreen headunit with full android features for <$300, including all wiring harnesses, faceplate, etc… and I came in slightly over $300 all said and done. If i ever get around to gutting all the bose out of the car to go aftermarket, then I will probably give it another shot, but at this point I am just rolling with how it is.
So this is working as expected during testing. The only quirk is that the head unit USB port only provides 1A, which is not enough power to keep the nexus 7 charged. This is leading me to go the USB-OTG+DAC route using the following additional pieces:
USB OTG Y Cable: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V81L9M8
Fuse Tap: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K17A2E6
Power Converter: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C3DQRY0
USB DAC: http://hifimediy.com/sabre-dac-uae23
Aux Cable
This setup will be better for USB ROM since the deep sleep mode will be automated instead of having to fool with tasker profiles. I went ahead and ordered a 2nd gen Nexus 7 with an LTE chip so I don’t have to fool with the phone hotspot every time. The only downside of this method is the steering wheel track change control will not work. Not a big deal though.
Why do you want to use a DAC? It isn’t going to make any difference if you’re running the audio through that pioneer head unit. It is just going to get re-filtered through the head unit’s DAC/equalizer and negate any effect the stand alone DAC is having.
Like I said in my previous post, I tried it and it made little (if any) difference, and you definitely cannot tell when you’re driving. Just run an AUX cable from the tablet to the head unit and save the $40.
And wirelessly connecting over BT isn’t an option? It works quite well for me. And I’ve kept my steering wheel control for track changes.
So you guys brought up some good points about just using the bluetooth or aux port on the tablet. Definitely easier and cheaper to go that way.
I did some testing though and I can easily tell the difference between the outputs from the USB DAC and the nexus 7 aux or bluetooth. This is with aftermarket component setup though - maybe it doesnt matter with factory speakers. I installed some middle of the line polk woofers and tweeters in the front doors and disabled the center channel and rear speakers/sub.
It’ll all be finished once these steel brackets are done being fabbed so I can mount it.
PS if anyone wants a nexus 7 2013 LTE, this is cheap: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019CUWFAQ
Yeah, maybe that is the case. My Bose stuff could be on its way out too. My head unit also has a bunch of EQ settings on it, and with them all adjusted to make up for the short comings of the factory system could have been why I didn’t notice much of a difference…IDK.
I am planning on eventually ripping all the Bose out and doing Polk components in all 4 doors and a 4 channel amp. I would really like to keep the center speaker as I like the soundstage, but I have not decided on that yet.
I just wanted to provide an update on this with more pics if anyone is interested:
Main Screen:
http://www.gauntlet.net/audi/main_screen.jpg
Torque App:
http://www.gauntlet.net/audi/torque_app.jpg
Waze:
http://www.gauntlet.net/audi/waze.jpg
Dashcam Live:
http://www.gauntlet.net/audi/dashcam_live.jpg
Dashcam Files:
I’ve gone through several revisions of this setup and I wanted to provide an update of the final version.
I changed the mount setup completely. The magnets and metal brackets were a terrible idea for several reasons. I decided to make an acrylic box to attach the tablet to. I fabricated some metal brackets to bolt the the box in with the factory bolts. The tablet is in a TPU case that is attached to the acrylic box with 3M VHB tape. It’s very solidly mounted and easily removable.
I ended up scrapping the head unit and installing a compact Pioneer amp in the glove box. The USB DAC output goes to the RCA inputs of the amplifier which outputs 4 channels bridged into 2. This improved the sound quality coming out of the front door component speakers significantly. The clarity and mid-bass has been notably improved while the distortion has been notably decreased. I had the head unit outputting to the amp for a short time before removing the head unit, which is the setup I’m comparing vs the improvement. The Google Music equalizer now works really well too, whereas before with the head unit it did not have much of an effect.
For steering wheel controls I setup a Joycon EXR. I now have volume up/down, track forward/back, mute, and play/pause.
The last piece is the bezel. I’m having it wrapped in brushed aluminum that matches my interior trim. I think the best way to go about mounting it is to find some plastic tabs I can use to clip on/off the sides of the tablet case. That will make it easily removable in case I need to pull the tablet out. I’m open to better ideas on this…
This weekend I’ll be installing sound deadening, better speaker adapters, fast rings, and new door clips in the front doors to improve the sound quality even more.
I can provide pictures and/or software details if anyone is interested.
You certainly went way further than I did! I would love to see some pics if it’s not too much trouble.
You make this so tempting!!
Absolutely!