1.5 din radio alternative? (Page 1/3)
Cliff Pennock AUG 05, 10:10 AM
I have this head unit in my Fiero:



It's a 1.5 din radio so it's a perfect fit. Problem is, this is an old radio. I can't really remember when exactly I bought it, but my guess is it's at least 15 years ago. It doesn't have Bluetooth. No USB port. No DAB+ and I don't use CDs anymore. I've been looking for more modern 1.5 din head units but there simply aren't any.

So in search of one on AliExpress, I stumbled upon this:



It's a 1-din radio, but it's display is only slightly higher than 1.5 din. So it will most definitely fit the space. It supports Android Auto and Car Play. It has BlueTooth and WiFi. It supports a reverse camera, microphone and GPS. And its <$100. I dunno, it looks kinda ideal for our cars. I'm actually thinking about ordering one.

So what do you think? My experience with aliexpress is two-fold. It's either complete and utter crap, or it's "I can't believe they can make that for that price" good.
Dukesterpro AUG 05, 10:43 AM
So, I actually have a experience with these radios.

Heres the deal.


Underneath the hood, they are all the same dog water bottom-of-the-barrel Chinese android tablet. Usually, a cheap 2 or 4-core CPU that isn't good for much else than running simple apps, or listening to music. They usually have a pretty clean install of android, and have an acceptable screen. I have one in my Fiero that folds out to show a full 7 inch 16:9 screen.

They are paired to a half-decent amp of questionable longevity. The only thing I will say is the really cheap ones <75$ usually save money by running the cheapest heatsinks (or none at all).

If you are looking for something to run an incredible hi-fi setup, look somewhere else. If you are looking for a cheap sound system that will blow a stock radio out of the water, and have a bunch of other flashy gimmicks, then I do recommend these. I have enjoyed mine for 2 years without issue!
Cliff Pennock AUG 05, 11:36 AM
I have stock speakers in my Fiero meaning it doesn't really sound very good to begin with. So I'm not too worried about sound quality. But I really like being able to have my (Google) navigation and Spotify side by side on one screen.
Dukesterpro AUG 05, 12:35 PM
Youll actually see a noticable bump is sound quality even on stock speakers (The originals amps are that bad)

Throw a cheap set of kenwoods in the dash, install takes 10 minutes you will have a sound system that will leave you very satisfied
Kitskaboodle AUG 05, 04:12 PM
Wow! I have virtually the same radio in my Reatta! Din 1.5 radios are pretty rare now last time I checked. In fact, If youโ€™re going to take it out, check EBay for the going rates for 1.5 din stereos. It might surprise you. ๐Ÿ˜Š
As for a replacement, most Fiero guys go 1.0 din and get a Shosche adapter plate/housing to fill the gap. Otherwise, most go with the factory 2.0 din route. (Grand Am, Grand Prix, etc. or Monsoon)
As for the newer stuff with video displays, I have no experience with them.
Kit
richard in nc AUG 05, 05:16 PM
i also have the same radio.i bought it for a third gen camaro i had.did you know that there's an aux cord made by pioneer that plugs into the back?it works well.you have to turn it on on the radio.its hidden.
cyrus88 AUG 05, 05:19 PM
I've installed the android stereos in a few other cars. I like them. I recommend you get the one with at least 4G RAM and cooling fan for smooth operation. Ive tried 1G and 2G RAM and they're way too slow

[This message has been edited by cyrus88 (edited 08-05-2024).]

Cliff Pennock AUG 06, 03:50 PM
I took one for the team and ordered one. ๐Ÿ˜
Dukesterpro AUG 07, 12:13 PM


Heres my chinese special as it was on my commute to work this morning.

[This message has been edited by Dukesterpro (edited 08-07-2024).]

Cliff Pennock AUG 07, 04:52 PM
I actually found another one that should be a perfect fit, but they are a lot more expensive:

https://aliexpress.com/item/1005005792148631.html

The unit itself is 1 din, but the front is exactly 1.5 din. There are several versions ranging from a 2 core 1GB/16GB unit to an 8 core 6GB/128GB unit.