Hi,

One of the installers I talked to suggested me to go with Kenwood radio because it integrates better than Pioneer in 2012 F150s. I also read online that Kenwood has overall better sound stage. Any suggestsions?
Also I want Android Auto and Apple Carplay in my radios and planning to go with Wireelss connections for them, considering it costs couple hundred more is it worth going wireless? Has anyone had experience with Wireless Carplay and Android Auto connectivity.

 

What ever you go with, read the reviews on the individual unit you want. I had a Pioneer in one car that was awesome, in a different vehicle I put in a Kenwood because I was told the same thing about the audio quality. I was happy with the audio quality, but I could never get the blue tooth stuff to work (tried 3 different phones/devices), the radio shop swapped out the radio 3 times also, all had the same issues. I was less than impressed with Kenwoods customer service too. YMMV.

 

Alpine.

 

My Pioneer has worked flawlessly with the steering wheel controls and overall very happy. It's an older unit, but good quality sound, only gripe is you can't see the clock when listening to the radio.

Prior to this, I always had Alpine and loved everything about them, just a little out of my price range at the time.

 

I have had better luck with Pioneer than with Kenwood, Sony, Alpine etc etc.

 

me too

 

Installed a pioneer nex-4400w in my 06 specifically for wireless android auto. 0 complaints. I went from a head unit with 0 bluetooth capabilities to a head unit with Google maps and bluetooth.

As far as wireless AA, it does drain tube battery so I keep mine on the charger. Semi defeated the purpose but I do enjoy having the wireless option.

 

I had a Kenwood NAV unit with a Maestro kit in my 14 F150 for about 8 months and I could not stand it sync'd up with the F150 and my Apple Xr. The straw that broke the camels back was when the NAV would freeze while driving and I had to power down the unit to get it to work. I ended up switching over to a Pioneer unit using the same Mestro kit and couldn't be happier. The Pioneer unit seems to flawlessly interact with the trucks electronics a lot better and smoother. As an added bonus, my Pioneer unit has wireless CarPlay, so I don't have to plug the damn phone in everytime getting into the truck (however it sometimes does not find the phone...not sure).

I will say I did prefer the Kenwood's graphics. They seem to be more modern and the Kenwood also had a screen that displayed all the trucks vitals on one screen (trans temp, eng temp, oil temp/level, etc).

AK4wheeler

 

I have a KW Nav in my 12 F350 with Maestro. It sounds really good with the factory amp, sub and speakers, and the navigation works well. However, I don't know if its the HU or the Maestro, but SYNC sucks. I replaced the factory Nav with it, and I had a 2012 F150 with the same nav, so should be a fairly apples to apples to the F150 setup. I have the backup cam hooked up, but get lines in the screen when cold, looks like interference, and may be a shielding issue. I also hate when the phone connects to Sync as if causes a popup twice on the KW with the phone connecting, and then the 911 assist. I also have no way, or figured out yet, how to add a second phone to Sync, the first one was added prior to swapping out the radio. Also if you want to connect USB to play songs, you have to use the USB connected to the HU and not the one in the dash.

Haven't had it in or used it enough to say otherwise if it will last or not, but overall, it works fine. I don't like the way it plays music off USB or microSB. If you have music in folders, it only plays music in a folder, so shuffle only works in that folder, then you have to use the + - keys to change folders, and you don't know what the folders are. Also the Garmin map updates are NOT free!