Dynavin N8 Pro

[Kcalhoun27]

The avant 4 is a total piece of crap. I have wired apple carplay, thinking id get the carplay and charging in one shot. What a fool i was to think it would work. Then, i tried to return it because the bluetooth has terrible static as well and thats another deal breaker. Was told to try this and that and refund wasnt given. This was after 5 days. So, their 30 day no questions return is also a lie. To be clear, i didnt buy it to run all the crazy apps with wifi and all that bs. Its basically a fancy mirroring device, and it cant even do that consistently.

i wouldnt give this thing to the taliban

The company is hot trash and their product is proof

[maw1124]

problem here is that Dynavin stops at Android 8, which is nearly obsolete. Pretty soon you will not be able to use the newer apps.

Yeah, they've made a definite decision to get off that software development train. They very consciously decided they want to be a stereo company with phone connectivity, not keep up with every new app that hits a phone that some may want to access in a car. That second one is a long winding road to zero profitability -- that's the mobile software business, not the car audio business. And Dynavin can't / don't want to compete in the mobile software business. Remember when people were installing iPad's in their dashes? Yeah, but um... No. None of these companies have the capital to successfully compete in the mobile software business (which to be clear, as a mirroring device, is the business they'd be in).

Dynavin has chosen the car audio business, which is exactly the choice I would selfishly have them make. I wanted someone to compete with Sony and Alpine for this car (which they COULD win), not someone to compete with Apple or Google (which they certainly would NEVER win).

maw

[spearmin]

To be fair to Avin, it's not that bad. It's a very easy install, although I did have to get another connector as mine had loose pins. I would highly doubt any stereo shop would turn down an install because it's easy and quick money. Their support did help me pretty quickly although they didn't ship me a new head unit (turns out mine was fine all along). The reason these end up $800+ is because of the somewhat unnecessary accessories. I think they're on sale right now for $380.

Also, you're supposed to have the battery disconnected when installing a head unit.

problem here is that Dynavin stops at Android 8, which is nearly obsolete. Pretty soon you will not be able to use the newer apps.

[spearmin]

To be fair to Avin, it's not that bad. It's a very easy install, although I did have to get another connector as mine had loose pins. I would highly doubt any stereo shop would turn down an install because it's easy and quick money. Their support did help me pretty quickly although they didn't ship me a new head unit (turns out mine was fine all along). The reason these end up $800+ is because of the somewhat unnecessary accessories. I think they're on sale right now for $380.

Also, you're supposed to have the battery disconnected when installing a head unit.

Which I did. This happened during the final test, just before buttoning everything up. Imagine this wire fire after everything was buttoned up and the car is back in the garage.

[spearmin]

I only have experience with Dynavin… I can attest to them working for me (hands off, someone else is installing, it just needs to work and work well, and not cause me any headache)… I can also attest that installers want nothing to do with these “cheap Chinese units” because “they never fucking work and the support is nonexistent… it’s not worth our time”… if it wasn’t me, I’d never get them to touch them… but after I talk them into it, both they and I are happy with Dynavin, if that makes any sense.

maw

That funny has hell. Those were the exact words out of the installers mouth (several different installers).

[maw1124]

Honestly most audio shops/installers would be singing a different tune if they had a retailer/dealer agreement with avin/dynavin but that's not their business model

I’m not sure. I had a hell of a time getting my N7 installed, by people who had done work for me prior, on multiple vehicles including this one.

To your point, one installer decided to only work with certain brands, none of which had a factory looking offering for this car. The other group is just not as good, and I forget what was going on with them (turnover, people leaving, Covid, typical shit). My shop found someone local to do it, who only charged me $200, which I considered a win, considering it was during Covid and I was operating remotely and didn’t have to fly down to twist arms.

But knowing the industry, I can understand it. I would only work with Alpine on the head unit side. Period. That’s all I use in other cars. This one is different, just because I want a factory look. But for that, an Alpine it would be. Installer profit is basically only the product markup and labor. Well if you have to revisit it 4x on a labor free basis to make it work right, well you can see the losses adding up, and really quickly. That’s a nice way of saying “I wouldn’t deal with the cheap Chinese shit either.”

Dynavin has great USA support. But I can see a business owner running the opposite direction. I think they get lumped in unfairly with Eonon, Avin, whatever the other shit is you see on Alibaba, etc.

maw

[usdmej]

I can also attest that installers want nothing to do with these “cheap Chinese units” because “they never fucking work and the support is nonexistent… it’s not worth our time"

maw

Honestly most audio shops/installers would be singing a different tune if they had a retailer/dealer agreement with avin/dynavin but that's not their business model

[maw1124]

Trinkets, Trash, Teslas, all the same .... to each.

maw

[jet_dogg]

Thankful I have no desire for this stuff.

It's mindblowing how the shittiest companies manage to stay in business.

[maw1124]

Dynavin is a much more finished, polished product with more layman friendly customer support, at a comparatively higher price point of course … if you took both to a custom stereo installer they'd steer you away from both and towards whatever components they sell/install

I only have experience with Dynavin… I can attest to them working for me (hands off, someone else is installing, it just needs to work and work well, and not cause me any headache)… I can also attest that installers want nothing to do with these “cheap Chinese units” because “they never fucking work and the support is nonexistent… it’s not worth our time”… if it wasn’t me, I’d never get them to touch them… but after I talk them into it, both they and I are happy with Dynavin, if that makes any sense.

maw

[EthanolTurbo]

Run from the Avin Avant 4 and don't look back. They have basically no support. On their website they have no official documentation. Basically they will just direct you to user posted YouTube videos. Mine arrived without a shred of paper in the box, not even a packing slip. I ran the wires and finally plugged in the main cable to the head unit, and it fried/melted the wires on the connector cable without me ever eve turning it on. Contacted Avin and they sent a new 14pin connector despite me asking for an entire new head unit (assuming it was all fried). Connected the new 14pin the second time and the unit worked (this tells you this was all Avins fault and had nothing to do with the install). Do you know how close I came to burning out my cars electronic due to some Avin BS. The TPMS system comes in a second box and again no instructions, and I have yet to get that working. Also, when I say "Contacted Avin", that means I sent an email and waited at lest one day for a reply. Most install shops won't touch this thig because they have already been down this hell road with them before. This was not 2 or 3 years ago, this was all last week. If this was a $200 or $300 unit, yeah you would put up with it, but I'm $800 deep in this thing. Take my advice, buy a name brand unit with a call center and real documentation.

To be fair to Avin, it's not that bad. It's a very easy install, although I did have to get another connector as mine had loose pins. I would highly doubt any stereo shop would turn down an install because it's easy and quick money. Their support did help me pretty quickly although they didn't ship me a new head unit (turns out mine was fine all along). The reason these end up $800+ is because of the somewhat unnecessary accessories. I think they're on sale right now for $380.

Also, you're supposed to have the battery disconnected when installing a head unit.

[EthanolTurbo]

Maybe that’s what I had to try with the one I bought for my E39. Couldn’t get the stock nav unit + bluebus back in fast enough though after installing and using the Avin for ten minutes. Then had to fight with them via PayPal to honor their return policy.

It was so bizarre. I almost did a chargeback. Then after letting my car sit for 5 months it works perfectly every time. I don't know what happened but I'm very pleased with it now.

[usdmej]

Run from the Avin Avant 4 and don't look back. They have basically no support.

"it's a feature, not a bug" definitely applies here

Avin caters to the "modder" with a very hands off approach to their support, they expect you to have a fair amount of electrical know how when you use their products. they dont seem to bat an eye when it comes to the end user rooting and running improvised setups with their units

Dynavin is a much more finished, polished product with more layman friendly customer support, at a comparatively higher price point of course



if you took both to a custom stereo installer they'd steer you away from both and towards whatever components they sell/install

[jrgatfh]

Has anyone purchased a N8 unit yet?

I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on it.

Edit: just realized they’re not shipping out until end of July

[spearmin]

Run from the Avin Avant 4 and don't look back. They have basically no support. On their website they have no official documentation. Basically they will just direct you to user posted YouTube videos. Mine arrived without a shred of paper in the box, not even a packing slip. I ran the wires and finally plugged in the main cable to the head unit, and it fried/melted the wires on the connector cable without me ever eve turning it on. Contacted Avin and they sent a new 14pin connector despite me asking for an entire new head unit (assuming it was all fried). Connected the new 14pin the second time and the unit worked (this tells you this was all Avins fault and had nothing to do with the install). Do you know how close I came to burning out my cars electronic due to some Avin BS. The TPMS system comes in a second box and again no instructions, and I have yet to get that working. Also, when I say "Contacted Avin", that means I sent an email and waited at lest one day for a reply. Most install shops won't touch this thig because they have already been down this hell road with them before. This was not 2 or 3 years ago, this was all last week. If this was a $200 or $300 unit, yeah you would put up with it, but I'm $800 deep in this thing. Take my advice, buy a name brand unit with a call center and real documentation.