I really want one of these... anyone tried one?

Parrot Asteroid Smart
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_333ASTR...1815025&awdv=c

 

I have one, I'm happy with it overall, but it isn't perfect. Here is an xda thread with lots of info about rooting, installing the play store, etc...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2118432

Mine is rooted with the play store installed. I mainly use pandora which works very well. I installed a Joycon EXR device for steering wheel controls. Right now I only have volume up, volume down, and a repeated volume down (mute) working. There is also another route to go for steering wheel controls (arduino board). http://atomic-cactus.com/blog-2/

My main complaints were the lack of a physical volume **** or button (fixed with the steering wheel controls), and sometimes it takes it a while to connect to my wifi hotspot on my phone. I'm not sure if it's the phone or the asteroid smart, but when it doesn't connect it's annoying. I have to go into the settings and toggle wifi off and back on (on the smart) to get it to connect to my phone. When it does connect on the first try it's nice.

It's not a super fast boot up, but tolerable to me, it's normally connected and playing pandora before I get out of the parking lot/neighborhood. Pandora works great on it, but the sound was lacking until I installed an app named Equalizer to help it out. I also have tasker running so Pandora, the equalizer, and google navigation launch immediately when a wifi connection is made.

I can't give any feedback on the iGo navigation as I switched to Google Navigation immediately.

Originally I was going to get the Kenwood DNN990hd, but I couldn't stand the wait for it to come out and get reviews. I still don't know if the 990 is worth the extra $1000 or triple the price of the smart. I do know that the smart being easily rooted really adds to the value, as you can run just about any app you want to. I haven't seen enough reviews for the 990, but the several I saw mentioned that the pandora app is just streaming from the phone. On the smart pandora is running on the smart and using your wifi connection (or bluetooth, wifi dongle, etc...).

I would be interested to see if a wifi dongle worked better than using my phones hotspot, other than that I wish they would upgrade it to a newer android (it's 2.3.7), or come out with a newer version that's Jelly Bean.

If you have any questions let me know and I can try to answer them.

 

my main questions were rooting and installing other aps.
you link will probably cover all those questions.

I want spotify... I don't like pandora.
I also want the torque pro app.

Sound quality worries me. I want good sound.
but I run 3 amps. High, Mid and Sub so that might help with crossover issues.
I plan to drop down to two amps and get better door speakers as well.

 

I think it has spotify on it without rooting, but I don't pay for premium so never messed with the spotify app. I have torque pro installed, but I haven't hooked up my bluetooth odb2 adapter, I've seen others have success but they had to install a bluetooth auto connect app. I'll try to give it a shot this weekend and see if it works ok.
After installing the Equalizer app pandora sounds pretty good, the radio (never use it), and music off of the sd card sound better than pandora. I've never gotten superb audio from pandora before but it's good enough for me.

Forgot to mention that I do have amp thump when it turns off (after the Retained Accessory time), you probably wouldn't have that issue with aftermarket amps though.

If I was doing it again, at this point I would still go with the smart, but I would seriously consider a nexus 7 or other tablet build as well if you don't mind the extra work to get it going.

 

do you have any pics of it installed?

 

I'll try to get a pic of the head unit today, I didn't take any when I installed it.

Also, I got torque working yesterday, I had to download an app called BlueTooth Auto Connect since the Smart only sends out pin code 0000 for bluetooth devices. I only used it briefly, so I don't have much feedback on using Torque on the smart other than it was working.

 

I'm really interested in this unit, but need some help before buying. Looked at Parrots website and there is no amp turn on wire on it. I have a 12" sub with its own amp, and my amp does not have speaker level turn on so, I can't use speaker wire to turn it on. The Asteroid Smart does have a power antenna lead, so I was wondering if it can be used for line level turn on for the amp? Does anyone who has this unit have sub and amp? If so, what did you use for an amp turn on wire? Finally, is the equalizer adequate to control the sub given that it has no separate sub controls?


Phil

 

Here are a couple pics of it installed, pretty crappy pics but that's the best they would turn out in the garage apparently.

 

I was using the power antenna lead for my amp turn on (factory non bose amp), it still had a thump after the retained accessory power went off, I switched it to the switched power wire but it still has the thump after the RAP turns off. Again, this is with the factory non bose amp and speakers. No sub so I can't help with the sub question, but the parrot does have sub RCAs and there is a setting in the menus for the subwoofer. Look at page 40 of the user guide on this page http://www.parrot.com/usa/support/pa...steroid-smart/

 

Thanks for the feedback. When using the antenna for amp turn on, I assume the amp stays on when playing back Mp3 files from the SDHC card? On some radios the antenna lead only has power when the radio is on.
Thanks for the link to the user guide, that answered my question about controling the sub.

Thanks,

Phil

 

I found other forums saying it did. I also have several amps.

 

The install looks great! It looks like it's stock. What dash kit did you use?

Edit: Nevermind, we use the Metra. I just ordered it along with the Parrot. I'm excited!