2.2 Defender I would like to upgrade the radio and fancy DAB +.still single din. Some I have seen have a flip panel which looks as if it makes selection of various easier. I understand it will obscure some of the switches when up but presume you don'thave to have the screen out all the time. Any advice, experience, info VERY welcome
Radio upgrade
- Thread starter George25
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v8250
Well-Known Member
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- 6,872
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Free up dash space and buy one of these. They fit perfectly behind the cubby box and offer tremendous sound quality with the right amount of bass and mid-range to overcome Defender cabin noise. Listen to your favourite DAB radio stations/music anywhere in the world + no wiring +recharge from the cigar lighter +100% waterproof + can link up 100x JBL units when in party mode.
uk.jbl.com
New JBL Extreme 2 units are still available to buy, are equally good and available at a lower price.
Buy JBL Xtreme 3 | Portable speaker | JBL
Explore the Xtreme 3 with JBL’s Original Pro Sound and a carrying strap for easy transport ✓ 15 hour battery ✓ Free shipping
uk.jbl.com
New JBL Extreme 2 units are still available to buy, are equally good and available at a lower price.
I am all for having a fitted radio rather than a remote bluetooth speaker especially if you already have one fitted and are just looking to swap out the head unit. My question would be why do you want DAB+? As far as I am concerned all I want my car radio to do is connect to my phone. I have dab radio apps on my phone, I have Spotify etc on my phone, I have saved/purchased music on my phone, and I can then as a bonus make hands free calls on my phone. I am usually all for old fashioned things but your phone does everything and more that a radio does you just need a connection to get it to play through the car speakers.
I have just fitted this system to mine: Pioneer MVH-S520BT
It is the newer version of what I had previously. my requirements were very specific but at the same time very broad. All I wanted was the ability to connect two phone for hands free (work+personal), an external microphone to combat general defender driving noise, and the ability to play whatever my phone was playing. This is all I used on my last one and all I have used on this one. the only other "requirement" was an aesthetic one where I preferably wanted a green display to matched the green illumination of a standard defender dash.
If you work out the criteria you actually require it is far easier to slim down the huge offering of head units to one that will actually serve your purpose. E.g if you don't want CD player the unit tends to be about half the depth making it easier to fit into the dash etc. If one of your criteria is built in DAB+ that is fine most units should allow that but do you have a DAB+ compatible aerial fitted?
If you don't have anything fitted currently I can also give speaker and wiring recommendations as I was starting from scratch after a fire. If you already have something fitted then it should just be a straight plug and play swap.
I have just fitted this system to mine: Pioneer MVH-S520BT
It is the newer version of what I had previously. my requirements were very specific but at the same time very broad. All I wanted was the ability to connect two phone for hands free (work+personal), an external microphone to combat general defender driving noise, and the ability to play whatever my phone was playing. This is all I used on my last one and all I have used on this one. the only other "requirement" was an aesthetic one where I preferably wanted a green display to matched the green illumination of a standard defender dash.
If you work out the criteria you actually require it is far easier to slim down the huge offering of head units to one that will actually serve your purpose. E.g if you don't want CD player the unit tends to be about half the depth making it easier to fit into the dash etc. If one of your criteria is built in DAB+ that is fine most units should allow that but do you have a DAB+ compatible aerial fitted?
If you don't have anything fitted currently I can also give speaker and wiring recommendations as I was starting from scratch after a fire. If you already have something fitted then it should just be a straight plug and play swap.
SteveMarquis
Member
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- Nr Thurso, Highlands, UK
I just threw in an old MVH-380BT unit, hooked up the mic and I've got Android Auto voice through the speakers and phone which noise cancels. Navigation via the phone + podcasts/radio. Out in the sticks Dab is useless but digital via the phone is as robust as the 4G signal which knocks spots off dab here - perfect.
1994 Defender 90 County 300Tdi
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