Replacement for factory stereo, Boss and Eclipse NAV headunits

[Malleus]

Does anyone have any experience with the Boss BV960NV as an update for the factory headunit?
Boss BV960NV
https://www.crutchfield.com/S-xYgg5RnS8NS/p_104BV960N/Boss-BV960NV.html
I know there was some excitement over the Eclipse Nav units a couple of years back, and although NOS units are available at a really good price, they've been discontinued. I'd like to hear from anyone who has them installed, any variant of 5000 or 7000 series. Would you buy them again, if you had the chance?

 

[b16]

I used to buy Boss speakers when I was 16 and broke back in 1994. They sucked and would often blow. I imagine their head units are of similar caliber.

 

[decoco]

when I was upgrading my sound, I was really into the dual din set up....

Now after I have had it set up, I realize that I would have preferred a single din with a knob perhaps of better sound quality than my dual din.
Don't overspend on a fancy headunit... Get something simple and functional, and if you're saving some cash dump that into a small amp instead.

that's my personal opinion though.

 

[Malleus]

I used to buy Boss speakers when I was 16 and broke back in 1994. They sucked and would often blow. I imagine their head units are of similar caliber.

Good to know

 

[Malleus]

when I was upgrading my sound, I was really into the dual din set up....

Now after I have had it set up, I realize that I would have preferred a single din with a knob perhaps of better sound quality than my dual din.
Don't overspend on a fancy headunit... Get something simple and functional, and if you're saving some cash dump that into a small amp instead.

that's my personal opinion though.

I really hadn't given any thought to a slim headunit; have to think about it. The reason I mentioned the Boss was that I put my daughter on a hunt for nav headunits (she's absconding with my '94 this fall), and this is one of her picks.

 

[decoco]

I really hadn't given any thought to a slim headunit; have to think about it. The reason I mentioned the Boss was that I put my daughter on a hunt for nav headunits (she's absconding with my '94 this fall), and this is one of her picks.

considering the angle the double din hole is in, and considering the cabin was designed before these types of navigation options, it really doesn't put the screen of the unit in an ultra easy reference point for a glance. It's not a bad reference point, but it's not a great one either.
I would suggest you put an ipad (during the day) with the nav on on the spot of the double din and go for a drive and see how many times you'll be able to glance at it without tilting your head in a funny angle.

Everyone has a phone these days, and that's where most of the navigating gets done.
I have nav on my double din and I end up setting the phone on the ledge by the speedometer in the center of the wheel, it's connected via bluetooth (so mrs. google is telling me where to turn), but if i need to take a look down, it's right there. You can see most new manufacturers have gone for some type of guidance set up close to, or near to the steering wheel (mercedes, bmw, mazda etc).

I may sound like a grumpy know it all, but I've put a lot of thought into this.

 

[LandCruisinMy93]

I've been running the Boss 9370NV for about 3 years now. Haven't had any issues. Puts out plenty of volume for my liking. Navigation as long as it is kept updated is pretty decent...mine even shows most forest service roads etc.. the voice prompts are pretty hilarious as they're pretty robotic and sometimes spells out BLVD for boulevard and similar designations. The audio SIM card function sometimes ascribes strange titles to music tracks if they were downloaded and not burnt off of an original disc. You can use pretty much whatever navigation software you'd like as long as you have a SIM card with it on it. I used IGo maps for a brief period and decided I liked the factory provided POLNAV better. Anyway, the screen can be difficult to see when it's really sunny if you have no front tint at all. Lastly, sometimes you have to push the mute button and turn the volume up or down to get the sound on or mute and unmute... I thought at first that my head unit was messed up but it turns out it is actually just the programming. Anyway, that's my experience. It's been a great little HU for what I paid for sure. Oh... one thing I almost forgot to mention, if the GPS antenna comes with a straight plug, you'll need to hunt down one with a 90 degree plug. There is just not quite enough room in the land cruiser double din hole for the back of the unit with the straight plug and you'll continually break straight fittings and have little to no signal. This actually goes for several double din units on the market not just he BOSS

 

[chapel gate]

Ive had a double din unit with sat nav, reverse cam, hands free etc for 15 months now, and after my initial fears of the location its in, its turned out to not be a problem and i find it perfectly usable.

 

[Malleus]

considering the angle the double din hole is in, and considering the cabin was designed before these types of navigation options, it really doesn't put the screen of the unit in an ultra easy reference point for a glance. It's not a bad reference point, but it's not a great one either.
I would suggest you put an ipad (during the day) with the nav on on the spot of the double din and go for a drive and see how many times you'll be able to glance at it without tilting your head in a funny angle.

Everyone has a phone these days, and that's where most of the navigating gets done.
I have nav on my double din and I end up setting the phone on the ledge by the speedometer in the center of the wheel, it's connected via bluetooth (so mrs. google is telling me where to turn), but if i need to take a look down, it's right there. You can see most new manufacturers have gone for some type of guidance set up close to, or near to the steering wheel (mercedes, bmw, mazda etc).

I may sound like a grumpy know it all, but I've put a lot of thought into this.

I've done this myself

 

[Malleus]

I've been running the Boss 9370NV for about 3 years now. Haven't had any issues. Puts out plenty of volume for my liking. Navigation as long as it is kept updated is pretty decent...mine even shows most forest service roads etc.. the voice prompts are pretty hilarious as they're pretty robotic and sometimes spells out BLVD for boulevard and similar designations. The audio SIM card function sometimes ascribes strange titles to music tracks if they were downloaded and not burnt off of an original disc. You can use pretty much whatever navigation software you'd like as long as you have a SIM card with it on it. I used IGo maps for a brief period and decided I liked the factory provided POLNAV better. Anyway, the screen can be difficult to see when it's really sunny if you have no front tint at all. Lastly, sometimes you have to push the mute button and turn the volume up or down to get the sound on or mute and unmute... I thought at first that my head unit was messed up but it turns out it is actually just the programming. Anyway, that's my experience. It's been a great little HU for what I paid for sure. Oh... one thing I almost forgot to mention, if the GPS antenna comes with a straight plug, you'll need to hunt down one with a 90 degree plug. There is just not quite enough room in the land cruiser double din hole for the back of the unit with the straight plug and you'll continually break straight fittings and have little to no signal. This actually goes for several double din units on the market not just he BOSS

Good to know. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Malleus]

Ive had a double din unit with sat nav, reverse cam, hands free etc for 15 months now, and after my initial fears of the location its in, its turned out to not be a problem and i find it perfectly usable.

I was hoping that would be the case, especially since this is for my daughter.

 

[matt80sc]

Boss is not a reputable name in the industry. As @decoco mentioned, a single din head unit with a knob is a blessing. In order to get in interface that is intuitive you will need to spend some bucks or fumble around with your eyes off the road. I'm still using my Alpine head unit from an accord I used to have with my old HTC phone as the Navi. The HTC also has the Torque app installed to double as a scangauge tool. If you really need Navi everyday, get a garmin Navi for $99. Locate it where you can easily see it. Eyes on the road. I've been looking for double dins too but they are $1000 for anything decent and you loose your pocket. Total personal choice but time alignment and selectable crossover frequency options like on the Alpine won't be found on double dins for some reason.

If your still looking, better budget brands would be pioneer and Kenwood but they also make crap too. You get what you pay for.
My .02