Jensen CAR110W

Amazing!

I’m so glad I bought this stereo! It’s amazing and so sleek! My favorite thing about it is that it recognizes different music streaming services like YouTube Music and other messaging apps like WhatsApp.

By Jose on October 20, 2022 Verified purchase

Overall a disappointment

Let me start with the fact that I didn't have very high hopes for this unit given the relatively low price point compared to the competition. But even at this price point, I can't recommend this. I put it into my beater 1999 Suburban, and it fit perfectly. The screen can be moved out of the way of the climate control panel, and everything is accessible. Android auto connects wirelessly very reliably and works well. I don't use iPhones, so I can't comment on carplay, but I imagine it would work equally well. Install was easy and straightforward. Unfortunately that's where the positives end.

The screen is very large, but the resolution is very poor. So despite the large real estate, the actual usable pixels are limited. No, I didn't expect it to match the quality of the factory system in my BMW X5, but the display resolution is so low that the image is fuzzy. Large pixels means less information is displayed in a given area. Yes, the resolution is posted in the specs, but I didn't expect it to be this poor.

When the system is powered on and no music is playing, there is an audible hiss coming from the speakers. That is the hallmark of a low quality amplifier, and the sound quality shows. It is no better than the 23 year old factory Delco unit that it replaced, maybe even worse.

But I can live with all of that, this is my beater truck after all. Here my biggest problem. There is no standby mode on the device. So it defaults to the last input that was selected. This is per tech support from Jensen. The problem is, it can't be carplay or android auto. And unfortunately the default is the radio. So unless you want to hear the radio blasting as soon as you turn on the car, you have to select the AV input before shutting it off. It is supposed to remember the last input and return to it. I would be ok with this, but here's the problem: it's not reliable. Most of the time, despite doing this, it will blast the radio when you turn on the car. I checked the wiring, the 12V constant wire is getting constant current, and is properly connected. So it should remember. You might say, well, just hit the volume knob to mute. Sure. Problem is, it mutes everything, including voice commands from carplay or AA. The BMW and my other cars will differentiate the audio source you're muting and not mute everything. This mutes everything. And once you unmute, the radio plays even if AA or carplay is currently active. So you have to play a song and pause it. That's the only way to stop the radio.

My advice is to save your money for something better and don't buy this. It had great potential, with unfortunately terrible execution. Odds are you'll be disappointed.

By Dmitry on January 24, 2023 Verified purchase

Awesome upgrade to my Sprinter

Installed this new head unit on our Winnebago view built on a Sprinter chassis. Big difference! Now we have wireless CarPlay and a 10” touchscreen. The original rear view camera works as before.

By Martin on August 8, 2023 Verified purchase

Screen issues

I purchased this head unit 1-2023. It is now 10-2023. The unit has always been buggy. Connecting wirelessly to Iphone 13 and 14 is not always a smooth operation as it will drop the signal from the phone and go into a non-usable loop. It has been very annoying due to the fact you have to turn the car off so the unit can reset. Turning the unit off and on does not do anything to fix the problem. Not a good thing when you’re driving on the freeway. Now in the last 3 weeks, the screen has started to out on it with white horizontal lines flickering on the screen. It is past the 60 day return window but I’m hoping Sonicelectronix will replace or partial refund. I would not recommend this unit based on my experiences. Another thing is the fact you can’t change the splash screen. Jensen does not let you have that option even though every other newer stereo I’ve installed (even the cheap stuff on Amazon) has had that as a feature.
Update 12-8-2023:
Sonicelectronix did let me return this unit for testing and issued a refund. 5 stars for that part of the experience. I used the refund has a store credit and purchased an Alpine ILX-F511 head unit. See my review of that under the product page on Sonicelectronix.com

By Randolph on December 8, 2023 Verified purchase