Since double DIN touchscreen HU's seems to be a common topic for many redundant new threads, I'm starting this thread to cover this HU but also the lower models in this range and the 2013 range as they have a lot in common, especially the software.

These include: AVH-x1600, AVH-x1650, AVH-x2600, AVH-x2650, AVH-x3600, AVH-x3650, AVH-x4650, AVH-x4600, AVH-x5650, AVH-x1500, AVH-x1550, AVH-x2500, AVH-x2550, AVH-x3500, AVH-x3550, AVH-x5500, AVH-x5550, AVH-x8500, AVH-x8550.


I'll start with a quick review from my personal experience with the unit.

Please add any comments or different opinion you might have if you own the unit.
If you are considering buying it, feel free to ask any questions and I'll try to answer it.




I have just installed a AVH-x5600bhs in my 35th anniversary. All in all I am really pleased with the unit.
It's good value for money (Less than USD$400 )

Pros:
- Good touchscreen
- Intuitive interface and responsive menus
- Awesome phone connectivity
- Sounds better than stock bose to me

Cons:
- Video functions are very backwards: only plays a handful of files (mostly AVI in
dvix3,4,5. H264 and Xvid not supported). The manual says it plays *.mp4 files but I couldn't get that to work no matter which codec I used within the mp4 file.
No Random function for video files (I would have liked to put 100's of Mvids on a drive and play them randomly)
All video seems to be fed internally through an analogue connection, which makes the picture look like when you connect a dvd player to a lcd tv through an RCA connection :S

- This unit being top of the AVH line it should have a second rear USB or a SD card reader.

- Even with the Metra Kit, it doesn't sit 100% flush and neat looking. I believe this is a common issue for double DINs in 350z's though

- For barking bypass, there's only 2 solutions (simple grounding or cheap relays don't work)

1. install an on/off switch somewhere in the car
2. purchase this or this

For a more detailed review and to see the menus in action, please check the following video, this guy is quite thorough:


In everyday use, it is a very easy to live with unit and I recommend it.



A side note for the Aussies out here:
I took the risk to buy the American unit and live with the zone 1 DVD drive and potential limited warranty based on price.

I payed this unit AUD470 shipped (took less than a week to Melbourne)
The cheapest I could find the AVH-5650bt in Australia was AUD800 shipped

 

^^ Great review… Thanks for posting and all the valuable information.

One point I’ll add is the fact that video features are weak in car H/U’s. There is a good reason for this: Distracted Driving.

--Spike

 

I'm looking into buying this unit too. Do you have a list of other components that I will need to buy to install it?

 

none of the components that you need to install an after market HU on the 350z are brand or model specific.

To start off, it all depends on whether you have the Bose speakers or not.

Search the forum, there's plenty of threads that address this.

 

What unit would you recommend for high quality dvd in the same price range?