Group Buy / EOI new generation DNS head units (RNS-510 alternative)

[master phi]

So are we cancelling the group buy or what?

I am for cancelling it if they don't meet tonight's deadline.

[Mattlock]

So are we cancelling the group buy or what?

I am for cancelling it if they don't meet tonight's deadline.

That seems reasonable to me. I am just finalising my alternative plans and finances and unless something happens here in the next 48hrs, I will be asking for a refund, especially as I have an A/C compressor replacement booked in for Wednesday!

[moda]

As someone pointed out, this doesn't bode very well for Audiosources considering there are several other forums and people all over the world keeping an eye out on this thread to see how the DNS's go.

Hopefully we get a solution (and update from Sandy) soon.

it might soon be time to a collaboration list of alternative radios that might compare to the DNS, as thr light at the end of the tunnel is dimming so it seems

Here's my post from earlier:

Alternatives:

OEM RNS510: ~$1200-1600 depending on version. OEM unit. Requires Coding
Zenec ZE-NC2011D: ~$1200 (europe). Non-OEM GUI. Supposed full MFD support.
Dynavin VW: ~$800 (USA). Non-OEM GUI. Based on Generic chinese unit (afaik). AC/MFD Support (1 line?).
Eonon D/G5152/5153: ~$300. Non-OEM GUI. Generic Chinese unit. AC/MFD Support (1 line).

We've all talked about the generic chinese units before, so you have the full gamut of those/all the android units as well, and of course they're pure rubbish.

Anyways, i'm on the early list for the DNS, and i'm happy to wait for it haha, there don't seem to really be any alternatives that offer what the DNS offers, without going full OEM.

As far as i'm concerned, the Eonon/Dynavin units are not really alternatives to the DNS, more like stop-gap solutions until Audiosources sorts their **** out.

The Zenec unit is simply far too expensive (it'd need to be sub $1k to be worth it, more like $800 or less).

OEM is probably the next best alternative. If worst comes to worst and the GB is cancelled, maybe we can try and swing a discount on the RNS from someone like JKU (he's on the forums, Brisbane-based)?

So are we cancelling the group buy or what?

I am for cancelling it if they don't meet tonight's deadline.

We'll have to wait for Sandy to update. Understandable, he seems quite busy at the moment, probably wedding planning etc :p

I bloody hope not though.

[mr mojo risin]

Most people seem happy with its performance (speed), price is good too. The only thing real concern may be radio reception.

I'm getting concerned that Audiosources may deliver a bug filled unit and few to no future updates/bug fixes.

I'll try to contact them about mk5 compatibility.

I sent them a email asking about mk5 compatibility yesterday, I haven't received a reply as yet. I'm very new to this scene, how different is the headunit wiring between the Mk5 and the Mk6?

[DkN]

So it's been a rather dramatic weekend, Michael from Audiosources who handled all my sales was fired yesterday - I won't go too much into the details but they did get someone else onto me pretty quickly, and 10 units are coming to me today. The 4 units before did ship and I have tracking which I will send to the 4 customers tonight.

Basically this means I will need to send what I have to the 10 earliest members of the group buy while the rest won't get theirs shipped out until I return on December 4th. I will work through who the first 10 will be and let everyone know - in the circumstances I will allow those who are not part of the first 10 to get a refund if they wish to.

If anyone does want to look for an alternative, I would go with RNS-510 / Dynavin / Zenec / Eonon in that order. For <$400 you simply cannot expect a decent long lasting unit. If anyone has tried an $80 Chinese tablet you would understand what I mean. You might get lucky and still have a functional unit after a year or so, but it's just as likely, or probably more likely, that you wouldn't. Plus if you're worried the DNS would have bugs, forget about the Eonon... In that review video it doesn't even play the song you select in SD mode

My thought right now is that I don't want to cancel the group buy because I have a feeling if I did, the unit will be released in about a month, and I'll probably end up having to start another group buy. Given the history of the delay now though I think most people understand what they are to expect from Audiosources - they do support their units and they do take quality seriously (otherwise the unit would not have been so delayed), but they are not good with sticking to deadlines. With this in mind those willing to continue waiting are welcome to stay in the group buy, otherwise I am happy to provide a full refund. The second half of the initial batch should be with me by the time I return on December 4th. For the official release they are supposedly to be ready by year's end but given the history I fully expect January next year to be a possibility.

And yes, I did have to do lots of wedding planning and running around looking at venues so I haven't been able to give daily updates, thanks for those who remember and understand Some days though Audiosources simply does not have updates for me anyway.

[Mattlock]

I sent them a email asking about mk5 compatibility yesterday, I haven't received a reply as yet. I'm very new to this scene, how different is the headunit wiring between the Mk5 and the Mk6?

I suspect it'll be a wiring thing as I believe there was a comms change between Mk5 and 6 as well as a physical shape difference.

[Goobz]

I was under the impression it was identical?

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk

[DkN]

I was under the impression it was identical?

Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk

As far as I'm aware the CAN-Bus communications are the same except a few new values available in the mk6, but the MFD communications are completely different (using BAP protocol).

[Mattlock]

...but the MFD communications are completely different (using BAP protocol).

Ah yeah, that's what I read! It was about the current RNS displaying Nav directions on the MFD in Mk5 cars.

[Fatherless One]

I sent them a email asking about mk5 compatibility yesterday, I haven't received a reply as yet. I'm very new to this scene, how different is the headunit wiring between the Mk5 and the Mk6?

I have no idea, hopefully someone in the know will chime in.

I've asked them about battery drain issues too (for older mk5's like mine.)

[moda]

So it's been a rather dramatic weekend, Michael from Audiosources who handled all my sales was fired yesterday - I won't go too much into the details but they did get someone else onto me pretty quickly, and 10 units are coming to me today. The 4 units before did ship and I have tracking which I will send to the 4 customers tonight.

Basically this means I will need to send what I have to the 10 earliest members of the group buy while the rest won't get theirs shipped out until I return on December 4th. I will work through who the first 10 will be and let everyone know - in the circumstances I will allow those who are not part of the first 10 to get a refund if they wish to.

If anyone does want to look for an alternative, I would go with RNS-510 / Dynavin / Zenec / Eonon in that order. For <$400 you simply cannot expect a decent long lasting unit. If anyone has tried an $80 Chinese tablet you would understand what I mean. You might get lucky and still have a functional unit after a year or so, but it's just as likely, or probably more likely, that you wouldn't. Plus if you're worried the DNS would have bugs, forget about the Eonon... In that review video it doesn't even play the song you select in SD mode

My thought right now is that I don't want to cancel the group buy because I have a feeling if I did, the unit will be released in about a month, and I'll probably end up having to start another group buy. Given the history of the delay now though I think most people understand what they are to expect from Audiosources - they do support their units and they do take quality seriously (otherwise the unit would not have been so delayed), but they are not good with sticking to deadlines. With this in mind those willing to continue waiting are welcome to stay in the group buy, otherwise I am happy to provide a full refund. The second half of the initial batch should be with me by the time I return on December 4th. For the official release they are supposedly to be ready by year's end but given the history I fully expect January next year to be a possibility.

And yes, I did have to do lots of wedding planning and running around looking at venues so I haven't been able to give daily updates, thanks for those who remember and understand Some days though Audiosources simply does not have updates for me anyway.

Interesting turn of events.

Hope i'm in the first 10

Again, thanks for the update, I can definitely appreciate how frustrating it has been, missed deadlines and miscommunication and what not. Good luck with the wedding planning as well, I can only imagine when I get married how much of a pain my girlfriend will be haha.

[Fatherless One]

Thanks for the update Moda/DKN, and I hope your special day is everything it should be.

[benoz11]

The early batch was my idea but I was one of the later people in on the group buy so I have no idea whether I get one of the 10 or not. All good though, I'm just happy that things are happening.

[its_kel]

......

Basically this means I will need to send what I have to the 10 earliest members of the group buy while the rest won't get theirs shipped out until I return on December 4th. I will work through who the first 10 will be and let everyone know - in the circumstances I will allow those who are not part of the first 10 to get a refund if they want to .....

Thanks for the update Sandy.

So have AS confirmed when the remainder will be sent to you? Just wondering if you will actually have them by 4/12.

Can you let us know who is included in the first 10 so we know what our options are?

Thanks.

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[Goobz]

Fingers crossed I made the cut! Can you please let us know who did Sandy? Thanks for the update!

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