Your factory radio was designed by a committee trying to please everyone. It's not bad — it's just not yours. Choosing the right aftermarket head unit comes down to four questions: What screen size do you want? Do you need wireless or wired CarPlay? How important is sound quality? And does it need to fit cleanly in your specific dash? Here's how we think about it at Saint Nordic Custom Autoworks.
Start With These Four Questions
Wired CarPlay requires plugging in your phone every time. Wireless CarPlay connects automatically the moment you start the car. If you use CarPlay daily, wireless is worth the upgrade — it's one of those things you can't go back from once you've had it.
Screen size matters more than most people think — especially in trucks and SUVs where the dash is far from your eyeline. A 10.1" display is significantly easier to read and interact with than a 6.95" unit, especially while driving.
All head units play audio — but higher-end units have better built-in digital signal processing, more powerful internal amplifiers, and better preamp outputs for external amplifiers. If you're adding a subwoofer or upgrading speakers, the head unit's audio processing matters.
Head unit pricing at Saint Nordic ranges from $349.99 to $1,499.99, Plus any required installation parts and professional labor. Every price point gets you a quality unit. Higher prices buy you more screen real estate, wireless connectivity, and better audio processing.
Feature Comparison — All Four Units
| Model | Price | Screen | Wired CarPlay | Wired Android Auto | Wireless CarPlay | Wireless Android Auto |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMX1038S | $1,499.99 | 10.1" | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| DMX9708S | $799.99 | 6.95" | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| DMX8710S | $499.99 | 6.95" | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| DMX4710S | $349.99 | 6.95" | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
The Full Breakdown
Kenwood DMX1038S — Best Overall
The DMX1038S is our flagship head unit and the one we recommend most often when budget isn't the primary concern. The 10.1" capacitive touchscreen is a genuinely different experience from a standard 6.95" display — faster response, easier to use while driving, and it transforms the look of your dash. Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are built in, so your phone connects automatically every time.
Kenwood DMX9708S — Best Value Wireless
The DMX9708S gives you wireless CarPlay and Android Auto at a significantly lower price point than the DMX1038S. The 6.95" HD display is clean and responsive, and the feature set covers everything most drivers need. If you want wireless connectivity without the flagship price, this is the move.
Kenwood DMX8710S — Best Budget Wireless
The DMX8710S punches well above its price point — it includes both wired and wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, making it the best value wireless head unit we carry. At $499.99 installed you're getting wireless connectivity that used to cost significantly more. A 6.92" HD capacitive touchscreen, Bluetooth 5.3, dual camera inputs, and iDatalink Maestro steering wheel control integration round out an impressive feature set at this price.
Kenwood DMX4710S — Best Entry Point
The DMX4710S is our most affordable professionally installed head unit — and it still includes wired CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a clean 6.95" display. If you're upgrading from a factory radio that has none of these features, the DMX4710S is a massive step forward at the lowest possible price.
Already Have CarPlay? Consider a Wireless Adapter Instead
If your factory or existing aftermarket head unit already supports wired CarPlay or Android Auto, you may not need a full head unit replacement at all. A wireless CarPlay adapter plugs into your factory USB port and converts your wired system to completely wireless — for a fraction of the cost of a new head unit.
If your current head unit has wired CarPlay and you just want to cut the cord, a wireless adapter professionally installed is the smartest move. Your dash stays factory, your interface stays familiar, and your phone connects automatically. View wireless CarPlay adapters →
What About Compatibility?
This is one of the most common questions we get — and the honest answer is: it depends on your vehicle. Most single-DIN and double-DIN dash openings accept a standard aftermarket head unit with the right mounting kit. However, some vehicles — particularly newer European brands, vehicles with factory amplifiers, or models with integrated HVAC controls in the screen — require additional components or may not support a full replacement at all.
Before purchasing a head unit, call us at 763-260-1491 with your vehicle's year, make, and model. We'll tell you exactly what's compatible, what mounting kit you need, whether steering wheel controls will work, and whether your backup camera can be retained — before you spend a dollar.
Why Installation Matters as Much as the Unit
A head unit installed incorrectly looks wrong, loses functionality, and causes problems down the road. Steering wheel controls that don't work. A backup camera that doesn't integrate. Wiring that rattles. A unit that sits crooked in the dash or leaves visible gaps.
- Proper dash kit and trim ring for a factory-finish look
- Steering wheel control integration so your buttons still work
- Backup camera retention or new camera integration
- Clean wiring routed behind the dash — no exposed cables
- Full functionality test before you drive away
Every head unit installation includes professional fitment, steering wheel control programming, and a full functionality check. If it doesn't look and work like it belongs there, we're not done.
Brands & Units to Avoid
Not all head units are created equal. Before you buy anything — especially online — here's what to stay away from and why.
Cheap No-Name Android Units from Amazon, AliExpress & Alibaba
You've seen them — a 10" touchscreen Android head unit for $89 with hundreds of five-star reviews and a brand name you've never heard of. These "Tesla-style" large-screen Android units are everywhere online and cause problems we see regularly at our shop.
- Underpowered processors — cheap chipsets lag, stutter, and freeze constantly, especially running CarPlay or Android Auto
- Unreliable CarPlay/Android Auto — connections drop constantly, wireless rarely works as advertised, and workarounds are required
- Poor audio quality — cheap internal amplifiers produce distorted, thin sound even at moderate volume
- No steering wheel control support — your factory steering wheel buttons stop working entirely
- No backup camera integration — your factory camera may not be compatible
- No software updates — bugs never get fixed, and the company may not exist in six months
- Electrical problems — poor quality wiring harnesses cause shorts, blown fuses, or battery drain
- Zero warranty support — when it fails (and it will), you're completely on your own
Budget Brand Units — Boss, Jensen, and Similar
These brands are sold at big-box electronics stores and online at very low price points. They're not no-name knockoffs, but they're built to a price — and that price comes with tradeoffs that show up immediately after installation.
- Lower-quality touchscreens with poor response and visibility in sunlight
- Weak internal amplifiers that distort before reaching comfortable listening volume
- Limited vehicle compatibility and inconsistent steering wheel control support
- Build quality that doesn't hold up to daily use — buttons, knobs, and connectors fail early
- Minimal customer support and spotty warranty service
We regularly have customers come in after buying a cheap Amazon Android unit or a budget-brand head unit — frustrated that it lags, sounds bad, lost their steering wheel controls, or is causing electrical issues. The reinstallation cost of a proper unit ends up costing more than if they'd done it right the first time. Buy once, install right.
What We Carry — And What We Can Get
At Saint Nordic we carry the full Kenwood head unit lineup because we trust the build quality, the feature set, and the long-term reliability. If you're looking for a different reputable brand — Alpine, Pioneer, Sony, JVC — we can source and install it. If we don't carry it on the shelf, we can get it. What we won't install is equipment we don't believe in, because our installation warranty only means something if the unit itself is reliable.
Call us at 763-260-1491 with your year, make, model, and budget. We'll tell you exactly what we recommend — and if there's a reputable unit you have your eye on that we don't stock, we'll let you know if it's worth installing or not.
YOUR DASH.
UPGRADED.
Browse our full head unit lineup — all professionally installed at Saint Nordic Custom Autoworks in Spring Lake Park, MN. Not sure which one is right for your vehicle? Call us first.