Eonon GM5163 Review - 2012 with Bose

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My Review of Eonon GM5163:

I added some pictures that I took. Hopefully, they will help someone. If you search the forums and Google, you'll find the wiring diagrams.

This is my first review ever, so my only goal here is to help someone that may wish to buy this unit OR maybe the pictures will help someone... If anyone has questions, feel free to ask. I'll help if I can. I'm an electronics engineer, so I may know something!

Summary: I’m very happy with the unit. I love the way it looks in the car. I REALLY hope they release a patch to fix the MP3 issues!

My Info:

• 2012 Mazdaspeed3
• Bose system (navigation, keyless, etc…)

Severe Cons:

• I have ~2900 MP3s on a single directory on an SD card. The GM5163 only detects 2000 songs.
• I have ~2900 MP3s in multiple directories on an SD card. The GM5163 only detects 2048 songs. Yeah, this is strange! Also, with many directories the SD card takes a LONG time to load before a song starts playing.
• Update: I put the songs into three directories and the GM5163 will play all songs!
• An SD card with many songs takes a while to load (~20s with one directory and >40s with multiple directories)
• With 2000 songs detected and shuffle enabled, it takes about 20 seconds to switch songs.
• Update: With a class 10 card it changes songs faster (it is still unacceptably slow, but much better than a class 4 card)

Trivial Cons:

• An EQ would be great. It has separate treble and base, but a 5 band EQ would be much better.
• Bluetooth A2DP (streaming music from Android) - The display just shows dancing musical notes. I’d rather it show the Artist and Song. Album art would be a plus.
• On the Mazda’s left display, the display item that shows the radio preset or the artist/album/title just displays “audio off”.
• I had to modify the harness that came with the GM5163. I cut the audio wires and put male RCA plugs on them. Then plugged them into the GM5163’s low-level audio out. This really isn’t a con since they said I’d need to modify it for a Bose system. It did work without the modification, but the lowest volume setting (1) was too loud.
• Wish it would automatically re-connect to A2DP when the car starts (if A2DP was on when turned off) Update - Eonon has a patch for this one!
• A2DP doesn’t sound quite as good as the OEM radio (but it is close!)
• MP3 volume could be a little louder, but this may be just the way the Bose amp is. Probably has nothing to do with the GM5163.
• Rear USB1 - Doesn’t do anything. Eonon said it is for future use… Update - Eonon said this is for WIFI.
• The steering wheel phone control don’t work which I knew before buying the unit. I’ve read that there is an adapter that connects to the CAN bus that detects the phone buttons. I've also read that it is impossible because those buttons interface to the Mazda Bluetooth module directly. At any rate, if I figure out a way to detect the button(s), the GM5163 has two wires on the back that may be able detect them.
• Update: The trebble setting isn't applied after the car is turned off and then back on. The trebble displays the same value, but the actual sound isn't correct. If the trebble is turned up/down a notch, the audio will be corrected and match the display setting.

Pros:

• Looks awesome. It looks like it could have come from the factory.
• Quality is nice.
• The unit as a whole is very fast/responsive.
• Factory harness needed little modification with the Bose system, but other than that it worked like a charm. All other connections worked great.
• The right display shows the FM station, volume and displays the ‘mode’ the GM5163 is in. However, I wish it would display the FM station (if playing) while the navigation is running. It displays “NAV”.
• All of the documentation says the maximum memory capacity is 16GB. Well, 32GB works just fine! Even their “Live Support” said 16GB max.
• FM Radio:
• The reception is the same if not a little better than the OEM radio.
• I think the FM radio sounds better than OEM.
• The next station seek is very fast.
• The tuning knob is very fast.
• I think it looks fine.
• The only thing I think they could improve on is the area that displays the information (song title). It barely has enough room for a word let alone the whole title.
• MP3s - See Cons!
• Rear USB2 - The USB in the back of the radio can be used for any media (MP3s, Videos and Pictures)
• SD Slot on the Front - Works with 32GB cards (which they say 16GB is max). I’ve tried MP3s and divx formats.
• NAV:
• The maps that comes with the unit works well.
• I put iGo maps on it. It takes a ~10s to load. It works very well. Even with maps running the unit is very responsive.
• I placed the GPS antenna on top of the vent (see picture). It picked up ~6 satellites in my garage with good signal strength.
• While NAV is running, MP3 from the USB2 or SD card plays fine. The radio continues without issue. A2DP streaming works just fine.
• The OEM navigation works too. However, I don’t think the audio prompts work. I haven’t tried…
• Mirroring - Works like a champ. My Note 2 had a few issues, but once I figured out my phone, I fixed my phone and it works well.
• The NFC works well too.
• The GM5163 detects when the headlights are on.
• The GM5163 detects when in reverse. I don’t have the rearview camera connected yet. It’s too dang cold to install it at the moment. One minor thing, the harness that comes with the radio doesn’t have a connection for reverse specifically for the review camera. So, you’ll have splice into the GM5163’s harness (not the car’s harness). Not a big deal…
• DVDs - Plays them just fine. I wish the display could get a little brighter, but it works fine.
• Fader/Balance both work properly (yes with the Bose system). I’ve read a few places that the fader would not work and you needed a special adapter. Not true…

Update: Eonon replied back to an email with instructions on how to resume A2DP. They have a patch you have apply.

Touchscreen: It works fine for me. I've heard people say that the touchscreen isn't as great as their phone's. However, it does work nicely with leather gloves!

Installation Instructions:
I don't have any more installation pictures. I watched some youtube videos on how to install it. It is really simple.

• Put masking tape around all of your components around the radio so you don't scratch anything. For example, on the climate controls.
• Carefully, pop your vents off. I used a very thin metal shim with masking tape around it so I don't scratch anything. The vents will pop off going straight forward (to the back of the car).
• Set the vents on top of the dash. I didn't disconnect the wires to the vent module.
• Unscrew the two screws on the top side of the radio
• Pop the radio out - Don't let it drop down, you'll scratch your climate controls.
• Unplug the radio cables - One of them is a little difficult because of the angle. I'd have another person help you with this part.
• Remove the 4 plastic clips that are on the sides. You'll have to put these on your Eonon radio. Be careful not to break them!
• Modify your Eonon harness if you wish (see my review). You may have to splice into your reverse wire on the Eonon harness if you ordered the backup camera.
• Connect the harness into your Eonon radio
• Pop your Eonon radio in. Put the two screws in back in.
• At this point, I'd test it to make sure everything works. Does it turn on? Does it dim when the headlights are on? Does the display go black (or reverse camera come on) when you put the car in reverse? If you didn't modify the cable, is the lowest volume setting too high?
• Once you're satisfied, pop your vents back in.