Android Head Units

Why Built-In DSP Matters on an Android Head Unit: Sound Tour

John walks the DSP menus on an Android head unit: multi-band EQ, crossover/cutoff, sub control, fader, delay/soundstage, and speaker-distance tools — roughly 20% clearer/thumpier sound vs non-DSP, best over wired Android Auto/CarPlay instead of Bluetooth.

Yes — you can install This kit on the Built-in DSP Android head units vary by SKU — use the Amazon / AliExpress / eBay links from the description with a 4 min DIY job. John walks the DSP menus on an Android head unit: multi-band EQ, crossover/cutoff, sub control, fader, delay/soundstage, and speaker-distance tools — roughly 20% clearer/thumpier sound.

Overview

DSP (digital sound processor) is the step that makes modern Android head units worth taking seriously for audio. John flips through the amp/DSP menus: multi-band EQ, crossover and cutoff controls, dedicated sub adjustments, normal fader/balance, plus delay and speaker-distance tools for soundstage. It's more advanced than a basic EQ, but the difference is real — he pegs it around 20% better with thumpier bass, clearer highs, and better separation versus a non-DSP unit (still not Pioneer/Sony flagship territory, but closing the gap). For the best sound he runs wired Android Auto rather than Bluetooth. Presets help if you don't want to tune by hand; he often leaves things mostly neutral with a few enhancements on. Links from the description are below.

Vehicle & fitment

Product
Android head unit with built-in digital sound processor (DSP)
Shown on
Android head unit with built-in DSP (John demos on his WRX-era unit; non-DSP 2015+ WRX unit also linked)

Always confirm fitment for your exact year and trim with the seller before buying.

Tools & parts

Tools

  • None — software tour of DSP menus

Parts

  • Android head unit with built-in DSP
  • USB cable for wired Android Auto / CarPlay

Step by step

  1. 1

    What DSP is▶ 0:01

    Built-in digital sound processor — the feature that makes Android-unit audio jump forward.

  2. 2

    DSP menus▶ 0:17

    Amp section with many EQ bands plus extra tabs the non-DSP units lack.

  3. 3

    Crossover and sub▶ 0:47

    Cutoff frequency, bass controls, and dedicated sub adjustments.

  4. 4

    Fader and delay▶ 0:58

    Normal fader/balance plus delay and speaker-distance tools for soundstage.

  5. 5

    About 20% better▶ 1:41

    Noticeably thumpier bass, clearer highs, and better separation — not crazy, but real.

  6. 6

    Wired Auto over Bluetooth▶ 2:18

    Use Android Auto/CarPlay over USB; Bluetooth audio is compressed.

  7. 7

    Presets vs neutral▶ 2:43

    EQ presets are audible; John often stays mostly neutral with a few enhancements on.

  8. 8

    DSP wave▶ 3:19

    Android units are stepping closer to Pioneer/Sony DSP sound — stay tuned.

Wiring notes

FAQ

What vehicle does this head unit fit?

It is shown for the Built-in DSP Android head units vary by SKU — use the Amazon / AliExpress / eBay links from the description. 2015+ WRX non-DSP model linked separately for comparison shopping Always confirm your exact year, trim and factory audio with the seller.

How long does the install take?

John's full video is 4 min. Plan on that much time for a careful DIY install, plus extra if you are new to dash work.

What tools do I need?

Tools called out in the guide: None — software tour of DSP menus.

Does it support wireless CarPlay or Android Auto?

Check the product listing for wired vs wireless CarPlay / Android Auto before you buy; John shows what worked in the video.

Where do I get the parts?

Use the buy links on this page for the unit and any harnesses John used. Some links are affiliate links.

Is this beginner-friendly?

The guide breaks the job into 8 steps with timestamps into the video. If you can remove trim panels carefully, you can follow along.

John's Subaru WRX

More photos →
Which taillight is your favorite? Digging through some photos, totally forgot I had this many taillights in one periodMeanThe time I tinted my taillights. Clear on the left, tinted in the right. I didn't like the look so I took it off the same day

Photos from @ngooyen on Instagram. Follow for more.

Full transcript

Show the full transcript (90 lines) +

0:01guys so we're gonna show you a quick video on basically this new head unit

0:04video on basically this new head unit this has built-in DSP what that means is

0:07this has built-in DSP what that means is it's gonna have great audio that's a

0:09it's gonna have great audio that's a digital sound processor well let's just

0:11digital sound processor well let's just show you all the features alright so let

0:17show you all the features alright so let me just go through the menus with the

0:19me just go through the menus with the DSP you pretty much have all the

0:21DSP you pretty much have all the settings kind of built in it's just

0:23settings kind of built in it's just automatically gonna sound better but

0:24automatically gonna sound better but what you get with a DSP rather than not

0:27what you get with a DSP rather than not having one is you're gonna have also

0:28having one is you're gonna have also more just additional sound control so

0:32more just additional sound control so under the amplifier you're gonna have

0:34under the amplifier you're gonna have the usual how many bands this is but you

0:38the usual how many bands this is but you have a lot but you also have more tabs

0:43have a lot but you also have more tabs to customize it even further because it

0:45to customize it even further because it has all that processing you can do you

0:47has all that processing you can do you have the blood the fat the cutoff

0:49have the blood the fat the cutoff frequency you can base then you can

0:51frequency you can base then you can adjust your individual sub which is

0:53adjust your individual sub which is really nice and then down here you have

0:58really nice and then down here you have the common like directional where the

1:00the common like directional where the audio is coming from you have the front

1:03audio is coming from you have the front you know the fader and we all we all

1:05you know the fader and we all we all know about that but with the DSP units

1:07know about that but with the DSP units too they also have something right here

1:10too they also have something right here speciality so the specialty you have

1:14speciality so the specialty you have more options like where certain sounds

1:16more options like where certain sounds goes you have delay fader so like let's

1:19goes you have delay fader so like let's say your front speakers or whatever you

1:22say your front speakers or whatever you wanna have a really big soundstage and

1:24wanna have a really big soundstage and stuff like that if you guys know about

1:26stuff like that if you guys know about audio you can basically have somebody

1:28audio you can basically have somebody tune it for you or how to knit yourself

1:30tune it for you or how to knit yourself you have car speaker distance settings

1:32you have car speaker distance settings there's a lot more it might be a little

1:36there's a lot more it might be a little more advanced for the common user but

1:38more advanced for the common user but it's there let me tell you the sound

1:41it's there let me tell you the sound difference is a pretty big upgrade I

1:44difference is a pretty big upgrade I would say it's not something that is

1:46would say it's not something that is like crazy but it is definitely

1:48like crazy but it is definitely noticeable I would say the audio is

1:50noticeable I would say the audio is about 20% better the bass is that thumpy

1:53about 20% better the bass is that thumpy er you know the highs are that clearer

1:54er you know the highs are that clearer than the sound separation it's a lot

1:56than the sound separation it's a lot better now of course I can't really show

1:58better now of course I can't really show you because um the sound and doesn't

2:01you because um the sound and doesn't really transfer to the microphone into

2:02really transfer to the microphone into your speakers but from my experience

2:05your speakers but from my experience that's how it kind of is

2:09that's how it kind of is but yeah that is what the DSP is about

2:12but yeah that is what the DSP is about and what kind of software you can use to

2:15and what kind of software you can use to customize things what I usually do is um

2:18customize things what I usually do is um I don't really use Bluetooth too much I

2:21I don't really use Bluetooth too much I use Android auto so if you want the best

2:24use Android auto so if you want the best sounding audio I'll definitely look into

2:26sounding audio I'll definitely look into Android auto or apple carplay the sound

2:29Android auto or apple carplay the sound quality is a lot better when you use

2:31quality is a lot better when you use through direct plug-in or if you're that

2:34through direct plug-in or if you're that much of an audio file you want to use a

2:36much of an audio file you want to use a direct to plug in like a USB rather than

2:38direct to plug in like a USB rather than you know bluetooth which is you know

2:40you know bluetooth which is you know very compressed so this is like Travis

2:43very compressed so this is like Travis Cod and then you can adjust the EQ and

2:47Cod and then you can adjust the EQ and stuff like that and you can just the

2:51stuff like that and you can just the audio and there's a bunch of things I

2:53audio and there's a bunch of things I have certain things turned off but

2:54have certain things turned off but there's some presets and you can

2:57there's some presets and you can definitely hear the difference when you

2:59definitely hear the difference when you turn them on I on my system I kind of

3:02turn them on I on my system I kind of like it just everything kind of neutral

3:04like it just everything kind of neutral but it's there if you want same with

3:08but it's there if you want same with this right here you can turn all this

3:10this right here you can turn all this stuff on I like keeping this stuff on I

3:13stuff on I like keeping this stuff on I think it makes a big difference and it

3:15think it makes a big difference and it sounds dope anyways thanks you guys for

3:17sounds dope anyways thanks you guys for watching if you have any more questions

3:19watching if you have any more questions she's nothing below but the DSP wave is

3:22she's nothing below but the DSP wave is coming so stay tuned for the DSPs they

3:25coming so stay tuned for the DSPs they sound so much better and finally the

3:27sound so much better and finally the Android auto Android head units are

3:30Android auto Android head units are stepping up their game

3:32stepping up their game of course pioneers Sony them they all

3:34of course pioneers Sony them they all had really nice DSPs that just blow any

3:38had really nice DSPs that just blow any Android but this is a really good step

3:40Android but this is a really good step for Android head units to have getting

3:43for Android head units to have getting closer to that that sound quality that

3:45closer to that that sound quality that you know the bigger brands are known for

3:48you know the bigger brands are known for anyways guys thank you guys for watching

3:50anyways guys thank you guys for watching peace out

Machine-transcribed from the full-length video and lightly cleaned (product names fixed). Watch the video for exact wording.

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