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Car stereos

KelseyKelsey
edited January 1970 in Off-topic
We're getting absolutely sick to death of our current car setup - iPhone on a gooseneck charger in the lighter socket - swivelling wildly every time we turn a corner. We need a better solution.

Driving an older Kluger, we have a rudimentary 2-DIN car stereo setup.

My wishlist is:

2-DIN CD Player + Radio
Bluetooth with A2DP for stereo audio streaming
Some level of call control (i.e. a call comes in, it mutes the music and I can answer the call with the call audio routed through car speakers).
USB plug on the front for iPhone charging

It really need to work with iPhones, not just iPods as some do.

I'd then mount the iPhone via a more stable mounting system (either a bracket or suction cup on windscreen setup).

Anyone have any recommendations that don't run into the silly money category?
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  • derrilexderrilex
    I got a JVC head unit fitted recently. I just wanted a simple but modern unit that did everthing. Got a single CD, USB in the front for usb's, Ipods etc... has bluetooth with muting and handsfree and bluetooth music from IPhone/android etc... $330 fitted. Bargain. Have taken every CD out of the car and just use the Ipod for everything
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  • KelseyKelsey
    Do you remember which JVC model and where you got it fitted?
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  • derrilexderrilex
    JVC KDR526 is the head unit and the matching bluetooth handsfree kit mod number is KSBTA100 Supplied and fitted at Complete Car Sound - 100 pickering st Enoggera. 3355 1509 http://completecarsound.com.au/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/JVC_KD_DB56_4ebb674c9c809.jpg Same as this unit. Mine came with a remote too
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  • LacehimLacehim
    I got a Pioneer F900BT a few years ago.  Never again!  It does satnav, bluetooth, DVD, iPod all in one, but it's so crippled with stupid warning notices, or some features just aren't up to scratch it's useless.  I've hacked it just to get it to work the way I want but still not that happy.  Cost $2000 too! Wife has a Parrot bluetooth, and it's a clear as anything.  I would buy another one of those, just a basic model too.  She's also got the Apple TomTom nav cradle/bluetooth and it spends most of it's time in the glove box.  Why they insist on making things that require you to constantly remove it from a case I will never know. One thing I do like it having the ipod classic in the glove box with all my music and videos for the kids.  Makes life easy for entertaining them while I'm driving. In my next car which will be a smaller, diesel & auto, I'm putting the headrest screens in the back 9.2", hooking them up to an ipod with headphones for the kids!!!!, so I can listen to music instead of Toy Story audio!  :laugh:  Navigation will be on my iphone because I don't use it that much, and Tomtom gets updated with app updates.  The cradle can do bluetooth too if I need it, and another iPod for music for me I think, hopefully connected to the standard car stereo seeing as they seem to go this way these days. By the way, if you have steering controls for audio, they might not work with a new headunit and you'll pay more to get it working!
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  • KelseyKelsey
    I like your plan - I wouldn't mind something that could hook up to headrest-mounted screens later. No steering wheel controls. Parrot looks good - bet the full in-car kit is bloody expensive!
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  • Koffee_KosmoKoffee_Kosmo
    Short of getting a good iPhone dock cradle and cable http://www.thfcomms.com.au/page45.html I found this http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/OXYGEN-AUDIO-OCAR-DASH-DIGITAL-IPHONE-DOCK-CAR-STEREO-RECEIVER-W-BLUETOOTH-/190682831300?pt=Car_Audio_In_Dash_Receivers&hash=item2c659519c4#ht_4865wt_1002
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  • derrilexderrilex
    The stereo guys looked at me like I was stone age when I mentioned a new CD player. "Get with it man, no one uses CD's any more"  they said. Reminded me of telling my dad that no one plays vinyl anymore - bloody kids
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  • KelseyKelsey
    I'm sure I've still got a few boxes of cassettes floating around too. I know I have at least one box of VHS tapes and no VHS player. I don't even have a standalone DVD player anymore.
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  • LacehimLacehim
    I'm moving to digital as fast as I can.  I've already backed up all my CDs to FLAC & MP3, and half of my DVD's to mp4 so they can play on my network and idevices.  Takes up less space, easier to manage, and the kids can't destroy it with finger prints!  I also hacked the kids Wii to play games off a HDD, which has been fantastic. OT, but I'm getting a bit sick of companies that require me buy physical media to play games etc.  They need to move on. Re your stereo Kelsey there is hardware out that can do what you want by plugging into a cig lighter for power.  So, bluetooth, audio streaming by aux or FM, and charge your phone too.  I agree cables can be messy but your iphone battery probably won't last long streaming audio and using bluetooth so will need to be plugged in somewhere to charge. :)
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  • derrilexderrilex
    Thats what I like about my simple unit. Plug the ipod in the front and forget it. If the phone rings the radio/ipod is muted and the call comes through all the speakers which is great for a deaf old coot. Push a button to answer or dial out. When done, whatever you were listening to comes back on line. Simply and cheap and ipod charging all the time
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  • KelseyKelsey
    I'm not 100% opposed to powering the phone via the lighter, I just don't want the cradle to be mounted in the lighter - that's what I've got now and it's ruined the lighter socket and is a danger to us all!
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  • LacehimLacehim
    What about this Kelsey, the Parrot MKi9100 or MKi9200 (has a LCD display) - 2 phones, music & bluetooth.  It has to be installed but uses your car speakers for the calls and music.  http://www.parrot.com/usa/products/bluetooth-hands-free-car-kits there might be deals on at EOY. Here's a review from Halfords UK.  "Can't rate this kit highly enough. Bluetooths music through the stereo perfectly, crystal clear calls, and dead easy to set up and use. Installed myself in half an hour including hiding cables properly. Paired instantly with my iPhone 4 and away I went. If you spend any length of time in your car, this is the only thing you should buy!" I haven't used one, but as I said my wife's PARROT CK3000 EVOLUTION has great call quality, it mutes the stereo when she's on a call too. :) One thing to point out.  These devices and even my bloody expensive pioneer using fail to pause the music, it just mutes it.  Not a big issue for some, but when your playing an audiobook it is a PITA because you lose your place. :(
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  • derrilexderrilex
    My simple cheapy pauses and mutes when the phone rings. Dont get suckered into all the bullshit out there Kelsey. You can easily spend thousands on useless features and unless you spend 8 hours a day in the car and upgrade all the speakers, add amps and crossovers etc... you wont hear the difference between $250 and $2500. As long as it is FFP.
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  • KelseyKelsey
    No intention of spending thousands - I'd be getting myself a Strega well before then! As cheap as possible, while still being functional and reliable is the order of the day. So that Parrot system is actually looking pretty affordable and I like that I can connect two phones via BT. Do you know if you can charge via the USB port? And any idea how hard it is to install? Possibly a DIY job?
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  • derrilexderrilex
    Just dont cut or test any yellow wires, unless you like deploying airbags  :rofl: :rofl:
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  • KelseyKelsey
    lol -good to know!
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  • LacehimLacehim
    on 1339735780:
    Do you know if you can charge via the USB port?
    Yes it seems too, when plugged in.  :laugh:  You can just have it in your pocket handbag etc for calls. :)
    on 1339735780:
    And any idea how hard it is to install? Possibly a DIY job?
    Depends.  I tried to get into my stereo to disconnected the park brake sensor and it was a PITA to get the stereo out.  You had to dismantle half the dash.  I bought mine from Maroochy Car Sound, and they did a good job installing it.  Didn't do such a good job of my father-in-laws motor home though.  Your might be easier though, but depends if you like wiring and stuff.
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  • KelseyKelsey
    Looking into the Asteroid idea too now. And YouTube makes gaining access to the stereo look trivial. I wonder how plug and play it would be? Here's the back: http://www.parrot.com/images/essai/techn_1.jpg Anyone know how that compares to the usual factory radio backend? Are there double din to two single converters so I could have the Asteroid and a shelf?
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  • LacehimLacehim
    Possibly but why not wait for the new 2DIN model out in 2012?  I wouldn't by from overseas because it won't come with Australian mapping. ;)
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  • KelseyKelsey
    Good call, I didn't get that far. More research. We're also hunting for tax deductions prior to the EOFY.
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  • derrilexderrilex
    Is your impending coffee station a deduction :rofl: :rofl:
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  • KelseyKelsey
    The coffee machine itself was, so I don't see why not!
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  • derrilexderrilex
    Geez how did you swing that one. My accountant wouldn't let me claim the BZ, even though he gets 2 from it every visit - the SOB
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  • KelseyKelsey
    We have clients visit regularly and I work from home. That makes a lot of things claimable.
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  • derrilexderrilex
    As my office is at home I could claim the BZ but I would also have to claim my office and that opens up a world of hurt with capital gains on a portion of the house so not worth it
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  • KelseyKelsey
    Yep, we're renting, so it's easy in that regard.
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  • Brett HBrett H
    on 1339917949:
    Geez how did you swing that one. My accountant wouldn't let me claim the BZ, even though he gets 2 from it every visit - the SOB
    Wow yeah... How did out do that?  I can't even claim a percentage of mine despite the fact it makes coffee for visiting studio/coaching studenti.  My accountant just laughed... Until he heard the price  :rofl:
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  • derrilexderrilex
    I should have just put it through the books as heated water blaster :rofl:
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  • KelseyKelsey
    Renting makes all the difference. Hell, even the TV is partly claimable - we use it for Skype conferences.
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  • LwowiakLwowiak
    A TV should be classed as a monitor if you have a laptop. Easy to claim if you have bad eyesight.  :D Many workplaces use 32-40inch TV's as monitors.
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