Bluetooth car stereo opinions?

faigs

Hi, I need to replace the factory fitted stereo in my 10 year old Golf, so I thought I'd put something decent in. Something with Bluetooth connection and iPod connection.

Could I have some views on this?

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/2429916/art/kenwood/kdc-bt6544-cd-mp3-usb-blu.html

Would that be a good price for it?

I also need to replace the front door speakers and was wondering would these fit handy enough?

http://www.incar-emporium.com/product_info.php?products_id=2506&TeKnoID=3918ec78ae7bb9abe4038be144091cfd

If anyone has recommendation for alternatives that would be great also.

Thanks!

EDIT: Would these speakers fit in a MK4 Golf?

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/2420046/art/sony/xs-f1026-car-speakers.html

dnme

I recently (3 weeks ago) bought a Kenwood head unit for the car. When it arrived I just didn't like it from a usability point of view, also the manual was written in terrible english and had obviously been contracted out to some non english speaking.

The whole package sucked so much that I immediately put it on adverts and let it go, I then went sown to LIDL and bought their silvercrest head unit last week. Its brilliant.

Kenwood used to be such a quality make, but imo they have gone down the sink.

Jip

I wouldn't agree with the above, I changed my Blaupunkt for a Kenwood BT8041U http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/products/car/cd_receivers/KDC-BT8041U/ and it's a great piece of kit, great sound and functionality and there's not a thing wrong with the user manual grammar wise.

Maybe the bosses son was working the day your manual was being produced and they gave it to him to do to keep him out of trouble a while

faigs

Would this be a better option?

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/2739848/art/sony/mex-bt2700-car-radio-with.html

BlackWizard

I use the Lidl car stereos too. I'm on my second one now. You sometimes have to speak up a bit for the mic to pick up your voice, but it seems to be the same on all of these stereos and bluetooth kits.

EPM

Really cant recommend this thing enough

http://caraudiosecurity.com/shop/product/products_id/10110.html

Henry Ford III

I'd avoid Pixmania like the plague. I bought a hifi from them which was lost apparently in transit by DHL. Took me 4 months and countless phone calls to get a refund.

EPM the OP will never pick up Today FM on one of those

Alanstrainor

I got one of the ALDI radios with a bluetooth connection and i find it's brilliant, i've had it around 6 months, not a single problem with it. Using the bluetooth to play back music is great. The call quality is grand, as said, you may need to speak up a bit to be heard, but it works just fine. I paid 70~ quid for it, bargain.

biko

I had one from Aldi/Lidl and it was very good.

witless_steve

If you don't want to fit the HU yourself, is there anywhere you can find a fitter?

Harcrid

faigs wrote: »

Would this be a better option?

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/2739848/art/sony/mex-bt2700-car-radio-with.html

I have the Sony Mex BT4700U which is basically the same stereo but with a USB port on the front. So far I have been very impressed with both the music quality and the hands free phone feature. I use it with my iPhone and it lets you stream music from your phone via bluetooth so it's a good bit of kit overall.

faigs

I've used Pixmania before without any problems.

Regarding Lidl/Aldi radios, are they usually a weekly special that comes around once or twice a year or are they there most of the time?

I'm very tempted by the Sony from Pixmania. Need to fit new speakers too, not looking forward to that!

faigs

Celtxx wrote: »

I have the Sony Mex BT4700U which is basically the same stereo but with a USB port on the front. So far I have been very impressed with both the music quality and the hands free phone feature. I use it with my iPhone and it lets you stream music from your phone via bluetooth so it's a good bit of kit overall.

What's the advantage of the usb connection to iPod versus the minijack one out of interest? Should I pay about €40 more for the usb socket?

Jip

Depends on the head unit, but USB will usually charge the iPod and there's also the possibility of iPod control from the head unit.

Harcrid

faigs wrote: »

What's the advantage of the usb connection to iPod versus the minijack one out of interest? Should I pay about €40 more for the usb socket?

You can dump a load of songs onto a USB key and play it directly through the stereo. I have never used it with an iPod so I don't know how that would work.