options for a radio

thegreatiam

Not sure if this is more suited here or in gadgets but i think Ill get the right info here.

What are the modern options/choices for in car stereo.

Basically this is my first car, so I need to know what is out there in general that I can have in my car.

I don't need a recommendation as such, but I wouldn't mind to take a look at some.

The car I have has a stock CD player, which would predate bluetooth etc. So im trying to figure how i can get my 60GB of music from my smartphone to play on cleanly on my stereo. Ive only now realised that I haven't owned a CD in at least 5 years.

So What gadgets are available, I know if i had a tape player in the car I could get a casstte adaptor, but I assume that there is not a usb>CD player adaptor.

Are there bluetooth adaptors to send a signal to my car stereo?

or do I need to instal an aftermarket system (not really a choice tbh, purely cannot be arsed with that hassle to upgrade a stock skoda)

I would still like to be able to use my phone with a bluetooth head set for calls if at all possible. I believe my phone can connect to multiple BT devices.

SO what kind of units or gadgets can I buy to facilitate this?

Redisle

Easiest thing would probably be to replace the stereo with one that includes bluetooth.The stereo then does bluetooth audio streaming & works for phone calls. I have this JVC which is probably the best value out there at the moment. It's very well regarded on testfreaks. Depending on the car you probably need a fascia and wiring harness too. Can usually be gotten cheap enough on ebay.

thegreatiam

Redisle wrote: »

Easiest thing would probably be to replace the stereo with one that includes bluetooth.The stereo then does bluetooth audio streaming & works for phone calls. I have this JVC which is probably the best value out there at the moment.

I figured something like that, but was hoping for an easier option. as I dont want a stereo to be worth more than the car. ;-) the phone is worth almost as much as the car as it is!

Redisle

Just hold onto the original stereo and put it back in when you move onto the next car. Bring the new stereo along with you. Simples!

What car is it? That will determine how easy it is to fit a radio...

thegreatiam

OSI wrote: »

What car?

And I'd be very surprised if your phone could separate call and music audio between multiple BT devices.

skoda fabia '01

and I get an option when I use my BT headphones to have media or phone audio or both through the headset, so im assuming itll allow connection to 2 devices, havent looked into it yet tho.

Redisle wrote: »

Just hold onto the original stereo and put it back in when you move onto the next car. Bring the new stereo along with you. Simples!

What car is it? That will determine how easy it is to fit a radio...

this is one thing I want to avoid, having to carry the stereo with me when Im out. bit of a hassle, but if thats the only option then of course ill do it.

Mar4ix

wouldnt you consider this one , just need email for right connector.

Op, what car have you got ??

thegreatiam

Mar4ix wrote: »

wouldnt you consider this one , just need email for right connector.

Op, what car have you got ??

Skoda fabia from 01

Thats kind of the thing i was looking for. now to weigh up if its better to get the stereo or the adaptor (if there is one for my car)

Mar4ix

thegreatiam wrote: »

Skoda fabia from 01

Thats kind of the thing i was looking for. now to weigh up if its better to get the stereo or the adaptor (if there is one for my car)

there is no problem get adapter for that, i was looking for my wifes 2010 vw polo , and was no problem get one.

If you email on ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/261006139667?item=261006139667&pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&cmd=ViewItem&hash=item3cc52da113&vxp=mtr this guy, i think, there would no problems get adapter wire for your car.

EDIT, that adapter virtually you may use in any car, just stereo adapter cable need buy, but that wont cost expensive.

Mar4ix

also , you may consider this one , i dont know what radio you have, so i just guessed, but you may change .
thats eu manufacturer, not bad, tbh. at the end i bought for my wife this make, as i am sick of Chinese stuff around. price wise, for your car, would be twice dearer than that one in ebay.
p.s. also virtually may use on any car, matter just get adapter cable to cars unit. there is mixed reviews about them, i had lil problems, but was sorted.

thegreatiam

Mar4ix wrote: »

also , you may consider this one , i dont know what radio you have, so i just guessed, but you may change .
thats eu manufacturer, not bad, tbh. at the end i bought for my wife this make, as i am sick of Chinese stuff around. price wise, for your car, would be twice dearer than that one in ebay.
p.s. also virtually may use on any car, matter just get adapter cable to cars unit. there is mixed reviews about them, i had lil problems, but was sorted.

Thanks, am looking into both options.

Do you know of/can recommend any strereo/cd players that have the option for micro-sd cards?

JohnBoy26

thegreatiam wrote: »

Thanks, am looking into both options.

Do you know of/can recommend any strereo/cd players that have the option for micro-sd cards?

The only decent brand I can think of with an sd micro card slot in their head units, is pioneer.

thegreatiam

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

The only decent brand I can think of with an sd micro card slot in their head units, is pioneer.

thanks, just want to know if they existed. Ill do a search for these things later.

so my choices are:

• new stereo with BT and usb ports
• adapter to link my current stereo with phone
• stereo with micro SD
• buying some blank cds and recording them and getting a BT headset
• turn up the speaker on my phone loud, and shout when someone calls.

any thing else that can be done or is that it?
ill work out a budget and shop around for the model i need.

woody33

Lidl sometimes have a car stereo for about €60 that takes SD (not microSD) cards, they sound decent enough.

colm_mcm

An SD to mirco SD adaptor would surely solve this? Can't imagine why you'd want to use micro though.

JohnBoy26

woody33 wrote: »

Lidl sometimes have a car stereo for about €60 that takes SD (not microSD) cards, they sound decent enough.

They are a very poor radio imo. A know/better brand can be got for not much more.

Mar4ix

thegreatiam wrote: »

Thanks, am looking into both options.

Do you know of/can recommend any strereo/cd players that have the option for micro-sd cards?

Ii think , there is no problem get an adapter for micro sd to usb .

there in amazone or ebay bunch of them for small money. http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=micro+sd+to+usb+adapter&tag=googiehydra-21&index=aps&hvadid=4333718010&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8742954941167898782&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&ref=pd_sl_4zotckhq4b_e

JohnBoy26

Id go with the BT and USB. Id highly reccommend one of these units http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alp-cde173bt-alpine-cde-173bt.html

thegreatiam

colm_mcm wrote: »

An SD to mirco SD adaptor would surely solve this? Can't imagine why you'd want to use micro though.

cos my music on my phone is on a micro sd card.

I wasnt sure if they made stereos with card slots. all i need to know was if they were there, i have plenty of sd cards, micro sd cards and adaptors for the both.

colm_mcm

Are you saying you'd take the card out of your phone every time you need music?

JohnBoy26

thegreatiam wrote: »

cos my music on my phone is on a micro sd card.

I wasnt sure if they made stereos with card slots. all i need to know was if they were there, i have plenty of sd cards, micro sd cards and adaptors for the both.

Here you go http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/pio-dehx8500bt-pioneer-deh-x8500bt.html

thegreatiam

colm_mcm wrote: »

Are you saying you'd take the card out of your phone every time you need music?

i have more than one card.
what i dont have is cds, nor the desire to burn a load of cds for the car if there were other options.

colm_mcm

Just use a full size SD card or memory stick, there are loads of options for stereos this way.
SD card is good because it doesn't stick out and look messy.

SD to micro SD adaptor means if you have spare micro SDs you can use one.