Bluetooth Car Kit

randombar

Hi All,

Just wondering if I could get some recommendations on a bluetooth car kit for an '06 Corolla Hatchback.

Looking at the parrot at the minute but wondering what peoples experience is.

Have one of those ones you clip to the visor but I always forget to charge it etc. Would like something more integrated into the radio so the radio goes quiet etc.

What are people doing these days, replacing the radio or installing one of those Parrot things?

Thanks for your time,
Gary

CJhaughey

I replaced the radio with an Alpine Bluetooth one it has an external mic and USB as well.
I think it was 130 from Halfords.
Plug and play and the BT syncs all the music from your phone as well.
The only thing I think is an advantage with the dedicated units like Parrot is that they have an external aerial which helps with signal in poor coverage areas.
Other than that I am very happy with the Alpine headunit, I can charge from it as well.

randombar

CJhaughey wrote: »

I replaced the radio with an Alpine Bluetooth one it has an external mic and USB as well.
I think it was 130 from Halfords.
Plug and play and the BT syncs all the music from your phone as well.
The only thing I think is an advantage with the dedicated units like Parrot is that they have an external aerial which helps with signal in poor coverage areas.
Other than that I am very happy with the Alpine headunit, I can charge from it as well.

Nice one, they have a few all right here.

Prices are more reasonable that I thought they would be.

http://www.halfords.ie/technology/car-audio/car-stereos?bluetooth-compatible=Yes&made-for-ipod=Yes&usb=Yes&initMin=0&initMax=950&sort=price-low-to-high

Ron Burgundy II

Had a Parrot kit in my last car, will try and find the exact model. Sound quality was great and the mic could pick me up clearly in the car. But they don't come with an external antenna to boost coverage. They only work via the phones Bluetooth.

This unit was the base model, so it wouldn't allow me stream music.

Czhornet

I have a Bury CC9060 system, good sound and the mic seems to be of good quality. You can un clip it and bring it with you. Also it imports all your contacts so you can see them at a glance on the touch screen pad. it also has voice dial command.
I'm happy with it.

http://www.bury.com/cms/uk/products/kategorie/via-bluetooth-with-display-4/produkt/cc-9068-3.html

randombar

Any of them plug directly into Siri? Would be the handiest I'd say.

Special Circumstances

CJhaughey wrote: »

I replaced the radio with an Alpine Bluetooth one it has an external mic and USB as well.
I think it was 130 from Halfords.
Plug and play and the BT syncs all the music from your phone as well.
The only thing I think is an advantage with the dedicated units like Parrot is that they have an external aerial which helps with signal in poor coverage areas.
Other than that I am very happy with the Alpine headunit, I can charge from it as well.

Same.
Tfb has the same unit too I think if it's the double din.

randombar

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Same.
Tfb has the same unit too I think if it's the double din.

Double Din means it takes up two slots ya? So would fit into the big stupid radio space in a standard carolla?

CJhaughey

The one I bought was similar to this one, its only €99 which is excellent value.
I can't fault the sound quality with the handsfree and the BT streaming is very good.
I paid 129 for mine a year ago.CDE173BT is the model
There are adaptors to make a single radio fit a double din slot, you might even get a little cubby below the radio to stick crap in.

randombar

Is there an external speaker with it or is it on the front of the radio? Picks up sound ok?

Special Circumstances

Mine : http://www.halfords.ie/technology/car-audio/car-stereos/alpine-cde-w235bt-double-din-car-stereo-with-parrot-bluetooth

Special Circumstances

GaryCocs wrote: »

Is there an external speaker with it or is it on the front of the radio? Picks up sound ok?

Sound come from car speakers. It has an external mike that you can put in on the A pillar or above mirror, wherever you want once you route the wire.

I haven't used it extensively but handy to have. If you do a LOT of calls on the go then I'm NOT sure the mike system is as good as others (regards noise cancelling etc)


edit.. laast line was missing a NOT

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Toyotafanboi

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Same.
Tfb has the same unit too I think if it's the double din.

yeah, i have it too!

my car has a Parrot kit too though, so i've never used the head unit bluetooth. Can't fault the rest of the head unit though, nice item for the money :pac:

the car came with a Parrot CK3100 which is very good. it never induces "can you hear me now" syndrome or anything like that, it's good and clear and automatically turns down the stereo etc. they were probably a better purchase years ago though, considering you can get a head unit with those functions built in for the same price as the Parrot kit and you'd get the added benefit of not having extra switches on your dash and a microphone in your headliner etc.

randombar

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Sound come from car speakers. It has an external mike that you can put in on the A pillar or above mirror, wherever you want once you route the wire.

I haven't used it extensively but handy to have. If you do a LOT of calls on the go then I'm NOT sure the mike system is as good as others (regards noise cancelling etc)


edit.. laast line was missing a NOT

Ya I mean mike, I've used the ones in the radio before and they weren't great from the ones I used, needed something closer to my noggin.

CJhaughey

The Alpine single DIN I have which is very very similar to the UT73BT unit linked to earlier has an external Mic. It works well for me and I am on the phone a lot on the road.
I don't get many people complaining about the sound quality, I used to get a lot before using Nokia kits with non-Nokia phones.
My car came with a Wharfdale BT headunit but the mic was in the face of the radio and it never worked that well for me.
Thats why I opted for the Alpine instead and the bonus was a lot better connectivity.
edit: CDE173BT has a CD player UTE72BT is purely digital.

Zcott

GaryCocs wrote: »

Any of them plug directly into Siri? Would be the handiest I'd say.

I've a Bury 9040 kit. No screen or anything with it, just a three button thing with accept, hang up/decline, and a Siri button in the middle. Works great.

randombar

Reckon I'll pop into halfords so tomorrow and see about those alpine jobs.

Clareman

I've a Parrot Mki9200 in a 07 Avensis, works perfectly and couldn't recommend it highly enough, 1 of the big advantages for me is I can connect 2 phones to it.

_Kaiser_

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I have a Dension 500 media player in my A6 that integrates nicely with the MMI. The Bluetooth add-on adapter I got for it was very poor though. Seemed to be a common issue and the only solution they offered was to offer me a (pretty poor) discount if I wanted to buy a different one.

Are the newer ones any better?