Car stereos

Koffee_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

derrilex

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

Kelsey

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.

Lacehim

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. 🙂

derrilex

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

Kelsey

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!

Lacehim

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. 🙁

derrilex

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.

Kelsey

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?

derrilex

Just dont cut or test any yellow wires, unless you like deploying airbags :rofl: :rofl:

Kelsey

lol -good to know!

Lacehim

Kelsey wrote:

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. 🙂

Kelsey wrote:

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.

Kelsey

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?

Lacehim

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. 😉

Kelsey

Good call, I didn't get that far. More research. We're also hunting for tax deductions prior to the EOFY.

derrilex

Is your impending coffee station a deduction :rofl: :rofl:

Kelsey

The coffee machine itself was, so I don't see why not!

derrilex

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

Kelsey

We have clients visit regularly and I work from home. That makes a lot of things claimable.

derrilex

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