5 replies to this topic

[ohioDroid]

Title pretty much gives it away. I'm tired of using an FM Transmitter and am considering purchasing an entirely new car stereo with bluetooth capabilities to play music from my android phone. Ideally, said car stereo would have the following features (in order of most important to least important)

• Play music from phone without audio wires
  
• Controls on stereo hardware can change settings on phone (next, previous, pause, maybe volume)
  
• Work with my audio applications (³, Pandora, others)
  
• Display track information on stereo screen
  
• Some capabilities for dealing with phone calls.

I don't even need it to be a CD player. I've seen some Sony and JVC and other devices in my local car stereo places but am wondering what the rest of you have used and know is good.

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[tobiasg]

I have the Dual XDMA6415 Been quite happy with it, does everything you asked except for displaying track info from phone on stereo screen. Works with all audio apps on my phone including stock music, pandora, grooveshark etc. Calls get routed through and there is a long microphone cable you run up the ceiling. Buy from crutchfield - they do such a nice job of supporting you through the install (if you need that kind of thing) and making sure you have everything you need for the car you are installing it in.

[KOBALT]

One word.

Alpine.

Sent from my BIONIK

[ohioDroid]

tobiasg said:

I have the Dual XDMA6415 Been quite happy with it, does everything you asked except for displaying track info from phone on stereo screen. Works with all audio apps on my phone including stock music, pandora, grooveshark etc. Calls get routed through and there is a long microphone cable you run up the ceiling. Buy from crutchfield - they do such a nice job of supporting you through the install (if you need that kind of thing) and making sure you have everything you need for the car you are installing it in.

It's discontinued at Crutchfield. Even if it was available, I'm not sure I want to go that route. Installing a car stereo doesn't sound difficult at all, but as one of my buddies put it to me, "you'll be doing it once. The guys at local stores do it every day. Even if you follow instructions exactly, they'll probably do better and not have any rattling noise when it's all done."

KOBALT said:

One word.

Alpine.

Sent from my BIONIK

Alpine's website lists the CDE-133BT and the 126BT. They both sound good, although I can't tell the difference between them. Best Buy says they will have the 133BT 'soon' and they have another, the 125BT which again seems like the same functionality with a different faceplate and model number.

While I was on Best Buy's site, I also saw the Sony MEXBT2900. It says it has HD radio too if you buy an additional tuner for it...

Another local Car Stereo place has a Pioneer DEH-P7200HD CD Receiver with HD Radio, but the adapter to give it Bluetooth functionality costs more than the radio itself. They also have an Alpine CDE-103BT, which yet again looks and sounds like every other Alpine to me...

[ohioDroid]

Adding some more info.

One of my local car stereo companies is now advertising an 'Android ready' car stereo from Kenwood.
Here's an article about them:

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And another:

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Basically it sounds like Kenwood is starting to recognize Android, which means they're building in the USB Mass Storage functionality into their stereos and getting more in depth music control (like Pandora). Unfortunately, UMS won't work on a new phone like the Galaxy Nexus, so this may not be a viable option.

[ohioDroid]

What about JVC?

There's now a JVC KD-X50-BT stereo. You lose having a CD player, but it's described as being fully capable Bluetooth-wise with an Android phone for audio streaming, control, and Pandora. It also has a front USB jack (that provides up to an amp, so it can charge your phone too) and an auxiliary input. They also provide a microphone so you can do hands-free voice conversations.

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