Looking for Car Stereo Recommendations

I looked at a lot of 'works with iPod' car stereos about a year ago. There seem to be a couple of standards (which may have changed) - "usb" and "full speed" which link to the speed of the interface.

However, I tried a few out and was unhappy with any of them. The thing that make the iPod so good is it's superb user interface - you can quickly scroll through long lists with the scrollwheel or touchscreen, see all the info you need on the screen (song name/artist name/album name/artwork) and easily navigate the menus.

All of the devices I looked at (Pioneer/Parrot/Blaupunkt) substituted this for up/down/left/right/select type navigation, with a slow response. Even when they had a scrollwheel (the parrot), the small screens truncated much of the metadata. On that basis I bought a Blaupunkt MP68, a Blaupunkt line out/power lead, and a dash mount for the iPod. That way I still use the iPod to select the music.

However, this cable doesn't work with the iPhone I just bought 😟 .... BUT:-) the MP68 also supports A2DP Bluetooth streaming so I can connect the iPhone via bluetooth, have it work as a phone in car and also select music from the iPhone interface. I do then need a separate charger lead for the iPhone but that's no big deal (and it can still sit on the mount i have)

So my advice is to:
1) get a head unit that supports BT streaming
2) or, go for something that just has a simple line in (and use the headphone output from your phone)

The double size head units with touch screens may be better but they're a lot of cash.

I have the same frustration. The car audio manufacturers are not very forthcoming with information, and a search for car audio at the apple site kicks you to the ipod page.

I am considering a home-built touch screen carputer, or turn-key from Crtuchfield, Best Buy etc. Is it just me or is using the iphone as a phone, gps, and mp3 player just a bridge too far?

After searching and browsing the best answer I have heard is that you can use a single function but tight integration remains elusive.

If I find a solution I will update this post.

have a look at this PARROT RK8200
http://www.parrot.com/uk/products/car-stereos

Thanks for the report.

Can you tell me if this was an in-dash GPS/video unit or just a single-DIN CD player type stereo?

I'm looking at buying a new car this fall and as a reward for buying a used car, I plan on dumping the factory stereo for an in-dash double-DIN GPS/video unit and I would like to be able to get iPhone 3GS integration, ideally both Bluetooth integration (audio streaming & handsfree) as well as charging/control via wired interface.

Update on my previous post. I think the 3.01 update for the 3GS broke bluetooth streaming for me on the Blaupunkt (phone BT still works) and 3.1 has not fixed it.

Update on my previous post. I think the 3.01 update for the 3GS broke bluetooth streaming for me on the Blaupunkt (phone BT still works) and 3.1 has not fixed it.

This is an interesting dilemma... I have just blown my second iPod (30GB iPod Photo) using an older Alpine stereo and got to thinking about what I wanted to do with music and such in my truck next. I had thought I would just get another head unit and a new pod and have tunes again, but then I started thinking about my iPhone as well.

I am just about to upgrade to a 32GB iPhone 3GS from an original 8GB iPhone. I thought, how cool would it be to have the device pair with the stereo, download my contact info/address book and be able to use it as a hands free calling device, even better if it was voice controlled. Then I thought, it'd also be cool if the system had good iPod/iPhone music integration (album art, cover flow)... music over Bluetooth would be even better for no wires. Then I'm thinking, that new iPhone has GPS built in. I wonder if any car audio manufacturers have found a way to integrate that as well.

I'm asking a lot, I know!! Have already been in touch with Crutchfield and am looking around now for a device that suits most if not all of my needs.

1. Seamless music with a good interface for all the music on a bigger ipod. you know what its like trying to find that special song through your car stereo interface and an ipod. Pain in the tail! I've got 20,000 songs on there!

2. Bluetooth Phone, voice controlled, address book into car stereo.

3. GPS integration, whether that means dash mounting my iPhone as well.

4. Possibly video but not a big deal.

No desire for a CD player. Done with that technology.

Thanks for posting this kraz8. Any feedback would be appreciated.

cheers,

Tim

Realize that eventually a firmware upgrade for the iPhone will likely break some functionality between the iPhone and the stereo. When this happens, it will be up to Pioneer to release a firmware update for the stereo and those don't come very easily. It would be easier to buy a new stereo every time that happens.

For this reason, my Pioneer stereo is iPod ready and has no trouble playing last years or this years iPods through it's display. I then take my iPhone and connect it through the AUX input on the front of the stereo. I could connect it through the iPod connector but it's much easier to use both this way.

I think I might just wait for the iTablet or whatever netbook type machine Apple has coming. Mount that right where the stereo space in my truck is now (I've got a double spaced stereo slot) and plug it directly into an amp through the headphone jack, get bluetooth for the truck as an aftermarket device, I'm sure that's fairly easy...

If the iPhone's screen was just a hair bigger, all by itself it would be the perfect. just get a mount...

imho