Media plug-in adapter cradle for iPhone 6 has been released

[Acid_Monkey]

Was at the stealer today, and noticed that the cradle for the iPhone 6 has been released @ £134.99.

BMW have only released one version this time, so it's all singing and all dancing - thought I'd share the part number here if anyone was interested: 84212407464

Not sure if the apps work, but I can now sell my old iPhone 4 which I had in the car for the sole purpose of my 40gb music collection, and for BMW live.

[wegras]

Cheers for that ,been waiting ,no doubt the next new iPhone will be along soon hope it is same Form factor as the 6

[Steve109]

Thanks for that, another bit to add to the list when next visiting the dealer

[Maniac]

Isn't it just cheaper to plug the phone in? The cradle adds very little signal gain and afaik adds no other features that plugging it into USB doesn't already offer? Plus every time you change your phone you need a new cradle. Just plug it in?

[Angie4m]

I used to buy cradles but after waiting an age for the iPhone 5 one when it took over a year to come out I've never bothered since. Although it would be handy and I've been toying with it. Not sure how long I'll have my phone for and then it's more expense again when you change.

It's more a convenience thing really and ideal when both me and my other half are in the car on a long journey. He can also charge his phone whilst mines is in the cradle and using the music that way.

[Acid_Monkey]

Isn't it just cheaper to plug the phone in? The cradle adds very little signal gain and afaik adds no other features that plugging it into USB doesn't already offer? Plus every time you change your phone you need a new cradle. Just plug it in?

Well...the USB connectors offer the worlds worst audio quality - it's to do with the crap way the combox deals with the aux cable/USB audio signals (Same with the Mini's). Unless you're deaf it's easy to hear how muddy the bass is, and how the treble hisses. At first I thought the cable was faulty - but they are all like that. It makes my 320 kbit CD quality audio collection all sound 64kbit... and it drove me insane until I got a cradle and dedicated device for my music collection, and the audio quality difference was like night and day!

If you're not into your music, or you can't differentiate between poor quality audio and high quality, then stick with the USB.

Also my phone doesn't rattle about in the centre console...

[Maniac]

Actually no. Aux yes is poor because it's analog but with combox cars you can play audio via USB which is digital and it does not require aux at the same time as per pre combox cars like mine. USB audio quality is as good as it gets as there is no conversion by the input device.

So again, the cradle really only offers a very expensive way to hold your phone.

[Acid_Monkey]

Actually no. Aux yes is poor because it's analog but with combox cars you can play audio via USB which is digital and it does not require aux at the same time as per pre combox cars like mine. USB audio quality is as good as it gets as there is no conversion by the input device.

So again, the cradle really only offers a very expensive way to hold your phone.

Sorry but that's incorrect - I've tested both BMW's Media cable (as well as separate, quality USB and male-male aux cables) , and the cradle side by side and the difference is astounding. Have you?

In fact, using the BMW Media cable, the audio does not travel through the USB connector, instead it goes through the 3.5mm analogue jack, whilst album art, controls etc are fed through the USB.

Give it a try, on a high quality track you're familiar with and you'll hear the massive difference in quality. Compared side-by-side the cabled connection gives the impression that the audio signal is being compressed at some point.

As said earlier, If you're not into your music, or you can't differentiate between poor and high quality audio, then stick with the USB.

[Maniac]

Pre combox cars required the media adaptor to play digital audio from a phone because you had to use USB to carry power and AUX for audio when using the cable.

Combox cars carry both audio, data and power digitally and do not require aux connection. The media adaptor achieves just the same thing in combox cars as if you connected USB only.

To answer your question how do I know the above, I researched and tested extensively when I could not get the expected digital audio over USB, I discovered this was only possible on combox equipped cars which came out a year or so after mine.

As to caring about audio, I won't drop names but let's just say I've never scrimped on high end hifi, that plus having a musical family means I've a fair bit of audio knowledge. Not that this is important in this topic.

What is the MY of your car?

[USZ4]

The adapter would be a cool option if you could snap in a phone without removing the case

[Acid_Monkey]

Pre combox cars required the media adaptor to play digital audio from a phone because you had to use USB to carry power and AUX for audio when using the cable.

Combox cars carry both audio, data and power digitally and do not require aux connection. The media adaptor achieves just the same thing in combox cars as if you connected USB only.

To answer your question how do I know the above, I researched and tested extensively when I could not get the expected digital audio over USB, I discovered this was only possible on combox equipped cars which came out a year or so after mine.

As to caring about audio, I won't drop names but let's just say I've never scrimped on high end hifi, that plus having a musical family means I've a fair bit of audio knowledge. Not that this is important in this topic.

What is the MY of your car?

Interesting info re pre com-box cars - mine is 2012.

I'm not here to willy-wave lol I just know from experience they both have completely different sound quality/signatures.

Incidentally if you want the iPhone 6 adapter to play your music library off of the phone, you'll need a firmware update to enable the audio to come through.

[Obs-Com]

Sorry but I'm no expert when it comes to hi fi but I do like my music sounding good in the car. I have an iPhone 4 that lives in the BMW cradle when in the car. However my music collection is on an iPod touch that lives in the central storage armrest and is connected via the BMW usb/jack connector. The info for the iPod comes up on my media screen and to me sounds great through the BMW professional hi fi system fitted to my car.

Can I just confirm I'm using the best set up available to me? Also, if I upgraded my phone to a 6 and also stored my music on this I could get rid of my iPod and play the music via my phone and get the track info on my screen as I do with my iPod? Call me old fashioned but I still use my phone as a phone and my iPod as a music player!! I know I can store music on my phone but thought I didn't get the same info/read out as I do on the iPod???

[dr_john]

A ten quid 16GB USB stick into the centre USB port handles all my music and artwork at a better sound quality than my iPod touch did.

[USZ4]

Agree. Uncompressed music on a USB stick sounds way better than music from an Apple device

[ronk]

A ten quid 16GB USB stick into the centre USB port handles all my music and artwork at a better sound quality than my iPod touch did.

I've got a thumbnail sized USB stick - I can't see why you would need anything else.

Roof up the car is noisy, roof down , plenty of wind noise - accousticaly the car is rubbish!