Best option for Bluetooth audio

S

Shadbolt83

Member
Warfield, Berkshire.
I have a few routes to go down to connect my phone for audio and calls. But would prefer to keep the standard head unit and digital where possible to ensure good audio quality.

My zed has a few factory options added which leaves me with a few possibilities. Just trying to pick the right one.

Options
PXL_20230524_090248624.jpgPXL_20230524_090316430.jpgPXL_20230524_090255662.jpgScreenshot_20230523-124129.png

I see a how to guide on here to use the s692 cd changer I bus prep I have on here to install the following:



Would that be the best option, or is there a simpler solution with the phone prep option I have?.

Thanks in advance.Screenshot_20230524-101303~2.png
 
There's Bluetooth receivers on the Amazon for under £15.

Plug it into the AUX socket and that's it.
 
skelters said:
There's Bluetooth receivers on the Amazon for under £15.

Plug it into the AUX socket and that's it.
Click to expand...

Does plugging it via aux not make it analog and sound shite?
 
AUX is always going to deteriorate sound quality. Don't ask by how much, because you're only going to get highly subjective answers. I tried it, and it wasn't for me.

The best supposed solution is either from Grom Audio or Bluebus. I went with the latter but still waiting on receiving it mid-June. I'm so psyched though based on the reviews and capabilities noted. But those two options will get you 100% pure digital signal.
 
This is the one I got:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25407316...Axu|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2047675&epid=16028096627
It came from Germany, but I didn't have to pay any extra import charges. Streaming works fine, but I haven't actually tried the phone through it yet as I haven't got around to routing the microphone into the cabin. It plugs into the CD autochanger plug, which I got to through the boot, under the carpet panels. My car just has the basic 6 speaker system, but i would have thought it would work with the fancier systems as it just basically replaces the autochanger, but it would be worth checking before ordering.
 
Your VIN spec, and the photo of the phone cradle, suggest that you should be able to pair your phone to the car for calls (the speech button on the cubby hole door is used to enter bluetooth pairing mode). It is a frustrating process to get right , and you also need to have the bluetooth access code available to you (if you have the original docs that came with the car, it should be on a sticker on one of the booklets), but it's worth setting up in my view. If you search for bluetooth pairing, you should find some posts showing how to set it up.

For audio/media - the Bluemusic adapter is your best option for audio quality (versus a solution that utilises the aux socket), and will also allow you to use your steering controls to skip tracks.

The above is the combo that I have in my coupe, and am happy with both. I don't have any experience with the Bluemusic adapter that has an integrated mic, but my view would be that if you can get the above working, then it's less wires for you to plumb around the car, and less to go wrong.
 
Calps said:
Your VIN spec, and the photo of the phone cradle, suggest that you should be able to pair your phone to the car for calls (the speech button on the cubby hole door is used to enter bluetooth pairing mode). It is a frustrating process to get right , and you also need to have the bluetooth access code available to you (if you have the original docs that came with the car, it should be on a sticker on one of the booklets), but it's worth setting up in my view. If you search for bluetooth pairing, you should find some posts showing how to set it up.

For audio/media - the Bluemusic adapter is your best option for audio quality (versus a solution that utilises the aux socket), and will also allow you to use your steering controls to skip tracks.

The above is the combo that I have in my coupe, and am happy with both. I don't have any experience with the Bluemusic adapter that has an integrated mic, but my view would be that if you can get the above working, then it's less wires for you to plumb around the car, and less to go wrong.
Click to expand...

Found the guide to enter pairing mode: https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=99347&hilit=bluetooth
 
I bought this. Works perfectly...can even make calls with voice commands via google...

[The Latest Version]LENCENT Car FM Transmitter, Wireless Bluetooth 5.0 Radio Adapter Car Kit, PD3.0 Type C 20W+QC3.0 Car Fast Charger, Hands Free Calling, Bass Lossless Hi-Fi Sound Support U Disk. https://amzn.eu/d/baTWtVh
 
Calps said:
Calps said:
Your VIN spec, and the photo of the phone cradle, suggest that you should be able to pair your phone to the car for calls (the speech button on the cubby hole door is used to enter bluetooth pairing mode). It is a frustrating process to get right , and you also need to have the bluetooth access code available to you (if you have the original docs that came with the car, it should be on a sticker on one of the booklets), but it's worth setting up in my view. If you search for bluetooth pairing, you should find some posts showing how to set it up.

For audio/media - the Bluemusic adapter is your best option for audio quality (versus a solution that utilises the aux socket), and will also allow you to use your steering controls to skip tracks.

The above is the combo that I have in my coupe, and am happy with both. I don't have any experience with the Bluemusic adapter that has an integrated mic, but my view would be that if you can get the above working, then it's less wires for you to plumb around the car, and less to go wrong.
Click to expand...

Found the guide to enter pairing mode: https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=99347&hilit=bluetooth
Click to expand...

Ah perfect thank so much. Yes was confused by the pairing process and gave up, assumed it had to be plugged in with some old method. Will give that a go. For music, I ordered an iPod Bluetooth transmitter, as I believe I can plug in to the iPod 30 pin and get decent digital audio that way. If I can use the standard equipment for calls than that resolves that problem😁.
 
spielnicht said:
AUX is always going to deteriorate sound quality. Don't ask by how much, because you're only going to get highly subjective answers.
Click to expand...

At the end of the day the signal has to become analogue at some point to flap the speakers back and forth. Saying the aux-in degrades the signal is nonsense, particularly in the environs of a motor car!
 
smorris_12 said:
spielnicht said:
AUX is always going to deteriorate sound quality. Don't ask by how much, because you're only going to get highly subjective answers.
Click to expand...

At the end of the day the signal has to become analogue at some point to flap the speakers back and forth. Saying the aux-in degrades the signal is nonsense, particularly in the environs of a motor car!
Click to expand...

I think it makes a major difference of the quality of audio that reaches the head unit to be amplified. A poor analogue signal in, will sound worse than a digital signal, even if the end result is an analogue output to speakers.
 
Exactly. Degradation if the signal through AUX is real, and it becomes even worse when you go Bluetooth>AUX. I think anyone that appreciates sound quality will pick up on that, regardless of being a car stereo or not. I'm not saying everyone will (or should) care, but it's not nonsense.

I endured about 5 mins of playback through the AUX before I switched over to MP3 CDs. Oh, the difference is noticeable. Counting the days for my Bluetooth solution to arrive in the mail.

Shadbolt83 said:
smorris_12 said:
spielnicht said:
AUX is always going to deteriorate sound quality. Don't ask by how much, because you're only going to get highly subjective answers.
Click to expand...

At the end of the day the signal has to become analogue at some point to flap the speakers back and forth. Saying the aux-in degrades the signal is nonsense, particularly in the environs of a motor car!
Click to expand...

I think it makes a major difference of the quality of audio that reaches the head unit to be amplified. A poor analogue signal in, will sound worse than a digital signal, even if the end result is an analogue output to speakers.
Click to expand...
 
I have actually been considering Bluetooth options myself recently.

When I bought my car it came with a device called Xcarlink which is sort of like the GROM devices I think (takes the wiring from the CD changer), but the output is very quiet and I have to turn the volume up a lot from the headunit which introduces a lot of hissing noise. I would expect it to send a digital signal straight to the headunit but maybe that is not the case, otherwise I don't think I would have this issue. If these devices do send an analogue signal, then it would have the same issue as using a device plugged into aux.

I am also considering the aux method and I just wanted to give some input on what people are saying about degrading the sound quality.

I am not sure what path it the audio takes through the car, but I assume if you put something in the aux in, it may go through an analogue-to-digital conversion so that any signal processing can be applied, then back to analogue once the processing is done. This would affect the sound quality if the analogue-to-digital convertor is low quality.

If it went from aux straight to the amp and into the speakers then the sound quality would be fine, assuming the device that is plugged into the aux has a good digital-to-analogue convertor.

It may also be a negligible difference in sound quality. I find road noise to be the biggest killer of sound quality so I am currently doing my best to add some sound deadening to the car. I think a lot of sound may come through the drainage holes and the fact that the drain and boot area are not isolated from the cabin so I'm not sure how much noise reduction can be made.

It may be worth plugging in a device into the aux and seeing if you can notice any problems with the sound quality. I plan on doing this but I need to retrofit aux first.

I am considering this device - https://www.amazon.co.uk/TOPPING-ES9018Q2C-Wireless-Bluetooth-Headphone-Silver/dp/B08FJ4Y337?th=1 - as I know this has a good quality DAC and it supports LDAC which is a high quality bluetooth codec. Would need to figure out where to fit it and the best way to wire it into power, though. You would also lose the ability to make calls handsfree, so it depends how important sound quality/handsfree calls are for you. I haven't had a proper look at devices yet but I have a feeling the BT devices with handsfree calls etc will not be great for audio quality.

I am also looking at something like the echo auto but still not entirely sure. After posting this I also realised you would lose any microphone and ability to make Bluetooth calls with the above, so I will update you if I come across anything better
 
smorris_12 said:
At the end of the day the signal has to become analogue at some point to flap the speakers back and forth. Saying the aux-in degrades the signal is nonsense, particularly in the environs of a motor car!
Click to expand...

I can confirm that aux has more noise interference, did my own independant testing on this. Went for the bluemusic path which hooks up to the 6CD changer and i think its the best option. you can Play music, enter pairing mode, accept/decline calls and skip tracks all from the head unit. If you have the Multi function steering wheel, all of those work as the car thinks it is interacting with the "CD changer"
 
Update on this. Got the phone pairing to work though my standard equipment. So thanks to Calps for the set up info on that

As for Bluetooth, I used an iPod adapter for Bluetooth as I wasn't sure if the cable in was just a iPod analog aux... It just about works, but it is indeed just an aux cable, it's a bit quiet and sounds shite.

Will return the adaptor and go down the bluemusic cd changer route as this seems to be the better quality way to go.
 
NaweedMustafa said:
smorris_12 said:
At the end of the day the signal has to become analogue at some point to flap the speakers back and forth. Saying the aux-in degrades the signal is nonsense, particularly in the environs of a motor car!
Click to expand...

I can confirm that aux has more noise interference, did my own independant testing on this. Went for the bluemusic path which hooks up to the 6CD changer and i think its the best option. you can Play music, enter pairing mode, accept/decline calls and skip tracks all from the head unit. If you have the Multi function steering wheel, all of those work as the car thinks it is interacting with the "CD changer"
Click to expand...

Thanks buddy, I think this has confirmed to me the best route to go moving forward, there's been a few shout outs for this solution.
 
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