SpikedJuice
Member
Thanks ASW28 and Rich-hill. Do you guys have photos from your install and where you have the microphone located?
DICE MediaBridge opinion/review
- Thread starter Rich-hill
- Start date
charlieaf92
Member
I installed my mic up along the roof line where the ready lights are. There is a spot for it with little vents to let the sound through. There is a good video on YouTube showing exactly how to do it.
SpikedJuice
Member
Managed to fit mine today and installed everything in the stock positions as per the Youtube installation videos.
Everything works well apart from the microphone
That might need adjusting as when I made a test call, my girlfriend said it sounded like I had my hand over my mouth.
I was so surprised it worked out of the box as I was afraid of all the Dice horror stories!
Everything works well apart from the microphone
That might need adjusting as when I made a test call, my girlfriend said it sounded like I had my hand over my mouth.I was so surprised it worked out of the box as I was afraid of all the Dice horror stories!
SpikedJuice
Member
I should probably put down my initial thoughts of the device so far!
Firstly the audio quality. I'm quite picky about audio quality, having spent a fair amount of time and money on hi-fi separates, in ear monitors and headphones. I was a little worried that installing the DICE MediaBridge would result in a drop of sound quality from the CD changer. Thankfully, I needn't have worried. The quality is excellent, on par with the OEM CD player. The best quality is through the line out to USB connection from an iPod (as expected). What is surprising is the sound quality from Bluetooth (over A2DP) - noticeably lower but not that far behind and certainly much better than the OEM radio. I haven't tried playing audio files from a USB stick yet so I can't comment. I think Bluetooth A2DP is on par with the AUX connection - both quite clear and acceptable. Your miles may vary depending on your audio files. I was using mp3s at either 320kbps or in Apple Lossless format.
The interface is a little clunky but as I have the bog standard BMW Business headunit (i.e. no NAV), that was to be expected. The announcer, telling you which mode you're in, isn't actually that annoying but I believe there is an option to switch her off anyway. Usability with the rest of the system is very good. My girlfriend found it quite simple to pair up her Samsung Galaxy S2 to the MediaBridge to start streaming music from her phone over Bluetooth A2DP, taking over DJing duties from my iPhone 4S, for example.
We also did a test call while music was playing from my iPhone via USB and the music was interrupted with the number of the incoming call appearing on the headunit. The announcer also read out the number.
So in conclusion so far, the MediaBridge is performing to expectations and is a rather neat product. It is exactly what I was after and has impressed me with its ease of use. I'll report back in a month or so after an extended testing period and let you know of any updates!
Firstly the audio quality. I'm quite picky about audio quality, having spent a fair amount of time and money on hi-fi separates, in ear monitors and headphones. I was a little worried that installing the DICE MediaBridge would result in a drop of sound quality from the CD changer. Thankfully, I needn't have worried. The quality is excellent, on par with the OEM CD player. The best quality is through the line out to USB connection from an iPod (as expected). What is surprising is the sound quality from Bluetooth (over A2DP) - noticeably lower but not that far behind and certainly much better than the OEM radio. I haven't tried playing audio files from a USB stick yet so I can't comment. I think Bluetooth A2DP is on par with the AUX connection - both quite clear and acceptable. Your miles may vary depending on your audio files. I was using mp3s at either 320kbps or in Apple Lossless format.
The interface is a little clunky but as I have the bog standard BMW Business headunit (i.e. no NAV), that was to be expected. The announcer, telling you which mode you're in, isn't actually that annoying but I believe there is an option to switch her off anyway. Usability with the rest of the system is very good. My girlfriend found it quite simple to pair up her Samsung Galaxy S2 to the MediaBridge to start streaming music from her phone over Bluetooth A2DP, taking over DJing duties from my iPhone 4S, for example.
We also did a test call while music was playing from my iPhone via USB and the music was interrupted with the number of the incoming call appearing on the headunit. The announcer also read out the number.
So in conclusion so far, the MediaBridge is performing to expectations and is a rather neat product. It is exactly what I was after and has impressed me with its ease of use. I'll report back in a month or so after an extended testing period and let you know of any updates!
SpikedJuice
Member
Ok, I've hit my first couple of issues:
- I can't seem to change artist or song when I have an iPod hooked up via USB. I can only scroll through the songs by that artist
- Sometimes the MediaBridge gets stuck in trying to play a song. The track information is displayed but no audio is heard. Skipping through the next couple of tracks then going back usually gets it going again though
Anyone had similar issues?
- I can't seem to change artist or song when I have an iPod hooked up via USB. I can only scroll through the songs by that artist
- Sometimes the MediaBridge gets stuck in trying to play a song. The track information is displayed but no audio is heard. Skipping through the next couple of tracks then going back usually gets it going again though
Anyone had similar issues?
SpikedJuice
Member
Yeah, I checked that I had the latest firmware before installation. The MediaBridge was actually delivered to me with the latest firmware preinstalled.
I can resolve the first issue by locking the iPod Nano first before connecting it to the MediaBridge. However, in the instructions, it says that I should be able to change album and artist even when the iPod is unlocked.
The second issue seems to happen upon startup. The MediaBridge can't resume a track. It shows the correct track information (the last song played) but no audio. Skipping to the next track sorts it out though.
I can resolve the first issue by locking the iPod Nano first before connecting it to the MediaBridge. However, in the instructions, it says that I should be able to change album and artist even when the iPod is unlocked.
The second issue seems to happen upon startup. The MediaBridge can't resume a track. It shows the correct track information (the last song played) but no audio. Skipping to the next track sorts it out though.
I find mine can have some funny turns once and a while but all in all works well.
I wedged my mic just behind the indicator stalk in the crease as dash meets steering wrack, you can't see it, it doesn't interfer with anything and my voice is clear when on the phone, even at 50h with the roof down
I wedged my mic just behind the indicator stalk in the crease as dash meets steering wrack, you can't see it, it doesn't interfer with anything and my voice is clear when on the phone, even at 50h with the roof down
I wrote about my experience with the Mediabridge here:
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=33275&p=468757#p468757
In short, the iPod functionality is brilliant, the Bluetooth calling works pretty well, but the Bluetooth Audio Streaming isn't that great. All this is with an iPhone 4S running iOS 5.1.
I'd also recommend disabiling the text-to-speech functions, the whole experience is a lot more snappy when the computer voice isn't interrupting.
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=33275&p=468757#p468757
In short, the iPod functionality is brilliant, the Bluetooth calling works pretty well, but the Bluetooth Audio Streaming isn't that great. All this is with an iPhone 4S running iOS 5.1.
I'd also recommend disabiling the text-to-speech functions, the whole experience is a lot more snappy when the computer voice isn't interrupting.
SpikedJuice
Member
Good review, Mitch89.
I've since found out that the resume function doesn't work on my iPod Nano 4th Gen but works fine with my iPod Nano 1st Gen. Also sound quality differs quite a bit between the Apple devices. The best sound quality is with the latest Apple devices - my iPhone 4S via a USB connection has much better bass giving a much fuller sound. The output from my iPod 1st gen is quite flat in comparison.
I've since found out that the resume function doesn't work on my iPod Nano 4th Gen but works fine with my iPod Nano 1st Gen. Also sound quality differs quite a bit between the Apple devices. The best sound quality is with the latest Apple devices - my iPhone 4S via a USB connection has much better bass giving a much fuller sound. The output from my iPod 1st gen is quite flat in comparison.