What's the best after market bluetooth hands-free for cars?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › What's the best after market bluetooth hands-free for cars?

dafman

3207 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#191924 20-Feb-2016 20:56

My partner loves hands-free bluetooth for her mobile in our Subaru Outback. So much so, I'm thinking of looking for aftermarket options for a second shopping basket vehicle without bluetooth.

I'm looking for an after market option that is as good as factory fitted. I realise we won't have all controls in the steering wheel, but I want the easiest next best option. I don't mind spending a good sum for a good option, so looking for recommendations.

thanks in advance

1 | 2

9714 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1496422 20-Feb-2016 21:29

depends on what the vehicle is, if we knew that many people could suggest something.

have installed a couple in our 07 accord and out 07 Jazz and they do the trick for a hands free bluetooth kit. nothing like a factory fitted kit but still.

rp1790

492 posts

Ultimate Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1496498 21-Feb-2016 10:49

You didn't say which year Subaru Outback but have a look at these guys http://www.oemaudio.co.nz/multimedia-units/subaru

Jase2985

9714 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1496504 21-Feb-2016 11:01

rp1790:

You didn't say which year Subaru Outback but have a look at these guys http://www.oemaudio.co.nz/multimedia-units/subaru

pretty sure his partner has an outback which has bluetooth and hes looking for one for his other car which doesnt have bluetooth

Wade

2217 posts

Uber Geek

#1496537 21-Feb-2016 13:40

https://kinivo.com/product/btc455-hands-free-bluetooth-car-adapter/

These are awesome, as long as you have a 3.5mm aux input on the factory stereo it is about as close as you can get to factory

Can also stream bluetooth audio in apt-X

timbosan

1691 posts

Uber Geek

#1496552 21-Feb-2016 14:13

I have a Parrot CK3100 in my car, integrates with the car stereo (so it mutes when I answer the call); I have a mic near the sun-visor so voice pickup is good and clear, it has an external LCD display with controls, plus voice control. The address book syncs from the phone (I have used and iPhone and Blackberry with it) so you can scroll through the name using the rotary controller.

It apparently takes a bit to install, but the end result is very very good, but they are expensive, like $400 or so (mine was already installed when i bought the car).

Hunter

65 posts

Master Geek

#1496568 21-Feb-2016 14:30

Following discussion with these things.
I bought a few of them, most of which Chinese made.
Have nothing but problems with them.
Most of which relates to bluetooth not connecting, a number of them will only connect if I push one of the buttons on the set. Suspect that has to do with the fact they go to sleep and does not monitor the bluetooth.
Have absolute no problems with the build-in on the car.
They connect fine

mudguard

958 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1496589 21-Feb-2016 16:06

I had a second bluetooth clip on thing on the sun visor. I use my personal phone connected to the inbuilt bluetooth so I can listen to music. But I needed a second one for my work phone, which gets occasional calls, but they're usually long in duration.

I was using a Parrot Neo, recharges from micro USB (so I could just one of my phone cables from the 12v). And it lasted ages, I think it senses vibration, so it would turn on when I would sit in the car. Then turn off when it could no longer detect bluetooth. And it would answer calls with a voice command.

Worked fine till I left it in a rental car and had it couriered back.

As for a factory fitted unit, depending on your car it would probably be cheaper and easier to buy a new headunit (unless you've got an integrated audio). That's what I did on my old Accord and to my partner's old hatchback. It wasn't that hard to tuck the microphone up the A pillar.

dafman

3207 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#1496611 21-Feb-2016 17:59

Wade:

https://kinivo.com/product/btc455-hands-free-bluetooth-car-adapter/

These are awesome, as long as you have a 3.5mm aux input on the factory stereo it is about as close as you can get to factory

Can also stream bluetooth audio in apt-X

Excellent, this looks just the ticket.

Jase2985

9714 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1496613 21-Feb-2016 18:04

@dafman

what car is it for?

RunningMan

5963 posts

Uber Geek

#1496623 21-Feb-2016 18:56

+1 for the Parrot CK3100. It just works, and fairly easy to install if you can get ISO adapter cables for your car, or the Parrot fitting kit. Had one and moved it to another car easily. Far better than any of the sun visor type ones as well.

jonathan18

4595 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#1496782 22-Feb-2016 08:21

dafman:

Wade:

https://kinivo.com/product/btc455-hands-free-bluetooth-car-adapter/

These are awesome, as long as you have a 3.5mm aux input on the factory stereo it is about as close as you can get to factory

Can also stream bluetooth audio in apt-X

Excellent, this looks just the ticket.

+1 for this - I bought one for my wife's car after reading about them here on GZ, and hers works perfectly - connects every time. Of course the downsides are that your stereo needs to be set to "Aux" to be able to receive calls over the system, and you don't get the screen to be able to select numbers and make calls directly (so you need to use the phone to make a call out). That said, given the cost, the audio quality (including the mic - it's very clear), and reliability, it's a winner.

Wade

2217 posts

Uber Geek

#1496800 22-Feb-2016 08:55

jonathan18:

dafman:

Wade:

https://kinivo.com/product/btc455-hands-free-bluetooth-car-adapter/

These are awesome, as long as you have a 3.5mm aux input on the factory stereo it is about as close as you can get to factory

Can also stream bluetooth audio in apt-X

Excellent, this looks just the ticket.

+1 for this - I bought one for my wife's car after reading about them here on GZ, and hers works perfectly - connects every time. Of course the downsides are that your stereo needs to be set to "Aux" to be able to receive calls over the system, and you don't get the screen to be able to select numbers and make calls directly (so you need to use the phone to make a call out). That said, given the cost, the audio quality (including the mic - it's very clear), and reliability, it's a winner.

Have to agree, connects first time everytime, never dropped a call transferring between phone --> BT or BT --> Phone nor had any complaints around call quality

I use a Logitech [+]Drive windscreen mount which is great as you can easily rotate phone to dial calls etc, also fortunately for me Honda decided to hide the aux in plug in the centre pocket along with a 12v socket so visually the kit looks very integrated and hidden

trig42

Banana?
4979 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1496810 22-Feb-2016 09:18

Depending on car, there are option other than something in the lighter socket.

I have a Mazda Axela - 2007. I got an adaptor from: http://www.gtacarkits.com/ It connects to the CD changer port on the back of the OEM stereo. It works with the steering controls. Not quite as good as OEM - if you are listening to the radio, you need to change the source to answer a call (uses EXT1 as source), but it is just one button to change source on dash, then the up arrow on steering wheel to answer. Also plays music and the steering wheel controls work for changing track etc. It also has an Aux in cable, which I have hidden in the Console ashtray.

Another option is replacing the OEM headunit - you can get good Bluetooth units (Pioneer, Sony, etc.) and adaptors to make them work with your OEM steering wheel controls - I have done this in my wife's Mazda, and it works perfectly.

All depends on car - some cars (my Axela) it is hard to replace OEM stereo (Bose, built into Dash), others it is easy (if they are DIN, Double-DIN units or cheap Fascia Kits are available (check QualityCarAudio.co.nz for Fascias).

timbosan

1691 posts

Uber Geek

#1496811 22-Feb-2016 09:18

Wade:

jonathan18:

dafman:

Wade:

https://kinivo.com/product/btc455-hands-free-bluetooth-car-adapter/

These are awesome, as long as you have a 3.5mm aux input on the factory stereo it is about as close as you can get to factory

Can also stream bluetooth audio in apt-X

Excellent, this looks just the ticket.

+1 for this - I bought one for my wife's car after reading about them here on GZ, and hers works perfectly - connects every time. Of course the downsides are that your stereo needs to be set to "Aux" to be able to receive calls over the system, and you don't get the screen to be able to select numbers and make calls directly (so you need to use the phone to make a call out). That said, given the cost, the audio quality (including the mic - it's very clear), and reliability, it's a winner.

Have to agree, connects first time everytime, never dropped a call transferring between phone --> BT or BT --> Phone nor had any complaints around call quality

I use a Logitech [+]Drive windscreen mount which is great as you can easily rotate phone to dial calls etc, also fortunately for me Honda decided to hide the aux in plug in the centre pocket along with a 12v socket so visually the kit looks very integrated and hidden

I don't get how this solution meets the OP's request for "as good as factory fitted" - you have to manually change inputs on the stereo, you have to ensure the stereo actually has a 3.5 inch phono input, it cannot (by design) sync phonebooks, etc. Also its not a very stealth install when its stuck on the front of the dash with a cable hanging down!

myopinion

903 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1496822 22-Feb-2016 09:46

I installed an entire new head unit which came with bluetooth and handsfree calling (with mic). Also works with Siri which is cool. Cost me just over $400 fully installed. Worth thinking about.

http://www.hyperdrive.co.nz/product/car-audio/114/deh-x8750bt-head-unit/1154298/detail

1 | 2