A better handsfree car solution

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › A better handsfree car solution

sudo

409 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 117

#68580 25-Sep-2010 10:39

I want to move up from a standard visor mounted Bluetooth handsfree (Blueant S3) to something better quality.

After using my brothers car with wired-in Nokia bluetooth kit I really like the functionality the car speaker (plus the noise cancelling/clarity was noticably better)

So the 3 choices I see are;
1/ Getting a dedicated bluetooth handsfree kit (not sure my 90s car stereo is able to be wired properly ... option 2 may be next most likely)

2/ By a car stereo head unit with external mike (although reviews don't seem to be glowing for the basic Parrot bluetooth modules, which most of them seem to have)

3/ Get a GPS with FM transmitter&Bluetooth

I also found a mention of the Motorola T505 visor clip handsfree w/FM transmitter ... which seems to be the cheapest option, but dont know if the clarity/noise cancelling performance is up to par. Plus it's just the same visor mount, with the extra FM transmitter feature.

Has anyone for any opinions on what would be best option to move up to without breaking the bank?

n00dy

482 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 3

Lifetime subscriber

#384258 25-Sep-2010 11:02

My experiances (including installing them) I wouldnt go for the FM tranmit option - as the idea is good but the quaility is very poor.
The in built stereo option is getting better but like the FM tranmitter its achillies heel is the microphone ( no external mic ) but if the vehicle, new holdens fords mitsis etc have bluetooth built in they are good and getting better.

The hardwired car kit is the best option. not really an issue with even an older stereo as even 5 - 6 years ago they still had a mute wire and those that didnt you could always create a relay that stopped audio.

2 good untis are the parrot and the Bury ( Bury system more expensive ) With the parrot you can also get a wiring harness bypass, which allows you to just unplug the stereo, plug that into the parrot and then plug the parrot into the stereo. It also has external mic - the most inportant factor in a car kit. The parrot and bury are both software upgradable and as new phones come out you just bluetooth the new update to the car kit. I have just done that for an iphone 4 and the parrot and I had done my own one which was a bury and xperia 10.
The only advantage the bury has over the parrot is that there is a cradle option that allows (depanedant on the model ) charging and external antenna while cradled.

Both the parrot and bury also allow music to be played from your phone through the car stereo.

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1306
Inactive user

#384268 25-Sep-2010 11:49

BT car stereo an option? I looked at one a couple of months ago for <$400.
The I relised I spend more time in my truck anyway and got a visor one just to swap (nobody rings at 3am anyway)

sudo

409 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 117

#384315 25-Sep-2010 13:52

While driving my brothers car I could conduct a lengthy conversation without asking, or be asked, to repeat something because of distortion/cutouts.
I'm starting to spend more time in the car stuck in traffic during the day and being able to speak freely is an improvement over short conversations usually ending with "can I call you back"

My stereo more like 16 years old (original with the car) so I'm not sure it's got a mute cable. I might go into a car stereo place (do they still exist) and see if it can be done.