Suggestions for best Bluetooth/FM Transmitter

Liquid_Entity · 11 Nov 2019 at 14:10

Hi

There are loads on the rainforest site but a minefield to figure out what is a good one. I have an AUX in the glove compartment but my phone AUX jack is broken (doesn't hold the jack in place) so I am looking at these BT/FM transmitters but one with an AUX in case of issues. Anyone know a good one?

Psycho Sonny · 12 Nov 2019 at 11:08

Better off just buying a bluetooth head unit and retro fitting.

Will be a lot better in terms of everything apart from OEM looks.

AiiR · 12 Nov 2019 at 11:48

Psycho Sonny said:
Better off just buying a bluetooth head unit and retro fitting.

Will be a lot better in terms of everything apart from OEM looks.

Not always, it's a lot cheaper and less hassle to stick one of these devices in your cigarette lighter than it is to have a new head unit installed (which often look chavvy). I used one in my Z4 and it worked surprisingly well. Also not sure how head units work with taking calls as you'd need to route a separate cable I think.

In answer to OP's question, this is the one I bought: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07N18X4MQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_QUPYDbRHCHGNK

The seller also sent me a £10 Amazon gift voucher for leaving a review, so the total cost was just a couple of quid.

jpaul · 12 Nov 2019 at 12:09

+1
Depending on the existing head unit ..the aux in can be a good sound quality solution, had an aftermarket alpine

I considered getting a wireless receiver/dac like this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neet®-Wireless-Receiver-wireless-streaming/dp/B00O0U37HO
rather than bluetooth, but eventually spliced an aux-in phono-lead into the unused hu cd-multiplayer cable.
I still like airplay as it is a casting solution .. the reciever gets the original music bitstream from phone.

Freakbro · 12 Nov 2019 at 12:23

I bought this one and it's been great https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0784LK2G1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Liquid_Entity · 12 Nov 2019 at 13:03

I went with this one on the end https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07SQTXJ18/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Liquid_Entity · 12 Nov 2019 at 13:05

Psycho Sonny said:
Better off just buying a bluetooth head unit and retro fitting.

Will be a lot better in terms of everything apart from OEM looks.

yeah it's a 2008 Mondeo with dents n bumps all over it, I am not heavily investing in anything in this car so a new stereo is a no no. My phone 3.5m port broke and so i can't use the cable to the AUX anymore so wanted something to stream my phones music.

JonnyT · 12 Nov 2019 at 13:38

If you have AUX in the glovebox but your 3.5mm jack on your phone is broken, then you don't need a FM transmitter, just a Bluetooth to AUX adapter.

I bought this last year:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00KON1JIA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It plugs into the AUX socket in your glovebox, and then you can connect to it via Bluetooth from your phone. No FM needed!

It works well enough for what it is, on my '55' Ford Focus with AUX

Psycho Sonny · 12 Nov 2019 at 13:44

Liquid_Entity said:
yeah it's a 2008 Mondeo with dents n bumps all over it, I am not heavily investing in anything in this car so a new stereo is a no no. My phone 3.5m port broke and so i can't use the cable to the AUX anymore so wanted something to stream my phones music.

you can buy a head unit for like £40 new or go second hand and get one for cheaper. Or buy a cheap chinese one for peanuts.

In terms of sound quality nothing will beat a proper bluetooth head unit.

It's a small investment to avoid whatever the fine is for using your phone whilst driving.

FM transmitters especially are shocking in terms of quality. I don't care what anyone says. Bluetooth transmitters will be better but then what is the cost of one of those vs a cheap head unit? With a head unit you will have a lot more control and functionality rather than a "dumb" transmitter.

Martynt74 · 12 Nov 2019 at 14:08

JonnyT said:
If you have AUX in the glovebox but your 3.5mm jack on your phone is broken, then you don't need a FM transmitter, just a Bluetooth to AUX adapter.

I bought this last year:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00KON1JIA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It plugs into the AUX socket in your glovebox, and then you can connect to it via Bluetooth from your phone. No FM needed!

It works well enough for what it is, on my '55' Ford Focus with AUX

How long does the battery on something like that last and can it be plugged into a USB socket and just left on all the time?

JonnyT · 12 Nov 2019 at 14:25

Marvt74 said:
How long does the battery on something like that last and can it be plugged into a USB socket and just left on all the time?

Pretty long, I don't have any accurate figures sadly. It seems to retain good battery when powered off for several weeks. It has a micro-USB socket on it to connect to a 12v power socket->USB charger. The beauty of it is that you can use it on ANY audio device with a 3.5mm jack, such as BT-enabling a Hi-Fi on the cheap.

JonnyT · 12 Nov 2019 at 14:25

DP ignore

SonicSW20 · 12 Nov 2019 at 14:27

Psycho Sonny said:
you can buy a head unit for like £40 new or go second hand and get one for cheaper. Or buy a cheap chinese one for peanuts.

In terms of sound quality nothing will beat a proper bluetooth head unit.

A £40 bluetooth equipped aftermarket unit will be absolutely *****.

AiiR · 12 Nov 2019 at 14:30

Psycho Sonny said:
you can buy a head unit for like £40 new or go second hand and get one for cheaper. Or buy a cheap chinese one for peanuts.

In terms of sound quality nothing will beat a proper bluetooth head unit.

It's a small investment to avoid whatever the fine is for using your phone whilst driving.

FM transmitters especially are shocking in terms of quality. I don't care what anyone says. Bluetooth transmitters will be better but then what is the cost of one of those vs a cheap head unit? With a head unit you will have a lot more control and functionality rather than a "dumb" transmitter.

You must've had a dodgy one then, because the one I have sounds no worse than the aftermarket unit my mate has in his Z4. Difference is aftermarket units look absolutely awful. :rolleyes:

Martynt74 · 12 Nov 2019 at 14:31

JonnyT said:
Pretty long, I don't have any accurate figures sadly. It seems to retain good battery when powered off for several weeks. It has a micro-USB socket on it to connect to a 12v power socket->USB charger. The beauty of it is that you can use it on ANY audio device with a 3.5mm jack, such as BT-enabling a Hi-Fi on the cheap.

Might give it a go. Sometimes annoys me that my car only does calls over BT and not audio. I have a usb cable but it'd be nice to just have BT. Suppose the issue then though would be that i'd lose the in car phone connectivity for calls.

Psycho Sonny · 12 Nov 2019 at 15:46

AiiR said:
You must've had a dodgy one then, because the one I have sounds no worse than the aftermarket unit my mate has in his Z4. Difference is aftermarket units look absolutely awful.

Come listen to the aftermarket head unit in my z4 then say the same thing. The audio install cost me £2K though. the head unit was £180 iirc. So top of the range at the time from pioneer.

Psycho Sonny · 12 Nov 2019 at 15:46

SonicSW20 said:
A £40 bluetooth equipped aftermarket unit will be absolutely *****.

i'd wager it still be better than an fm transmitter.

AiiR · 12 Nov 2019 at 15:54

Psycho Sonny said:
Come listen to the aftermarket head unit in my z4 then say the same thing. The audio install cost me £2K though. the head unit was £180 iirc. So top of the range at the time from pioneer.

So the improved sound is due to the improved speakers? I don't see the relevance there. Were not talking speaker upgrades. :rolleyes:

Psycho Sonny · 12 Nov 2019 at 16:17

AiiR said:
So the improved sound is due to the improved speakers? I don't see the relevance there. Were not talking speaker upgrades.

I didn't change any of the speakers. There was a change in AMP which was £600. It's still not powerful enough though as the woofers (of which there are 4) are insanely hard to drive. Wal also a full re-wire job and needed frequency splitters too.

AiiR · 12 Nov 2019 at 16:28

Psycho Sonny said:
I didn't change any of the speakers. There was a change in AMP which was £600. It's still not powerful enough though as the woofers (of which there are 4) are insanely hard to drive. Wal also a full re-wire job and needed frequency splitters too.

I still don't understand the relevance. You're telling OP a £40 Chinese head unit is the best option because you spent 2k overhauling your own? That doesn't add up.