Universal Bluetooth for car with Line-in and Line-out

zYx · 9 Dec 2012 at 14:38

Hi there,

Does anyone know is such a device exists?

I need a Bluetooth device that will connect to my head unit in my car, but I also want to be able to connect other devices to it via Line-in.

Something like this:

←click

and this

←click

Combined.

This device is also praised http://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/reviews_m-in-phase-bt-mate_p-27552.htm, but I'm not entirely sure what it does..

Basically what I want to do is this:

Any ideas welcome

Thanks

peterattheboro · 9 Dec 2012 at 14:42

Could just buy a bluetooth headunit with line in?

zYx · 9 Dec 2012 at 15:06

peterintheghetto said:
Could just buy a bluetooth headunit with line in?

I forgot to mention that my head unit is irreplaceable due to board computer, satnav etc. I have to keep it.

AshD93 · 9 Dec 2012 at 15:16

And the head unit doesn't have optional extras that could be fitted that would then include the features you're after?

zYx · 9 Dec 2012 at 15:18

AshD93 said:
And the head unit doesn't have optional extras that could be fitted that would then include the features you're after?

No.
It didn't even have aux-in. I had to get rid of the CD changer and make aux-in from it. Basically, now to get to Aux-in source I need to press CDC button. There is a Nokia Phone Box in my glovebox, but that can't be "upgraded" to anything really...

The head unit is Siemens NCDC 2015:

The top half contains main CD player, satnav (+ map disc reader), board computer. The bottom half is a cd changer, but it has to be present so when I press on CDC button, the head unit changes the source. If CD changer was removed, the head unit won't react to CDC button presses.

There's a BOSE amp in my boot and it all plays well even 11 years later. I don't know if I wanted to replace it with anything. I don't use discs, hence I asked about iPad.

iaind · 9 Dec 2012 at 15:48

http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/home.php?cat=41

Acts as a changer, has line in, iPod/USB/both and an optional BT module. You needn't have made your own aux interface.

Bonus is it let's you skip tracks using the head unit/steering controls and answer/hang up calls too

zYx · 9 Dec 2012 at 16:00

iaind said:
http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/home.php?cat=41

Acts as a changer, has line in, iPod/USB/both and an optional BT module. You needn't have made your own aux interface.

Bonus is it let's you skip tracks using the head unit/steering controls and answer/hang up calls too

These look great, but they are not compatible with my head unit.

unless the connection to the changer is somehow similar.
Shame because this is what I need.

iaind · 9 Dec 2012 at 16:06

zYx said:
These look great, but they are not compatible with my head unit. Shame because this is what I need.

It's worth calling them as the changer interface is likely to be the same

Www.incartec.co.uk will have something too - worst case is you have to use FM for iPod and Bluetooth and keep your original line in for that side of things

zYx · 9 Dec 2012 at 16:13

iaind said:
It's worth calling them as the changer interface is likely to be the same

Www.incartec.co.uk will have something too - worst case is you have to use FM for iPod and Bluetooth and keep your original line in for that side of things

I emailed them, but this is the connection between the head unit and the changer:

iaind · 9 Dec 2012 at 16:33

Does it not have a connection on the back for an external changer? My old car had an in dash 6 cd changer and an external connection which I had an xcarlink connected to. You just pushed the cd button again to switch between them.

Grom and PAC are worth looking at too

zYx · 9 Dec 2012 at 17:54

iaind said:
Does it not have a connection on the back for an external changer? My old car had an in dash 6 cd changer and an external connection which I had an xcarlink connected to. You just pushed the cd button again to switch between them.

Grom and PAC are worth looking at too

The connector on the picture above is the CD Changer connector. On the back there's only antenna and ISO connectors.
I prefer to listen to music using wired connections. Music over bluetooth sounds horrible. I just want the Bluetooth to kick in when there's a call or when I want to use satnav on my phone. Currently I have an iPod Classic connected to my car audio at all times. Even tho I have a satnav built in, I rather use tomtom, so then I connect my iPhone to the car audio.

Rich_L · 10 Dec 2012 at 05:58

Can you get these in the UK? If not maybe US Amazon will ship to the UK

http://reviews.cnet.com/home-entertainment/gogroove-flexsmart-x2-in/4505-6449_7-34660635.html

Seems to do what you're asking for plus it'll even pipe music over FM. That said I've no idea whether it will autoswitch to the Bluetooth if a call comes in or which takes precedence.

I have one so I can try tomorrow maybe

Dr Who · 10 Dec 2012 at 06:04

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/261137134783?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&cbt=y

Parrot MKI9200 £126 job done

zYx · 10 Dec 2012 at 09:27

Rich_L said:
Can you get these in the UK? If not maybe US Amazon will ship to the UK

http://reviews.cnet.com/home-entertainment/gogroove-flexsmart-x2-in/4505-6449_7-34660635.html

Seems to do what you're asking for plus it'll even pipe music over FM. That said I've no idea whether it will autoswitch to the Bluetooth if a call comes in or which takes precedence.

I have one so I can try tomorrow maybe

That is exactly what I need, but if you could check it for me it would be great.

Dr Who said:
http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/261137134783?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&cbt=y

Parrot MKI9200 £126 job done

Thanks for this, but these kind of devices don't work with premium audio such as external amplifier. I'm very familiar with this Parrot model and I know for fact that they don't go together with premium car audios as they use their built in amp instead of just using line-out. Thanks for the suggestion though

iaind · 10 Dec 2012 at 10:11

zYx said:
That is exactly what I need, but if you could check it for me it would be great.

Thanks for this, but these kind of devices don't work with premium audio such as external amplifier. I'm very familiar with this Parrot model and I know for fact that they don't go together with premium car audios as they use their built in amp instead of just using line-out. Thanks for the suggestion though

They won't work using the integrated amplifier but they also have a line out, it's actually the best suggestion here

zYx · 10 Dec 2012 at 10:21

iaind said:
They won't work using the integrated amplifier but they also have a line out, it's actually the best suggestion here

I don't really want to interfere with my car audio. To use line-out in this device, it would involve a lot of work trying to connect it to my existing amplifier as normally you just plug it in to ISO connectors. The audio signal that goes to the amp is already amplified by the parrot amp. What I'm trying to come across is that I don't want to spend over £100 just so I can use line-out.

Please note that I only listen to music in my car so I don't change sources at all. I'm fine using line-in only in my car, hence I'm in need of something simple.

zYx · 10 Dec 2012 at 17:20

Rich_L said:
Can you get these in the UK? If not maybe US Amazon will ship to the UK

http://reviews.cnet.com/home-entertainment/gogroove-flexsmart-x2-in/4505-6449_7-34660635.html

Seems to do what you're asking for plus it'll even pipe music over FM. That said I've no idea whether it will autoswitch to the Bluetooth if a call comes in or which takes precedence.

I have one so I can try tomorrow maybe

Rich_L did you manage to check it for me?
It looks very promising and I found it on Amazon UK, but under a different name:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb...&field-keywords=GOgroove+FlexSMART+X2&x=0&y=0