Sat Nav, Bluetooth phone and USB all in Single DIN
Discussion
Finally conquered a real obsession!
I am not a fan of popout screens in Cerbera's (and I even more detest things stuck to the screen with suckers and long dangling cables), they just don't look right to me so I have been seeking a solution to get some sort of Nav, Bluetooth and USB connectivity all into a single DIN unit. Now I am aware that there are a number of cheap units (with mixed reviews) on ebay etc but I am so OCD that having a head unit with different branded speakers would annoy the hell out of me.
I used to have a Griffith 500 with a Pioneer ANH-P10MP plus the BT and IB100II Ipod modules, this was perfect for the job except, 1) I sold it with the car and the units are next to impossible to get hold of (you can get the ANH-P9R buts its inferior to the 10 by quite some margin) and 2) Pioneer stopped doing map updates for it in 2004
So after a lot of reading and faffing about I have finally plumped for a Blaupunkt Rome 56E - and its brillant, picked up in mint condition with the latest maps for £140 on ebay. Added the BT/USB module for another £24 and its does everything I require. Nice little colour screen Nav (and easy to install, no need to connect to the speed sensor like the Pioneer units, the GPS antenna is mounted on the back shelf between the rear seat belt mounts), streams music and calls from my Iphone and also reads music from a USB stick. All in a single DIN unit. It even goes well - the buttons light up the exact same red and blue as the heater dials next to it
Now just got change all the speakers to Blaupunkt!!
I am not a fan of popout screens in Cerbera's (and I even more detest things stuck to the screen with suckers and long dangling cables), they just don't look right to me so I have been seeking a solution to get some sort of Nav, Bluetooth and USB connectivity all into a single DIN unit. Now I am aware that there are a number of cheap units (with mixed reviews) on ebay etc but I am so OCD that having a head unit with different branded speakers would annoy the hell out of me.
I used to have a Griffith 500 with a Pioneer ANH-P10MP plus the BT and IB100II Ipod modules, this was perfect for the job except, 1) I sold it with the car and the units are next to impossible to get hold of (you can get the ANH-P9R buts its inferior to the 10 by quite some margin) and 2) Pioneer stopped doing map updates for it in 2004
So after a lot of reading and faffing about I have finally plumped for a Blaupunkt Rome 56E - and its brillant, picked up in mint condition with the latest maps for £140 on ebay. Added the BT/USB module for another £24 and its does everything I require. Nice little colour screen Nav (and easy to install, no need to connect to the speed sensor like the Pioneer units, the GPS antenna is mounted on the back shelf between the rear seat belt mounts), streams music and calls from my Iphone and also reads music from a USB stick. All in a single DIN unit. It even goes well - the buttons light up the exact same red and blue as the heater dials next to it
Now just got change all the speakers to Blaupunkt!!
Edited by PuffsBack on Monday 23 April 13:54
Looks nice.
For iPhone users this is another option: http://www.oxygenaudio.com/o-series/363-o-car.html
It's what I went for as it means there is no fascia to even worry about.
For iPhone users this is another option: http://www.oxygenaudio.com/o-series/363-o-car.html
It's what I went for as it means there is no fascia to even worry about.
I got a Bluetooth Head unit and use the Satnav on my phone.
Can listen to music, make calls, listen to podcasts and still get the Nav over the stereo but keep the Nav mobile between units.
Using a Radio side mount to keep the phone/Nav off the windscreen. I'm a sucker for Google Maps / TomTom / Waze Nav systems.
Can listen to music, make calls, listen to podcasts and still get the Nav over the stereo but keep the Nav mobile between units.
Using a Radio side mount to keep the phone/Nav off the windscreen. I'm a sucker for Google Maps / TomTom / Waze Nav systems.
Gazzab said:
How does it sound?
Like it!
Sounds OK. I did actually have a Pioneer DEH-P88RS beforehand which admittedily looked fabulous and sounded stunning (given the factory fit speakers) but thats why they are so expensive to begin with, however completly wasted on me as I am no audiophile. The standard Pioneer speakers were utter rubbish though and I have just swapped out the fronts for a pair of Blaupunkt GTx's and there a noticable improvement in sound quality compared to when I first put the head unit in. Still waiting for the 4" rear Blaupunkts to arrive though.Like it!
Sound quality was never really my goal here. It was to get Nav, BT and USB fully intergrated with no power cables, stuck on cradles, worrying about battery life etc. But to me the audio is perfectly acceptable quality - no match for the 14 speaker HK DSP setup in my Discovery - but then again the Disco's exhaust note is no match for the Cerbs
Donkeyapple, I'd really like to hear your thoughts on the Oxygen unit as you have bought one. The concept looks brilliant, and I nearly ordered one this afternoon after seeing your post, until I started reading some of the reviews ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B004MQ8WF8... ) on the product, many of which were quite negative regarding practical functionality.
GlennT said:
Donkeyapple, I'd really like to hear your thoughts on the Oxygen unit as you have bought one. The concept looks brilliant, and I nearly ordered one this afternoon after seeing your post, until I started reading some of the reviews ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B004MQ8WF8... ) on the product, many of which were quite negative regarding practical functionality.
Hi Glenn,I think it's a cracking unit. You get in your car, plug your iPhone in and it becomes the facia to the system. It has two aps for the radio and for the set up and everything else is just your phone running through the unit, so your music library, any navigation ap, telephone etc. When you park up you just take your phone with you as you would do normally.
I've not come across any of the issues that those reviews talk of.
Carl Baker found it for me when we were looking for a stereo which had no irritating buttons or pointless functions. We originally found the Parrot unit which looked perfect but then Carl noticed that the aps it used weren't iTunes ones but their own so in essence there would never be many if any options etc, so that was binned and he found the Oxygen unit which has done exactly what it proclaims to do. Pretty cheap as well.
Gazzab said:
I like that oxygen one. Will the cerb dash allow the iPhone to be slotted in?
I hate the sat nav on the iPhone as its not accurate as true sat nav. I have the useless co pilot app though.
I used the NAVMII app in Ireland last weekend in a hire car and it was spot on perfect. £2.99 per country so bargain I hate the sat nav on the iPhone as its not accurate as true sat nav. I have the useless co pilot app though.
Edited by PuffsBack on Monday 23 April 16:03
alinton said:
Donkeyapple, does that Oxygen unit do FM and AM radio too?
cheers
Andy
p.s. - my ideal unit will do sat nav, FM/AM radio, DAB digital radio, and integrate with the iPhone in some way. I bet I'm asking too much!
Hi. I've no idea to be honest. Sorry. cheers
Andy
p.s. - my ideal unit will do sat nav, FM/AM radio, DAB digital radio, and integrate with the iPhone in some way. I bet I'm asking too much!
The ap doesn't work without being connected to the unit and that is a long way from where I currently am.
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff