Bluetooth handsfree? New stereo or Parrot?

[Autogasm]

Hi all, as the thread suggests, I want to fit a bluetooth handsfree phone kit! Are the stereos with built in bluetooth ok or are they a bit 'gimicky?' Too much packed into one unit??

Fact is, I need a new cd player too, and wonder if the bluetooth quality is acceptable? I would need to use it for work so phone clarity is important.

Any thoughts?

[Swoxy]

www.bluespot.co.uk/car-audio.aspx/toronto-400-car-...

Edited by Swoxy on Sunday 4th April 21:09

[Orb the Impaler]

I've had all kinds of aftermarket Bluetooth kits - Parrot and Nokia = good.
No experience of the built in headunit stuff - having said that I can't see the likes of Blaupunkt making crap.

[550Hep]

Brothers OH has one in her car Sony head unit and it works pretty well, car is a 53 plate Freelander.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Alpine CDE-103BT

Fitted one last summer - great stereo, MP3 & ipod support, USB, aux in, and it has a Parrot BT kit integrated. Easy to fit, just a mike to run up the A-pillar, and it works seamlessly.

Best of both worlds.

[dave_s13]

IF you don't need to keep your factory fitted stereo then what he said ^^^

The PArrot kit's I've used bypass the headunits amp when playing music via bluetooth. Doesn't sound bad by any stretch, not usually as good as an OEM head unit CD player though.

[TheCarpetCleaner]

I have an alpine bluetooth headset in my corsa

Streams bt audio and the phone mic pickup is very good as well.

think it was just under £100

[Tunku]

Mutant stereo

Had mine for 2 years, works great.

[Stubby Pete]

Having used both and a properly fitted cradle, the thing to check is microphone location.

If the head unit has an input for a separate microphone or comes with one that can be fitted up by the sun visor then good. If the microphone is fitted in to the head unit, you will probably find at motorway speeds that you need to lean down towards it!!

I currently use a Jabra SP500 and have no problems around town but at 70 on a DC there's too much cabin noise in a 4x4.

Bear in mind that you cannot legally use the phone to dial or accept calls either whilst moving

[MonkeyBusiness]

I've had two Parrot kits - both 3100. Brilliant bits of kit.

[Super Veloce]

I have this unit it features a parrot bluetooth chip been very impressed

{url]clicky|http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/alpine-cde-114bti.html[/url]


And its less than a parrot kit installed very good especially on the move

[BigBen]

Swoxy said:

www.bluespot.co.uk/car-audio.aspx/toronto-400-car-...

Edited by Swoxy on Sunday 4th April 21:09

Avoid ones with built in microphones IMO, as other posters have said mic position is key and in the headunit is not ideal unless you have a very quiet car.

Ben

[HellDiver]

I had an Alpine 105RI with the addon Alpine/Parrot BT400 box. It died after 6 months, so ripped it out and put in a CK3100. It's WAY better than the Alpine/Parrot box.

[Denis O]

Parrot 3100 in both my Disco and Jag and they are excellent. Fitted a combined Kenwood unit in my Defender 50th; it needed a new HU anyway, and it uses the units mike and it's pretty useless. OK, it's not the quietest of cars but people you call always ask if you're in a wind tunnel.

[stemac76]

Parrot = Cr@p, terrible quality, unreliable (will certainly fail within 6 months to a year), customer service a joke too
Blaupunkt = German, so avoid, over rated, will breakdown after a year
Any Japanese (except Pioneer) headunit with built in Bluetooth will do the job just fine

I work with all of the above products on a daily basis for my job and have done for nine years...

[SEE YA]

I have fitted and use Parrot system, no problems with them easy DIY fit.

[markw996]

Have you just woken up from a coma?
This thread is 5 years old