Dension 500s BT in 997
Discussion
I had its predecessor and it works fine
The phone function, you wouldn't know you're not using the car's phone and the integration works well
The iPod function, is pretty straightforward but it is clunky as the Dension unit emulates the CD changer so you have to navigate through menus with the fast forward button etc. You get used to it and it works fine though
The unit is very straighforward to install and comes with good instructions, if you can drive a car you can install the Dension kit
HTH
The phone function, you wouldn't know you're not using the car's phone and the integration works well
The iPod function, is pretty straightforward but it is clunky as the Dension unit emulates the CD changer so you have to navigate through menus with the fast forward button etc. You get used to it and it works fine though
The unit is very straighforward to install and comes with good instructions, if you can drive a car you can install the Dension kit
HTH
The Denison is quite an expensive unit if all you are after is BT audio.
I fitted these to my late 6.2 GT3, which is the Becker with the MOST interface, it also works on the PCM 2.1 on the 997:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07BR2ZZCY/ref...
Works great, has phone function, emulates a CD changer but you control all the audio from your actual phone so no menus to go through on the head unit.
I wired it up without cutting the loom by using a jumper fuse in the box next to the driver's right leg.
Chris
I fitted these to my late 6.2 GT3, which is the Becker with the MOST interface, it also works on the PCM 2.1 on the 997:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07BR2ZZCY/ref...
Works great, has phone function, emulates a CD changer but you control all the audio from your actual phone so no menus to go through on the head unit.
I wired it up without cutting the loom by using a jumper fuse in the box next to the driver's right leg.
Chris
The head unit thinks it is controlling a CD changer*. IIRC that means skip forward/back changes track. So if your steering wheel controls do that, then yes. I'll double check the skip behaviour again in the morning as I'm off over the cotswolds in the GT3 tomorrow before RaceRetro.
* The unit replaces your CD changer. Put it on ebay, or use it as a doorstop.
** If you don't have a CD changer already, your head unit might need to be coded to accept one. OPC Solihull did this for me for £36 in something called the 'dialogue bay'. https://www.instagram.com/p/BobU5w_n0eP/
* The unit replaces your CD changer. Put it on ebay, or use it as a doorstop.
** If you don't have a CD changer already, your head unit might need to be coded to accept one. OPC Solihull did this for me for £36 in something called the 'dialogue bay'. https://www.instagram.com/p/BobU5w_n0eP/
alfapork said:
The head unit thinks it is controlling a CD changer*. IIRC that means skip forward/back changes track. So if your steering wheel controls do that, then yes. I'll double check the skip behaviour again in the morning as I'm off over the cotswolds in the GT3 tomorrow before RaceRetro.
* The unit replaces your CD changer. Put it on ebay, or use it as a doorstop.
** If you don't have a CD changer already, your head unit might need to be coded to accept one. OPC Solihull did this for me for £36 in something called the 'dialogue bay'. https://www.instagram.com/p/BobU5w_n0eP/
The buttons on the steering wheel do work for the PCM and the phone, but navigating menus and music & such like, you do on the PCM * The unit replaces your CD changer. Put it on ebay, or use it as a doorstop.
** If you don't have a CD changer already, your head unit might need to be coded to accept one. OPC Solihull did this for me for £36 in something called the 'dialogue bay'. https://www.instagram.com/p/BobU5w_n0eP/
I'm not sure what kind of navigating you're expecting from the steering wheel.
Today I checked using Spotify and the skip track buttons do indeed skip tracks on the phone. Other apps may vary.
On the CDR-23 the display just reads CD-2 track 2/3 whatever, it doesn't 2-way integrate with the phone in terms of displaying what is playing, PCM 2.1 might differ.
Today I checked using Spotify and the skip track buttons do indeed skip tracks on the phone. Other apps may vary.
On the CDR-23 the display just reads CD-2 track 2/3 whatever, it doesn't 2-way integrate with the phone in terms of displaying what is playing, PCM 2.1 might differ.
I've run a dension for years in a 997.1 as I started off with one of the same requirements, to keep things as stock as possible.
I can say that it works exactly as expected, can be installed yourself and you'd not notice it was there unless you knew. BT excellent, USB drive works, ipod OK and generally a simple, effective solution that's a bit clunky because of the way it interacts with 2.1... But it does interact and all the buttons work as expected.
I'd also say that if I was to go back and do it again, I'd go straight for a separate head unit. The Android ones, as mentioned, give you a whole load of great modernisation for about the same price.
I can say that it works exactly as expected, can be installed yourself and you'd not notice it was there unless you knew. BT excellent, USB drive works, ipod OK and generally a simple, effective solution that's a bit clunky because of the way it interacts with 2.1... But it does interact and all the buttons work as expected.
I'd also say that if I was to go back and do it again, I'd go straight for a separate head unit. The Android ones, as mentioned, give you a whole load of great modernisation for about the same price.
Thanks guys.
I really did think about changing the head unit but I just think it looks a bit out of place with the period of the car. Maybe if I had one I would get used to it.
The main reason I want the Dension is the Bluetooth hands free as it means I don't need two phone numbers.
Music streaming is a good thing too but I don't drive the car everyday so I actually find myself driveing with the radio off most of the time and just enjoying the engine noise.
I'm a bit sad
I really did think about changing the head unit but I just think it looks a bit out of place with the period of the car. Maybe if I had one I would get used to it.
The main reason I want the Dension is the Bluetooth hands free as it means I don't need two phone numbers.
Music streaming is a good thing too but I don't drive the car everyday so I actually find myself driveing with the radio off most of the time and just enjoying the engine noise.
I'm a bit sad
Spicemonkey said:
Thanks guys.
I really did think about changing the head unit but I just think it looks a bit out of place with the period of the car. Maybe if I had one I would get used to it.
The main reason I want the Dension is the Bluetooth hands free as it means I don't need two phone numbers.
Music streaming is a good thing too but I don't drive the car everyday so I actually find myself driveing with the radio off most of the time and just enjoying the engine noise.
I'm a bit sad
Having used both a Dension 500 and a replacement head unit in my 987, I'd agree with the general consensus that if your main use is for hands free calling, then the Dension is excellent and it feels as though you are using the original Porsche phone module with the PCM 2.1.I really did think about changing the head unit but I just think it looks a bit out of place with the period of the car. Maybe if I had one I would get used to it.
The main reason I want the Dension is the Bluetooth hands free as it means I don't need two phone numbers.
Music streaming is a good thing too but I don't drive the car everyday so I actually find myself driveing with the radio off most of the time and just enjoying the engine noise.
I'm a bit sad
For music, though, I found it beyond clunky. It is a nightmare to navigate if you have got a reasonable amount of music on your phone. I just left it in shuffle/random mode, and it worked well enough doing that. I just found it annoying not being able to choose what I listened to!
I can totally understand the reticence to go for a new head unit. I resisted it for as along as possible, (hence the Dension purchase) but in the end I went for a Pioneer SPH-DA120.
It's the only non-OEM item in the car with the exception of a Bosch battery, but it really makes the car feel a lot more modern. It is 100% screen and the fascia-surround is quite a good match for the original, but the functionality is so far ahead of the PCM 2.1, for calls, music and especially for Nav.
It even seems to sound a bit better than the PCM, which I can't understand because everything is still routed through the original Bose amp and speakers.
I should probably add a note about phone integration with my cheapie alternative to Denison. The music integration is great (instantly and automatically connects, will pause and restart music on the ignition key without need to fiddle with the phone - but the cellular - on my non-PCM Becker head unit at least - is done via it's down mic and I believe will only work if you are already listening to the phone via CD changer. Quality is good once you're on the phone though.
So it's swings and roundabouts. My priority was music not hands free calling.
So it's swings and roundabouts. My priority was music not hands free calling.
I agree with those comments. I had an earlier Dension with a bluetooth add-on in a 997.1 and it worked really well for phone calls. As has been said, integration with the PCM works well enough but is a bit clunky.
Eventually I decided to switch the head unit and together with a facia panel that perfectly matched the heater controls, fitted a new Kenwood unit that worked extremely well. In my case I had a Bose amp that needed dealing with but by fitting the equipment as sympathetically as possible to the car, it all worked out well.
Eventually I decided to switch the head unit and together with a facia panel that perfectly matched the heater controls, fitted a new Kenwood unit that worked extremely well. In my case I had a Bose amp that needed dealing with but by fitting the equipment as sympathetically as possible to the car, it all worked out well.
mankey said:
I agree with those comments. I had an earlier Dension with a bluetooth add-on in a 997.1 and it worked really well for phone calls. As has been said, integration with the PCM works well enough but is a bit clunky.
Eventually I decided to switch the head unit and together with a facia panel that perfectly matched the heater controls, fitted a new Kenwood unit that worked extremely well. In my case I had a Bose amp that needed dealing with but by fitting the equipment as sympathetically as possible to the car, it all worked out well.
It sounds as you went the same route as me. What did you do with the Bose amp? I bought the interface for about £180 which made the new HU compatible with MOST. I was tempted to go the whole hog and put a better amp and speakers in, but I was quite keen to do the job myself, and that would have been beyond my skill level!Eventually I decided to switch the head unit and together with a facia panel that perfectly matched the heater controls, fitted a new Kenwood unit that worked extremely well. In my case I had a Bose amp that needed dealing with but by fitting the equipment as sympathetically as possible to the car, it all worked out well.
It looks as though the current Dension is £340 which is actually more than my new head unit costs now, but if Bose is involved, there is a bit more cost involved.
kingston12 said:
It sounds as you went the same route as me. What did you do with the Bose amp? I bought the interface for about £180 which made the new HU compatible with MOST. I was tempted to go the whole hog and put a better amp and speakers in, but I was quite keen to do the job myself, and that would have been beyond my skill level!
It looks as though the current Dension is £340 which is actually more than my new head unit costs now, but if Bose is involved, there is a bit more cost involved.
I also used the MOST interface. It was more expensive at the time but it did the job. I just got fed up with the PCM 2.1 which for a premium car was dire.It looks as though the current Dension is £340 which is actually more than my new head unit costs now, but if Bose is involved, there is a bit more cost involved.
I didn't bother to do anything with the amp and speakers because I knew I'd need to reverse everything if I traded the car into an OPC - which I did eventually.
I fitted a mobridge box in my 997.1 which is pretty much similar to the denison. Bluetooth is seemless - connects to your phone as soon as you unlock the car, call quality great.
I dont have an issues with audio streaming. I tend to use google music on my phone and just select a play list or album and press play. It all streams through the OEM head unit nicely as if i was playing a CD. I can use the phone controls to select another track or skip/pause, and the PCM head unit buttons also let you skip forward and back etc.
I dont have an issues with audio streaming. I tend to use google music on my phone and just select a play list or album and press play. It all streams through the OEM head unit nicely as if i was playing a CD. I can use the phone controls to select another track or skip/pause, and the PCM head unit buttons also let you skip forward and back etc.
Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions guys.
Would anyone have any photos of their swapped out head units so I can see how they look in place if the old unit.
Started looking at the mObridge units but they seem to be more expensive than the Dension.
Wonder if they are actually with the extra money?
Would anyone have any photos of their swapped out head units so I can see how they look in place if the old unit.
Started looking at the mObridge units but they seem to be more expensive than the Dension.
Wonder if they are actually with the extra money?
Spicemonkey said:
Would anyone have any photos of their swapped out head units so I can see how they look in place if the old unit.
I've not got any pictures of mine to hand, but take a look at Jakesmith's picture on post 10 of this thread. He has got the same HU and fascia as me:https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Spicemonkey said:
Started looking at the mObridge units but they seem to be more expensive than the Dension.
Wonder if they are actually with the extra money?
I looked at both when I got the Dension. I went for the Dension on the basis of price and that was when it was the old two box solution. The new one seems to be improved over the one I had, but the Mobridge solution seems to be refreshed/improved as well.Wonder if they are actually with the extra money?
I've not heard anything bad about either solution, but the Mobridge is £650 and that seems a lot more to pay if the PCM 2.1 integration is still as clunky (I can't see how they could improve that)
Spicemonkey said:
Thanks.
The head unit does look pretty good in that photo.
I guess it would go be me a sat nav that works too lol.
Lots to think about I think.
Indeed. It does take a lot to get used to the idea of going aftermarket, especially in a nice car. I justified it to myself by keeping the old PCM so I can put it back at anytime. In reality, my car is a long term keeper and the only thing that will replace that HU is a more modern one if they release a big upgrade.The head unit does look pretty good in that photo.
I guess it would go be me a sat nav that works too lol.
Lots to think about I think.
Mine has even got the Porsche 'splash screen' from the PCM when it starts up to make it feel a bit more original (to me at least!)
I chose that particular unit because it has no physical buttons on it at all and only the Pioneer logo to call it out as not being OEM. I suppose that the uninitiated might think that the Bose logos on the doors are aftermarket as well!
The new version of this unit (SPH-DA230) does have a few buttons, but does have DAB and Android Auto which my unit (SPH-DA120) doesn't. I'm not sure if they have made any other improvements, but the only downside of my unit is that the Pioneer OS (AppRadio+) is really bad. Not PCM bad, but pretty poor. It doesn't matter to me as I always use the Apple CarPlay OS as I have got an iPhone.
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