With this question, I went in search of a small, inconspicuous device that rendered possible the music and / or incoming calls to the built-in radio. The various FM transmitter dropped out because the quality in the metropolitan area is more than modest. Even expensive "real" retrofit solutions á la Parrot and Co did not come into question, because I did not want to double the same carriage value.
Since the factory-fitted radio but at least already has a line-in port, so could be resorted back to a "small-box solution" from the accessories market. In my case, the following equipment was connect to:
- A car radio (specifically, an Alano sound system of a middle-aged Seat) with sound and in quite good general sound
- An iPhone 4S
- Thanks to a new contract with a flat rate daily telephony
- 32GB music in medium (128-192) Quality
- Navigation program (Navigon) on the iPhone
And all possible without any compromises and in good quality - in particular the telephone quality and also the clarity when speaking.
Amazon is good because you can buy almost never a first device - and so I am so just sidestepped the visually similar Belin, which should be difficult to understand especially in the case of telephony. So I stayed at Kinivo hanging and accepted that there are always bad reviews from buyers who did not understand the product or even the whole principle.
Less than 3 days later he was in the mailbox: The miracle button! About as big as a small mint tin, double-sided adhesive pads and a little cables that are permanently connected to the device. A cable leads to a plug for the 12 V socket board ("cigarette lighter" - even in non-smokers), from there a cable into the Aux-In on the radio and, ultimately, a cable from there to the control knob.
This is then glued to the double-sided adhesive pad in language close somewhere on the dashboard. The denser and unobstructed at the mouth, the better, of course, because in the round thingy prick even the little microphone. Genial also: On the cigarette plug is a USB port to which you can recharge the Smartphone. Here there are no problems with the iPhone 4S, which indeed sometimes reacts bitchy with USB charging connectors.
Summary of installation:
- Unpacking (clear ...!) And control knob stick in hands width
Put cigarette lighter plug into the cigarette lighter -
- Plug in Aux-in / line-in of the radio plug (attention: Perhaps an extension is necessary!)
Smartphone stuck in USB port on the cigarette lighter plug (great word!) -
--- FINISHED ---
Then the coupling comes with the smartphone (with iPhone without any problem and in seconds does) and the first test. Music is transmitted in not quite lossy A2DP process because the iPhone aptX not supported. But the quality has already shown me, for analog cable was really difficult to notice. Volume level and sound were perfectly. Well not for people with Pegelmeßgeräten in the ear, but the hearing is certainly no MP3 384kbit below - if at all. The forward and back buttons on the control panel you can even navigate in the playlist!
Then the next test: Navigation. Here with Navigon, clear language, music is lowered with voice prompts, everything was perfect. Can one use.
But now the supreme discipline: telephony. When it rings, enough a small pressure on the large button and you can hear voices. And the one now hears from the car speakers, as well as good. But I am to understand? According to my interlocutor can hear me well - even on the highway with 120 km / h. Ambient noise is filtered out surprisingly well, at higher speeds then takes but the quality a bit off. Sometimes you have to repeat words, or simply talk louder. But this is not a BMW / DB / Audi-permanent installation, but a 30-retrofit product!
Operation Summary:
- Initial pairing with your smartphone (if you can use his smartphone!)
- Good music quality, analog transmission par with A2DP
- AptX unless the phone it participates
- Good voice quality in both directions
Total Summary:
Considering the price and the previously flawless functioning I can forgive only the highest grade. The installation is quick, problem-free and nearly invisible (as long as you can push the cable slightly in the cracks of the fittings), operation is simple and intuitive even without instructions. Strong buy recommendation, even if my judgment now is not really the scale of the world. Better is always - and more expensive also. But at least my expectations are completely fulfilled and for me the concept and the product goes on.
