OS and Software > All Things Macintosh > [iPhone] Iphone car stereo integration options

[iPhone] Iphone car stereo integration options

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Nothin' left to do but smile smile smile

I don't have person experience with this but I've found helpful info at Crutchfields »www.crutchfield.com/S-rmHhM20jDUt/
I've bought car audio from them and they even had the correct screw in/out instructions for the products I bought.

Goood Luck

reply to dellsweig
You may be able to get stuff cheaper than from Crutchfield but if you are a novice, they give you detailed directions with photos on how to install what you buy. also if there's a problem and you need to return something, you will be able to.
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reply to dellsweig
PLEASE read the OP

I am not looking to find where to buy, what retailer gives better deals etc..

READ before you type please
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reply to dellsweig
I bought an Alpine unit a number of years ago for my van. Installed external mic on the sun visor where it pics up my voice with excellent clarity. Van doesn't have steering wheel controls. Mainly use it to stream Pandora over bluetooth when on the road. Works great for that with pretty good audio quality (bluetooth does limit quality). No problems whatever with ignition noise (probably should mention that my van is a diesel). All in all, very pleased with my Alpine radio bought from Crutchfield. Personal suggestion, go to Crutchfield and look at their recommendations and then read all of the user reviews for those products. There is a lot of good information available in the reviews regarding specific problems with specific products.

reply to dellsweig
Only thing I can tell you: ignition noise is not a problem and realize you'll need an adaptor for steering wheel control.
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If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. - Albert Einstein

reply to dellsweig
Only thing I can tell you: ignition noise is not a problem and realize you'll need an adaptor for steering wheel control.
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If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. - Albert Einstein

reply to dellsweig
I bought a Sony MEXBT3800U CD Receiver w/ Sony XAMC10 Add-on Microphone for my VW Passat, using the Cructhfield advisors to help me figure out what module to order to wire my steering wheel controls up.

Cructhfield will tell you what fits your vehicle, send you free install kits and wiring diagrams, and help you determine what else you need. They friggin' ROCK.

I find my Sony's integration with the iPhone to be superb--and 100% wireless via Bluetooth. My setup covers all features you mentioned. I turn on the car, and my phone connects. I shut it off, it disconnects. I receive a call while streaming audio, the audio pauses and I answer by hitting the main button on the stereo. When hang up by hitting the same button, it goes back to whatever app was sending audio and un-pauses it. The iPhone's ability to change audios sources in call works perfectly with this unit, such that when I get where I was driving to I can easily switch out of speaker-phone-over-bluetooth and into regular phone mode so that I am not stuck in the car finishing my call.

I. Love. It. Video on the Internet, Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music app, You Tube app, everything works well.

Later I added a Sony MEX-BT3100P CD Receiver to my wife's Dodge minivan. I do not like this unit quite as much, but it was cheaper and CAME WITH the external microphone. It's integration with the iPhone is equal to my VW's.

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reply to dellsweig
I can't think of anybody that gives you the "soup to nuts" service that Crutchfields does for car audio.

Crutchfields can answer ALL your questions with independent, honest reviews.

reply to dellsweig

reply to dellsweig
There are multiple ways to integrate an iPhone into your car stereo, ranging from the simple Line-In jacks to full Bluetooth audio/handsfree with iPod control via steering wheel.

In my personal case, I just wanted the highest quality music from my iPhone through my 08 Honda Accord stereo. Thankfully Honda includes a headphone auxiliary input jack on all their new models so I didn't have to rip out the stock Premium stereo (which is actually excellent). To bridge the gap between my iPhone and the aux in, I use the Griffin AutoPilot »store.griffintechnology.com/autopilot-1 which connects to the 30-pin dock connector on the iPhone (or via Apple's Lightning adapter for iPhone 5) and will both charge the iPhone and pull line-out audio from the iPhone through the 30-pin/Lightning connector. This is higher quality than the headphone jack as it bypasses the internal amp. But this setup does not do any handsfree or steering wheel control; this is strictly for getting music through the car stereo.

To get everything, I strongly suggest Crutchfield like everyone else. They offer custom setup specific to your car's year/make/model. In my personal experience, any head unit with Apple's Made for iPhone logo will offer music with iPod control and handsfree calling through the head unit. And it will usually work fine; the only risk is a possible hiccup in a future iOS update if you read the reviews of certain models. You can get music/handsfree through Bluetooth, or via USB cable which has the benefit of charging your iPhone. Some head units will let you choose if you want to control the iPod through the head unit, the iPhone, or both (useful if the UI on the head unit sucks).

For features like integration with the steering wheel and microphone quality, those are specific to the head unit, not the iPhone.
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less talk, more music

reply to dellsweig
Not sure if I still have the link but there was a guy selling a kit you could install on Honda Civics (and certain other makes/models).

It plugged into the CD changer part of the default radio receiver and acted like a CD changer in many respects. This allowed you to use the steering wheel control and iirc get the artist/song info on the receiver screen.

It plugs into the ipod/iphone via connector, not through bluetooth.

Now I personally liked this approach as the Honda ipod kit for 2006 Civic was just crappy and im not sure if it has gotten any better.

That said, I really love my friends blue tooth integration with his Toyota. Calling works as well on that.
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