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Car stereo and phone question

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mikeymikec

mikeymikec

Lifer
My current car (built 2003) came with a car stereo with the cutting-edge technology known as a tape player.

I had an MP3 CD player left over from my previous car but I didn't install it because the current car's stereo isn't a standard size.

However, this all worked to my advantage as I had an old adapter which I bought for my Discman many moons ago, whereby a tape-shaped adapter goes into the tape player with a headphone-type jack on the other end of it, which these days I plug into my smartphone for skip-free music playback etc.

I know that some modern car stereos come with USB ports, but I would be surprised if they knew how to talk to a USB device which isn't something specific (like say a USB mass storage device with the music in the parent folder). Does anyone have any experiences on this point? My Nexus 5 can talk to USB as a MTP device.
 
I've had many aftermarket car stereos over the years that had a usb port and just about all of them supported some form of mass storage device on it. Useability was a different story though. With a few hundred songs the interface was responsive but as you packed more and more on it, it just bogs. Of course that was a few years ago so things certainly should have improved now.

The factory stereo in my current car supports an ipod/iphone or a usb device. I switched to an ipod touch for the reason above. Although I lose the convenience of drag and drop I gain playlist support and much faster interface response.
 
I have this in my truck. It's under $100 and supports Bluetooth audio streaming. I'd highly recommend something like that.
 
most newer decks/ head units with USB can play music directly off a thumb drive. they also have integration through the usb for iphones/ipods in general, but not really the same level of control over android phones. they also have very good bluetooth modes that will play music from your phone, answer and make calls, and play all your notification sounds. im almost positive there is a "fit kit" for your car that will allow a new stereo with all these capabilities to be installed for under 300 bucks.
 
jlee said:
I have this in my truck. It's under $100 and supports Bluetooth audio streaming. I'd highly recommend something like that.
Click to expand...

that is dealer pricing. its no wonder the stereo shops are all losing business.

but youre right, thats a good deck with lots of features. and a good price.
 
Head over to Crutchfield and get a cheap radio with Bluetooth and USB. Add in a dash kit, and wire harness adapter, et. and you can have a "modern" stereo system for $200-300.
 
MiataNC said:
Head over to Crutchfield and get a cheap radio with Bluetooth and USB. Add in a dash kit, and wire harness adapter, et. and you can have a "modern" stereo system for $200-300.
Click to expand...

Depending on the vehicle, it might even be less - the $100 Pioneer I linked above didn't need a dash kit for my Tacoma, and a wiring adapter is about $12.
 
MiataNC said:
Head over to Crutchfield and get a cheap radio with Bluetooth and USB. Add in a dash kit, and wire harness adapter, et. and you can have a "modern" stereo system for $200-300.
Click to expand...



Correction, go to Crutchfield to shop for your new stereo, but buy it nearly anywhere else. I like sonic electronix.

Crutchfield is to the Internet as best buy is to local box stores. If that's not clear enough, they're massively overpriced.
 
My old car stereo read my phone (android) as though it were a flash drive, so long as I connected it via mass storage. My new one allows me to control it via an app (equalizer, that sort of thing) over either USB or bluetooth, while streaming music. It's a ~$100 JVC unit.
 
ummduh said:
Correction, go to Crutchfield to shop for your new stereo, but buy it nearly anywhere else. I like sonic electronix.

Crutchfield is to the Internet as best buy is to local box stores. If that's not clear enough, they're massively overpriced.
Click to expand...

Crutchfield offers live support and will show you every part needed (dash kits, antenna adapters, steering wheel control adapters, etc.) for your specific model. They are also among the best when it comes to returns and customer satisfaction.

They may cost more, but they add a lot of value. I am willing to pay a little more to get that kind of service.
 
I have a Sony entry level blue tooth and USB enabled deck. Best purchase ever. I have not used a CD in my car since, and I can also listen to audiobooks via bluetooth when I go on a long drive.

Got from Crutchfield and installed myself.
 
mikeymikec said:
My current car (built 2003) came with a car stereo with the cutting-edge technology known as a tape player.

I had an MP3 CD player left over from my previous car but I didn't install it because the current car's stereo isn't a standard size.

However, this all worked to my advantage as I had an old adapter which I bought for my Discman many moons ago, whereby a tape-shaped adapter goes into the tape player with a headphone-type jack on the other end of it, which these days I plug into my smartphone for skip-free music playback etc.

I know that some modern car stereos come with USB ports, but I would be surprised if they knew how to talk to a USB device which isn't something specific (like say a USB mass storage device with the music in the parent folder). Does anyone have any experiences on this point? My Nexus 5 can talk to USB as a MTP device.
Click to expand...

My car has a USB port and if I plug my tablet in it automatically recognizes music files stored on it and will allow me to play them.

Raduque said:
Spend a few extra bucks to get something with Bluetooth.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: And integrated handsfree for your phone. It might have a built in USB port too, some of them do.
 
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MiataNC said:
Crutchfield offers live support and will show you every part needed (dash kits, antenna adapters, steering wheel control adapters, etc.) for your specific model. They are also among the best when it comes to returns and customer satisfaction.

They may cost more, but they add a lot of value. I am willing to pay a little more to get that kind of service.
Click to expand...

It depends what you need. I can build and tune an engine, so I don't need their tech support. I didn't need a dash kit either and already had an OEM harness adapter from the last aftermarket head unit that was in my truck, so I saved $30 by going with Amazon. 🙂
 
I just went through this. I wanted to add a backup camera and hands free for my phone. I ended up with a very basic double DIN unit that has bluetooth, back camera, hands free that shows caller id and your contacts on the radio screen, plays cd's , DVD's, and anything you can stick on a thumb drive, and of course it has a radio. The whole enchilada was under $250 bucks. GPS navigation is an extra $100 bucks.
 
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