What car receivers do you currently have are plan on purchasing to use with your iPhone 3G? I plan on purchasing one soon and want to hear opinions on some. I'd rather put money towards a new receiver with a hardwire input than a FM modulator. Do any of you have receiver's that work with the iPhone and have bluetooth? It'd be nice to have both of those if possible, but bluetooth isn't necessary.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone Car Stereo Receiver
- Thread starter szap
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I tried connecting my 3G iPhone to my friend's Pioneer DEH-P7009BT earlier today. It connected fine and was able to control the iPhone however it would not charge it. The DEH-P7009BT is an older model though so I emailed Pioneer to see if their newer model's, the DEH-P700BT and DEH-P7000BT, charged the iPod using Firewire or USB. I'm waiting for a response, but I'm hoping to hear some good news. I'll let post back when I found out.
Another solution I've been thinking about it is stepping down the voltage provided by the firewire charger, regulating it at 5V and splicing it to the USB pin. Essentially keeping everything the same on the connection accept how it receives its power. It might be a little messy, but if I can't find another solution soon, I'll probably try this.
Another solution I've been thinking about it is stepping down the voltage provided by the firewire charger, regulating it at 5V and splicing it to the USB pin. Essentially keeping everything the same on the connection accept how it receives its power. It might be a little messy, but if I can't find another solution soon, I'll probably try this.
I got a generic response back from Pioneer, but I went ahead and purchased a Pioneer FH-P8000BT receiver. I saw a couple other guys on here own it and that it should be compatible with the 3G iPhone. It'll be arriving on Monday, so I'll post my impressions once I install it and try it out.
two years ago when i got my license and my car the first thing i did was buy a new head unit. i bought one with an auxiliary input - so no matter what iGadget i buy if it has a standard headphones input it will work and sound perfectly over my bose system. i dont like these adapters - i like it simple. The head unit gets loud and has worket perfectly with many of mine and my friends ipods and minidisks iphone v1 (with adapter) and pretty much every thing. i paid like 100 bucks for the head unit and i paid like 8 bucks for the double ended headphone cable.
Alpine has typically provide the best sound, as well as the smoothest compatibility with ipods. No personal experience with the iphone though.
http://www.crutchfield.com/g_300/Car-Receivers.html?search=Alpine+VENDORID500&searchdisplay=Alpine&tp=5684
http://www.crutchfield.com/g_300/Car-Receivers.html?search=Alpine+VENDORID500&searchdisplay=Alpine&tp=5684
Alpine CDA-9856 OK w/iPhone 3g, but no charging...
I have an Alpine CDA-9856 with the Alpine "Full Speed" KCE-422i iPod cable. It's an older model (2006, I believe) and it has worked just fine with my iPod 4th gen for a couple of years.
Tried it with my iPhone 3G this morning, and other than the usual warnings about not charging, and not an "approved" accessory, it worked just fine.
The Alpine controlled the selections just like on the iPod, I could use the search on the head and it went ot the playlist.
Now if it only charged the phone too...
I'm thinking someone could make a buck with a small, inline passthrough device that takes the 12 volts on the FireWire pins and converts it to 5 volts on the USB pins, and passes everything else right through...
I have an Alpine CDA-9856 with the Alpine "Full Speed" KCE-422i iPod cable. It's an older model (2006, I believe) and it has worked just fine with my iPod 4th gen for a couple of years.
Tried it with my iPhone 3G this morning, and other than the usual warnings about not charging, and not an "approved" accessory, it worked just fine.
The Alpine controlled the selections just like on the iPod, I could use the search on the head and it went ot the playlist.Now if it only charged the phone too...
I'm thinking someone could make a buck with a small, inline passthrough device that takes the 12 volts on the FireWire pins and converts it to 5 volts on the USB pins, and passes everything else right through...
I'd definitely like to hear your experience with that Pioneer unit and the iPhone 3G. Hope it's a good one!
ALL car adapters will not charge anymore because Apple does not support Firewire charging anymore. They will have to update to USB charging... as far as playing music, it works fine.
I'm pretty sure these newer Pioneers will charge it since they are a direct USB connection, not an IPBUS connection. That means you can use the cable sync cable that came with your iPhone if you wanted. Also, someone confirmed in "List of Accessories that Do and Don't work with the 3G iPhone" thread that the FH-P8000BT head unit will charge the 3G iPhone. That was my main concern when searching for a head unit.
I looked into the Alpine HUs, but you have to pay $200 extra if you want to add Bluetooth to them. For $250, the Pioneer seems like it offers a good bit more.
Awesome, that's what I was expecting, but it's good to hear it from more than one person. I wouldn't be too happy if it got here, I installed it, and after plugging my phone in find out that it doesn't charge.
The thing I've found with my unit (Kenwood DDX812) is that the bluetooth pairing works great, the address book and all that transfers, the whole deal. However, bluetooth does not work if you plug the iphone into the ipod cable I got with it. It charges the phone and I can control the music but bluetooth won't work when plugged in.
I'd imagine most current models with bluetooth work like this until they start updating firmware.
I'd imagine most current models with bluetooth work like this until they start updating firmware.
Not true. Alpines units like the one pictured charges fine. Tried it myself because mine won't (an older one). So hopefully a new cord or a gadget inbetween them will work. Dont want to buy a new headunit.
I'm not a guy, but I do have this receiver and it works fine with my 3G iPhone, charges and plays. I don't have the bluetooth connection synced, but the phone does see the stereo as an available device, and it worked with the previous gen iPhone. The address book even downloaded properly.
I purchased the FH-P8000BT today and will most likely be receiving it on Friday and hope to get it installed that day or Saturday. It's been posted about on here before but I'll post my experience with it and might post a video too.
It arrived earlier today and I just finished installing it. It was very easy to install. It would've only taken me about an hour to do everything if I could have remembered where I put my old stock stereo since I needed the brackets off of it. I only played with it a few minutes tonight just to make sure everything worked correctly.
I purchased a 6 ft. USB extension cable and a Retractable Ipod sync cable from monoprice.com. That stuff arrived on Saturday, so I tested them out with my iPhone to make sure they all worked together. Since I had to wait until Monday to get my stereo, I decided to install the USB cable into my dash. It turns out that the stereo came with a USB extension cable, but I wouldn't have been able to make a flush install with it. I'll post some pictures of everything when I get home from work tomorrow.
The stereo recognized my iPhone as soon as I plugged it in, started charging, and gave the Airplane mode message. I said no and it instantly began playing my music. After skipping forward a couple tracks using the stereo, I switched the control over to the iPhone, stopped the iPod and loaded up Pandora to try it out. I was impressed by the little bit that I listened to, but I really need to spend more time with everything to give a better impression. Syncing the phone to bluetooth was fairly easy. The directions were a little confusing so it took me a couple tries, but I was able to get it working. It copied my phonebook and then I was able to place a phone call. I didn't have a conversation though, so I can't comment on the quality yet.
So far, I'm satisfied with the little bit that I've tried. I will definitely give some more details once I've tested it out more.
I purchased a 6 ft. USB extension cable and a Retractable Ipod sync cable from monoprice.com. That stuff arrived on Saturday, so I tested them out with my iPhone to make sure they all worked together. Since I had to wait until Monday to get my stereo, I decided to install the USB cable into my dash. It turns out that the stereo came with a USB extension cable, but I wouldn't have been able to make a flush install with it. I'll post some pictures of everything when I get home from work tomorrow.
The stereo recognized my iPhone as soon as I plugged it in, started charging, and gave the Airplane mode message. I said no and it instantly began playing my music. After skipping forward a couple tracks using the stereo, I switched the control over to the iPhone, stopped the iPod and loaded up Pandora to try it out. I was impressed by the little bit that I listened to, but I really need to spend more time with everything to give a better impression. Syncing the phone to bluetooth was fairly easy. The directions were a little confusing so it took me a couple tries, but I was able to get it working. It copied my phonebook and then I was able to place a phone call. I didn't have a conversation though, so I can't comment on the quality yet.
So far, I'm satisfied with the little bit that I've tried. I will definitely give some more details once I've tested it out more.
szap, how did you switch the control back to the iPod from the stereo? I remember reading something about how to do that, but I can't remember if it was here or in the manual, and I can't find it again.
What are you using to hold your iPhone? Or do you just toss it on the seat? I'm using a cheap Bracketron mount with an old UltiMount right now, but I'd like a better solution, perhaps even a dock if I can get the 3G dock to work with the stereo.
I'm jealous of you guys that can install your own. The fit of my stock stereo was so bad that I had to have an installer take the entire dash apart to remove it, which also included disconnecting most of the climate controls. No way I would have gotten that back together in a working manner!
What are you using to hold your iPhone? Or do you just toss it on the seat? I'm using a cheap Bracketron mount with an old UltiMount right now, but I'd like a better solution, perhaps even a dock if I can get the 3G dock to work with the stereo.
I'm jealous of you guys that can install your own. The fit of my stock stereo was so bad that I had to have an installer take the entire dash apart to remove it, which also included disconnecting most of the climate controls. No way I would have gotten that back together in a working manner!
I think I switched the control over to the iPhone by pushing the function button while the source was set to USB, then turning the knob until it said Control Mode and pushing in on the knob. If that doesn't work, I'll check tomorrow and let you know.
Right now I don't have any type of holder for it, just have it sitting in a little compartment next to me . I plan on buying one soon though. The only two types that I've seen are the ones that fit into the cigarette lighter and the ones that clip onto air vent. I don't know if I like the idea of having my air vent blocked though since it's pretty hot and I can use all the air I can get. I'm going to start searching for a good one. Let me know if you come across anything. It was after reading one of your posts that I decided to pull the trigger on FH-8000BT, so maybe you can help me out again.
Right now I don't have any type of holder for it, just have it sitting in a little compartment next to me . I plan on buying one soon though. The only two types that I've seen are the ones that fit into the cigarette lighter and the ones that clip onto air vent. I don't know if I like the idea of having my air vent blocked though since it's pretty hot and I can use all the air I can get. I'm going to start searching for a good one. Let me know if you come across anything. It was after reading one of your posts that I decided to pull the trigger on FH-8000BT, so maybe you can help me out again.
Same! A good mount/dock is what I'm looking for now. I know ProClip will have some out sooner or later but who knows when that will be. Dice Electronics also has a cradle but I'm not sure if they have a holder for the iPhone 3G or if it's connector is firewire or USB, either.
I have a Pro.Fit Ultimout (original, although the V2 should work fine) as the base for my iPhone holder. The Ultimount attaches to anywhere on the dash/console/cupholders with a sticky pad, and has a little arm that you can tilt. Mine has been attached for at least 3 years, since I used it for an XM Radio. For the moment, I have a Bracketron iPod mount ($10 at Best Buy, in the car audio section) that clips into the Ultimount. It's listed as a vent clip mounting cradle, but I just used the cradle and ignored the vent clips. I had to brace it with one of the little rubber bumpers that came in the package, otherwise it tended to spin around and dump out my iPhone. I leave the unconnected cable end in the cupholder, then just plug it into the iPhone and drop the iPhone into the Bracktron. I'll try to remember to grab pics of the setup tonight.
Eventually I'm going to pick up a 3G dock and try that with the stereo. If it works I have a bracket that I can attach to the UltiMount, and then velcro the dock to the bracket.
ProFit makes a nice iPhone cradle, but as of last week it hadn't been updated for the 3G. Despite what Crutchfield says online, they still have (or had, last week) the old version which very definitely does not work with the 3G. Going to have to return that one.
I'm confused by your pics. The last picture looks like a wire comes out from your cig lighter, to the middle. The other two look like the usb port is just in the middle of the dash. Did you cut that, and install that usb port there? Seems like it would have been cleaner to put a usb port somewhere else, maybe out of sight so you don't have a wire hanging out of your dash all the time.
Am I missing something?
Am I missing something?
Pioneer DEH-700BT works great
Pioneer DEH-P700BT Works and charges!
I had this unit ( Pioneer DEH-P700BT)installed yesterday. It works great and charges. Bluetooth phone calls work well.
I will admit I am very good with gadgets and this head unit is a bit confusing to use.
Up until this week I had an Alpine 9881 that worked flawlessly with my iPhone, but the new iPhone 3G would not charge with the Alpine unit.
Pioneer DEH-P700BT Works and charges!
I had this unit ( Pioneer DEH-P700BT)installed yesterday. It works great and charges. Bluetooth phone calls work well.
I will admit I am very good with gadgets and this head unit is a bit confusing to use.
Up until this week I had an Alpine 9881 that worked flawlessly with my iPhone, but the new iPhone 3G would not charge with the Alpine unit.
If you have an AUX port on your radio, try this. I discovered this the other day. It doubles as a hands-free system too!
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/534617/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/534617/