Florida'09xB

My car came with the premium pioneer HU and I'm not impressed with the sound quality at all. or lack of bluetooth. my old escape limited with a mach 400 stereo was much better - but that's another thread for another day...

anyhow, i dont want to dump serious cash right now on a whole system upgrade. i just want to integrate bluetooth into my car somehow inexpensively.

the options that i can imagine are as follows:
1. buy a garmin nuvi 760: I have no experience with the bluetooth function if its any good. biggest concern is that it won't pick up voice from all the way in the windshield mount.
http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-760-Wid...4360879&sr=1-1
2. parrot bluetooth: this system supposedly works great, but it will require installation by a pro shop.
http://www.amazon.com/Parrot-CK3100-...4363991&sr=1-1
3. pioneer HU: looks awesome but expensive:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_130P800...T.html?tp=5684
4. sony x-plod: cheaper HU alternative:
http://www.crutchfield.com/p_158MEXB...0.html?tp=5684

so what do people here have set up for their bluetooth.

SanchezHacker

I would recommend keeping your current HU and go with the official scion bluetooth unit:
http://www.scion.com/#xB_accessories...bluLogicSystem

For $299 you can get it from the dealer, but I think sparks sells the same thing for $180 here: http://trdsparks.com/displayparts.ph...&parts_id=2848
Note: I THINK that those are the same parts, but you should call and ask them if they are the same before ordering. More info here: https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=249965

Also, I don't know why you didn't like the premium HU but if you change the car type to xB and that can sometimes improve sound quality. Anyways, best of luck.

Florida'09xB

you can change the car type in the HU?

SanchezHacker

Yeah, they come from the factory set to tC which sounds terrible to most people. Instruction can be found on page 8 of your stereo manual.

Here's my quick guide:
1) Press and hold the SSP button untill the car type screen appears.
2) Press the Multi-Selector button to select your car type.
3) Done

While your at it, set your SSP to "Feel". Should make everything sound better.

Florida'09xB

printing out your post as i type...

SanchezHacker

Cool, let us know how it goes and if you hear any difference.

Florida'09xB

my stereo was already set up like you suggested. it sounds ok. just ok. there's enough power, but the sound is very muddled. no clarity whatsoever.

read through the stereo manual and there is no mention of bluetooth connectivvity. i'm suspicious that this stereo just doesnt handle bluetooth - irregardless of what the scion website says.

then went to hollywood scion looking for the bluetooth adapter from the website. the aftermarket guy there never heard of it and couldn't locate it within the parts lists (standard/optional/accesories).

very weird.

SanchezHacker

ah, ok. Well the bluetooth part just came out a few days ago so your dealer might not have gotten the info for it yet. That's also why there's no mention of it in your manual. My understanding is that it works independently from the HU by merely muting the volume when you receive a call and then un-muting it when you hang up. They do this so it will work with all the scion stereos.

I've always thought the stock HU offered above average sound quality, which was always enough for me. But if you do decide to go with an aftermarket HU, you can always send your old one my way. :D

Florida'09xB

you're probably right. dealer said same thing.

throw a couple bucks my way and i might take you up on it! I'd like to upgrade to this pioneer that has bluetooth included:
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-NW7Y8BO...T.html?tp=5684

the stock unit sounds good enough to live with. but it's no better than other common units like in a cobalt, escape, etc. i just expected better from scion.

CIONIDE

iTrader: (1)

I know people trash the SNS100 navi unit for it's cost, but the Alpine sound system that it incorporates kicks butt compared to the Pioneer systems of the standard & Premium units.

If you really want great sound, then you need to upgrade from the stock Pioneer unit or Premium option. For Bluetooth, you definitely need something other than what Scion normally offers as accessory radios, (which don't offer Bluetooth connectivity) but I have no experience with the brand new BluLogic Bluetooth system.

randomsuper

i recently installed a clarion eq in my friends xa that has the 08 premium radio and it made a huge difference in sound quality. he scooped it up for like $60 online.

he has aftermarket speakers and a sub though. hope that helps.

whiteboyslo

i would vote for the Parrot CK3100. i had a Garmin with Bluetooth. It worked, but the sound was only so-so and people on the other end often complained it was difficult to hear me.

The CK3100 is certainly does not require a professional to install. In fact, I wrote up a nice little how-to. Here you go:

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=249643

Mike

Florida'09xB

this is precisely the feedback i was hoping for! thanks.

zmonster72

Dude, I have a parrot 3200 ls and it was super easy to hook up myself and works great. Get the vehicle specific wire harness from crutchfield and it hooks right up. Too easy.
here's the link: https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...643&highlight=