Bluetooth Audio / Pandora Streaming via Droid Phone in 4th Gen

[Canyonlands]

Hey everyone. This week I'm picking up an 03 4R SR5 with the base radio. One of my first goals with it will be to find a good HU that will bring both audio streaming and phone connectivity into the vehicle.

Are there a few HU recommendations for doing this in the 4th Gen 4R? I'll want to retain volume control at the steering wheel if possible and have good clarity for phone conversation.

Thanks.

 

[Offroader5]

I recently installed the Kenwood DDX-616 HU. It's bluetooth capable and has the aux input to hardwire your phone vs. streaming Pandora. I have the HTC Incredible and all I have to do is plug in a male/male 3.5mm cord from the headphone socket on the phone to the aux input on the front of the HU...works perfectly.

To retain volume control using the steering wheel buttons, I used the PAC-SWI adapter. It also lets you program the button functions for something other than what they were originally used for.

 

[Canyonlands]

Thanks the Kenwood DDX616 doesn't appear to be a current production model.

I've been using my AT&T HTC Aria to play Pandora, use Google Maps Nav, and handle calls. In both my 2006 BMW X5 and 2011 Jetta TDI Sportwagen the music, nav voice cues and calls were piped into the stock stereos via Bluetooth (never with any problem).

I'm looking to get the same if possible because it lets me put the phone anywhere in the vehicle without needing to be tethered to the HU.

That said, I'd like to know more about using the male/male headphone lead. Does doing this pipe your calls in through your HU? Is your mic for your phone built into the HU face?

 

[Offroader5]

I don't believe the headphone lead will handle communication/phone integration. I only use the hardwire connection for the use of the music files on the phone and for the Pandora feed. The HU came with an external mic that plugs into the rear of the HU.

I haven't experimented with the bluetooth on mine yet...but once it's setup, it is supposed to be able to stream Pandora & music files along with the phone functions of course. My phone unfortunately doesn't show up in Kenwoods compatibility list (and neither does the Aria)...so I'm still trying to find out if it's possible.

I purposely bought this HU for the features it had and also the fact that it was "capable" of nav, HD radio, sat radio, etc...but doesn't come "ready to use" for all that stuff. It can all be added later. It gets you into the HU for much less upfront cost.