Bluetooth streaming audio

[getz]

Does anyone have any experience comparing the sound quality between streaming to the stereo using bluetooth vs. using the dedicated ipod jack in the glovebox, or even the AUX jack. I have been using the BT and it sounds pretty good, but was wondering if the $299 Toyota wants for its dedicated ipod adapter would provide any significant improvement other than ipod control through the steering wheel/face unit.
Thanks,
-Getz

 

[nashman69g]

I can tell you there is a difference. I can hear the difference in higher frequencies especially. I think the BT has some noise interference in it. Best thing I can tell you is to test this yourself. Go to a dealer and test it in a vehicle that has one.

 

[Quentin]

Does anyone have any experience comparing the sound quality between streaming to the stereo using bluetooth vs. using the dedicated ipod jack in the glovebox, or even the AUX jack. I have been using the BT and it sounds pretty good, but was wondering if the $299 Toyota wants for its dedicated ipod adapter would provide any significant improvement other than ipod control through the steering wheel/face unit.
Thanks,
-Getz

The USB port is basically that $300 ipod adapter. Don't waste your money. I have my doubts it would even work anyway.

I use the bluetooth so I don't have to plug anything in and I like controlling my iphone that way. The sound quality is surely better through the USB port*, but the interface isn't quite as nice. I've used my Aux like 2x ever and that is because we wanted to listen to music on my wife's ipod while my iphone was charging in the USB port. I don't really notice much difference between the USB and bluetooth, though.

Nashman - what phone do you have? I have the iphone 4 and the sound quality is pretty damn good over the bluetooth.

* I don't know if this is true anymore, but the sound through the dock connector is equalized differently than the headphone jack. There was a very clear difference between my old 4th gen when plugged through the headphone jack versus using my belkin car kit w/ the pre-amp and dock connector.

 

[mikeync]

I don't know if this is true anymore, but the sound through the dock connector is equalized differently than the headphone jack. There was a very clear difference between my old 4th gen when plugged through the headphone jack versus using my belkin car kit w/ the pre-amp and dock connector.

This is still true and will probably always be true. The reason is very simple (actually when I found out it was kind of a "yeah should have thought of that moment")

The headphone jack uses the internal amp as it normally would be connected to head-phones. That amp is very weak.

When you use the jack at the bottom of the ipod then it uses the amp of the radio which is much stronger than the internal amp of the ipod

 

[Mtn.Rush]

I'd consider myself an audiophile and I think the Bluetooth streaming protocol with my Motorola Droid is fantastic. I don't think it could be better in terms of sound quality. There is some lag from steering wheel controls for switching songs when using Bluetooth streaming (less than 1/2 second usually).

I use the bluetooth with my iphone and think it sounds great, shuffle all my songs and go. Whats even nicer is no wires haning around. I use the AUX jack to play my sons movies from the dvd headrests and that cranks too.

 

[getz]

Thanks for the replies. I really like streaming Pandora, but I don't know if I can justify close to 300 bucks for a little bit better sound qualtiy. That being said it may continue to nag the back of my mind, and I will probably end up purchasing the stupid device.
-Getz

 

[Quentin]

Thanks for the replies. I really like streaming Pandora, but I don't know if I can justify close to 300 bucks for a little bit better sound qualtiy. That being said it may continue to nag the back of my mind, and I will probably end up purchasing the stupid device.
-Getz

It won't improve the quality at all. It will sound exactly the same as if you used a normal ipod USB cable. In fact, I doubt it is even compatible with your radio. I would imagine that only works w/ the base non-ipod, non-bluetooth streaming stereos. Basically, it is an ipod integration option for those that don't spring for the nicer radio.

 

[nashman69g]

Nashman - what phone do you have? I have the iphone 4 and the sound quality is pretty damn good over the bluetooth.

* I don't know if this is true anymore, but the sound through the dock connector is equalized differently than the headphone jack. There was a very clear difference between my old 4th gen when plugged through the headphone jack versus using my belkin car kit w/ the pre-amp and dock connector.

I have a iphone 3g...It could be the phone...I guess I should have been more specific on that. I haven't tested other devices yet and I should not draw hard conclusions on my one device. So let me restate my conclusion. I was using an iPhone 3g white 16G streaming my ipod library and also Pandora and I found that the quality was better than FM and lower than CD. I can't be more specific than that without more tests.

 

[cv470]

Iphone

can someone give me some pointer here on connecting my Iphone so I could use the bit streaming I have tried but no luck I dont have the new Iphone4 I have the last model.
Thanks Guys

 

[getz]

It won't improve the quality at all. It will sound exactly the same as if you used a normal ipod USB cable. In fact, I doubt it is even compatible with your radio. I would imagine that only works w/ the base non-ipod, non-bluetooth streaming stereos. Basically, it is an ipod integration option for those that don't spring for the nicer radio.

I have the upgraded JBL/Nav package in my limited, but per the manual you need that $300 cable to run your ipod/MP3 player through the JBL system (what a racket). I hear the point on using the JBL amp to run the music through the ipod rather than the tiny built in ipod amp, which could make a huge difference. Does anyone know if the bluetooth stream runs through the JBL amp?
-Getz

 

[Quentin]

can someone give me some pointer here on connecting my Iphone so I could use the bit streaming I have tried but no luck I dont have the new Iphone4 I have the last model.
Thanks Guys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIDB__E1MQs

That is for the SR5 w/ the upgraded stereo and my iphone 4. The key is to select the off-hook switch, set it up as a phone first, and when asked to use the internal audio player, say yes.

 

[kingpin748]

I have the upgraded JBL/Nav package in my limited, but per the manual you need that $300 cable to run your ipod/MP3 player through the JBL system (what a racket). I hear the point on using the JBL amp to run the music through the ipod rather than the tiny built in ipod amp, which could make a huge difference. Does anyone know if the bluetooth stream runs through the JBL amp?
-Getz

If you've got the JBL/Nav then you don't need a $300 cable. You can either attach it through the USB in the glove compartment or pair it with the bluetooth in the headunit. All of these methods are laid out in the manual but there are several threads here about the bluetooth also.

 

[cv470]

Bitstream

I have the Limited with the JBL Nav system

 

[getz]

Per the dealership, even with the upgraded system, you need the accessory adapter shown below. Are you using the connector that came with the device?

-Getz

 

[mpaquette]

Yeah, just use the Bluetooth streaming protocol.

Or plug it into the USB port. Why spend $300 on a cable you don't need?

 

[kingpin748]

Per the dealership, even with the upgraded system, you need the accessory adapter shown below. Are you using the connector that came with the device?
-Getz

Well I could be wrong or maybe you have a different package or something but with my JBL/Nav package in my LE I can plug into the glove box USB with a regular USB cable. The easiest thing is to try it yourself. Just plug the phone into the USB port with the cable that came with it. If you can access your music you're set.

The one section in my PDF manual that I can't open is the one on the stereo. Maybe there is a difference because you have the SR5 with the JBL.

 

[getz]

Well I could be wrong or maybe you have a different package or something but with my JBL/Nav package in my LE I can plug into the glove box USB with a regular USB cable. The easiest thing is to try it yourself. Just plug the phone into the USB port with the cable that came with it. If you can access your music you're set.

The one section in my PDF manual that I can't open is the one on the stereo. Maybe there is a difference because you have the SR5 with the JBL.

I have a limited as well. I will try the USB cable that came with my iphone and see if that works. Are you still able to use the steering wheel controls and the stereo control to navigate the ipod while it is in the glovebox?
Thanks for your help.
-Getz

 

[kingpin748]

I have a limited as well. I will try the USB cable that came with my iphone and see if that works. Are you still able to use the steering wheel controls and the stereo control to navigate the ipod while it is in the glovebox?
Thanks for your help.
-Getz

Yeah but the interface sucks so bad I now just plug the phone into the AC in the center armrest and use bluetooth. Bluetooth sounds just fine to me.