Anybody seen a good, neutral, review of Bluetooth car speaker phone units?

[Chuck Tribolet]

Anybody seen a good, neutral, review of Bluetooth car speaker phone units?

Or have some good experience with a unit that's NOT integrated into a stereohead unit?

[mda185]

I have installed a Parrot CK-3100 in my 01 Pathfinder and am very happy with the results. The audio quality is very good and it synchs via Bluetooth with my wife's Blackberry Storm and my low end Motorola cell phones with no problems. The Parrrot unit has noise canceling built in to its signal processing and does a good job of blocking road and wind noise. I mounted the microphone near the hinge on the sun visor and installed a dedicated speaker just in front of the transmission shift lever. I think my unit is out of production now and has been replaced by a newer model. I believe Parrot uses the same signal processing in all of its hands free phone products and just adds features and better displays as the price goes up. If all you are after is good Bluetooth performance and good audio quality, the cheaper models will get it done.

[mcrews]

I also have a Parrot ck 3X00 series installed in my 02 Q45. Mine is actually hooked to the center speaker in the front dash. THe little LCD screen fit perfectly in the ashtray part so I can close the door and no Parrot!It synch nicely and no one complains about noise.

[nicros]

Does it have to be built in? I had a motorola T505 that worked great. Clips onto the visor, sounds great and others can hear you great as well.

[Chuck Tribolet]

It doesn't have to be built-in, but I want something that runs off car power, andworks well. I'm mechanically and electrically competent, so I don't mind installing something as long as I don't have to rip half the truck apart to do it.

I still have the original stereo, but the CD player died (the usual busted whiteplastic bit), so the CD player DIN-hole is open.

Chuck

[Chuck Tribolet]

Bumping this up because I think I can get the GF to give me one for Christmas.

I'd prefer one with a built-in speaker, which the Parrot doesn't have. I couldinstall a speaker, but it's one more thing to do. My radio doesn't have (AFAIK)an AUX input, and it's rarely on anyway.

[Pwnin O'Brien]

Bumping this up because I think I can get the GF to give me one for Christmas.

I'd prefer one with a built-in speaker, which the Parrot doesn't have. I couldinstall a speaker, but it's one more thing to do. My radio doesn't have (AFAIK)an AUX input, and it's rarely on anyway.

I think most Parrot units integrate with the stereo, acting as an audio input and outputting to the speakers. The only reputable company I can think of that makes a hands-free system with a built-in speaker is Motorola. They have a pretty decent selection of hands-free Bluetooth speakerphones.

[mda185]

I think most Parrot units integrate with the stereo, acting as an audio input and outputting to the speakers. The only reputable company I can think of that makes a hands-free system with a built-in speaker is Motorola. They have a pretty decent selection of hands-free Bluetooth speakerphones.

You are right, the Parrot units are designed to integrate with both OEM and aftermarket radios. The control unit has a switching relay that handles this function. The problem with this arrangement is that the connectors used in the Parrot kit are not compatible with most of the aftermarket and OEM radios in this country. I was able to figure it out but I am a EE with over 25 years experience modifying car audio. There is some cutting and splicing involved if you can't use their connectors and I don't think their instructions are intuitive and easy to follow.

There is a speaker designed to plug right in to the Parrot units and this is what I did. Even though I understood how to integrate it with my Alpine head unit, it was easier to just mount an external speaker in front of the shift lever with double sided adhesive tape. I found the speaker on Ebay or Amazon. I can't remember which.

The big plus with the Parrot kits is they have excellent noise cancellation software built in. This is not trivial.

[korbeano89]

im biding on this right now, ive got my system hooked up to the stock head unit and this i think is pretty nice. cant wait to get it.

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-e...rview

http://www.alpine-usa.com/US-e...Video
Modified by korbeano89 at 11:01 PM 11/20/2009

[mcrews]

on the parrot, your radio does not have to be on.Also, there are quick connect harnesses for most oem installs....except of course for the 02 Q45

edit: try this link http://www.quickconnectproduct...d=176

The quy that did my install just used the front center speaker.

And the poster is correct, the parrot has VERY good noise cancelling, especially on the newer MK product.
Modified by mcrews at 6:43 AM 11/21/2009

[Chuck Tribolet]

FTR, I ended up with an Anycom HCC-250. One of my dive buddies had one andit sounds good. It's self-contained (doesn't use car speaker) so I can move itfrom car to car as needed.