Anyone using bluetooth only for sound? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Marrs · #1 06-29-2014, 02:56 PM

I am considering adding better sound in my car but would prefer not to mess with the original radio (that still works) and components. I have been thinking about something like a pair of bluetooth wireless speakers that simply recharge, and I can pop them in the car and turn on the ipod or iphone whenever I wanted some sound. Alternatively, I could hard wire in speakers for power, but I rather like the idea of it all being totally mobile, remove for a picnic or beach visit. I would still likely build a center console to fit under the dash to hold the speakers when in use in the car.

Has anyone done something similar... a no-wiring solution?
What speakers have you chosen and can be paired as a set? Some speakers can only be used individually.

tbomachines · #2 06-29-2014, 03:12 PM

So basically you're asking for recommendations for wireless BT boomboxes? Certainly don't let me stop you, but I'm curious why do you want to avoid wiring anything up? Building a center console or some sort of custom holder for the boom box/system seems like much more work and much more invasive to the car. You could wire in a cheap head unit (most have a BT capability) under the dash and hidden very very easily.

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craftysince86 · #3 06-29-2014, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marrs

I am considering adding better sound in my car but would prefer not to mess with the original radio (that still works) and components. I have been thinking about something like a pair of bluetooth wireless speakers that simply recharge, and I can pop them in the car and turn on the ipod or iphone whenever I wanted some sound. Alternatively, I could hard wire in speakers for power, but I rather like the idea of it all being totally mobile, remove for a picnic or beach visit. I would still likely build a center console to fit under the dash to hold the speakers when in use in the car.

Has anyone done something similar... a no-wiring solution?
What speakers have you chosen and can be paired as a set? Some speakers can only be used individually.

i would go with this: IS77

i have been in the same situation you are in, i wanted an aftermarket audio player without having to alter anything original or completely hack anything up.

this hard wired FM module taps into the antenna, it goes in the between the radio and the antenna. all you need to do other than that is ground it out and tap into a constant power some where. very simple to do and the sound quality is MUCH better than those wireless FM transmitters.

twinockchef · #4 06-29-2014, 08:25 PM

The only down side I see to a completely mobile system is the ease of theft. Every time you get out of the car you will have to hide everything or take a chance. The majority of auto theft is the grabbing of anything laying in plain site. They break a window and grab it and take off (15sec).
Anything that is added will be confronted with the problem of the low speaker quality and total lack of power to drive them. No matter what you add it will sound like scheiße.
I understand why many owners would not want to change the (outdated, underpowered, and inferior) Becker radio but updating the stereo does not require 'HACKING' of any kind.
Do not quickly dismiss the idea of upgrading to a modern sound system in our wonderful looking cars. Mercedes look great why not have them sound great too.
I wanted great a sounding sound system in my 68 coupe. I installed a new Kenwood head unit with 4-6.5" round speakers (2- front, 2- back) and 3-100 watt amps to drive everything. I removed the manufactures labels and painted the speaker covers to match the surrounding upholstery. All of the amps and wires are hidden away. The amps are behind the rear seat and under the rear deck. The wires run under the carpet and through existing holes in the trunk and engine fire wall.
There are many head units which fit easily into the preexisting hole on the dash.
I have bluetooth and a IPod connection (under the center consul). Everything is controlled through the head unit. I love the ease of use and the amazing sound quality.

ScooterABC · #5 06-30-2014, 09:15 AM

I'll disagree with Britton 100%. Particularly in a 280 se coupe...
My opinion is that anything in the dash that isn't Becker looks like Scheiße and that there are other options.

1. If you just want a bluetooth boom box, I have one from Sony, and it sounds great. It should be trivial to wire a power supply to it from somewhere else in the car. If you are concerned about theft, stick it in the trunk.

2. Someone in Orange County has a Becker setup with custom bluetooth installation - I might have the link saved in ebay...

Becker Radio Europa II with Bluetooth Music Pandora Streaming iPhone Andrroid | eBay

3. Beckers with separate amplifiers - someone else is selling a cable setup to take the becker head unit cable and convert it to run a standard after-market amp. That gets you power for "big" speakers. Most Beckers have a plug in back that you can buy a cable/box for that allows you to have a 1/8" input jack somewhere in your car. Not BT but does provide a way to have your player play through your Becker.

There are other options besides putting in an aftermarket head unit, or even worse, a "Retrosound" headunit...

twinockchef · #6 06-30-2014, 01:47 PM

You missed my point. I was writing about the sound quality not the visual quality of the head unit and I also made it clear my understanding that many owners are not willing to remove the Becker. Yes, for some owners any change would look like scheiße but that is always a matter of opinion.
My point was that the audio system can be updated without 'hacking' up the interior and at the same time greatly improving the sound quality.

ScooterABC · #7 06-30-2014, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinockchef

You missed my point. I was writing about the sound quality not the visual quality of the head unit and I also made it clear my understanding that many owners are not willing to remove the Becker. Yes, for some owners any change would look like scheiße but that is always a matter of opinion.
My point was that the audio system can be updated without 'hacking' up the interior and at the same time greatly improving the sound quality.

I don't think I missed your point. I consider a significant change to the appearance of the dashboard to be hacking up the car. You do not. That's OK, we can agree to disagree.

What I was trying to present was a list of options that compromise between audiophile and 1960 technology while still maintaining the stock appearance.

If the OP really intends to only play BT music in the car then I would think that adding something not visible might be the best option and having the dash radio purely for appearance. In my "modern" car I exclusively play music from internet radio via bluetooth. (thank you Verizon for letting me still keep my unlimited data plan)
Scott

twinockchef · #8 06-30-2014, 02:40 PM

Now that is something I wished I had unlimited data

ScooterABC · #9 06-30-2014, 02:42 PM

...it means never having to listen to radio you don't like again... really good for someone who wants to listen to radio from other countries, etc.

Marrs · #10 07-01-2014, 06:47 PM

Thanks all, and to clarify I am not looking for audiophile quality sound, I rarely listen to music in older cars anyway, too many things to pay attention to and listen for, and I enjoy cruising to road and nature sounds, but in town I;d like something good enough for some basic tunes. That was my only real reason for not wanting to go the step of hardwiring anything in, I just want a simple setup I can pop in and take out. I've seen these little "Jam" bluetooth speakers, which probably aren't powerful enough to combat road noise, but something along those lines would do fine. The underdash console I mentioned would be three pieces of board covered in matching vinyl, and would bolt in so could be taken out, but I might even just put the speaker in the center console cubby and call it a day.

So in the end, I am looking for specific recommendations of speakers that are wireless that I can bluetooth-connect to my phone or ipod and have some basic music when I get the urge.

Baxterdown · #11 07-01-2014, 09:59 PM

Hi Marrs,

I just bought my W108 and the stereo doesn't work. So I've been using my Beats Pill exactly in the way you are thinking (charge it at home and use it in the car). I've been amazed at the poor sound quality in the car. I use the Beats Pill at the beach and hotel rooms all the time and it sounds amazing. For some reason it sounds very flat in the car. Maybe it's because I'm used to bigger sound in my other car, maybe it's because the speaker is down on the floor (in front of the window switches), I don't know...

Beats Pill is one of the best Bluetooth speakers out there. If you don't mind the less than stellar sound, this is a great solution (I get about 4 days of juice out of it). If you're looking for semi-decent sound, skip this idea.

Hope this helps!

Jose

ScooterABC · #12 07-03-2014, 11:54 PM

I own both of these products:
BluNote PRO Wireless Speaker - Spracht - Hear. Be Heard.
Bluetooth Wireless Boombox - ZSBTY50 Review - Sony US

The blunote is plenty loud for inside. The sony is plenty loud for outside. Either work on battery or plug in. The down-side for a car application on the sony is that the AC input is 120V instead of a DC transformer, so if you wanted a hard-wired power supply you would need to modify the battery section of the Sony to have leads for an external battery, which would be pretty easy.

Buzzkillington · #13 07-08-2014, 01:54 PM

HMDX Jam Plus speakers put out a lot of sound and can be paired L+R. I didn't feel like wiring in a radio in my Rabbit Pickup so I went this route. They also make a Jam Party boombox with a battery life of 12 hours on full charge. Either the pair of Jam Plus or the Jam Party will run you around $90 but the plus side is that you can take them anywhere.

mr110 · #14 07-09-2014, 02:33 PM

i use a UE BOOM bluetooth speaker exclusively in my car. The original radio is shot and so is the speaker. This thing works absolutely amazing for how small it is, it will fit in a cup holder. From all the reviews i have read only the upper end of Bose bluetooth products are better (but they are more expensive) , and i stand by those reviews 100%
Also apparently you can wirelessly sync two of them together for better left and right sound. it cost 199, but i recently saw them for sale for 149 on their website