Lets see what y'all are doing for Bluetooth....

[akku]

Hey folks, I have a couple of older cars and I don't want to install that ubiquitous shiny "retro look" MP3/Bluetooth stereo one buys off eBay for £18. I'd like a more subtle / hidden solution. I see a number of original radios converted to line in / bluetooth on sale and people offering conversions. I like this idea in some cars but then there are ones even that isn't the look I want. Who has mastered truley hidden away bluetooth connectivity, direct to a regular ICE amp & speakers set up? Basically I foresee some kind of bluetooth pre-amp with volume and even tone controls ideally and RCA outs to go to the amp... Or similar. Whats anyone doing?

[brachunky]

If your standard head unit has the option for a cd changer, then look at the Grom range of hidden adaptors. I have had experience of them in the LS400 & XC70.
www.gromaudio.co.uk/products/bluetooth-hands-free-and-a2dp-car-kits.html

[jimi]

I use one of these in the house to get a Bluetooth input to my vintage HiFi receiver, works great, remembers the last paired device. Only needs 5v power from a usb cable, so would be suitable for car use. RCA connections for output, very small, approx 2.5" square x 1" high. volume/tone are controlled by whichever phone app you use

linky

[astranaut]

I just use a cigarette lighter one, that plays it on whatever radio frequency you set it to, easily moved from car to car as well.

[akku]

Some suggestions assume I am not driving say a 1941 Wolseley, no standard head unit. No radio at all.

Those ciggie lighter FM transmitters are FTW in a car with an FM radio. I've been using those for years very happily.

Now phones don't have headphone jacks the "use a cassette adapter" and "aux in" things are no good any more.

[ChasR]

Oct 20, 2023 8:52:06 GMT akku said:

Some suggestions assume I am not driving say a 1941 Wolseley, no standard head unit. No radio at all.

Those ciggie lighter FM transmitters are FTW in a car with an FM radio. I've been using those for years very happily.

Now phones don't have headphone jacks the "use a cassette adapter" and "aux in" things are no good any more.

They do Bluetooth versions of those which work reasonably. My dad uses one of those for the Saab, but of course, it has a headunit already, which I suppose is what you're looking not to do.

You can now get Amps which have Bluetooth connectivity. They're not cheap, but they look reasonable. For me, the MTX unit would be my pick, with the controller.

The MTX:

www.raysmith.co.uk/products/hidden-audio-bluetooth-amplifier-secret-stereo-1

The CCS item:

www.classiccarstereo.co.uk/shop/classic-car-stereos/autosound-classic-car-stereo/hidden-bluetooth-amplifier/

In the Merc W108, I tried a few things, with varied results, but overall, reasonable, to good, but they did all involve a headunit, albeit of various flavours, including:

-£13 Cheap Classic headunit
-An Alpine SQ item, with a rare Parrot Bluetooth iPod box option
-A Retrosound DAB, all singing all dancing item
-Blaupunkt's Bremen 80s unit (That was in the S124 230TE, but it still made for a handy comparison).

I doubt the above is what you want by any means however.

In theory, another way around it would be to get a Bluetooth Handsfree kit, wire it away somewhere, and then have most of the control off the phone. I used this kit with a Becker Mexico Pro headunit back in the day, and it was fine and sounded well. It wasn't that pricey back then however (I think it was £65). I'm sure I did use it without a headunit back in the day, so this may be an option for you. These devices work by interrupting the car's sound via a 'patch'/interruption lead, meaning it has its own amplifier built into the device.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/354075720582?epid=2254503034&hash=item52708ebb86:g:4QsAAOSwVRRijNp2&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0LdP%2BenU2YnaiPf1abfCNQHnmSrTD%2BLAL31Ka0lhWJCpNt5dASstfVt54XLj1KN2edX0b9OJaC1WwQNeaGjow6JhgYv%2BkVPq5GKxknajsOfIQkFf1Rr%2Fcq5ffhw2ePgHfWGjOX8IaBdGHxKSRetsKBoBc8MFXD%2FRC8q%2FCrw6lUtuf9wADtbZrycDuBujbsVZxga1Q5ZR6uNcQ4bFvkvtCUaHpqeI7Uhg6WwuJgwtfgwGgT9qTZ3Z%2B9dvS4vZRB1%2Bxpb14egkXc2PDvb%2FfAe2DuE%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_DZjdjtYg

Almost all of the above however, were better than the portable Bluetooth music boxes, which until now, included :

-a JBL Flip
-Denon Envaya ; I still have this. This was as close as acceptable to the above choices, but no cigar. It also wasn't the best value in a car.