February 11, 2016 at 11:37Expanding the capabilities of the car audio system. Part 2
Another reader from Giktims modified his car radio using our module to listen to music in the car from his smartphone and tablet, watch a movie with audio output via Bluetooth to car speakers, and sent us the results of the upgrade. Read the process description, test results, pros and cons in his review:
“To begin with, I have:
1. The 2006 Subaru Impreza Wagon. The speakers are full-time, but noise isolation is produced, which makes the sound quality noticeably improved and I changed my mind about changing them.
2. Radio KENWOOD KDC-W4044. It has an AUX input, a USB connector on the front panel, which I put with a wire into the glove compartment, because on the front panel, the flash drive and the connector itself have already been subjected to physical impact several times.
3. MP3862BT module- This is a built-in Bluetooth module for an amplifier, active speakers or radio.
The radio looks like this:
But the module itself:
The module has a playback control function that can be activated if there are buttons on the steering wheel. Unfortunately, I do not have such, but the management works, which makes it possible to more fully use its functionality.
The module has a wide power range from 5 to 35 volts, which eliminates the need to install an additional stabilizer and filter. Previously, when using the FM transmitter, I heard interference when setting engine speed. There is no such phenomenon with this module, the sound is clear, without interference.
The installation began by removing a CD drive that had not worked for a long time and cleaning the lens did not save the situation. At the same time, he freed up a lot of space for installing the module. I decided to screw the module through the corner to the back wall, for which it has a special hole. I soldered the audio cable to the AUX input (first I connected it with ordinary wires, but then replaced them with a shielded audio cable), I connected the power and it worked. Next, I set the volume level and balance with special controls on the module.
I collected the radio and installed it back in the car. It would seem that everything is easy and simple, but those were there. The radio tape recorder refused to read flash drives and generally forgot that it has USB without a CD drive board, but I wanted to compare the sound quality from USB and from the module. I had to reassemble everything and install the drive in place and move the module to another place. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a photo.
Testing.
When you turn on the radio, the phone finds the BT-speaker Bluetooth device. We are connected to it, a password is not required. A loud melody is heard in the speakers, indicating that the phone is connected, which is very convenient. We turn on the song on the phone and listen to it through the car audio system. I have a radio on my company car running Android OS and built-in Bluetooth module. When playing music from a phone via Bluetooth, for some reason the sound is mono. I was afraid that the situation would be the same here, but the sound is stereo on this device, which is good news. Connection with the phone is automatic and very fast. When an outgoing call or answer an incoming call, the sound switches to the phone, when the call ends, playback continues automatically. The bluetooth laptop is also easily connected, When playing a movie, there were no sound freezes when transmitting via bluetooth. I tried to watch a movie from a smartphone, playing sound through the BT module, it also plays without problems.
The sound quality, of course, is not a high end, and yet it seemed to me that the tops are a little lacking. But personally, this quality suits me, since I am not a music lover and I listen to music in the car as a background. For an inexperienced listener, this quality will be quite enough, but if you like high-quality sound, you will have to compromise for the sake of functionality.
The radio tape recorder is well shielded, and the CD drive is metallic, and I placed the module right behind it. Therefore, if the sound is reproduced from the rear passenger's phone, then sometimes stuttering occurs, but the connection is not lost. This can be avoided by placing the module in a less shielded location or by soldering a piece of the mounting wire parallel to the module antenna.
Sometimes the connection is not automatically established and you have to manually connect. But, it seems to me that this is a problem of the phone rather than the module.
I shot a short video.
As soon as the radio turned on, there was a quiet signal about the connected device. Then I disconnected the connection, another sound came out. Well, after that, reconnected and played music. Connection is very fast. If you remove the buttons from the module, you can start playing them by simply pressing “Play”.
Instead of a conclusion.
This module allows you to significantly expand the capabilities of the old radio, especially if there is no USB, CD, or even AUX, the Internet is full of schemes for making a linear input instead of the AM range of a regular radio. For my previous working machine, this would be exactly the solution I was looking for, because there was an old radio tape recorder of non-standard dimensions and an on-board network of 24 volts, but there was no question of high-quality sound (it was an old Japanese truck). ”
Posted by: Gans85-5 Anton, Yekaterinburg
P.S. More publications on this topic: upgrade the standard car radio Mercedes W203 , make wireless active speakers .
“To begin with, I have:
1. The 2006 Subaru Impreza Wagon. The speakers are full-time, but noise isolation is produced, which makes the sound quality noticeably improved and I changed my mind about changing them.
2. Radio KENWOOD KDC-W4044. It has an AUX input, a USB connector on the front panel, which I put with a wire into the glove compartment, because on the front panel, the flash drive and the connector itself have already been subjected to physical impact several times.
3. MP3862BT module- This is a built-in Bluetooth module for an amplifier, active speakers or radio.
The radio looks like this:
But the module itself:
The module has a playback control function that can be activated if there are buttons on the steering wheel. Unfortunately, I do not have such, but the management works, which makes it possible to more fully use its functionality.
The module has a wide power range from 5 to 35 volts, which eliminates the need to install an additional stabilizer and filter. Previously, when using the FM transmitter, I heard interference when setting engine speed. There is no such phenomenon with this module, the sound is clear, without interference.
The installation began by removing a CD drive that had not worked for a long time and cleaning the lens did not save the situation. At the same time, he freed up a lot of space for installing the module. I decided to screw the module through the corner to the back wall, for which it has a special hole. I soldered the audio cable to the AUX input (first I connected it with ordinary wires, but then replaced them with a shielded audio cable), I connected the power and it worked. Next, I set the volume level and balance with special controls on the module.
I collected the radio and installed it back in the car. It would seem that everything is easy and simple, but those were there. The radio tape recorder refused to read flash drives and generally forgot that it has USB without a CD drive board, but I wanted to compare the sound quality from USB and from the module. I had to reassemble everything and install the drive in place and move the module to another place. Unfortunately, I didn’t take a photo.
Testing.
When you turn on the radio, the phone finds the BT-speaker Bluetooth device. We are connected to it, a password is not required. A loud melody is heard in the speakers, indicating that the phone is connected, which is very convenient. We turn on the song on the phone and listen to it through the car audio system. I have a radio on my company car running Android OS and built-in Bluetooth module. When playing music from a phone via Bluetooth, for some reason the sound is mono. I was afraid that the situation would be the same here, but the sound is stereo on this device, which is good news. Connection with the phone is automatic and very fast. When an outgoing call or answer an incoming call, the sound switches to the phone, when the call ends, playback continues automatically. The bluetooth laptop is also easily connected, When playing a movie, there were no sound freezes when transmitting via bluetooth. I tried to watch a movie from a smartphone, playing sound through the BT module, it also plays without problems.
The sound quality, of course, is not a high end, and yet it seemed to me that the tops are a little lacking. But personally, this quality suits me, since I am not a music lover and I listen to music in the car as a background. For an inexperienced listener, this quality will be quite enough, but if you like high-quality sound, you will have to compromise for the sake of functionality.
The radio tape recorder is well shielded, and the CD drive is metallic, and I placed the module right behind it. Therefore, if the sound is reproduced from the rear passenger's phone, then sometimes stuttering occurs, but the connection is not lost. This can be avoided by placing the module in a less shielded location or by soldering a piece of the mounting wire parallel to the module antenna.
Sometimes the connection is not automatically established and you have to manually connect. But, it seems to me that this is a problem of the phone rather than the module.
I shot a short video.
As soon as the radio turned on, there was a quiet signal about the connected device. Then I disconnected the connection, another sound came out. Well, after that, reconnected and played music. Connection is very fast. If you remove the buttons from the module, you can start playing them by simply pressing “Play”.
Instead of a conclusion.
This module allows you to significantly expand the capabilities of the old radio, especially if there is no USB, CD, or even AUX, the Internet is full of schemes for making a linear input instead of the AM range of a regular radio. For my previous working machine, this would be exactly the solution I was looking for, because there was an old radio tape recorder of non-standard dimensions and an on-board network of 24 volts, but there was no question of high-quality sound (it was an old Japanese truck). ”
Posted by: Gans85-5 Anton, Yekaterinburg
P.S. More publications on this topic: upgrade the standard car radio Mercedes W203 , make wireless active speakers .