Would like to play music from my iPhone via cab stereo (1 Viewer)

[kitetraveller]

2007 Citroen Relay with cheap aftermarket single din head unit in a double din space.
Radio does not get any decent signal, and we cannot play music from the phone as there is no bluetooth.
It plays Cd's but the sound quality is pants.....
Please can anyone recommend a head unit with bluetooth, (doesn't need anything else), and anyone have any advice about getting decent sound out of the speakers? Do we need to change the speakers? If so, is it reasonably straight forward for a numpty, or do you need special tools please?

Thanks
Andy & Christine

 

[Figaro]

I have a JVC single din with bluetooth and that works fine.
I think really it`s one of those things where you get what you pay for, if you pay £45 it`s unlikely to give a good tone or have much power.
At 10 years old the speakers will probably be past their best and are usually easy to replace and worth the effort.
I`d go down to Halfords or in car entertainment specialist and have a listen to different ones.

 

[Lenny HB]

Any of the branded stereo's should be reasonable sound quality. JVC are OK at the cheap end if you want something a bit better there are plenty of options, Kenwood, Pioneer, Clarion etc.
Don't be surprised if the Bluetooth won't talk to an iPhone but all stereos should have an aux input you can just plug a lead into from the headphone socket on the iPhone and the better ones will have a dedicated USB/iPhone port.

Speakers are very easy to change, if they are in the door you will have to take the inner panel off. If in the door worth putting some sound deadening foam on the door behind them.

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[Richard n Ann]

I changed the speakers in the car and stuck sound deadening sheets on the door skin. It sounds loads better now. It's worth buying the tool to get the door cards off, that makes it so much easier..

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/252532421563

This stuff enhances the bass.

Look at this on eBay

 

[138go]

2007 Citroen Relay with cheap aftermarket single din head unit in a double din space

I don't think it will be double din. The Fiat version certainly isn't and you need a kit to change it. You also need a Dremil to cut away some of the dash. Once this has been done you can then fit a double din cage.

Some of the Fiat / Citroen radios look like double din but they are single with a deeper front. Very much a design aimed at making sure you only buy their radio.

 

[Pausim]

You should get better sound quality from an iphone using the lightning port rather than the headphone socket or bluetooth. If you want a wire free solution airplay is better than bluetooth but not many radios support this. Some hifi enthusiasts would advise that when looking for quality of sound start at the source and work through the sytem doing the speakers last, if the source is poor the speakers won't cure it.

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[Richard n Ann]

You should get better sound quality from an iphone using the lightning port rather than the headphone socket or bluetooth. If you want a wire free solution airplay is better than bluetooth but not many radios support this. Some hifi enthusiasts would advise that when looking for quality of sound start at the source and work through the sytem doing the speakers last, if the source is poor the speakers won't cure it.

I disagree, and I was told at college that speakers are the weak link and most of your budget should be spent on them.

 

[Theonlysue]

Can you connect earphone socket on phone to I put on radio with lead? Mini jack to mini jack
Look at this on eBay

 

[Silver-Fox]

If you don't want to change the radio you can buy a cheap item that tunes into a certain radio frequency and plugs into your i pod

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[Pausim]

I disagree, and I was told at college that speakers are the weak link and most of your budget should be spent on them.

Fair enough, opinions on this seem to differ. It was something I read on a hifi site but perhaps it does not help Kitetraveller solve the connection problem.

 

[kitetraveller]

Many thanks for all the useful replies!!
I took the head unit out, and discovered an Alpine AI-net connection on the back; I had to look it up, had no idea what it was, but found an Alpine lead that plugs into this, and has a 3.5mm jack and lightning plug so I can get music and charge my iPhone at the same time.
There is also a lead with just the 3.5mm jack for audio; at £6 I ordered one to try.
I will let you know how I get on.
Thanks again all.
Andy