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2003-2011 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
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Finally Saab did something easy and used somewhat standard ISO connectors on the back of the factory radio on my 2000 9-3 SE (No On-Star).
The Parrot CK3000 Bluetooth handsfree car kit has mating ISO connectors that make installation plug-n-play in this car. The kit consists of an electronics box, cables, microphone and control unit. When placing or receiving a call, the stereo is muted and the kit uses the car speakers for telephone audio (no extra speaker). It is wired in-line between the head unit and the speakers so it doesn't use the HU or amp for sound.
It's pretty easy to route the microphone through the dash and up the passenger-side A-pillar to a spot near the front dome light. The kit includes a few different mounting options for the microphone.
I mounted the small control unit (2 buttons for picking up and hanging up calls) next to the stereo by running its cable through the steering column opening.
Installation took me about 1 hour (2 beers).
I'm using it with my Motorola V600 phone. I'm really happy with the results. There's slightly more "speakerphone" quality for the people on the other end compared with the phone by itself but overall it's certainly acceptable. Nobody complains or suspects that they're on anything other than my cell phone. I don't have any experience with other hardwired car kits.
The Saab also has a telephone audio input into the head unit. If I were more ambitious I would convert the Parrot outputs to line-level and use that input instead of wiring it in-line. Since I don't notice any music sound degradation, I'm not going to bother.
When muted, the Saab HU takes about one second to fade the sound down. The Parrot only uses the 4 speakers, not the subwoofers. So this means that the relay in the Parrot shuts the sound off immediately to the speakers but the subwoofers fade out. Sounds strange the first time you hear it. This might be a reason that somebody would want to use the HU telephone input.
I had always resisted getting a built-in handsfree system because it ties you to a particular phone and it's difficult to take with you. This system solves those problems as it is painless to install and remove and it works with any Bluetooth phone.
-Tim
posted by 64.173.26...
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