GROM MST3P Bluetooth/Aux In...For a While!

[rutlander]

Fitted the new GROM to the 03 D5's Premium Sound system today with the Bluetooth phone dongle.
Fitted the microphone to the driver's side of the ceiling light fitting and tucked the cable in behind the headlining around the screen, the passenger side pillar trim, routed it behind the dashboard by removing the dash end cap, over the top of the glovebox ceiling then across to the centre console.
Routed the Bluetooth and USB cables down so they poked out of the centre console where it meets the carpet on the side of the passenger footwell, but far enough up to that they actually appear between the side of the passenger seat and the centre console. Makes it easier to plug the phone, means there are no untidy cables poking out of the glovebox. I'll get the iPhone cable next week and route that to the same point. Knew I'd forgotten something!

Very simple job and produced amazing results allowing music to streamed direct from the Spotify App on my iPhone. There's little noise (feint hiss more than anything) evident on quieter tracks caused by interference from the car, but for Bluetooth streaming, the sound quality is absolutely stunning.

Having spent the best part of 20 years working on the radio, and paying with constant tinnitus (but perfect hearing strangely) for not turning the music down, I've accidentally become a bit of an audiophile. It takes a lot to satisfy my ears.

The quality of the Bluetooth streaming is way better than that of the Parrot MK9200i for one reason - When using Bluetooth, music is processed through the Parrot's integrated amplifier rather than the one in the car.

The GROM is simply a straight line-in of the raw sound using the car's amp, thereby taking advantage of the car's very well balanced kit.

I imagine using the Grom's wired connection from the iPhone instead of wireless Bluetooth will cut out the slight interference I experienced.

Sadly I'll have to wait to find out - All was well until I fitted the car back together again and turned on the engine - Then when selecting "CD" the radio screen went blank, the CD changer started whirring as it tried to find disks and would only come on for a couple of seconds before turning off again.
The radio continue to work when selected.

Oh well - I was warned. Presumably that's the MOST security coming into play. I'll see if Volvo are feeling benevolent when I swing by tomorrow and ask them to apply the patch to turn the security off. Then all should be fine again.

On the plus side, at least with the MOST security off I ought to be able to replace the apparently expired DVD drive with one from another XC.

[Ducklakeview]

I'm sure I read on here somewhere that Volvo will not permanently trn off the MOST..

Is it necessary for the Grom?

Mike

[rutlander]

Originally Posted by Ducklakeview

I'm sure I read on here somewhere that Volvo will not permanently trn off the MOST..

Is it necessary for the Grom?

Mike

It's definitely necessary in some UK/EU cars to have it turned off. The GROM cable fits between the MOST cable and the head unit so it's part of the car's fibre optic ring.
Seems all as per the advice I was given by GROM themselves (the security patch warning is on their website).

Just called my dealer - The staff they have in the service department seem very hit and miss - None of them seem to have any technical knowledge - Nothing worse than asking a question and getting the combination of a long "Ummmmm" followed by "Never heard of that before." followed by a long silence.
Translates in my head to "I'm not really interested in this. I don't really want to be here and I don't care that you've worked both those things out from the disinterested and unhelpful tone in my voice" ))

Found a dealer who's more "I'll tell you what, we've got some workshop time free today - Just swing by and we'll have a look and sort it one way or the other"......Typically they're over an hour away rather than 20 minutes, but hey-ho.....at least the radio works for the trip, if not the GROM lol!