V70 Stereo/DVD: Parrot Mki9200

[wilkhaven]

I've been watching the various discussions about iPod integration on the Volvo HU head units. Rather than hi-jack those I have a question about the Parrot Mki9200 unit and the Volvo HU-850 dolby pro-logic system.

Will it work - and give me 'proper' sound quality as though I was paying a CD?

I don't have an Ipod - prefer a proper phone (HTC Touch Pro 2) and want the bluetooth integration for calls but this also gives streaming music either by bluetooth, cable or inserting a SD card.

However all the searching I've done about connecting suggests that the sound quality may be a comprimise - if this is just the phone calls then it's not a problem, but I do want the quality pro-logic sound for the music!

[dave_s13]

Hi, first post here. Pick my new (to me) V70 up in a week

If the kit you refer to is anything like the MK6000 (I've fitted 2) essentially the answer to your question is very likely no.

The Parrot kits come with a blue box that taps into your headunit speaker wiring. When you feed the parrot a music source the blue box essentially disconnects the headunit from the speakers and feeds them an amplified source.



So, when listening to music via the Parrot you are using the blue box as an amp, your headunit is completely bypassed. Volume control is via the control knob on the parrot. It doesn't sound bad by any means but will be no match for the fantastic Volvo head unit.

[R59]

I have a MKi9200 in my ex-filth V70 T5, but since mine is not an amped car, it makes no difference!

I have a Blaupunkt Toronto with a D-Fire DAB box for the radio/CD, however since fitting the MKi9200, I've hardly had the "wireless" turned on.

Fitting wise, I used a "SOT" lead to fit the Blaupunkt - which has ISO connectors, and thus the "SOT043" to adapt Volvo plugs to ISO. That meant fitting the MKi9200 was an easy task as it's an ISO kit.

I have a couple of 8Gb USB sticks full of music, and if you make sure you're up to date with the firmware in the MKi9200 (easy to do with a USB stick or SD-Card), it's a capable music player.

The adapater lead you'd need for an amplified car is the SOT-045.

If you use the wrong lead, the amp makes some popping and banging noises on the front speakers and it can damage it.

If you only want to do A2DP streaming of music, you could go for a couple of other options - the new THB Bury CC9060 Music - about the same cost as a Parrot MKi9200. I haven't tried one yet, but I have installed a few CC9060's and they are a clever cookie!! Difficult to call which is better out of the Parrot or the THB.

Dension Ice - Gateway 300. This is a pukka "CD Multichanger emulator interface" that makes an iPod look like a CD multichanger as far as the car's stereo is concerned. It can be expanded to include a bluetooth adapter for phone operation. Its expensive, but good!

DICE - this will be a FM modulator job for the iPod in a Volvo.

IO-Play is another option, connects like the Parrot or THB. Don't know much about them, I've seen good and bad reports.

There are others, but I don't know much about them

[wilkhaven]

Thanks for the reply. I decided to go for the Parrot solution and take a risk with the sound quality. I really didn't want to spend too much initially and the priority is bluetooth hands free, the streaming music is a 'nice to have'.

I don't have an ipod yet, but an HTC with the music and I have tried the FM modulators before and found them to be pretty awful.

The kit arrived this week and I'm [attempting] to install it today. I bought a specialist connection lead seperately specific to the car which should simplify things a bit. I'll let you know how I get on!

[R59]

thanks for the thanks!!

I'm more than impressed with the quality of the sound from the MKi9200.

The MKi - as you may know - comes with an iPod interface (which works with iPhones too), a USB port, a line-in plug, and a SD-Card slot.

The latest firmware supports Multipoint bluetooth connection. I haven't worked out how it goes yet, but I have had two phones connected at the same time.

I'll report on the THB Music soon - I'm going to put one in Mrs R59's new toy, and Hispano Suiza Fabia VRS TDI. She doesn't know it yet, but that's what she's getting!

[dave_s13]

I'm sure the sound quality will be good but you have to bear in mind the Volvo standard head unit is a bit weird in the world of standard car stereos. It sounds bloody fantastic!

Report back with your thoughts as my car needs a hands free kit and I've always thought Parrot kits are pretty much all you ever need in that respect.

On a related note......how do you get the head unit out?

[wilkhaven]

Well, got it all fitted and first impressions are pretty good.

Fitting it was much easier than I expected, helped by the fact I have had the head unit out before so knew how to do it.

I have the geartronic stick with the aluminium finish surround. use a plastic tool to lift this from the rear end by the cubby hole. This then snaps out of place, the problem is I can't work out how to remove the gear stick so have to manipulate the base around the stick.

This then exposes two torx screws under the main unit. Take these out and the whole unit (radio, air conditioning and lower switches) drops down and lifts out. Here it gets tricky with the gear stick - with the ignition on put the car in Drive to get it as far back as possible and then disconnect the battery. This gives just enough room to get the whole unit out.

I bought an Audio2Car lead with mute box from a certain auction site, this was definately a good move. The seller was extremely helpful in ensuring I got the right lead for the car and stereo unit - if anyone wants his details pm me. This lead was used in place of the lead supplied by Parrot, with it fitting between the main power plug and another between the speaker plugs. The microphone was routed to the roof with little problem and the leads for ipob/usb/aux sent to the glove box.

There was enough room to lodge the parrot unit to the right of the space where the head unit sits and some careful manipulation of the extra wires got the unit back in without too much fuss.

First impressions with the sound quality is excellent for the telephone, muting the head unit without fuss and sound coming through the speakers - however this was while just parked on the drive, I've not tested it out on the road yet.

I have also only tested the music through Bluetooth streaming and was pleasently surprised with the quality. The bass is not as defined or heavy but the excellent speakers in the car (standard fit) really do make for a very listenable sound.

I'll try it on the road tomorrow if I get a chance but despite not expecting too much initially I am now really pleased that I went for this solution.

[Osetura]

After a little struggle, I have also fitted an MKI9200 to my XC90. I have read that i can also connect the Line in to the back of the head unit. I have had a look and I'm lost as to what to connect the cables to. Nothing on the back of the XC90 says 'AUX'. Any help will be appreaciated

[R59]

I have asked on a trade forum that I'm a member of. Not sure if they have an AUX input on that unit though.

[Osetura]

" Not sure if they have an AUX input on that unit though "

Thanks, R59. There is AUX input.