Bluetooth music streaming for gen II ?

I havent gotten it yet but i plan on getting the GROM audio android bluetooth/aux/usb adapter. From what ive read on here it seems to work pretty well. although like your self i havent had someone give me spcific experience, and the search function on this site is a little wacky.

hopefully someone with one chimes in

 

Did you try it? Interested in an update

 

I had an Alpine stereo installed about 18 months ago. It has Bluetooth connection and built-in support for Pandora (still requires a smart phone). I have used two different Android smart phones with this Alpine unit, both Samsung brand. When starting the car, the Bluetooth connection will automatically sync about half of the time. The other 50% of the time I must manually connect the phone's Bluetooth (about 3 steps in the settings panel of the phone). One connected, the Bluetooth connection is stable. I have gone through the process of updating the firmware on the Alpine stereo and my current Android phone (Samsung Galaxy S3) is on the current level of Android. As I mentioned, I use the Pandora app for music as well as Double Twist for podcasts and Audible for books. The inconsistent automatic Bluetooth connection is not a big deal to me and I blame it more on the Alpine stereo than anything else. If you have an Apple smart phone, the version of stereo you must purchase is slightly different.

 

I have a 2007 Prius with the 6 CD Changer, JBL speakers. I didn't do the Bluetooth, but installed the USA Spec PA20-TOY that just uses the connection for SAT Radio, one plug into the back of the radio for my iPod connection. Only had to remove glove box and right side vent to install. It disables the CD playing (never used it), but has pretty versatile control of iPod in glove box out of sight, steering wheel controls volume, song advance--touch screen changes to next folder, whether it's playlist, artist, album, genre. USA Spec also make a BT35-TOY, that connects you device to car via Bluetooth. I've had great experience and audio quality with the PA20-TOY. Had to drill out the one of the holes in the back of the glove box to 1" diameter to run the cable through and avoid pinching. Did both for future additions. Used a couple 1 & 1/8" rubber grommets from Lowes to finish the hole. Module fits neatly in the compartment in back of glove box. Each of the six CD numbers on touchscreen controls a different function: 1 is Playlist, 2 is Artist, 3 is Album, 4 is ALL Songs on iPod (Don't use that one much), 5 is iPod Direct if you want to run the iPod cable out of glove box and manually control play; 6 is Genre. Some functions are disabled when driving, but still very handy. Screenshots attached.

 

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I adore the Kinivo BTC450 which I purchased recently for $40 for my 2007 Prius. There was some residual hum, so I also purchased a ground loop isolator for $12. The BTC450 fits the Prius really nicely; I placed the microphone/control interface just to the left of the car's Power button, and the other hardware (power and auxiliary input) inside the center console.

I didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars on such an old car, and this completely meets my needs.

 

If you have an android phone, download the app BT Mono. What it does is it makes your phone simulate a phone call in the background, and so all media (music, sat nav, etc) will be outputted through the Prius Gen 2's car system. The sound isn't that great as it's not stereo. I'm still looking into other apps and hopefully find the perfect one.

 

my wife has JBL in her 05, I put a kenwood in the 04. until I unpaired my phone with the 05 jbl, I knew when she pulled into the carport because the JBL would immediately want to connect with my phone every time. the damn kenwood has a 50% chance of working correctly.

 

I have had a grom adapter fitted to my prius 08. Disappointingly I haven't really used it for the following reasons:
It's a "work around" therefore if there's anything "in the way" it won't work. For example I really like listening to audio books purchased through Audible - which I've downloaded onto my phone. I plug my phone in, but the grom can't read the audible suffix so it doesn't work.
The only way to make it work, is to download onto a CD, then copy back onto the sim card on my phone. I'm not going to do that as it would be easier to simply play the CD.
I really wanted to keep the factory radio, because I don't want to lose the bluetooth phone capability which switches off the radio whenever I dial out, or have an incoming call. It's really handy.
However, now, I'm realising that a simple audio jack would have been a better option - even if I didn't get all the tracks appearing on the multi display screen.
I'm interested in any feedback - particularly if you're a kiwi or aussie and have managed to make this work.

 

I just ordered this from Amazon as a friend of mine has one. I'm hoping that I can set it up so phone calls continue through the Prius built in system and the music streams the the AUX input. My friends works great in his car and it will fit nicely in the center console.

I'll report back when I have it in hand

 

you won't lose the Bluetooth if you replace the head unit. it will still switch the radio off and go to the phone. steering wheel buttons will work with the aftermarket unit too. you lose nothing except the lousy factory radio sound quality, but you gain a usb port, Bluetooth audio streaming and more, depending on your new head unit.

 

If your car has AUX IN, then use THIS:



I have it and sounds GREAT!!! Found in Best Buy or Amazon for less than $25 bucks

 

There seems to be some serious ground issues in the 2007 between the AUX input and the 12V power supply inside the armrest. Connecting a device to both the 12V and the AUX input results in nasty background hum. Connecting to the other 12V power supply (to the lower right of the radio) it works fine.

 

A $12 ground loop isolator addresses this problem just fine. E.g.:

 

I am sure that this device sounds fine, but it doesn't provide any mechanism for answering a call or pausing your music without fiddling with your phone, which is often unsafe at high speeds. A device such as the Kinovo BTC450 addresses this problem. It fits Priuses nicely, and the cable is mostly out of the way ... only a problem if a non-gymnast like myself wants to switch between the driver and passenger seats.

 

I have noticed this with my 2006.

 

My tests of the Belkin unit suggest to me is its good, but not great - but the limitations seem to be with my old iPhone 4 more than the unit. Calls I initiate on the Prius continue that way without confusion but incoming calls are sent to both (Android phones have clear settings to fix deal with multiple attached Bluetooth devices) so that is a bit problematic. The sound quality of streamed music is okay but not like a real high quality shielded audio cable plugged from phone to aux jack - but again, the quality drop is more the iPhone 4 as it was much better with my friends iPhone 5 so I can't really blame the Belkin device.

more in replays below...

 

Well, if one was serious about such a concern, they should just stop using the phone in a car

Hands-Free Cellphones Don't Make Driving Safer, Review Shows - US News

But the Kinivo device does auto connect and in a car that does not have built-in Bluetooth for phone calls that might be good, except if you want to listen the the radio (old fashioned I know) you won't hear when a call comes in with this device on such cars. I'm having this debate right now as this is the situation in the wife's Honda fit and which of either of these two might be best for that car.

 

Toyota was fixing them for awhile, but I think they have stopped so you have to install your own ground loop isolator. Of course this was the same Hybrid tech that said the car would do regenerative breaking in neutral, so....

Prius Tech says no more ground loop kits from toyota | PriusChat