Derbo's ZHP

[Rovert]

Can you give a review on the Anker product vs anything you've used in the past and what your setup was for install?

I just have a simple Bluetooth receiver that's powered by USB power in my glove box with the OEM Aux Jack into the dongle. But it has no call/mic abilities. One thing is it's fully out of sight but I'd like the ability to skip without going to the phone when driving.

[derbo]

Can you give a review on the Anker product vs anything you've used in the past and what your setup was for install?

I just have a simple Bluetooth receiver that's powered by USB power in my glove box with the OEM Aux Jack into the dongle. But it has no call/mic abilities. One thing is it's fully out of sight but I'd like the ability to skip without going to the phone when driving.

Sure thing Trevor!


I believe my previous Bluetooth reciever is the same one you purchased. I vaguely remember this conversation on the forums when I was looking for bluetooth solution way back in the day. It's a tiny little USB that plugs in and has a 3.5mm output. It had an issue with buzzing and I needed a ground loop isolator to fix it.



Previous setup:
OEM AUX inside the sunglasses compartment
Ground Loop Isolator
USB BT Reciever
BMW 2 port USB DC Adapter

I'm not going to lie, this was a "get the basic job done" type of scenario. When I purchased this setup, the ZHP is purely a weekend/track car. I wanted bluetooth for the drives to the racetrack and not having skip was not a major priority at the time.


New setup:
OEM Aux inside the sunglasses compartment
Anker Soundsync BT 4.0 ($21.99 when I bought it)
BMW 2 power USB DC Adapter

I did not really aim to mount this very elegantly. The USB and 3.5mm are permanently attached as a Y-Cable to the multifunction buttons which prevented a nicer tuck until I take some time to run a 12V swtiched source behind the dash there. For now I am using the USB 2port DC adapter as shown with the wires in the pics. One wire goes from the multifunction button goes into the sunglasses holder and one wire comes back out for power. The extra wire running across the ash tray is my power source to my Phone when I mount it to the magnetic mount.


Impressions so far:

Audio Streaming: Audio quality definitely improved. If I had to guess, the USB BT Reciever in my previous setup was Bluetooth 2.0. Since the Anker is a 4.0 device and geared more towards stereo audio streaming, it evened out the audio input. Previously I had to use the equalizer to increase treble and bass to liven up the soundstage. Now, my equalizer is close to flat with a little treble and one tick up for bass.

Buttons: The main reason for buying a new setup was for the skip button. I started commuting in my ZHP again after selling my TDI Golf and since I commute 1.5-2hrs one-way for work, I like listening to podcasts to keep myself from getting into trouble (speeding). Podcasts have commercials and I started to miss the skip button from any new car that supports AVRCP profiles (BT remote control). I can immediate confirm the skip button works! Hallejuah! The center button pauses/starts last audio player. If you hold the center button, Siri is activated. It all works as intended.

Phone calls: I definitely fall into the category of a user who doesn't use a phone to talk anymore. From the 2-3 phone calls I had in the past 2 weeks on the road, I ask callers for a review of my voice quality and was met with acceptable as an OE solution in newer cars. Not the best, but also clear enough to hear even over the TSE3.


Notes:
-This may not be a full con for some, but the y cable does make routing a challenge if the USB power and AUX are not in the same location.
-Since I'm using the ashtray power, this bluetooth setup is not turning off with the car. Not the fault of the BT reciever but rather my setup's limitation. Temporarily, I am removing the USB everytime I get out of the car (which happens to be the same thing that I had to do in my previous setup)


I hope this helps Trevor! If you want to read more, check the link below. I enjoy wirecutter reviews of products to pick a winner!

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/bes...ry-car-stereo/



https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Rovert]

Yup, thanks for the review. Is the wire from the Anker long enough to be routed behind and to the other side inside the glove box if mounted in a similar location as yours?

[johnrando]

Great review, thanks!

[derbo]

Yup, thanks for the review. Is the wire from the Anker long enough to be routed behind and to the other side inside the glove box if mounted in a similar location as yours?

The cable is fairly long but I'm not sure if it is enough to route behind all the way to the glovebox. I haven't really thought it through on how to hide the wires. My initial plan was to build a USB Plug that was wired to a 12V switched source behind the ashtray and move the aux to the ashtray. I could then route the wire, behind the steering column and go behind the dash to the ashtray. This is not a well-thought plan yet as I haven't looked at the routing areas on how to go about doing this.

I also didn't look into 12V-5V stepdown transformers and USB setups.




One thing to note and I'll edit it, is the button is attached via 3M sticky tape. Kinda silly that it isn't a magnetic removable unit like the others ones I looked at, but it's fine for my car.

[Rovert]

Is the dash material thin enough for two neodymium magnets to attract?

Maybe trim material can have a thin magnet behind and then 3M tape a strong magnet on the Anker protected with thin rubber so it doesn't scratch the trim.

I have seen hardwire USB kits with fuse taps that you can buy in amazon for around $12. Then you can route everything to the glove box without hacking up anything. That's my setup. 100% reversible with no holes.

[derbo]

Is the dash material thin enough for two neodymium magnets to attract?

Maybe trim material can have a thin magnet behind and then 3M tape a strong magnet on the Anker protected with thin rubber so it doesn't scratch the trim.

I have seen hardwire USB kits with fuse taps that you can buy in amazon for around $12. Then you can route everything to the glove box without hacking up anything. That's my setup. 100% reversible with no holes.

I somehow forgot to post. I don't think its thin enough for magnets. I want it in the glove but I do want to reroute. Either way, I might just say screw it and get one of those headunits hahaha

[Sockethead]

The cable is fairly long but I'm not sure if it is enough to route behind all the way to the glovebox. I haven't really thought it through on how to hide the wires. My initial plan was to build a USB Plug that was wired to a 12V switched source behind the ashtray and move the aux to the ashtray. I could then route the wire, behind the steering column and go behind the dash to the ashtray. This is not a well-thought plan yet as I haven't looked at the routing areas on how to go about doing this.

I also didn't look into 12V-5V stepdown transformers and USB setups.




One thing to note and I'll edit it, is the button is attached via 3M sticky tape. Kinda silly that it isn't a magnetic removable unit like the others ones I looked at, but it's fine for my car.

Those cable are common USB and mini Mic. should be no problem putting extensions on them if needed

[derbo]

Those cable are common USB and mini Mic. should be no problem putting extensions on them if needed

Yea that would definitely work. Too much thought into this.


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[Sockethead]

If you do use the extensions make sure you tape them up... Last thing you want is them coming apart when they are buried behind the dash