Bluetooth into Symphony II
 

I've got a Symphony II (with BOSE) in my red car and now that I've just opted for a Spotify subscription, I want to get my Samsung Note 8 linked to the car stereo in the best possible way.

I would like to keep the stock look of the car so don't fancy any wires hanging about to charge the phone or take the sound from the headphone jack hence Bluetooth being the connection of choice.
In a perfect world, I'd like to upgrade to an RNS-E retrofit with a MFSW but the thought of the complexity (just read Ian's sticky on it) and cost of doing so have put me off. And I'm not impressed with the RNS-D in my blue car either so does anyone have any experience or suggestions on what I need to fit snugly behind the Symphony II to get me going?

I've looked on eBay and found some kit at around the £30-£40 mark but the listing(s) suggests that it's for the Symphony II with external CD changer - and mine takes the discs into the unit rather than a boot mounted unit.
I've also seen some other black boxes around £80ish, some at around £240ish(!) and then I also find in some threads a unit from XCarlink that I think is around £135.
Handsfree speakerphone for calls would be good (a discreet mic wouldn't be an issue) as would the ability to answer/end calls from the Symphony and also control tracks back and forth.

So does anyone have any experience of this? Seen any threads or web links that could point me in any direction? Any help would be appreciated.
TIA.

I use XCarlink with my RNS-D, it works fine with predictable/inevitable limitations.
I'd guess the setup with Symphony is similar, but I'd ask the supplier the specific question as the RNS-D setup uses the CD connection.
Do you have a picture of the back of your unit?

Alas, I don't have a picture of the back of my unit as it is with MJ at the moment.

What are the predictable/inevitable limitations?
Poorer sound quality compared to a wired set up?
Sound/signal dropping out?

Sound quality is excellent. +++

Limitations are due to the way you control things through the RNS, with the external media storage emulating a CD changer, so up to 6 virtual CD's of max 99 tracks each and no names/labels/pictures etc. It's 1990's tech controlling systems from 20 years later so much functionality people are used to just cannot be there if you want to use the OEM controls.

If you just want to stream and control from your device that's fine.
I have mine all hidden with the music on an SD card. Though it could be USB, or AUX cable or Bluetooth input.

To use the phone (handsfree obviously) or stream music directly from it (via Bluetooth) means I have to operate the phone.

Thanks for the input (no pun intended) Andrew.
So when you connect the unit up to the CD connections on the back of the RNS-D, is it acting as a through-port so that the CD changer is still in use?
Or is your CD changer now out of action?
I get the impression from what you said that as there are 6 CD "slots" on the RNS-D to skip through, then if you have 6 virtual CD's from the XCarlink then it is taking up the "slots" on screen that you would cycle through when the CD input is chosen.

If so, I am not quite sure how it will affect me who has the 6 CD's in the head unit without a changer.
One for the suppliers to answer I guess :(

If you have an external CD changer it still works. +++

The electronics in the XCarlink "flip-flop" each time you select CD on the RNS. So to CD/Radio/TV button (if you have TV) actually has the sequence: CD, Radio, TV, XCARlink, Radio, TV and back around again...

If you don't have an external CD changer and it's a Symphony unit - ask the supplier, as you say. ;)

I had the symphony 2 with internal cd changer and the xcarlink bluetooth adaptor that they insisted was the correct model did not work with the internal changer. I returned it as a faulty item and when the replacement didn't work I eventually got a refund and bought a Dension Gateway. Was slightly more expensive but took 5 minutes to fit and works perfectly.

I bought one of those Ebay bluetooth units as a workaround with my RNS-D. It's a bit of a faff toggling to 'TV' then to the 'AUX' connection so I tend only to use it if I'm on a long journey.

Unit works well, can stream content from the phone to it and it comes with handy phone controls/built in mic in one handy unit (about the diameter of a £2 coin but twice the thickness)

as long as there is some form of AUX connector then this should work as a viable cost effective solution.

Thanks for the advice.
I thought about going for an eBay one too but I ordered a Dension Lite Bt today and it should be with me tomorrow.
All being well, I should be picking up Big Red at the weekend so may just get a chance to install and test it. Especially if it only takes about 5 minutes.
If I get stuck I should be with somebody who can put me right.

Hmm my radio removal keys got borrowed and not returned. I'll have to see if I can find any locally tomorrow.

Oh, and get the code for the radio!

I've got the keys +++
(but not the code)

Cool. I should have the code tomorrow :)

Why not upgrade to an RNS-D they sound fine with Bose and it's simple enough to recode for it, indeed it may arrive that way.
Just buy one with a code. ;)

RNS-D doesn't have Bluetooth either though so what would be the point? :Confused: Its even more of a waste of space than the Symphony since it comes with the GPS wart on the boot lid and obsolete nav. That's why mine went in the scrap pile, replaced by a modern(ish) MP3 head unit with built in Bluetooth and USB ports :)

Edit: do you mean to get a CD changer port for the Xcarlink? Its been a long day :rolleyes:

I was responding to this comment:
And you don't need to add the boot lid GPS aerial, there are other discreet locations that work fine if you want the SatNav to work.

I did contemplate swapping the RNS-D from the blue car to the red car but there's something about the simplicity of the Symphony II and the old-school look that I like.
I think the RNS-D definitely has the "WOW" factor compared to Symphony II (which has Bose :boogy:) and looks more impressive with its big screen and the flexibility of adding a digital TV module (I used to have that in an A6 and didn't use it) or a rear-view camera (which the red car actually had when I bought it from Tony but I removed it). But I also think that the Sat Nav looks and feels very dated. I've only used it twice before going back to my phone Sat Nav.
I'm also not that keen on the way I have to cycle through inputs to go from Radio to CD then back through a snowy TV to the Radio again on the RNS-D.
And those Tone controls and sub-menus? :eek:

Call me a bit old-fashioned, but the simple look and operation of the Symphony II, coupled with a cassette player(!) appeals to me a bit more than the out-of-date but more modern RNS-D.

Of course, if someone was wanting to put an RNS-E in the car for free then I'd happily contradict myself. :rolleyes:

I've been wanting to try a FISCON unit.
Seems to offer the most OEM compatible solution on the market - RNS-D, RNS-E, non-MMI radio (such as Concert and Symphony) specific models, as well as the modern stuff.
A2DP audio streaming, complex phone integration etc.

They don't specifically say they're A/S8 compatible. They do specify A6 (4B (C5?)) and A4 (B6).
However I would have thought that an RNS-D is an RNS-D (or a Symphony a Symphony for that matter), so don't see why it wouldn't work in a D2 (or a B5!)...

Expensive units though:
€226 excl tax.
€269 within EU.

Links: RNS-D. Audi other (non MMI)

Related product to improve RNS-D multimedia integration here

I eventually went with a Dension Gateway Lite BT that cost £105.
It's rather expensive for such a little device that pushes behind the Symphony II, but it does the job well.
I've not wired the microphone in yet for hands-free phone calls but the installation for the unit couldn't be easier.
The main connector plugs into the CD changer port (and allows a CD changer to be plugged into it if required).
Then an earth lead and a mute lead for muting music during calls are the only other leads that need connecting to the stereo.
The firmware can be updated via USB and volume profiles can also be uploaded if you think the volume is too high or too low.

The sound is very good from Spotify via Bluetooth and if you wish you can plug in a USB drive and play music files (mp3's) from that instead. I don't think you can have both Bluetooth coming in as well as the USB drive. I believe that the USB drive takes preference if it is plugged in but I may be wrong as I haven't played with it that much.
And one added extra is that you can skip tracks up and down on the head-unit using the CD skip buttons.
So overall I am impressed.
It does exactly what I wanted it to do so it gets a thumbs up from me +++