|
D3 - Sat Nav, ICE, Audio & TV All in car entertainment discussions |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
||||
|
||||
DAB Transmitter, is there such a thing?
Hi,
I'm trying to work out what options I have available to be able to play music in my 2007 A8 from Spotify on my phone. I have no AMI & no TV tuner. I have heard FM transmitter is the only way to go, which got my thinking, is there such a thing as a DAB transmitter? My issue with FM transmitter is obviously the drop in sound quality you get. If you google DAB transmitter there are plenty of hits but they all seem to be for people wanting to add DAB (i already have it) and stream it to their head unit via FM. I want to stream via bluetooth to a transmitter that then transmits it to the car via DAB to my DAB MMI. This way I think there would be less signal loss, if any, due to it all being digital. Also on a slightly different note, does the 6 disc autochanger in the glovebox support mp3 cd's or just plain audio cd's? Thanks Last edited by rory_pamphilon; 16th September 2019 at 10:02 AM. |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
I don't play music from my mobile to the car, so can't answer your query, but you might be surprised by the audio 'quality' of DAB. If you check out the following page, you'll notice that the bit rate for DAB radio stations in the UK are on a level of 'Acceptable, worse than FM 128-160 kbps', with only one exception, and surprisingly, about half of them are broadcast in Mono.
https://www.astra2sat.com/radio/uk-d...adio-bitrates/
__________________
2001 A8 D2 FL 3.7 Q - LPG Conversion, Engine: AKC, Gearbox:FBB, Colour:LY5X Aqua Blue pearl effect, Interior:WJ light beige/dark beige valcona leather with burr walnut inserts My DIY jobs - Replaced alarm horn, Replaced Coolant Temp sensor, Updated RNS-D firmware, Installed Reversing Camera and Digital TV, Dashcam Installation, Retrofitted Rear Blinds, Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror, Chrome Boot Struts Sold! 2008 S8 D3 5.2 V10 - Engine: BSM, Gearbox:KLW, Colour:LY7F Suzuka Grey Pearl Effect, Interior:Black/Black with Silver/Black valcona leather with carbon atlas inserts, Bang & Olufsen, Heated windscreen, Soft-close doors, TV, DAB, AMI, Quad Zone, Auto Boot, Auto dim Mirrors, Keyless entry, PDC with rearview camera, AFS II Headlights My DIY jobs - Fan Jet Windscreen Washers, Retrofitted Electric Side Blinds |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
I use an Xcarlink device to play music from my phone via Bluetooth, which works well. My car is a D2 of course but presumably they make a compatible D3 device: http://www.xcarlink.co.uk/
__________________
Mark ------------------------------------------------------ 2002 FE S8 Ebony Black Pearl ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ Cars Owned: The Tesla Era: 2020 Model S Performance Ludicrous+ (present) (Black, with all black premium interior and carbon fibre décor, 21" sonic carbon twin turbine wheels and FSD capability) The Audi Era: '97 A8 4.2 (Ming Blue) --> '96 A8 4.2 QS (Dark Green) --> '02 FE S8 (present) The Citroen Era: '84 BX 1.6 RS --> '89 BX 1.9 DTR Turbo --> '94 XM 2.0L Turbo --> '96 XM 2.0L Turbo Exclusive --> '00 Xantia Activa 2.0L Turbo The Banger Era: '76 1.2L Lada VAZ-2101 (Ruski Fiat 124) --> '80 1.7L Morris Ital HL, finished in Ermine White and Rust |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Same here, XCarLink in a D2.
__________________
2003 D2 FL S8. Irish Green Pearl/Beige. Solar sunroof, auto-dim mirrors, electric rear seat functions and extended leather. Ski hatch retrofit. Aftermarket reversing camera. DVB-T and XCarlink now removed as redundant. 2016 Volvo V40 T5 Cross Country (4WD) with ALL the toys including adaptive cruise etc. etc. Osmium Grey with Blonde/Charcoal leather interior. Polestar performance "optimisation". (Even rarer than a D2 S8!) Oh, and a brand new engine at just under 30,000 miles on the factory one! Finally: gone, but not forgotten..... 1998 D2 PF S8. Agate Grey/Platinum. Every option (I think) except electric rear seats, Tiptronic steering wheel, ski hatch, towbar & dimming door mirrors. e.g. Cruise control, NavPlus/TV, Bose, GSM, Xenons, Solar roof, Parking sensors, Alcantara/leather everywhere of course. (internal dimming mirror added later) 1998 (very early) Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec; ABS/TCS, Heated screen/mirrors, Aircon. Added Auto-dim mirror, Leather seats, Trip computer, Cruise control, OEM Ford SatNav with CD changer. And before that a lot of Rover 800s, a few oddities, a lovely Triumph Dolomite 1850HL with Overdrive and way back in my schooldays an Austin Seven aka Mini 850! |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
I wonder if the whole variable bit rate/codec question is why DAB transmitters aren't a 'thing' yet, perhaps it would require too much processing power to create a bit stream on the fly from a bluetooth input for a small 12v socket device. Those of you that have installed the Xcarlink, how much work was it to install? I may just try a decent FM transmitter in the meantime, they are incredibly cheap compared to other options. |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
The D3 unit may be different but, if I recall correctly, on the D2 it's a simple matter of pulling the head unit out, unplugging the main connector and plugging the Xcarlink harness in-between. The most time consuming part (for me) was installing the microphone (and running the cable for it), which is optional and only required if you also want to use the device to make hands-free calls.
__________________
Mark ------------------------------------------------------ 2002 FE S8 Ebony Black Pearl ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ Cars Owned: The Tesla Era: 2020 Model S Performance Ludicrous+ (present) (Black, with all black premium interior and carbon fibre décor, 21" sonic carbon twin turbine wheels and FSD capability) The Audi Era: '97 A8 4.2 (Ming Blue) --> '96 A8 4.2 QS (Dark Green) --> '02 FE S8 (present) The Citroen Era: '84 BX 1.6 RS --> '89 BX 1.9 DTR Turbo --> '94 XM 2.0L Turbo --> '96 XM 2.0L Turbo Exclusive --> '00 Xantia Activa 2.0L Turbo The Banger Era: '76 1.2L Lada VAZ-2101 (Ruski Fiat 124) --> '80 1.7L Morris Ital HL, finished in Ermine White and Rust |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Difficult in the D3 due to the Optical links and component protection. You could add AMI and then attach a Bluetooth module to that but it's costly.
I've come to the conclusion that being stuck with the entry-level stereo renders it all moot for me and I am honestly going to have to change the car to something with an acceptable system in it. The car has otherwise been good but I'll never bond with it. |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Whats the thoughts on the denison units? it looks to be over £300 for the bluetooth version, those that have them, would you recommend them? are they a straight forward install?
|
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
I didnt buy it or fit it I have to admit, but it is easy to use
__________________
Confidence is the feeling you have before you know better . . . . Audi A8 D2 3.7 Quattro Sport 1999 FL - Melange 2nd Place Winner - A8-Freunde Annual German Meet 2012 at Edersee 20" x 9" Bentley GTC Wheels with 385mm W12 Front Discs & Bentley Caliper Covers, Front Lowered on Coilovers, Xenons, Combined DRLs and LED Foglights to modified OEM front fog lamp position, Alcantara/Leather, Full Black Alcantara headlining + pillars and blind shelf, Bespoke Flat Bottomed Sports Steering Wheel, Dark Myrtle Wood, Autodim Mirrors, Bose, Blinds, Digital TV, Ski Hatch, Modified rear exhaust section for extra V8 Burble Audi S8 D2 Final Edition 2002, Avus Silver with Red Leather Interior Tiptronic with Sport mode button, Sony rear entertainment package, Bose sound system, Audi Navigation Plus, 20 inch Final Edition alloys, Full Cat Back Stainless Milltek exhaust, giving a great V8 burble Audi A8L D2 4.2 Petrol with LPG - Ebony Black Audi A8L D4 FL 4.0T Petrol twin turbo - Havana Black Audi A2 1.6 FSi Sport - Dolphin Grey with Votex body kit and Red Leather Interior and some other A8's A8L's and Mercs |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
I have a full AMI kit for sale, see the advert in the for sale forum here. All you would need is the appropriate bluetooth adapter and cable.
With the AMI you can plug all sorts of things in, USB Sticks, HDDs for example. And if you have an iphone, you can plug it straight in with the correct cable and no need for bluetooth.
__________________
Manny 2004 A4 1.8T Sport Cabriolet, 89K Miles Past 2004 D3 A8 3.7 Quattro, Xenon, Bose, Blinds, Solar Sunroof, TV, ACC, phone and almost every option. 168K miles rising slowly with retrofit AMI and DVB-T in place of Analogue 2003 Volvo S60 D5 SE Manual, 197K miles. 2001 D2 A8 3.7 QS, Bi-Xenon, Bose, Blinds, Electric Everything, retrofitted RNS-D, 191K Miles |
|
|