Cheapest Car Bluetooth/USB Headunit on Amazon- what does £19.99 get you?

[Zak33]

Lo people

Months ago I asked some questions on here about cheap car Audio for an aging car that might die/expire/detonate any time. Spending dough on the audio was a waste of money.

https://forums.hexus.net/automotive/...st-please.html


I finally settled on a £20 job. Plain looks, not worth stealing, Bluetooth and USB port and an SD slot too. And a remote, not that I sit far enough away from my headunit when driving to need it but hey.. someone felt the need to include one.

Ignoring the installation paperwork as it was clearly translated by Ray Charles and Pob, I looked at the cables, worked out what they did and soldered it in. I like soldering. It makes me happy. Was easy job and with Left Front/Right front on my old VW wired up (no rear speakers) and with ignition wired in, perma live for the clock and aerial adaptor (more of that later) I was "powered"

Dead obvious menu's. Very simple.

Bluetooth hooked up in seconds and now is my daily music source. It has never clipped, cut out or got back logged. Unlike brand new cars that I have been struggling with in the last 3 years.

USB worked well but the screen showed nothing abut the tracks so was useless.

Head controls the bluetooth for skipping tracks and that will do me.

AMP..... here's where we have love and hate. It's a £20 unit. It has zero expectation upon it's shouders. Which is why it's shines so well because it's really pretty good. No.. that's under selling it.. it's very good.

BUT... it has a hiss.. a whine.. and it has nothing to do with the car. It doesn't get louser with volume. At zero it's silent... and at 1 right up to to..whatever it goes too... it's the same quite hiss.
Not alternator. Not phone whine.

I even took it righht out, unsoldered from the cars loom and wired to a stand along 12v battery. Same.

But when driving... utterly impossible to hear the noise. Simple road and engine noise are waaay louder. But it does grate on me... so close to perfection. So close.

Volume - I dont' listen super loud, and the old car has old speakers but... but.. it sounds good, lous and clear.

Radio - no blummin idea. This car has a boken aerial cable somewhere and I didn't bother tracing it. 3g or better on my phone gives me great internet radio through bluetooth. Win.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GHB-Bluetoo...dp/B01L6BTZ84/

So a score to this rambling review - 8/10.
A 9 if it didn't hiss quietly like a little snake when the car's silent.. and if the screen would show some MP3 track details it would be a 10/10 tbh

It's £20.

I spend more than that on wiper blades.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

1p change out of a £20 pound note.

[Zak33]

/\ banned

[jimbouk]

Bluetooth hooked up in seconds and now is my daily music source. It has never clipped, cut out or got back logged. Unlike brand new cars that I have been struggling with in the last 3 years.

I was amazed/horrified that a new Vauxhall Mocka I had the displeasure of being upgraded to as a hire car could not steam music without skipping. I picked up a cheap genetic headset from the internet (sadly before Bluetooth was as common) with DVD playback of all things. No complaints though, hard to understand how Halfords sell basic CD units for £50 still and anything with bells and whistles for more. Guess people like brands.

[peterb]

I see it’s now listed as “not available, don’t know when or if it will be back in stock” on Amazon.

[Zak33]

I was amazed/horrified that a new Vauxhall Mocka I had the displeasure of being upgraded to as a hire car could not steam music without skipping.

sadly I know exactly, personally, exactly what you mean. Many new cars do it and they also drop blutooth phone and need a phone AND car reboot.

I kid you not....not one jot.

I've had to get out, lock the car, switch the phone off.... reboot the phone.. unlock the car and drive off to get them to re-pair.

Hence my pleasant £20 experience, which, using Waze as well and listening to internet radio AND receiving calls is a blummin delight!

[Zak33]

I've locked Mason.Lyons in it for 15 minutes to test it

[MLyons]

Sorry for the late reply my ears have only just came down from the high. Zak managed to bait me into his car using a very good trick involving biscuits and a fishing pole (long story). Once in, He gave me some instructions while holding up a picture of my PC and a hammer. It was clear what needed to be done. I played some of my music (much better than Zaks I'll add ) and it was really good especially for a £20 unit. I heard the audible buzz of sorts Zak describes but disconnecting my phone from the car in a specific order seemed to stop it but Zak wasn't able to reproduce it. Overall i rate 8/8 m8.