[siross]

Hi all.

Has anyone installed an android unit in a car with HK audio and can comment on the aux sound quality? I'm very tempted as apple car play would make my 2013 car feel much newer!

But I don't want to compromise on the sound quality if possible.

Thanks!

[_F30_UK_]

I am also interested in this and it is the only thing stopping me from upgrading to an Android unit.
From what I have read, there is a drop is sound quality, especially the bass.

[McBeemer]

Originally Posted by siross

Hi all.

Has anyone installed an android unit in a car with HK audio and can comment on the aux sound quality? I'm very tempted as apple car play would make my 2013 car feel much newer!

But I don't want to compromise on the sound quality if possible.

Thanks!

I tried an Android unit & once installed only used it a few times for the apple maps benefit. I found that the sound quality was far inferior to the inbuilt sound system, but more concerning was the sound quality whilst using the phone through it. People were saying that they could hardly hear me, despite me playing around with all the settings. I had to bin it in the end & have since added the OEM carplay which is working perfectly.

[GOF_430d]

Originally Posted by siross

Hi all.

Has anyone installed an android unit in a car with HK audio and can comment on the aux sound quality? I'm very tempted as apple car play would make my 2013 car feel much newer!

But I don't want to compromise on the sound quality if possible.

Thanks!

I have no experience of an android screen, but have experience of a bluetooth music streamer connected to the aux connection and its OK, not high fidelity and no where the depth of sound from the BMW head unit when playing a CD.

My F33 has a HDD and music played from there has real depth compared to streaming over bluetooth.

[Allworth]

Speaking generally, I think audio quality would highly depend on the model: its compatibility, integrity, and quality. As there are many units around with different configuration, I would explore review for that particular unit if I was in position to buy one.
It is possible that some android units may sound equally or better than original unit, but given HK is already of a high quality, I think the chances of improving sound quality with different unit are slimmer, whilst new units may have newer tech chips, transistors, capacitors, etc. - to help with quality, but integrity is questionable.

[siross]

Originally Posted by McBeemer

I tried an Android unit & once installed only used it a few times for the apple maps benefit. I found that the sound quality was far inferior to the inbuilt sound system, but more concerning was the sound quality whilst using the phone through it. People were saying that they could hardly hear me, despite me playing around with all the settings. I had to bin it in the end & have since added the OEM carplay which is working perfectly.

Thanks for that, out of interest which Android unit do you try?

Also, is it possible to add carplay to such an old unit or is it only available for the post 2017 units?

[siross]

Originally Posted by Allworth

Speaking generally, I think audio quality would highly depend on the model: its compatibility, integrity, and quality. As there are many units around with different configuration, I would explore review for that particular unit if I was in position to buy one.
It is possible that some android units may sound equally or better than original unit, but given HK is already of a high quality, I think the chances of improving sound quality with different unit are slimmer, whilst new units may have newer tech chips, transistors, capacitors, etc. - to help with quality, but integrity is questionable.

Good point, I'd be looking at the Droid UK unit. They claim superior sound quality, but they obviously would!

[GER28i]

In case it helps you:

I’m running a Linux HU in my F36 and there’s no difference between wireless and cable audio.
As long as the HU is using WiFi instead of Bluetooth for CarPlay you should be good.
WiFi has more than enough bandwidth for full quality audio.

[QUiKSR20]

I found when I added one of these Android units the sound quality wasnt as good, but there was a simple fix that brought the quality right back.. Instead of running the 3.5mm out of the unit back into itself run it into a USB Dac and then attach the dac to the head unit...

Android head units can use USB DAC's! That brought the quality right back, I used one like this - https://a.co/d/2X03YLO

Might be worth a try, My car was an F30 w/HK + Android Head unit..

[siross]

Originally Posted by GER28i

In case it helps you:

I’m running a Linux HU in my F36 and there’s no difference between wireless and cable audio.
As long as the HU is using WiFi instead of Bluetooth for CarPlay you should be good.
WiFi has more than enough bandwidth for full quality audio.

Thanks for this. I think the pinch point for the quality of the audio isn't necessarily the input from the phone/source. It's more the new unit relies on the aux cord rather than the standard connections.

[siross]

Originally Posted by QUiKSR20

I found when I added one of these Android units the sound quality wasnt as good, but there was a simple fix that brought the quality right back.. Instead of running the 3.5mm out of the unit back into itself run it into a USB Dac and then attach the dac to the head unit...

Android head units can use USB DAC's! That brought the quality right back, I used one like this - https://a.co/d/2X03YLO

Might be worth a try, My car was an F30 w/HK + Android Head unit..

This is a really interesting solution!

[Eddamoo]

We have both an F32 and a G02 with Android Auto boxes (one from Ali, the other from DroidUK). Both cars have HK. Both sounded as-good as the native audio coming from a CD or MP3 without any modifications.

The X4 one does sound crisper and more detailed but i put that down to a better sound system more than anything. You can tweak the Equaliser of the AA unit individually. Make sure you ensure your quality settings are maxed in Spotify or whatever streaming app you use.

[davethefish]

I've just fitted a 10.25" road top touch screen, and had to pipe it via aux because my poverty spec 2012 320i sport only has bluetooth for the phone.

But i do have an after market 600w mosconi/glade DSP AMP and speaker kit, and it sounds as good as a CD or the radio.

[ABall]

Originally Posted by siross

Hi all.

Has anyone installed an android unit in a car with HK audio and can comment on the aux sound quality? I'm very tempted as apple car play would make my 2013 car feel much newer!

But I don't want to compromise on the sound quality if possible.

Thanks!

If your going to be streaming music from spotifi via Blutooth on your phone then dont worry, it doesnt matter if you have an old system or the HK system and the add on is connected via the fiber cable. The sound is not as good either way. If you cant tell the difference between CD/Flac on USB vs the radio then also dont worry you will be happy with AUX. At the end of the day it is partially down to your expectations and wether you are the sort of person who listens to test disks and Hi-Res music because you think it sounds better. It also depends on the type of music you listen to, if you like classic rock then dont worry, I dont find much of it high fidelity. CDs have a much high bit-rate of 1,411kbs compared to streaming services like Spotify with an average MP3 bit-rate of 320kb. Furthermore, the fundamental audio format used by CDs establishes uncompressed CD-quality sound; almost 29 times higher than streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music or Tidal. DAB can be even worse, the last time I looked, Planet rock was MONO and 92kbs but as I said, a lot of classic rock music sucks if your an "Audiophile" Even if your that guy who says no one can tell the difference between 320kbs and CD, at the end of the day the biggest difference is the volume miss match, switching between DAB/USB/Bluetooth can have large swings in output and if you have a decent system with a boot sub the bass will have a very large disparity between sources which will be percieved as poorer quality.
From what ive read the biggest problem is phone calls, its not just Mcbeemer thats reported issues with call integration, check out a few threads here, if the Android unit has a seperate MIC then you could have issues, there are also a lot of reports of screen glare if you go for a new screen, I went for a unit that uses the BMW oem phone so theres no difference. It is expensive though.

[siross]

Originally Posted by ABall

If your going to be streaming music from spotifi via Blutooth on your phone then dont worry, it doesnt matter if you have an old system or the HK system and the add on is connected via the fiber cable. The sound is not as good either way. If you cant tell the difference between CD/Flac on USB vs the radio then also dont worry you will be happy with AUX. At the end of the day it is partially down to your expectations and wether you are the sort of person who listens to test disks and Hi-Res music because you think it sounds better. It also depends on the type of music you listen to, if you like classic rock then dont worry, I dont find much of it high fidelity. CDs have a much high bit-rate of 1,411kbs compared to streaming services like Spotify with an average MP3 bit-rate of 320kb. Furthermore, the fundamental audio format used by CDs establishes uncompressed CD-quality sound; almost 29 times higher than streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music or Tidal. DAB can be even worse, the last time I looked, Planet rock was MONO and 92kbs but as I said, a lot of classic rock music sucks if your an "Audiophile" Even if your that guy who says no one can tell the difference between 320kbs and CD, at the end of the day the biggest difference is the volume miss match, switching between DAB/USB/Bluetooth can have large swings in output and if you have a decent system with a boot sub the bass will have a very large disparity between sources which will be percieved as poorer quality.
From what ive read the biggest problem is phone calls, its not just Mcbeemer thats reported issues with call integration, check out a few threads here, if the Android unit has a seperate MIC then you could have issues, there are also a lot of reports of screen glare if you go for a new screen, I went for a unit that uses the BMW oem phone so theres no difference. It is expensive though.

Thanks for that, really helpful.

By no means am I an audiophile. I'm more into the bass than sound quality. I'm more concerned if there was a clear differentiation between the quality.

Phone calls sounds frustrating, which unit did you go for in the end which uses the BMW mic?

[DThr33]

i had an older android headunit installed, it did the audio over aux although i didn't have to connect a 3.5mm cable anywhere. my main issue with it was if you had the volume up loud there was a fair amount of white noise when no music was playing

[siross]

Originally Posted by DThr33

i had an older android headunit installed, it did the audio over aux although i didn't have to connect a 3.5mm cable anywhere. my main issue with it was if you had the volume up loud there was a fair amount of white noise when no music was playing

I think white noise is always going to happen at loud volume on an analog connection.

[ABall]

Originally Posted by siross

Thanks for that, really helpful.

By no means am I an audiophile. I'm more into the bass than sound quality. I'm more concerned if there was a clear differentiation between the quality.

Phone calls sounds frustrating, which unit did you go for in the end which uses the BMW mic?

I think it was an IMI-1000. I had a thread working through all the options. You will have to give them a ring, I think they do 3.5mm but can't remember. The tech guy normally answers the phone and is very helpful. https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=31971881

[siross]

Originally Posted by ABall

I think it was an IMI-1000. I had a thread working through all the options. You will have to give them a ring, I think they do 3.5mm but can't remember. The tech guy normally answers the phone and is very helpful. https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=31971881

Ahh right, so it was a converting box rather than a new screen?

[ABall]

Originally Posted by siross

Ahh right, so it was a converting box rather than a new screen?

Yeah I was put off by the amount of people here say they suffered from glare and couldn't see them at all some times I really only use the unit for motorway driving now, just so I can get all the Waze warnings.