What is the best reasonable cost hands free kit to fit in an a2

Best is dependent on your needs, wants and budget. Wife uses something similar to this...
I don’t mind spending up £200 for a pucker hard wired in job preferably through the existing Audi concert ..in my hilux its built into the stereo makes life very easy ..
 
Provided you can get the Concert out yourself, then the AnyCar adaptor with Bluetooth is great option, currently on Amazon for about £75. It's pretty much the same as the xCarLink, but quite a lot cheaper :)

 
Provided you can get the Concert out yourself, then the AnyCar adaptor with Bluetooth is great option, currently on Amazon for about £75. It's pretty much the same as the xCarLink, but quite a lot cheaper :)


I have something similar in my Mrs TT - waste of time - you have to be in aux mode to receive a call and then wait for Bluetooth to kick in - just get a parrot kit from ebay and the appropriate wiring - you can do the rest yourself tbh - or..... upgrade the stereo to include one with handsfree
 
I have something similar in my Mrs TT - waste of time - you have to be in aux mode to receive a call and then wait for Bluetooth to kick in - just get a parrot kit from ebay and the appropriate wiring - you can do the rest yourself tbh - or..... upgrade the stereo to include one with handsfree

Well, you must have a different one to me then, as the above one worked wonderfully without needing to be in any AUX mode...
 
Well, you must have a different one to me then, as the above one worked wonderfully without needing to be in any AUX mode...
Does Anycar switch on the stereo and force aux input? How do you initiate or answer a phone call?
Update, some Anycar info...
in adapter mode music stops and it starts ringing when receiving a call
-take calls with next track button
-end call with previous track button
-in radio/cassette-mode you need to choose the adapter to take call
Still unsure how to initiate a call(without touching the phone).
 
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Does Anycar switch on the stereo and force aux input? How do you initiate or answer a phone call?
Update, some Anycar info...
in adapter mode music stops and it starts ringing when receiving a call
-take calls with next track button
-end call with previous track button
-in radio/cassette-mode you need to choose the adapter to take call
Still unsure how to initiate a call(without touching the phone).

"Hey Google/Siri" ...
 
I’m no no sparky so would have to get it fitted something simple to use and not breaking the bank ..?
I’m a big fan of my Pure Highway 600. Yes, you need the adapter to plug into the CD changer socket, but because it does phone, FM & DAB radio, and Bluetooth music, you never need your head unit set to anything else but CD Changer.
Small downside is that the phone volume is a lot lower than radio, but that’s very much in the Department of Get Over It.
DAB reception is good most places. The only known drop out is on the A66 as you cross from Cumbria to Co. Durham for about half a mile. I can stand that.
Give it a go.

Mike
 
I bought a Nextbase dab+ Bluetooth adaptor, stuck it in under the ashtray.
Couple of niggles. The dab is rubbish. Whether it's because of the earth not being connected on the aerial?maybe.
The input to the unit needs swapping to BT on start up. Though it seems like it connects automatically as hands free anyway.
Sound quality very good, buti think my phone is a bit poo as it keeps dropping signal and reconnects a couple of times on a 4 HR journey. Only other issue is it has a cigarette lighter end which needs removing when not in use and an adaptor so you can charge your phone..
 
Morning all
Completed my efforts to add a bluetooth Connects2 unit to the back of my Concert head unit. (Think its a Concert II).

Little bit of graft and a few skinned knuckles. A lot of wishing my hands were smaller. Spades are not what you need for this...

Anyway, seems to be working quite well. The audio pick up for a phone call is not as clear as a good quality built-in unit would be, but perfectly acceptable (and way better than the cheap-as-chips aftermarket head unit I had in my previous car).

The audio streaming works well, no issues. Perfectly decent sound quality, but do make sure your phone’s volume is turned up fairly high, or it gets muffled.

Have also connected a micro-usb cable to the Connects2, as it provides power, and I should be able to get a wireless charger cradle attached. That’s next on the list.

Both USB and mic are threaded through a 5 or 6 mil hol I drilled in the side of the centre console, behind the steering wheel to the left (see photos).

Will report back more once I’ve used it in real world situations for a few weeks.
 

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but do make sure your phone’s volume is turned up fairly high, or it gets muffled.
I cannot overstate how import this is. When streaming over Bluetooth, your phone's volume should be turned up to maximum and the listening volume should then be controlled by the car's stereo head unit. The moment that the phone's volume is reduced from maximum, bit depth is thrown away and thus audio quality is compromised.

I don't know about Android phones, but iPhones remember their output volume setting for a specific Bluetooth device. So, when I get in my car, the phone connects to the Bluetooth system and immediately sets the output volume to maximum. When I switch off the ignition and the Bluetooth connection is lost, the phone's volume is returned to its normal setting.

Cheers,

Tom
 
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