So, this boxing day i saw the new Sony MEX-BT3800U car radio on sale at Future Shop ... and so i decided to indulge myself after three years on having factory radio on my Corolla 2008 (which doesn't even play MP3s .. i had to listen to proper regular CDs and on long trips it became rather mundane listening to same thing over and over). The Sony MEX-BT3800U is quite an amazing system ... with it on board, i don't ever have to fear about never having enough music, or the appropriate adapters to listen to music from any device!Saturday, January 8. 2011
New Car Radio - Sony MEX-BT3800U
So, this boxing day i saw the new Sony MEX-BT3800U car radio on sale at Future Shop ... and so i decided to indulge myself after three years on having factory radio on my Corolla 2008 (which doesn't even play MP3s .. i had to listen to proper regular CDs and on long trips it became rather mundane listening to same thing over and over). The Sony MEX-BT3800U is quite an amazing system ... with it on board, i don't ever have to fear about never having enough music, or the appropriate adapters to listen to music from any device!The system also has a front facing auxiliary port, in case your friends ever want to show off their tunes ... and has a USB connector in the front. The USB connector is quite awesome, you can connect your iPod or iPhone to it, and then control it via the interfaces on the dial (supposedly, I haven't test this out yet on my iPhone) ... and it also has Bluetooth capabilities, so that you stream your music from your iPhone or other Bluetooth capable music player and have it play straight through the car speakers. Unlike FM transmitters, i haven't had much problem in terms of quality degradation or system hiccups. Once I've paired my iPhone with the XPLOD (as its called over bluetooth, etc.) everytime I walk into my car i have access to all the music on my iPhone without fumbling with connectors or USB or anything. Of course, the Bluetooth also functions as a way of a hands-free speaker system to allow you to make and receive calls while on the go.
With the USB device connected, the XPLOD can charge the device as well as play all playable media from it. Once it finishes its initial search of the device, you can use the search features of the XPLOD to find the songs/albums that you want to listen to. I don't know if there is a limit to the size of the USB, but one day I plan to test it out with my new 2TB external HDD.
With all of the great features listed above, it is quite easy to forget that the XPLOD is also equipped with a fully functional radio that offers amazing sound through my factory stock speakers! It has the ability to access the RDS data transmitted from the radio stations, so makes listening to the radio even more enjoyable (or informative, depending on your take). The unit is also satellite and HD radio ready, so whenever you get those components all you have to is plug and play!
With all these great kit is easy to forget that the Xplod MEX-BT3800U also a fully equipped radio that offers superb sound, what with the RDS station you listen to the facade. The unit is also satellite and HD radio ready, you just get the Sony HD radio option below and go! Last but not the least by any means, it has a detachable faceplate for safekeeping, although i also wished it came with a case/cover for the faceplate, and it has a remote (if you dare give up control of the radio to your backseat passengers).
For my 2008 Toyota Corolla, I needed to purchase the following adapters,
Mounting Kit
Part# BKTOYK960
Available from Futureshop for ~$30.
Its made for a single DIN car stereo, and provides a "pocket" above the stereo to keep a couple of CDs, your remote, anything else you want ...
Wiring Harness
Part# BHA1761
Available from Futureshop for ~$17.
Its made so that the wiring from the radio matches exactly (just pair the same colour wires together) to the ones in this wiring harness, and then that would plug in to the stock wiring that you took off from your factory radio.
You can find the full specs for this sytem at the Sony website, for the Sony XPLOD MEX-BT3800U.
With the USB device connected, the XPLOD can charge the device as well as play all playable media from it. Once it finishes its initial search of the device, you can use the search features of the XPLOD to find the songs/albums that you want to listen to. I don't know if there is a limit to the size of the USB, but one day I plan to test it out with my new 2TB external HDD.
With all of the great features listed above, it is quite easy to forget that the XPLOD is also equipped with a fully functional radio that offers amazing sound through my factory stock speakers! It has the ability to access the RDS data transmitted from the radio stations, so makes listening to the radio even more enjoyable (or informative, depending on your take). The unit is also satellite and HD radio ready, so whenever you get those components all you have to is plug and play!
With all these great kit is easy to forget that the Xplod MEX-BT3800U also a fully equipped radio that offers superb sound, what with the RDS station you listen to the facade. The unit is also satellite and HD radio ready, you just get the Sony HD radio option below and go! Last but not the least by any means, it has a detachable faceplate for safekeeping, although i also wished it came with a case/cover for the faceplate, and it has a remote (if you dare give up control of the radio to your backseat passengers).
For my 2008 Toyota Corolla, I needed to purchase the following adapters,
Mounting KitPart# BKTOYK960
Available from Futureshop for ~$30.
Its made for a single DIN car stereo, and provides a "pocket" above the stereo to keep a couple of CDs, your remote, anything else you want ...
Wiring HarnessPart# BHA1761
Available from Futureshop for ~$17.
Its made so that the wiring from the radio matches exactly (just pair the same colour wires together) to the ones in this wiring harness, and then that would plug in to the stock wiring that you took off from your factory radio.
You can find the full specs for this sytem at the Sony website, for the Sony XPLOD MEX-BT3800U.
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