Hi I would like to hear from anybody that is using a Parrot RHYTHM
N'BLUE, CD/MP3/Bluetooth car receiver. Your opinion as to how good or
bad this CD/Radio unit is would be most welcome.
TIA
Tony

Parrot Bluetooth appears to be very good for their other products. I
imagine it is a standard clone CD/MP3 headunit of useable but not
magnificant quality, but making up for it with the combined bluetooth
handsfree appearing semi integrated (not quite as tidy as a modern
"built in" head unit and handsfree).

I've just bought a Pioneer DEH-P55BT, which is a similar product for a few
extra shekels. I can tell you what that is like once I get it installed, if
you are interested.

Just looking at the specs for differences, the Pioneer has features like IP
Bus (i.e. external DAB, MultiCD units) and supports wired steering wheel and
IR remote control. The Parrot seems to have a full telephone keypad for
dialling and a better screen. (There is also a Pioneer DEH-P70BT with a good
screen, but for more money).

Christian.

In article , cmcardle75
@nospam.yahooxxxx.co.uk says...
I've just bought a Pioneer DEH-P55BT, which is a similar product for a
few extra shekels. I can tell you what that is like once I get it
installed, if you are interested.

Yes, would definatley be interested in that.

OK. I pick up the car Friday. I'll drop a report on this thread a day or
two
later after I've had a play with it. I feel like a 7 year old kid just
before his birthday...

Well, it is very good, really.

Standard ISO fit. Connected to the steering wheel controls via an Autoleads
adapter. The microphone is external only. I didn't want to drill and or
remove loads of trim to fit it, so I just dangled it out of the DIN-E hole,
which works just fine.

Initial registration is easy, although you do need the manual to work out
what buttons to push. Day to day connection couldn't be better. You just
turn on the ignition. 5-10 seconds later it has connected to the phone and
is indicated by a small blue LED. No buttons need to be pushed on either
phone or head unit. Your phone stays in your pocket. It works exactly as you
would want it to.

Incoming calls obviously mute the sound and display the incoming call number
on the screen. I haven't played with the phonebook yet. I'm not sure if my
phone supports phonebook sending. I haven't played with it enough. Making
calls from the presets (6 available) is easy, although the lack of keypad
makes dialling a random number unacceptably fiddly. You certainly couldn't
do it safely whilst driving.

Sound quality is the normal Pioneer standard. MP3 playing and RDS works just
as intended. A nice bonus is a built in auxilliary input, although
unfortunately not front panel. It would be ideal for connection to the
adjacent glove box, though, for sticking external players/DVDs etc.
Available optional extras are full iPod control (quite cheap) and DAB tuner
(ridiculously expensive). Obviously, multi CD units are also available.

Variable colour illumination is good, so you can match it to your car.
Alternatively, blue keypad and white LCD looks good...

The main problem is the capacity of the screen. I suspect the P70BT would be
a significant improvement here. However, I was on shallow ground buying the
P55BT, and there was no way I'd have been allowed to stretch it.

Christian.



Cheers Chris.
I chased it up, and it looks they don't recommend the Sony Ericsson
Z1010 which is the phone I have ATM and have no plans to change as it
does what I need.
--
Carl Robson
Car PC Build starts again. http://smallr.com/rz
Homepage: http://www.bouncing-czechs.com

I chased it up, and it looks they don't recommend the Sony Ericsson
Z1010 which is the phone I have ATM and have no plans to change as it
does what I need.

It might be worth still trying it out at a shop or something. It might just
be missing some minor feature.

Christian.