Tolerable Bluetooth Audio on B8 S4, finally.

[JamesB41]

FINALLY, I have bluetooth audio in my car that I can live with. I originally tried to throw money at the problem and just bought this: http://www.audia2dp.com/. It technically worked but I'd rate the sound at 5.5/10. Largely sounded like an AM radio station. The real problem was when I paired it with my phone for voice calls (iPhone 5). It somehow interfered with the phone calls and it was absolutely unusable.

Fast forward a few months and I got bored with my Raspberry Pi. Did some poking/prodding on the interwebz and was able to get bluetooth audio working on it. Took maybe 2 hours start-to-finish, but that was mostly because of apt-get upgrades. I didn't expect much when hooking it up to my car but figured I'd give it a shot. Plugged a usb to micro-usb cable into an adapter in my center console and used the cable from the aforementioned website which basically converts the audi adapter to a stereo jack that can go into the raspberry pi. Sounds exceptionally good for what it is! Just...worked. Paired with my phone no problem and the audio is 10x better than it was with that crappy bluetooth adapter that came from that site.

Sorta just rambling/sharing my excitement. This has been bugging me since I bought the car and now I FINALLY have a solution. Now all I need to do is buy a power supply I can shove in my glovebox and I'm done.

[SE-Chris]

So, forgive my ignorance, but is Bluetooth streaming new to B8.5? I didn't notice any audio quality issues streaming Pandora from my phone. If I had to complain about something, it would be the delay getting it going. For whatever reason it takes a pretty long time (sometimes) for the connection to lock and audio to begin playing. Also displays the active song/track from Pandora in the MMI

[JamesB41]

Ignorance forgiven. Yes, new to the 8.5.

[Aluts]

Can you please elaborate on exactly what you did. I too tried the audia2dp interface and sent it back because the audio was, as you indicated, very mediocre. I have the 2012 B8, so I believe I could emulate what you've done. Any insight would be appreciated!

[SE-Chris]

I wonder if the 2013+ Bluetooth streaming is hardware or software upgrade? I assume the 2012 has Bluetooth phone support? Seems like a software change...

[JamesB41]

Can you please elaborate on exactly what you did. I too tried the audia2dp interface and sent it back because the audio was, as you indicated, very mediocre. I have the 2012 B8, so I believe I could emulate what you've done. Any insight would be appreciated!

Sure, I'll try to provide a complete write up in the next day or so. I imagine it would work on any B8 S4. The only thing that even remotely matters for car compatibility is the adapter that plugs into the glovebox. Basically, you'll need one of these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VAG-music-interface-adapter-3-5mm-headphone-to-AMI-MDI-MMI-aux-input-cable-plug-/270927681447?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Make%3AAudi&hash=item3f148c57a7&vxp=mtr

NOTE: It says it doesn't work with the 2012. I find that hard to believe, but caveat emptor. I used the one that came with the audia2dp setup.

Part list:

Raspberry Pi (I use this one (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009SQQF9C/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1))
Cable like the one I just linked
Micro USB Cable to power the Raspberry Pi (I used one that came with an old android phone)
SD Card to hold the operating system (I use this one (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VNKNEG/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i03?ie=UTF8&psc=1))
Bluetooth Adapter (I use this one (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AQGGKV6/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1))
Edit #1 to Add: An SD Card Reader.
Edit #2 to Add: Some combination of hardware to get power to a Micro USB cable in the glovebox. Can be a USB adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter, a battery pack with Micro USB out, whatever you want. But you just need a powered Micro USB cable that can reach the Raspberry Pi.

...and a couple hours of time that's mostly just babysitting. You'll either need to be able to follow directions explicitly or have a working knowledge of linux/debian. If you can follow instructions explicitly or you have someone that can walk you through the linux stuff, it should be no problem.

Disclaimer: YMMV. I'm a self-proclaimed audiophile and it is well within tolerance levels. Is it FLAC quality? No. Is it very good/listenable? Yes.

[Aluts]

Thank you. Sounds like a fun little project. Like you, I'm a self-proclaimed audiophile; the audia2dp arrangement was simply interolerable -- I'd rather listen to nothing! I listened to it for about 5 minutes, called the company, determined the gains, etc were set up as intended, and quickly boxed it up. I'm confident if I emulate what you've done it will meet my expectations. Not expecting lossless quality -- just quality comparable to what I get from my android phone through my Sony BT-50's, which is just fine given the compromised environment inside the vehicle. I already have the audio jack cable you show. Will be buying the Raspberry Pi and other pieces shortly. I'm not a linux programmer, but I can certainly follow directions or download code from Google Drive / other. Thanks again for your help. I'll bet there are many on the board in the same situation with pre-8.5's that would benefit from your initiative!

[Detox]

I use the viesso tune2air and it works quite well. I'm not an audiophile but quite pleased with it.

[JamesB41]

I use the viesso tune2air and it works quite well. I'm not an audiophile but quite pleased with it.
Wow, their site needs some serious spellcheck. I have never heard of that one...I may give it a shot but that website has me at least slightly reluctant. I'm more likely to stick with what I've got because I can think of a dozen different applications for a raspberry pi in the car, but that may well be the best bet.

[Sleeman]

Another vote for tune2air. Very few times had trouble connecting to my iPhone but satisfied overall with the sound quality.

[JJDubya]

OP, do you loose BT connectivity for phone calls if you are using BT audio? In other words, can you have both simultaneously?

[NPuter]

I wonder if the 2013+ Bluetooth streaming is hardware or software upgrade? I assume the 2012 has Bluetooth phone support? Seems like a software change...

It was a hardware change - the main MMI unit was upgraded with the 2013's (to include the google integration).

[Detox]

Nope no loss of bluetooth connectivity, it goes from playing music from pandora/iphone to phone call and back again no issues.


OP, do you loose BT connectivity for phone calls if you are using BT audio? In other words, can you have both simultaneously?

[JamesB41]

OP, do you loose BT connectivity for phone calls if you are using BT audio? In other words, can you have both simultaneously?

Nope. When you make outbound calls or receive an incoming call it pauses the app on the phone. At least that was my experience with an iPhone 5 and playing pandora and spotify.

[yload]

I have to say I have tried several and the viesso is best. All though I wish it would stay on shuffle any one figured that out? Their site has poor spelling because they are headquartered in Taiwan. I have opened support ticket and they have been responsive .

[JamesB41]

I have to say I have tried several and the viesso is best. All though I wish it would stay on shuffle any one figured that out? Their site has poor spelling because they are headquartered in Taiwan. I have opened support ticket and they have been responsive .

For the sake of argument I bought one and it arrived yesterday. Installation was trivial. Sound quality was decent-ish...I'd say livable. Unfortunately (like many solutions), it crackles all the time. I wonder if this is something specific to my car? I mean it skips, makes random crackling/static noises, etc. It just isn't tolerable. I tried both streaming Pandora and playing files that are local to my phone. No dice either way.

Is this normal and people just live with it? Is it my car for some reason? Is it the fact that I'm using an iPhone? Is it the fact that it's paired with the car for voice communication as well? I just can't seem to get to the bottom of it.

[infinkc]

For the sake of argument I bought one and it arrived yesterday. Installation was trivial. Sound quality was decent-ish...I'd say livable. Unfortunately (like many solutions), it crackles all the time. I wonder if this is something specific to my car? I mean it skips, makes random crackling/static noises, etc. It just isn't tolerable. I tried both streaming Pandora and playing files that are local to my phone. No dice either way.

Is this normal and people just live with it? Is it my car for some reason? Is it the fact that I'm using an iPhone? Is it the fact that it's paired with the car for voice communication as well? I just can't seem to get to the bottom of it.

there is a firmware upgrade for it, not sure if the one you have has the latest fw.

[NeedQuattro]

For the sake of argument I bought one and it arrived yesterday. Installation was trivial. Sound quality was decent-ish...I'd say livable. Unfortunately (like many solutions), it crackles all the time. I wonder if this is something specific to my car? I mean it skips, makes random crackling/static noises, etc. It just isn't tolerable. I tried both streaming Pandora and playing files that are local to my phone. No dice either way.

Is this normal and people just live with it? Is it my car for some reason? Is it the fact that I'm using an iPhone? Is it the fact that it's paired with the car for voice communication as well? I just can't seem to get to the bottom of it.

I was a huge fan of the Viseeo and it worked flawlessly for months until I got the newest firmware for my iPhone 5, now I too get the skips. Works flawlessly with my gfs iPhone 4s though and any android phone. Their customer service is nonexistent, but after some research, turns out that the antenna in the iPhone 5 combined with the newest iOS firmware causes this with ALL bluetooth devices, not only the Viseeo.
New iOS 7 firmware coming out in a couple weeks so that should fix things (I hope).

[SwankPeRFection]

I was a huge fan of the Viseeo and it worked flawlessly for months until I got the newest firmware for my iPhone 5, now I too get the skips. Works flawlessly with my gfs iPhone 4s though and any android phone. Their customer service is nonexistent, but after some research, turns out that the antenna in the iPhone 5 combined with the newest iOS firmware causes this with ALL bluetooth devices, not only the Viseeo.
New iOS 7 firmware coming out in a couple weeks so that should fix things (I hope).

Filing a bug report/complaint here will help more... http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html Make sure you lay it out as the problem is there across multiple systems, not just the Audi's Bluetooth receiver.

[JamesB41]

I was a huge fan of the Viseeo and it worked flawlessly for months until I got the newest firmware for my iPhone 5, now I too get the skips. Works flawlessly with my gfs iPhone 4s though and any android phone. Their customer service is nonexistent, but after some research, turns out that the antenna in the iPhone 5 combined with the newest iOS firmware causes this with ALL bluetooth devices, not only the Viseeo.
New iOS 7 firmware coming out in a couple weeks so that should fix things (I hope).

Well that's not what I wanted to hear. I'm a beta tester for Apple and have been using iOS 7 for a couple months. That ain't gonna solve it =/. I had this problem on my iPhone 4 and 4s. I have an android phone lying around, I'll give that a run but I'm not expecting much.

I'll try the firmware upgrade in the AM.

[Aluts]

I have to say I have tried several and the viesso is best. All though I wish it would stay on shuffle any one figured that out? Their site has poor spelling because they are headquartered in Taiwan. I have opened support ticket and they have been responsive .

Thanks for the suggestion, yload. Installed the Viesso Tune2Air yesterday (WMA 1000, Firmware 3.2) and so far audio quality is the best I've heard via BT audio (quite acceptable) and pairs successfully with both our iPhone 4 and Android devices. The MMI interface is highly de-featured when connected to the Android device, but I'm OK with that -- just glad to have reasonable quality BT audio in the car! Perhaps future firmware upgrades from Viesso will improve the MMI interface, but I'm content as-is. Will see if the device continues to impress over the next few weeks.