Inadvertant Bluetooth audio streaming project

[Schadenfreude]

Backstory: I'm aware of the streaming options available to us and had considered them in the past but kept putting off buying them. I had no intention of trying to set up my own BT audio streaming in my S4. I put together two separate and unrelated projects today and lo and behold, BT audio streaming. So...

Awhile ago I decided I wanted to add a 3.5mm input to my S4 accessible through the center console. I had an 8 foot long 3.5mm extension cable handy so I purchased this 3.5mm input AMI cable from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I routed the extension through the side of the glove box and under the center console and into the console arm rest storage. I was pretty happy with having the 3.5mm plug conveniently located. I added a two port USB charger in the center console power outlet so I could charge my phone while plugged into the 3.5mm line and listen to my podcasts and music through the AMI. Job done.

Flash forward to a few days ago with the second, unrelated project. I have an old stereo in my garage and decided I wanted to add BT streaming to it. On a whim I bought this dongle, again on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Dongle worked well with my garage stereo. Satisfied customer. On a whim today, I plugged the dongle into the USB power supply in my center console and plugged in the 3.5mm jack. Powered on the car and hit play on my phone (Galaxy S5) and the podcast I had been listening to started playing through the speakers. I tapped the voice command button on the wheel and gave the command to call my wife and the call went through as if the BT dongle did not exist. I ended the call and the podcast resumed. The dongle has no battery so once power is cut to the USB port, the dongle goes dead and the phone disconnects automatically so there is no powering the dongle on and off each time. Turn the car off and the phone disconnects.

So while it was not my intention to add BT streaming to my car, it seems I have stumbled upon a fairly cheap combination of parts that do the trick. The dongle was $10, the 3.5mm AMI was $13 and I think the long 3.5mm headphone cable was another $10-12 at Radio Shack. So, all in for $35 at the upper end. YMMV

[Dash]

Very cool. If I drove enough, I would totally be doing this. Nice find and thanks for posting it up.

[stereojorge]

Fantastic job! I applaud you for the accidental but very cool solution you came across. If I wasn't so lazy, I would do this, but I don't wanna go through routing anything through the car. lol I've grown used to using my iPod Touch as the source in the glove box, but it's def annoying when I have so may gigs of music and have to scroll through it all. :)

[Schadenfreude]

Routing took me less than 10 minutes. I ran the cord out the side of the glove box through an existing hole and then fed it through the passenger fuse box and along the front passenger well to the center console. I tucked the wire up under the center console until I got to the back. The only part involving any effort was popping the rear vent off the console so I could route the cable through the existing hole in the center console storage. I found a grommet at Home Depot to make it look tidy and that was it. I didn't want to remove the center console to run the wire and as you can see, I didn't have to. Could not have been any easier.

[rmg0685]

Im assuming if you just want to use this setup for the bluetooth you would not need to run the 8 foot extension through the center console, just purchase the two parts linked above, is that correct?

[grovlet]

Im assuming if you just want to use this setup for the bluetooth you would not need to run the 8 foot extension through the center console, just purchase the two parts linked above, is that correct?

Well not quite - you need a USB Power Connection - so the idea here is to run the 3.5MM connection from the glovebox into the center console where you can plug a USB Charger into the Power Outlet. If you have another power outlet you've setup that's hidden elsewhere then you'll need to run the 3.5MM cable to that instead.

Although you might be onto something here - what about just using an ADI to USB Cable to just go right into the Blue Tooth Dongle:
Audi ADI to USB Cable

[Schadenfreude]

Well not quite - you need a USB Power Connection - so the idea here is to run the 3.5MM connection from the glovebox into the center console where you can plug a USB Charger into the Power Outlet. If you have another power outlet you've setup that's hidden elsewhere then you'll need to run the 3.5MM cable to that instead.

Although you might be onto something here - what about just using an ADI to USB Cable to just go right into the Blue Tooth Dongle:
Audi ADI to USB Cable

I have one of the ADI to USB dongles as well. Can't say if that setup would work. My setup relies on the USB dongle feeding the signal to the ADI through the 3.5mm to ADI line so if ADI is supplying power, there'd be no audio feed unless you used a different BT dongle. I picked the one I used because I didn't want to power anything on/off and mine has no battery. Kill the power and phone disconnects immediately. Good luck. Post what you end up with

[Nick G]

Schadenfreude,

I wanted to say thank you for sharing your discovery.

I purchased the parts and just spent about 5 minutes to successfully add the BT streaming capability to my 2010.

I am going to have to look at how to route my cable as I don't see a hole in the side of my glovebox. Was the hole you used on the left or right (sitting in the car)?

Thanks again!

[WCCoffey]

But how did you have your phone connected to 2 different Bluetooth devices at the same time?

[Schadenfreude]

Schadenfreude,

I wanted to say thank you for sharing your discovery.

I purchased the parts and just spent about 5 minutes to successfully add the BT streaming capability to my 2010.

I am going to have to look at how to route my cable as I don't see a hole in the side of my glovebox. Was the hole you used on the left or right (sitting in the car)?

Thanks again!

If I get a chance I'll take a picture. Take off the fuse cover on the passenger side and you should see a light shine through in a few places into the glovebox. The hole I used was directly above the AMI. Good luck. Routing the cable took me all of 10 minutes. I did pop off the rear vent on the console to allow me to route the cable where I wanted. It comes off very easy, especially if you have trim tools

[Schadenfreude]

But how did you have your phone connected to 2 different Bluetooth devices at the same time?

My Galaxy S5 switches back and forth fine. When I get in the car, the phone connects to my MMI and a second later connects to BT dongle. When I tap the voice activation button on the steering wheel, the music pauses and when I disconnect my phone call, the music starts from where it left off. I was surprised it works as well as it does to be honest

[WCCoffey]

My Galaxy S5 switches back and forth fine. When I get in the car, the phone connects to my MMI and a second later connects to BT dongle. When I tap the voice activation button on the steering wheel, the music pauses and when I disconnect my phone call, the music starts from where it left off. I was surprised it works as well as it does to be honest

So your phone will automatically switch between the two based on what you are doing?

That's interesting, how does the phone know you sent it a command from the car when it's connected to the dongle?

Either way I will be trying this with the RSNE in my S4. I have the Galaxy S5 as well.

[Schadenfreude]

I think phone is always prioritized. The phone comfortably connects to multiple bt devices at once though. A few days ago I left my BT keyboard turned on in my bag and phone paired to it, mmi and dongle so pairing to multiple sources seems no problem as long as functions are discrete. I'm betting that if dongle had a microphone that would mess things up since the phone would see competing devices. For example my s5 won't pair to my laptop AND my headphones at the same time since it picks up both for audio streaming. It makes me choose one

[Vogz]

I've had BT streaming on my 2011 for a while that basically works the same way, but the bluetooth receiver is powered by the AMI port with this setup.

https://www.audia2dp.com/store/p8/Audi-A2DP_3GN-MU.html

It's A LOT more expensive than what you did and the music sounds really tinny when I stream so I rarely use it.

How does this setup sound compared to using the 3.5mm directly?

[Schadenfreude]

I've had BT streaming on my 2011 for a while that basically works the same way, but the bluetooth receiver is powered by the AMI port with this setup.

https://www.audia2dp.com/store/p8/Audi-A2DP_3GN-MU.html

It's A LOT more expensive than what you did and the music sounds really tinny when I stream so I rarely use it.

How does this setup sound compared to using the 3.5mm directly?

To my ear it sounds fine but I am by no means an audiophile so your mileage may vary. I came upon this setup by accident. The 3.5 was better but not enough to my ears to make a difference given the convenience. With the 3.5 I only plugged it in when I was going to be in the car for awhile and I found myself wearing a BT headphone to listen to podcasts in the car just to not have to plug in the 3.5 and that was still with the 3.5 routed to my center console. I never would have used it if I had to put the phone in the glovebox

[teylix]

I've had BT streaming on my 2011 for a while that basically works the same way, but the bluetooth receiver is powered by the AMI port with this setup.

https://www.audia2dp.com/store/p8/Audi-A2DP_3GN-MU.html

It's A LOT more expensive than what you did and the music sounds really tinny when I stream so I rarely use it.

How does this setup sound compared to using the 3.5mm directly?

what you want is a device that is using the aptx codec if you're an audiophile like me.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...-bonus-aptx%29

[Vogz]

what you want is a device that is using the aptx codec if you're an audiophile like me.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...-bonus-aptx%29

Sweet, thanks!

[LurkAllDay]

Thank you! Did this last week. Costed me $30 shipped to my door.



Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[madman4you]

Backstory: I'm aware of the streaming options available to us and had considered them in the past but kept putting off buying them. I had no intention of trying to set up my own BT audio streaming in my S4. I put together two separate and unrelated projects today and lo and behold, BT audio streaming. So...

Awhile ago I decided I wanted to add a 3.5mm input to my S4 accessible through the center console. I had an 8 foot long 3.5mm extension cable handy so I purchased this 3.5mm input AMI cable from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I routed the extension through the side of the glove box and under the center console and into the console arm rest storage. I was pretty happy with having the 3.5mm plug conveniently located. I added a two port USB charger in the center console power outlet so I could charge my phone while plugged into the 3.5mm line and listen to my podcasts and music through the AMI. Job done.

Flash forward to a few days ago with the second, unrelated project. I have an old stereo in my garage and decided I wanted to add BT streaming to it. On a whim I bought this dongle, again on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Dongle worked well with my garage stereo. Satisfied customer. On a whim today, I plugged the dongle into the USB power supply in my center console and plugged in the 3.5mm jack. Powered on the car and hit play on my phone (Galaxy S5) and the podcast I had been listening to started playing through the speakers. I tapped the voice command button on the wheel and gave the command to call my wife and the call went through as if the BT dongle did not exist. I ended the call and the podcast resumed. The dongle has no battery so once power is cut to the USB port, the dongle goes dead and the phone disconnects automatically so there is no powering the dongle on and off each time. Turn the car off and the phone disconnects.

So while it was not my intention to add BT streaming to my car, it seems I have stumbled upon a fairly cheap combination of parts that do the trick. The dongle was $10, the 3.5mm AMI was $13 and I think the long 3.5mm headphone cable was another $10-12 at Radio Shack. So, all in for $35 at the upper end. YMMV

would you mind taking a quick pic of your set up. I am a little confused by your explanation. I purchased the suggested items. Now I am trying to figure out how to connect it.

Thanks

[Schadenfreude]

would you mind taking a quick pic of your set up. I am a little confused by your explanation. I purchased the suggested items. Now I am trying to figure out how to connect it.

Thanks

I'll try to take some later once home from work

[madman4you]

I'll try to take some later once home from work

Thank you kind sir!

[LurkAllDay]

did this two weeks ago... I'm so happy to have streaming music again :) Kudos to you Schadenfreude

[Schadenfreude]

would you mind taking a quick pic of your set up. I am a little confused by your explanation. I purchased the suggested items. Now I am trying to figure out how to connect it.

Thanks

Here's some quick pics from earlier. I meant to pop off the passenger side fuse box cover but parked too close to a shrub to open door. First shot is the glove box. You can see the AMI cable with the 3.5mm plugging into the extension 3.5 line. The hole that the extension disappears into was already there and leads into the fuse box area on the passenger side. From there I ran it along the back of the glovebox by the footwell and under the side of the center console to the back of the center console.


In the under armrest storage, there's a plug that you can pull out along the back edge. Pop off the rear center console vent (don't be shy, it pops right out) and you can feed the 3.5 line through the hole where the plug was. Plug the 3.5 into the BT dongle that you bought and plug the dongle into a USB cigarette light plug. The other cord next the dongle in mine is charging cable for my phone so ignore that. Once plugged in, power on your accessories and pair it up. Remember, that armrest lighter socket is switched power so once the car turns off, the BT dongle goes dead and vice versa. I found a grommet at home depot to clean up the area where the 3.5 line comes out.


Nothing I did left any non-original holes or permanent changes. Given 10 minutes I could pull out the cable from under the center console, put the armrest storage hole cover back in and it would be back the way it came.

[Schadenfreude]

did this two weeks ago... I'm so happy to have streaming music again :) Kudos to you Schadenfreude

Glad to hear you like it. I think that for what it is and the low price to add a handy function it isn't too bad. Enjoy

[Cartoon]

I'm missing something. Can't we BT stream without going through all this? I stream Pandora and Xbox music with no problem.

[jsh139]

I'm missing something. Can't we BT stream without going through all this? I stream Pandora and Xbox music with no problem.

BT streaming wasn't available in the S4 until 2013. So this is for the B8 peeps.

[hfraj]

Has anyone tried this one? http://a2dp4audi.netmagi.com/

[Nick G]

In the under armrest storage, there's a plug that you can pull out along the back edge. Pop off the rear center console vent (don't be shy, it pops right out) and you can feed the 3.5 line through the hole where the plug was. Plug the 3.5 into the BT dongle that you bought and plug the dongle into a USB cigarette light plug. The other cord next the dongle in mine is charging cable for my phone so ignore that. Once plugged in, power on your accessories and pair it up. Remember, that armrest lighter socket is switched power so once the car turns off, the BT dongle goes dead and vice versa. I found a grommet at home depot to clean up the area where the 3.5 line comes out.

Nothing I did left any non-original holes or permanent changes. Given 10 minutes I could pull out the cable from under the center console, put the armrest storage hole cover back in and it would be back the way it came.

Instead of popping the vent off the back I used a clothes hanger hooked to go up under the side of the console after moving the passenger seat all the way back to pull the 3.5mm cable down the passenger side of the center console. I then routed it under the center console till below the glove box.

There wasn't any holes in my glove box to take advantage of. I found that I can route the cable in through the door of the glove box, at the bottom left, without any pinching or other noticeable adverse affect.

[Schadenfreude]

Has anyone tried this one? http://a2dp4audi.netmagi.com/

Lots of people here use that or the tune2air. I planned on getting one of either at some point until I came across my setup (purely by accident).

[madman4you]

Schadenfreude, thanks for the image. it all makes sense now! Cheers.

And I am up and rocking out!

[evanferl]

Hey schaudenfreude, can you tell me exactly what cable you're using for the 3.5mm input? I just got a 3.5mm MMI cable that doesn't seem to work...Thanks!

[evanferl]

^ Nevermind, see your amazon link!

[nunzo]

@schaudenfreude

thank you for taking the time to post this, i've been going back and forth with the available options and there seems to be issues with all of them.

I bought the following items, installed as you described, and now have exactly the system that i've wanted at 1/4 the price.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$25.48 all in.

[Schadenfreude]

@schaudenfreude

thank you for taking the time to post this, i've been going back and forth with the available options and there seems to be issues with all of them.

I bought the following items, installed as you described, and now have exactly the system that i've wanted at 1/4 the price.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$25.48 all in.

Is $25 a 1/4 of the price of the $32 I cited as my all-in price? Or did you mean you put it together for a handful of quarters less? Honestly I could have gotten my extension cable for cheaper on Amazon and matched your $25 but I bought it at Radio Shack before I started the project . I bought my dongle from VicTsing as well and it looks the same as yours (slight price difference). If we're splitting hairs, your 3.5mm AMI is .07 more than I paid (victory is mine!). Glad to hear the set-up works for you as well

[xtremepsionic]

I came up with a very similar solution but it requires a few less wires than the above so I can just leave everything in the glove box.

Get this cable. It's AMI Music Interface USB Charger 3.5mm AUX Audio Cable
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261993771334

This way there's a USB port to power the Bluetooth receiver: Bluetooth V4.0 NFC APTX Music Receiver
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121475402078

I got the one with APTX in hopes that the audio quality will be better than regular bluetooth.
Just bought both items and they haven't showed up yet, will update on if it works or not when I get them.

ps. I had a setup with a cheap bluetooth receiver just like OP on my E46 M3, works fine, doesn't sound too good though, a bit more electrical and compression noises.

[Ray Khan]

I came up with a very similar solution but it requires a few less wires than the above so I can just leave everything in the glove box.

Get this cable. It's AMI Music Interface USB Charger 3.5mm AUX Audio Cable
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261993771334

I went this route with the simple BT USB stick that the OP used and it works with my iphone 5 and wife's iphone 6 without skipping. Everything sits in the glove box and works great. The sound quality is probably not up to what some people want but it's good enough for us. You definitely have to turn up the volume a little but it's not a big deal to me. No problems getting incoming calls when paired to both the car and the USB stick. Thanks for posting all of these cheap, effective products.

[nunzo]

Is $25 a 1/4 of the price of the $32 I cited as my all-in price? Or did you mean you put it together for a handful of quarters less? Honestly I could have gotten my extension cable for cheaper on Amazon and matched your $25 but I bought it at Radio Shack before I started the project . I bought my dongle from VicTsing as well and it looks the same as yours (slight price difference). If we're splitting hairs, your 3.5mm AMI is .07 more than I paid (victory is mine!). Glad to hear the set-up works for you as well

Ha didn't see Your reply. I meant 25% the price of the tune2air and other kit.


Couple weeks in, works great, auto connects every time I get in the car (with a nice tone). I did up the aux gain through the hidden menu which evens out the sound to radio so shit doesn't blast when you changes sources .

[Ray Khan]

Ha didn't see Your reply. I meant 25% the price of the tune2air and other kit.


Couple weeks in, works great, auto connects every time I get in the car (with a nice tone). I did up the aux gain through the hidden menu which evens out the sound to radio so shit doesn't blast when you changes sources .

What is the path in the hidden menu to get to this aux volume adjustment

[Schadenfreude]

What is the path in the hidden menu to get to this aux volume adjustment

You beat me to it. I was not aware of the adjustment and want to adjust mine as well. Good find

[Ray Khan]

You beat me to it. I was not aware of the adjustment and want to adjust mine as well. Good find

I just figured it out. Go to hidden menu/audiomanagement/inputgainoffset/MU AUX. I went from -1 to 9 on my car. I tried the max, 13, but it was louder than my FM volume so I dialed it back a little.