[Trippp]

1) I wanted to confirm how the iPOD integration works. From what I've dug up, it looks like the stereo and steering wheel controls can control the iPOD fine. Does the NAVI screen offer any additional functionality? Will it at least give file / artist info?

2) Does anyone use the streaming BT? How is the sound quality? How do the car's controls work with it?

I'm considering the iPOD module but if the OEM streaming BT functionality works well, it sounds like a no brainer.

Any input appreciated.

 

[beachdog]

Don't have the ipod integration or navi so I can't comment on that area.

I have used the BT streamig from my phone a couple of times and it sounds decent but then I don't have any lossless mp3's on my phone so the limitation is probably mostly tied to the quality of the rips. Overall, the BT streaming sounds about the same as using the aux connection. It also functions the same as the aux connection. You control the music on the device nothing on the steering wheel is going to do anything except for volume.

 

[tommyz23]

Don't have the ipod integration or navi so I can't comment on that area.

I have used the BT streamig from my phone a couple of times and it sounds decent but then I don't have any lossless mp3's on my phone so the limitation is probably mostly tied to the quality of the rips. Overall, the BT streaming sounds about the same as using the aux connection. It also functions the same as the aux connection. You control the music on the device nothing on the steering wheel is going to do anything except for volume.

In BT streaming mode: Actually the controls on the steering wheel could work. They work with the Droid phone, so with an update to the phone they could work with the Apple phone.

 

[Trippp]

I did some reading and apparently the new iPhone does not support AVDRP (which allows the car's controls to work). Big miss on Apple's part. They're supposed to have the "premiere" music players yet leave out this important piece of functionality while their competitors have it. I have to control the music via the iPhone. Ironically, because of the smooth touch interface, the tactile-less controls aren't really handy in a car environment. If I was at least able to use buttons that I could feel with my fingers rather than have to look at the screen, it would be better.

Sound quality has been very good, tho. No complaints about the actual music.

I'll wait awhile and hope the next OS upgrade changes this. I may just go for it and get the Mazda iPod integration kit.

 

[Trippp]

Does anyone have a phone that displays song info when streaming to the stereo? Steering wheel controls work with the iPhone now but song info doesn't display. Wondering if its a limitation of the Mazda or the phone.

 

[The UPSman]

Does anyone have a phone that displays song info when streaming to the stereo? Steering wheel controls work with the iPhone now but song info doesn't display. Wondering if its a limitation of the Mazda or the phone.

I have the Droid 2 and get the same - steering wheel controls work but no song info on the display.

 

[bwest]

On my 2011 6 iGT streaming audio via bluetooth works great from an iphone 3g and 4g. The info doesn't display on the LCD screen, but despite what's been said here already, you can advance tracks by using the steering controls. I've had no problem with doing so in both the ipod feature of the phone as well as applications like Pandora.

 

[Torin]

I use my BB Bold 9700 to stream music over Bluetooth and the sound is solid. Only drawbacks I've found so far is that the track length for the display doesn't update properly and occasionally it takes a minute or two to sync up and realize there is a music player around.

Other than that the sound is solid, though it may be on the quiet side (granted this could also be a mastering problem with my MP3 and their native volume level).

Compared to the iPODv1 integration kit for the 07 Mazda 3 this is a HUGE improvement.

 

[yankeekm91]

Ditto for me with what bwest said. My iphone 4 works perfectly with BT streaming. I can skip tracks with the steering wheel and of course, change the volume.

 

[cwessley]

The limitation of showing the tracks is on the iPhone. It is because of the type of bluetooth they are using now. The car works just fine and if you use a phone that uses the correct bluetooth then it will display the tracks. Apple and some other smart phone companies chose to use AVRCP Bluetooth profile 1.0 and 1.3 is the version which shares track information. So until that comes out for our phones we are stuck... :-(