Serggus

I started replying to some posts which people found it usefull, so I decided to go little more indepdth.

I have an iPhone 4.0 and my goal is to stream music, radio, audio books, iTunes-U etc. to my 3rd Generation (2007) GS450h ML (5th Gen NAV.) I prefer A2DP for haste free, out of pocket media streaming, and wired would be nice as well at times to be able to charge the device, use a cradle for streaming radio, NAV – traffic info, etc.

I have used the A2DP feature with loaner 2010 HS250h, and that was an awesome, hassle free, works on the fly, the only down side to it doesn’t transfer the control to Car Stereo.
My 2007 GS doesn’t have the A2DP feature, nor the AUX port, so here I’m.

Currently I’m researching all available products, and looking for factual inputs on “Sound Quality”, “Additional Devices” – which would do the same or better, Pros and Cons...

So far I’m narrowing down to the Music/Audio device best suited for me – MediaBridge MB1500-Toyota, and that may change with valid inputs.

I've done some extensive research on this topic and I can say that VAIS, DICE and Scosche are products that can get you there. As with most products, you get what you pay for, and it comes down to Price, Sound Quality, Convenience.

VAIS - has some great products!!
PROS: Video or Digital Audio (different products)
CONS: Wired only!!

Here are the products and features that caught my attention:

1. “VML (MultiMediaLinQ) is a beautifully engineered high-end device with spectacular clear, impressive natural, absolutely free of distortion audio.” VAIS website2. SoundLinQ2 (SL2Vi) – Allows to play Video on ML NAV screen from iPod/iPhone iTunes library only.Video is nice but it has limited feature-set, and comes on a device that isn’t “Digital Audio”.
Digital Audio is great, you get a build in HDD, but no A2DP  which would be awesome!!

DICE - have awesome products!!!
PROS: A2DP (Stereo over Bluetooth), Digital Audio, + more (Same product)
CONS: no video

Here is the product and features that caught my attention:

1. MediaBridge MB1500-Toyota “The MediaBridge audio circuitry is designed to meet or exceed the sound quality of any premium audio system.”
“The MediaBridge is an entertainment and information connectivity device that is o˜ered in two configurations providing connectivity for Bluetooth hands-free and music streaming, USB digital connection for iPod™ and iPhone™, direct connection for USB Flash based mass storage devices and the aftermarket SIRIUS™ Satellite Radio tuner and portable radios. MediaBridge is Made for iPod (MFi) and Works with iPhone (WWi) compliant allowing a full featured iPod/iPhone experience over USB in the vehicle.” DICE websiteMB1500 comes out in few days from the manufacturer and now is in pre-order state only.
I found a killer price on the unit, have already placed the order, will get it in few days, and will let you know if it all sounds as good as it sounds
Ping me for the info if interested.

Scosche - has some variety of products.
PROS: Clean A2DP with Scosche Bluetooth transmitter which will plug into your iphone/ipod, transmitting to BlueFusion Reciever which connects to the back of your ML.
CONS: Limits you to no charge while you have the Transmitter plugged in.
!!Distorted A2DP (Stereo over Bluetooth) using iPhone’s native A2DP!!
No Wired input. No USB.

1. BlueFusion (BFTAK)A2DP carries over a lot of distortion with iPhone/iPod and could be solved by using their BT iPhone dongle which uses its own BT transmitter. Unfortunately you can't charge the phone while playing A2DP at the same time.


Currently in testing phase of all three of these products on my 2007 Lexus GS450h, will update with results

Ping me if you have any questions, and if you like the POST by all means, feel free to rate it

rominl

iTrader: (4)

wow, great post that's really awesome of you to test out the products.

for the sl2vi, someone has already tried. if the iphone/itouch is jailbroken, you can install app to feed any video source from the device to the nav screen

myGSsoWET

iTrader: (3)

quick question, does the sl2vi plays video with no ML?

Serggus

Where would it play video on ??

rominl

iTrader: (4)

yes it does

without ML there is still a screen

*Batman*

Excellent post.

Glad you got the facts precise this time

Can you PM me where you bought the Dice Media Bridge at an excellent price. I may buy one too.

I am really looking forward to your review.

Serggus

My bad, I'm not familiar with none ML. Good to know for future ref.
Thanks!!

rominl

iTrader: (4)

no problem. if i am correct all 3gs have screen display up front, whether it has navigation function that's a different story

*Batman*

Your poll misses a key preference which is to have both digital wired an a2dp. I have an iPod mounted permanently in my car which I prefer wired, but I like a2dp for my phone because I can use that for things like pandora without having to plug in the phone or disconnect my iPod.

3GS404

iTrader: (12)

Greats Thread!!!

IXI187IXI

iTrader: (3)

does the MB1500 support video though? Im dying to find a device that i can use in my 06 with ML to stream videos.

Serggus

MB1500 doesn't stream video, but it does have A/V out on a Dice cradle (accessory) you can purchase, and port that to whatever.

VAIS streams video, but only from iTunes, which is kind of lame, as I would want to have the versatility of watching hulu, TV, youtube or iTunes...

Yea, no real good solution for video streaming....

rominl

iTrader: (4)

well like i said a little work on the itouch/iphone will do the trick. here's the other thread with more discussions

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...gation-gs.html

Serggus

This is actually very impressive! So from what I see it's streaming the iphone / itouch screen fully, no matter what application you are in. Is that done out of the box??
Supported feature from VAIS is streaming only from iTunes...

rominl

iTrader: (4)

yup that's correct. as long as the iphone/itouch is jailbroken and the app installed then you are good to go. of course coming from apple store (or att), the iphone/itouch won't be jailbroken yet.

on vaistech support, it says only steaming from itune/ipod works, that's actually not a limitation of the vaistech device at all. it's actually limitation of the iphone/itouch. apple doesn't want to allow people to stream any video out of the device unless it's through ipod interface. that's the problem.

with the vaistech sl2vi, there is a video mode, which basically just sits there and display whatever the iphone/itouch is streaming out. if the phone is jailbroken and the app installed, then basically it "opens" up the door and allow displaying any video on screen