Here is the answer to any audio Bluetooth connectivity. Although you have to connect this to your car it's by far the best upgrade ever. You now have an android or iPhone for your screen.

 

That a BlackBerry thing is to expensive if you for have a Blackberry and your intent is to just stream music! You can buy any Bluetooth receiver that supports A2DP streaming and just the aux jack. I bought one for about $20 from Walgreen's, lol!

 

I use the Vais Tech SL3B
http://www.vaistech.com/site/sl3b.php

I like it alot. I can use the steering wheel functions with it along with the radio controls. Also the music information is texted onto the Navigation Screen. It is Plug & Play along with Bluetooth.

It hides behind the dash, not taking up space in the center console.

 

Couple of questions for ya!

1. You mention bluetooth. Does this work with the phone via bluetooth or do you have to plug it in to work?

2. Did you lose function of one of your buttons in order for this VAIS to work? I had one installed on my LS430 and it removed the SAT function. Also I had to plug directly in to the phone or ipod.

 

You don't lose any functionality. However, I must say that the Vaistech Ivic-D I installed recently is one of the buggiest units I've ever had. They really need to work on this some more to make it an enjoyable interface. Not happy at all.

 

Like Roadfrog said, you do not lose any functionality even with the SL3B. You access it as if it was an additional CD Disc Drive. The SL3B is very small. It can easily fit behind the console. I have mind under the carpet on the passenger side by the hump as far forward as possible. Nobody notices it.

So it hardwires to the car and tgen you Bluetooth connect to it with your phone. If your phone is capable of Bluetooth music streaming then you are set.

 

the music is through BT but i believe there is a usb port for charging if you want

 

The SL3B emulates a 6 disc cd changer. If you have playlists, each playlist acts like a CD. Otherwise you set up the music on your app and start it with the Bluetooth on your phone on and the "Drive" selected for the SL3B.

The quality will be only as good as whatever app you are using regardless if it is hardwired from a phone or using Bluetooth. I prefer the Google Play app. Some of the music apps do a poor job in compressing the music and does not sound well.

 

Is the SL3B compatible with the Mark Levinson System?

 

Yes, it is.

 

If you're streaming music from an app like Spotify, then it would depend on the signal strength of the device. I've lost streaming music when traveling due to bad or no data coverage.

 

One main reason I use an Android phone is because I can and have installed a 128gb Sim Card. On that card is over 20gb of music that I have. So even when I don't have connection to the world because I am lost in America I can listen to my own music.

Also some apps, like Google Play or Beats, allow you to download the music to your phone and that way you have it in times of no cellular or wifi connection.

 

Which is why I bought an mp3 player that uses micro SD cards. Since there's nothing short of a VAIS unit to allow you to use the NAV screen, my $12 made in China mp3 player plugs in to the console audio input, holds 16GB of songs, and plays and plays and plays . . . .

 

That's what I use.