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W810 in the Car - Part II (installed and tested) |
Hlcn Twst
Joined: Jul 27, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: Purgatory, Utah, USA
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I finally gathered together and installed everything needed to play  output from the W810 through my car stereo. This is based from my research via my original thread on this subject.
I put together the following:
The result is this:
Compared to the Apple iPod + car adapter I had previously, this works fairly well. However, the iPod was better as follows:
- iPod uses 1 wire for power + sound; W810 requires 2
- iPod is easier to control; W810 can't be navigated quickly, and requires an extra keypress when the display goes to "sleep"
- iPod sound output is a bit more clean (comparing identical music files, all are AAC @ 256 kbps); W810 is more "full" but also muddy
Also, the CLA-60 introduces a lot of noise into the sound output  This isn't car electrical system noise, as I tested it with car power both on and off. (VW radios can be operated with the ignition completely off.) When I removed the CLA-60 from the Fastport and connected the MMC-60 directly, the sound was very clean (only a tiny bit of hiss, as has been widely reported on the W810). If only the CLA-60 could remain connected and be switched on/off...
Interestingly, the phone's volume control remains active, but conversely, the Equalizer settings have no effect. (Each point is the opposite of the iPod's in-car behavior.)
I'll have to try this a while longer, but so far, I think the iPod was a bit better in this application.
PS: I decided against the  HCA-60 handsfree kit (with HCE-26 music mute). It only plays through 2 speakers, not all 4. And, given its connection method + my car's factory amplifier, there would be issues of electrical noise and sound volume. Luckily, my Jabra SP500  speakerphone can still handle the W810's calls even with the MMC-60 connected and active.
PPS: The above pic was taken with my Canon 7.1MP camera, no flash, resized in Photoshop to 600x800. The following is from my W810, also no flash, also resized. The W810's camera isn't bad, but it surely won't replace my Canon.
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Ever notice that the more "hackable" something is, the more it needs hacking, since it was so crappy in the first place? Examples: Motorola phones, Windows computers, Volkswagens... 
[ This Message was edited by: Hlcn Twst on 2007-04-09 22:52 ] | |
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arien617
Joined: Feb 01, 2006
Posts: > 500
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Going a bit off topic but what VW you got there?
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max_wedge
Joined: Aug 29, 2004
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From: Australia
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On 2007-04-09 23:49:27, Hlcn Twst wrote:
I finally gathered together and installed everything needed to play output from the W810 through my car stereo. This is based from my research via my original thread on this subject.
I put together the following:
Nice effort and thanks for sharing your results.
I use a similar setup:
1. W800 (k750 flashed to w800)
2. MMC 60 cable
3. 3rd party FM transmitter wired through the antenna (for perfect reception) and powered by hte car electrics
I don't use the CLA60 due to the noise you mention - I also found that to be unacceptable. However, I find the walkman power consumption a minor issue. I charge my phone every night, and even on long distance travelling I find I can get a good 8 hours without killing my phone before I reach the end of the day providing I'm not talking much. And if I'm on the road, I don't use the phone that much so it works well. (walkman can run for 15 hours on one charge before the phone will die completely)
I use the CLA-60 for charging if batt is really flat, in that case I just have to listen to the radio for an hour, no biggie.
Now I accept that FM stereo is limited quality, but the things is I enjoy listening to the radio when a song I like comes on, and listening to the phone through the radio is no worse. So this is a suitable one wire setup for my purposes.
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Hlcn Twst
Joined: Jul 27, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: Purgatory, Utah, USA
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@max_wedge: Yes, I may have to disconnect the CLA-60 and velcro it out of the way. I think I can also live without its little map light
@arien617: It's an A4-generation Golf GTI. Although it's a US model, it has VW's "Gamma" head unit installed. (This replacement came from a 6-month-old Golf in the UK.) The original one was mediocre at best. The Gamma has much better sound and more features, including a phone mute wire for whenever I choose to install a full handsfree kit  However, I'll likely replace it with an Alpine aftermarket unit at some point in the future.
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carkitter
Joined: Apr 29, 2005
Posts: > 500
From: Auckland, NZ
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Impressive!
Nice tidy installation there.
Glad to see you got it sorted.
And nice photos too.
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Hlcn Twst
Joined: Jul 27, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: Purgatory, Utah, USA
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Any thoughts on why the CLA-60 is so noisy? If it can't be used with other accessories, then why does it have a Fastport pass-through?
The noise I get is the buzzing that GSM phones typically induce in nearby speakers. Now imagine that buzzing itself played over your car speakers
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max_wedge
Joined: Aug 29, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Australia
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On 2007-04-11 17:03:34, Hlcn Twst wrote:
Any thoughts on why the CLA-60 is so noisy? If it can't be used with other accessories, then why does it have a Fastport pass-through?
The noise I get is the buzzing that GSM phones typically induce in nearby speakers. Now imagine that buzzing itself played over your car speakers
it's probably necessary to install a suppressor somewhere. You could try a an emr suppressor around the mcc-60 cable?
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Posted: 2007-04-09 23:49
