I came from a cassette adapter then an fm transmitter. I'm using a bt45 now, no comparison.
Now MAYBE if you live in a rural area it'll be good, but not in Houston, I'll tell you that much.
100-series Bluetooth/stereo aftermarket options
- Thread starter cbang
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I came from a cassette adapter then an fm transmitter. I'm using a bt45 now, no comparison.
Now MAYBE if you live in a rural area it'll be good, but not in Houston, I'll tell you that much.
Some options that I'm aware of, most have been discussed quite a bit on this forum:
USA Spec BT45-Toy ~$230
BT45-TOY
Adds Blutooth calling and streaming audio.
Grom BT3 ~$135
https://gromaudio.com/store/bt3_adapters/select_toyota_lexus_98-05_aux-in_mp3_bluetooth_ipod_iphone_adapter.html
Adds Blutooth calling and streaming audio.
VAIS SL3B ~$230
Bluetooth Add-On Stereo Adapter Kits | VAIS Technology
Adds streaming audio & "I Agree" bypass (Does not add bluetooth calling)
Grom VLINE ~$599
GROM VLine Infotainment System for Maps and Aps
GROM VLine - Google apps/Android&iPhone integration
Adds Android applications as well as Bluetooth streaming. The most full featured, expensive, largest physical box, and least mature option.
10” screen replacement Canavie/Secaine
Lexus/Toyota Factory Navigation to 10" screen upgrade
Conversion to non-nav
post 2003 nav delete how to.
Nav relocation
Successfully Moved Navigation Screen To Make Room Pioneer AVIC-8200
Single DIN “hack”
68 ohm resistor to replace stereo on NAV equipped LC and LX
USA Spec BT45-Toy ~$230
BT45-TOY
Adds Blutooth calling and streaming audio.
Grom BT3 ~$135
https://gromaudio.com/store/bt3_adapters/select_toyota_lexus_98-05_aux-in_mp3_bluetooth_ipod_iphone_adapter.html
Adds Blutooth calling and streaming audio.
VAIS SL3B ~$230
Bluetooth Add-On Stereo Adapter Kits | VAIS Technology
Adds streaming audio & "I Agree" bypass (Does not add bluetooth calling)
Grom VLINE ~$599
GROM VLine Infotainment System for Maps and Aps
GROM VLine - Google apps/Android&iPhone integration
Adds Android applications as well as Bluetooth streaming. The most full featured, expensive, largest physical box, and least mature option.
10” screen replacement Canavie/Secaine
Lexus/Toyota Factory Navigation to 10" screen upgrade
Conversion to non-nav
post 2003 nav delete how to.
Nav relocation
Successfully Moved Navigation Screen To Make Room Pioneer AVIC-8200
Single DIN “hack”
68 ohm resistor to replace stereo on NAV equipped LC and LX
I don't live in rural area, los angeles... and have had 0 issues now i am tuned to 87.9 or anywhere in this range.
If i had bad experience I'd definitely try the next cheap option which is bt45 before going double din where i can use aux and experience the best quality next to CD as bluetooth degrades quality.
We all have CD players so just use that as no bluetooth will be able to match that.
Before going bt45 definitely try quality fm transmitter as its cheap and can return free through amazon.
weakspleen
Nachos rule!!
I put a Vaistech in my '05 LC last year, it was an easy and relatively painless procedure to install. It quit working within 6-12 mos though. No idea why and I haven't looked into it. I rarely listen to the radio and only occasionally listen to a couple of the same CDs I've had since the 90s. I give a strong No recommendation for Vaistech.
Bluetooth Audio Quality and Compression
Which leads me to following: if Nulax K28 marketing claims are true, and it has a native support for MP3, it should be no worse than the $200+ unit, unless more expensive unit has a built in support for FLAC or AAC. Another area where the more expensive unit may be superior is the seamless integration.
I am a classical music snob, I am patient. But if you give me a good option on par with CD, I will pay.
I understand, there is no way our CD changers would play audio DVDs (DVD-A)
Best Rated Transmitters on Amazon
The cheapskate Rolls Royce owners could also check out Aliexpress and Gearbest sites
Which leads me to following: if Nulax K28 marketing claims are true, and it has a native support for MP3, it should be no worse than the $200+ unit, unless more expensive unit has a built in support for FLAC or AAC. Another area where the more expensive unit may be superior is the seamless integration.
I am a classical music snob, I am patient. But if you give me a good option on par with CD, I will pay.
I understand, there is no way our CD changers would play audio DVDs (DVD-A)
Best Rated Transmitters on Amazon
The cheapskate Rolls Royce owners could also check out Aliexpress and Gearbest sites
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Fm transmitters can only transmit frequencies between 30hz-15khz. If you are transmitting via Bluetooth to your FM transmitter you can see the obvious stack up of degradation. I know Bluetooth gets a bad rap from a lot of audio snobs (myself included) but i didn't want to spend a fortune on a new head unit and prefer the look of stock for multiple reasons.
I bought this - https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-In...8B/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=
its 49.99 right now. Its not as good as cd or a good aux in but what you gain in convenince makes it worth it. I waited forever to install in my 1999 because i was afraid of breaking trim and other pieces. took me about 45 minutes including hiding it in my glove compartment.
I highly recommend this product.
I bought this - https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-In...8B/ref=olp_product_details?_encoding=UTF8&me=
its 49.99 right now. Its not as good as cd or a good aux in but what you gain in convenince makes it worth it. I waited forever to install in my 1999 because i was afraid of breaking trim and other pieces. took me about 45 minutes including hiding it in my glove compartment.
I highly recommend this product.
I tried a DVD-A in the OE DVD changer of my vehicle (06 LX) when it was new. While I don’t recall a major difference in sound quality, it did work.
I was so impressed, that I never bothered to try it again...
Will the BT-45 allow you to use the factory Bluetooth hands free calling and just use it for streaming audio?
We may think somewhat alike...I don't see the point in having what is probably one of the best, most natural-sounding OEM car audio systems ever made (Levinson version) then degrading the source material by lossy compression algorithms and bluetooth or FM transcoding. I have my CD collection at home all converted to FLAC files and housed on a central server for convenient playback on any of the four listening areas (of varied purpose and quality...some great, and some just pleasant and convenient) in my home, but even with carefully encoded FLAC files the original CDs still sound better, especially on the high end systems, when played back through the same DAC and following equipment.
Soooo...I have no interest in feeding the Levinson system in the LX crappy source material..right now, I just rotate CDs. If there's a reasonably priced and reasonably convenient way to add FLAC capability via usb thumbdrive, I'd jump on it, but mp3/BT/FM transmitters don't interest me. Don't have a smart phone either, and the onboard BT for phone calls works fine w/ my Kyocera clamshell.
I used the BT-45 for both and had no issues. I'm not sure if you can disable the phone function on the BT-45. You can answer and hang up calls with the track up and track down buttons. The buttons on the right side of the steering wheel don't work. To make a call, I would have to activate Siri on my phone and just tell her who I wanted to call.
Has anyone tried to use the outlet inside of the center console? I was wondering if it needed to be in line of site or not.
Are there any options for a good usb input? Maybe one that charges as well.
The BT-45 has USB and aux. I believe the USB is just for charging though. I replaced my cigarette lighter with this and hooked it into the unit which was located under my cup holders.
USB Flush Mount Car Cable -... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WWGYM16?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf
USB Flush Mount Car Cable -... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WWGYM16?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf
Thanks! BT isn't a must have for me and the price is certainly right. My 01 is a non nav with the 6 disk CD/ radio in the dash. Did you need an additionally wiring harness to hook your's up?
The back of the BT-45 says for 02-09 LC and 01-08 LX. It came with the harness that I needed for my LC, but I also ordered the optional harness that is required by some vehicles.
Ditto on a 2001 LX. The sound is good out of at BT45-TOY and I'm ok with keeping the existing HVAC controls on the old screen.
Yes, get the CAS-LEX from Crutchfield. Makes everything very simple. Had to try a few DIP switch settings to get it to work right, but now the Mark Levinson OEM system thinks that the bluetooth source is Disk 4. Just connects automatically.
You may be interested in this.
2003-2012 Lexus/Toyota /Scion USB Input | VAIS Technology
I used to have a BT45 in my 05 LX which worked fine, but replaced it with the Vais MML. The sound quality is a step up and it will play FLAC and WAV files up to 24/96 from a thumb drive or phone/tablet. I replaced the cigarette lighter with a usb input and use my phone as a music source. Works great and charges my phone while playing tunes.
