Car deck with Bluetooth suggestions/advice

Pheezer

Okay so in the next month or two I will be upgrading to a deck that supports Bluetooth. Why? It's going to be illegal to make or accept phone calls without handsfree here as of July 15.

I have an iPhone 3GS. I want a deck that it can play nice with. I hate headsets with a passion. Also being able to stream mp3s over the BT would be sexy.

Also I've had terrible experiences with Sony decks and would like to avoid them.

Here's the first really promising one I found. The price point isn't unreasonable, but if I can save a buck I will:
http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/jvc-jvc-mp3-wma-cd-car-deck-with-bluetooth-ipod-control-kd-r810-kd-r810/10137914.aspx?path=0f357cc3e417dec628baa449a248c722en02&lid=fp-10137914-jvcjvcmp3wmacdcardeckwithbluet-en


ALSO! I currently have a failing Sony deck in my '04 Hyundai Elantra GT. Would it be unreasonable to think I could thereby perform the install myself? I'm not terrible with stuff, I've built PCs and I've done sound for live bands before, so I'm capable of following instructions and I don't get too quickly confused by messes of wiring. At the same time, if I don't have a buddy who's done this before to supervise, should I just pay to get it done right? I wouldn't be buying through a major chain like Best Buy, there's a local higher end electronics place I like with a good rep for their car audio dept.

eternalbl

I can't recommend a specific deck, but I currently have an Alpine unit in my car and it works well.

As for installing yourself, if you have a voltmeter or multimeter, a AA battery and time I'd say go for it. The hardest part is getting the deck physically secured, wiring is pretty easy.

The voltmeter will help you find which wires are your constant + and accessory power, and the battery will help you determine which wires are for which speaker.

If you've got the factory deck and wiring in the car still, as in your deck's never been jacked, you might be able to get an adapter that'll make the install as easy as soldering wire A on your new deck's harness to wire A on the adapter which'll then just plug right up on the vehicle and everything is pretty much done for you.

Pheezer

Factory deck is long gone, had it replaced by techs of debatable skill at a low cost budget car audio place.

eternalbl

Pheezer wrote: »

Factory deck is long gone, had it replaced by techs of debatable skill at a low cost budget car audio place.

Even still, all the wires you'll need will be right there, it's just a matter of narrowing down which are which. Plus, even if you give it a shot and find it's just not happening, install by a pro is still an option. But seriously, if you can use a voltmeter you'll have no problem.

Just make sure that you secure the deck to a bolt or nut someplace so it's harder than just using the removal tool to take out. I used some metal stuff I found at a hardware store, it was on a spool like tape, but had holes every 1/2 inch or so. Find a bolt some place, probably in the passenger side foot well under the dash. There'll be a place on the deck you can bolt that to, run it to the bolt on the car and bolt it down.

Another thing to take note of is if your dash is irregularly shaped, newer cars with crazy ergonomic stereos/dashes might benefit from a pro install as it could look weird to have just a flat deck on a rounded surface.

Edit for clarity: You won't be able to use an adapter, but the install wouldn't be terribly difficult.