Recommendations for a Bluetooth unit to replace the Sirius receiver

[capndan]

2005 4Winns that came with a Clarion set up with Sirius. I'm thinking that I should be able to replace the Sirius receiver unit with a Bluetooth receiver and plug it into one of the unused inputs. Any reason this won't work? Any recommendations, or advice will be much appreciated. Will be using my iPhone music.
Thanks

 

[jkust]

05 is crazy old school. Replace the whole head unit with a modern version. The features on the brand new units are amazing and actually can't believe how much they pack in them for even a hundred bucks. Im not usually impressed but i am. Things like output voltage will be 5 or more volts vs what is likely 2 volts on yours as well. Problem is you need to also replace your helm remote and your transom remote. They are also able to be controlled from a specific app for the stereo as well which has been around for years in the home theater world.
Don't add a blue tooth dongle without at least checking out the new Gen head units.

 

[R055]

I also vote for buy a new head unit, nice new marine head unit is $100 and maybe 40-50$ for a transom remote. Should be a big upgrade from your 12 year old unit.

 

[lineman09]

I am running a sony marine unit in my 2016 four winns it work great has Bluetooth and Sirius .. its plenty good for my liking ...

 

[capndan]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have two questions:

What's a transom remote?

Will I have any problems fitting a new unit in the old cut-out? My reluctance to cut holes is the biggest factor in why I thought I'd do a "bluetooth dongle".

 

[dingbat]

I just bought a Fusion RA70i to resolve the same problem

Has phone app control. No need for remotes.

Supports Garmin smart watch app

 

[thumpar]

If you want simple you can go with an Alpine CDE-143BT. I have one in my Yukon and one in my Mustang. The only reason I don't have the same in the boat is because it has another Alpine that is just a tad older but still has iphone control.

 

[jkust]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have two questions:

What's a transom remote?

Will I have any problems fitting a new unit in the old cut-out? My reluctance to cut holes is the biggest factor in why I thought I'd do a "bluetooth dongle".

Your 05 head not will be a single DIN size. They are still widely produced and in use. Most everybody that makes a double din and a round Guage sized stereo makes the din size as well. No modifications needed for you. Certain boats have a wired remote control near the swim platform so you can control the head unit and your pandora, I heart radio, USB music, etc as well as a helm wired remote control. These new Gen head units require new Gen remote controls specifically for each brand of headunit and the new Gen remotes are many times round but the old Gen remotes are many times rectangular requiring customization. If you have no remotes then it's not an issue for you. Go buy a new single din head unit and call it a day. Take a bit of time to understand the specs, even the ones you would normally skip over before you buy. You might notice that the claimed output maybe isn't rms output or that the claimed watts arent constant since it sounds like you won't be using an external amp. You will see some of the brands that you are used the hearing are actually lagging behind and haven't gone full new gen. My stereo has an app to control it but have a helm and transom remote as well. The app makes it easier to control the vast array of features versus the helm remotes necessarully clunky, click through menu design. The transom remote however is great as I don't want my phone near the water and use a fit bit not a Garmin as mentioned above. Some make a waterproof Keychain style but a little bigger remote that you hold onto while you are at the sandbar and can control from several feet away. Someone mentioned alpine and they are almost completely out of the marine audio biz with just a few older speaker offerings. Ignoring wetsounfs because they areally marketed as the high end and cost a lot, I was surprised to see the 2017 brand new Kenwood head units are impressive. You will see that people now skip the cd slot and so you can buy with or without a cd slot. I opted for no CD as I haven't touched a CD in at least a decade which means a little less expensive as well.

 

[briangcc]

IF it's the same unit as mine, its NOT a single din unit.

https://images.sonicelectronix.com/i...in/xmd3ret.jpg

Look at the wiring diagram for your head unit as I seem to remember a set of AUX inputs (RCA) that could be used to connect other accessories. Otherwise, get a double din unit. You'll need the wonky tool to remove the Clarion head unit from your console.

You can look at something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003PPGOC...subtag=AgEAAAAAAAAAAGIwAAAAAGKW0LcAAAAAWV5bHg

Got the info from here:

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-bluetooth-kits-for-every-car-stereo/

 

[jkust]

IF it's the same unit as mine, its NOT a single din unit.

https://images.sonicelectronix.com/images/757/main/xmd3ret.jpg

Look at the wiring diagram for your head unit as I seem to remember a set of AUX inputs (RCA) that could be used to connect other accessories. Otherwise, get a double din unit. You'll need the wonky tool to remove the Clarion head unit from your console.

If you remove the screws holding the sleeve in, you should be able to remove the sleeve and all without the removal tool or at least that is how it was on my single din boats. If you have a double din, even better. Never had a double din but like them because the screen is bigger though with the remotes and the app, I almost never touch the head unit in the glove box as there is no cd slot and i only blue tooth Pandora or I heart radio or sometimes the local radio station. I haven't gotten into using USB drives for music storage. You will find that people are completely skipping the whole single or double din units now as well and opting for the round stereos that fit into a Guage slot on the dash with multiple variations therein.

 

[briangcc]

Uhh nope. Need the tool. Trust me, been there, done that - I happened to be looking for the Aux in to connect a phone/Ipod to. The silver trim on the left and right of the unit pop off to expose access for the tool to release the unit from the sleeve. Four Winns included the tool in my owners packet for the boat, along with an actual useful Owners manual - included wiring diagrams for the boat systems and aux systems such as the Clarion head unit, Sirius XM aux unit, etc.

My new Chap has the JVC MS3A - round head unit - which you're referring to. Have yet to find a few features on it and bluetooth on it is a PIA. I'm going to end up just using a headphone cable to aux my phone and play Pandora that way. Won't work in the Four Winns opening unless you do a custom filler panel or reglass/regel the opening and then drill for a new round unit.

 

[jkust]

Uhh nope. Need the tool. Trust me, been there, done that - I happened to be looking for the Aux in to connect a phone/Ipod to. The silver trim on the left and right of the unit pop off to expose access for the tool to release the unit from the sleeve. Four Winns included the tool in my owners packet for the boat, along with an actual useful Owners manual - included wiring diagrams for the boat systems and aux systems such as the Clarion head unit, Sirius XM aux unit, etc.

My new Chap has the JVC MS3A - round head unit - which you're referring to. Have yet to find a few features on it and bluetooth on it is a PIA. I'm going to end up just using a headphone cable to aux my phone and play Pandora that way. Won't work in the Four Winns opening unless you do a custom filler panel or reglass/regel the opening and then drill for a new round unit.

Interesting....Kenwood owns Jvc and should be similar. With the world at my fingers on amazon, I chose the Kenwood above the others with price not a consideration. The Kenwood blue tooth is slick as can be. You can set it so it automatically turns on your Pandora when you turn the stereo on and begins streaming and it can be set to automatically turn on your blue tooth setting on your phone as well as about a hundred more features. I turn the system on usually from the helm remote and it does its thing or can set it to respond differently as well. The remotes are slick as well. I like that you can thumbs up or down songs in addition to skipping them from Pandora or I heart from the remotes, the phone app or the stereo and can simultaneously use the music library from five phones either apple or android or plug the phone into the built in USB and fast charge it or use the headphone jack as well to stream and also make phone calls from the microphone and also control siri for example by just speaking as you sit on the boat. Like I said, the features are an endless list that could fill pages on the newest units. Some few year old models are still being sold as a current and the do some stuff but not on the same playfield as the newest versions. They've taken a generational leap to some extent.

 

[briangcc]

The JVC MS3A I have in my Chap is a royal pain to synch. My wife tried with her Iphone 6Plus and couldn't get it to synch at all. You have to go through a lot of hoops to even get it to the point where you can try pairing it. She's not technologically challenged either and had the manual in front of her while trying it. Sound becomes quite muddied as well when you get to the higher volume levels. USB thumbdrives work fine as I've tested that although navigating through the folders takes a bit as well. I think the major problem with these types of units is that there's only so much space for the buttons that you have to combine functions and in the process it loses it's appeal. At least it has for me and the boat's only a couple months old! Well that and it only has (1) set of amp pre-outs.

I'm usually a Pioneer guy, my Trans Am is all Pioneer including the speakers & amp, but I think the boat next year will get a Kenwood single din with custom filler plate to cover up the gaping hole the JVC unit created, a 4 channel amp and a couple additional speakers under the rear bench. I'm going to have to check where I can make my connections to the battery for the amp.

**I'm not one of those yahoos that goes blaring down the lake wanting everyone to hear my music, just want to overcome the engine noise so I can hear it while driving and I seriously doubt the current setup will do it..too small of a package to put out any capable power to the speakers. I've tried on dry land with the engine off and it struggles with distortion at higher volumes.

 

[jkust]

The JVC MS3A I have in my Chap is a royal pain to synch. My wife tried with her Iphone 6Plus and couldn't get it to synch at all. You have to go through a lot of hoops to even get it to the point where you can try pairing it. She's not technologically challenged either and had the manual in front of her while trying it. Sound becomes quite muddied as well when you get to the higher volume levels. USB thumbdrives work fine as I've tested that although navigating through the folders takes a bit as well. I think the major problem with these types of units is that there's only so much space for the buttons that you have to combine functions and in the process it loses it's appeal. At least it has for me and the boat's only a couple months old! Well that and it only has (1) set of amp pre-outs.

I'm usually a Pioneer guy, my Trans Am is all Pioneer including the speakers & amp, but I think the boat next year will get a Kenwood single din with custom filler plate to cover up the gaping hole the JVC unit created, a 4 channel amp and a couple additional speakers under the rear bench. I'm going to have to check where I can make my connections to the battery for the amp.

**I'm not one of those yahoos that goes blaring down the lake wanting everyone to hear my music, just want to overcome the engine noise so I can hear it while driving and I seriously doubt the current setup will do it..too small of a package to put out any capable power to the speakers. I've tried on dry land with the engine off and it struggles with distortion at higher volumes.

I'm really a home theater guy...I have whole house audio, a dedicaTed home theater room and a secondary home theater in my main house so boat audio was a learning experience. I don't do car audio as talk radio sounds no better on a factory set up vs an afternarket. Home audio I have Yamaha aventage and Onkyo. What would do you good is a class D Amp for your boat. They are tiny and put out massive power as you can find the amp dyno tests on YouTube. I didn't intend to go Kenwood bUT their stuff is great at a fair price. Their new class D four channel amp, the size of a large smartphone but thicker, tests at 731 watts on the bench dyno way way more than its advertised power at two channels at 2 ohms. I have that amp running my 6.5s and it takes in almost no space. It has high and low pass cross overs and is 2ohm rated. There is no distortion and is far better than using the head units built in amp which I tried for a week before I had time to do a full system replacement and rewire.
The Kenwood 318bt headunit that I have immediately recognizes the phone and you pair it the first time and that's it...it works exactly as easy as you wished it would. No fuss,, no frustration, just excellent functionality but as I said it literally just hit the market I believe in March of 17 and so is state of the art for the time being.

 

[briangcc]

Yep. Agree. Did the same in my Trans Am after running the 6x9's off the headunit only. Put a 400W 4channel in the trunk and connected up the speakers - so much cleaner sound so I'm ahead of the learning curve there hence the desire to add an amp and replace the head unit in the boat.

I pretty much settled on the Rockford Fosgate PMX-2 as its literally a press of a button and turn of the knob to get the unit to bluetooth pairing mode. Supports up to Iphone 7 and works in my existing cutout. Win all around for me.

The Kenwoods are nice too but I was having difficulty finding something that would interface above my wife's 6plus as I want to future proof this purchase a bit - some that I looked at were Android only which would upset my admiral and in turn...well me!

Clarion has a nice unit as well, M606, which I think would fit the existing Four Winns cutout as well...hint, hint.

 

[jkust]

Yep. Agree. Did the same in my Trans Am after running the 6x9's off the headunit only. Put a 400W 4channel in the trunk and connected up the speakers - so much cleaner sound so I'm ahead of the learning curve there hence the desire to add an amp and replace the head unit in the boat.

I pretty much settled on the Rockford Fosgate PMX-2 as its literally a press of a button and turn of the knob to get the unit to bluetooth pairing mode. Supports up to Iphone 7 and works in my existing cutout. Win all around for me.

The Kenwoods are nice too but I was having difficulty finding something that would interface above my wife's 6plus as I want to future proof this purchase a bit - some that I looked at were Android only which would upset my admiral and in turn...well me!

Clarion has a nice unit as well, M606, which I think would fit the existing Four Winns cutout as well...hint, hint.

This new Kenwood goes back to the iPhone 4s up to the current 7.