All new cars already come with Bluetooth compatibility, which makes it easier to stay connected safely while driving. But a lot of old cars lack this technological feature. Don’t worry though: you don’t need to go to the dealership to buy a new car. There are plenty of aftermarket solutions that allow drivers of old cars to make calls via Bluetooth or stream music.
Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard for connectivity and data exchange and is built into all smartphones. With Bluetooth, you can stream your music to your car stereo and even control songs directly from it. More importantly, you can make hands-free phone calls from the car speakers – a big step towards better safety while driving.
The problem is that most older cars don’t have Bluetooth built into the stereo, and the only way to connect your smartphone to the stereo can be through an AUX cable, which can’t be used for making calls. Don’t worry though. There are tons of aftermarket Bluetooth solutions for every need: you can connect via the AUX cable, FM transmitter, swap out the CD player, or you can opt for a standalone Bluetooth solution with a built-in speaker. You can also decide to change the entire stereo head unit to a new one with built-in Bluetooth, but this can be very expensive.
In this article, we will take a look at the best solutions for each type of car stereo, for the newer and older ones, excluding the replacement of the head units, as they are completely different products.
We have prepared a list of the best Bluetooth kits for your car, with a detailed description of each of them.
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The best car hands-free kits on the market
1. Jabra Freeway
The best hands-free kit for call quality
Type: Bluetooth Receiver Unit | Bluetooth: unknown | Maximum operating distance: unknown | Connection to car stereo: FM transmitter | Power supply: 12v / USB socket (both included)
The Jabra Freeway is a stylish-looking, high-performance in-car speakerphone. It turns on and off automatically when you get in and out of the car, and automatically connects to your phone via Bluetooth once an initial connection is established.
The three speakers offer virtual surround sound, and dual-microphone technology allows for noise cancellation during calls, calls that can be easily accepted with a voice command. The Freeway can be charged via micro-USB or car adapter, can be used while charging and recharges in just two hours. Those two hours will give you up to 40 days of standby time and 14 hours of talk time.
2. Amazon Echo Auto
The hands-free kit with Alexa
Type: Air vent mounted hands-free unit | Bluetooth: unknown | Maximum operating distance: unknown | Connection to car stereo: yes (via Bluetooth or AUX) | Power supply: 12v / USB socket
Amazon’s long-awaited entry into the automotive industry is a success, offering older cars both a Bluetooth receiver and voice control via Alexa. The Echo Auto attaches to the dashboard via the included ventilation mount and must be connected to a power source via its microUSB port.
Once up and running, you can call Alexa and have her perform all the commands you usually use through the various other Alexa-enabled items scattered around the house. The commands are received extremely clearly in almost all circumstances, even when you are walking with the windows down!
Making calls and accessing music and podcasts via the Echo Auto is no problem; in this, it is the same as the other Amazon Echo devices. Using it as a car navigator, on the other hand, presents some sporadic problems. If you are already part of the Alexa “ecosystem” and enjoy the voice control experience, then you will be more than satisfied with the Echo Auto. But if you are looking for a complete navigation system, you can find it better.
3. Kinivo BTC480
The best hands-free kit with AUX input
Type: Bluetooth unit via AUX receiver | Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0 | Maximum operating distance: unknown | Connection to car stereo: AUX | Power supply: 12v / USB socket (double USB-A charger supplied)
This Kinivo hands-free kit is a simple and affordable way to turn your car stereo into a Bluetooth speaker. The device connects to your stereo via a 3.5mm jack, while the receiver is in a magnetic holder that attaches to the dashboard. It supports multi-point Bluetooth pairing so you can be connected to two devices at the same time. Controls couldn’t be simpler, with a center button to play and pause audio and accept / end calls, as well as dedicated buttons to skip tracks.
The kit also comes with a dual-port USB-A charger that offers a convenient way to charge your phone or any other device in the car.
4. Pioneer MVH-S420BT
The best Bluetooth car stereo under € 100
Type: 1 DIN FM stereo unit | Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.0 | Maximum operating distance: unknown | Connection to car stereo: unknown | Power supply: powered by the car battery
The Pioneer MVH-S420BT is different from the other products on this list in that it is a stereo that offers all the features you could want from a hands-free car kit. It installs into the main unit of your vehicle, and you can mount it yourself or have it fitted by an auto electrician.
Once installed in your car, it works as an FM radio player: it streams music from your phone, acts as a speakerphone during calls, has a convenient USB port for charging devices, and even has an app that supports Amazon use. Alexa. In addition to this, the MVH-S420BT features a 13-band graphic equalizer that allows you to customize the audio exactly to your preferences. In addition, it supports FLAC audio codec so that you can play lossless audio tracks smoothly.
5. Bluetooth FM transmitter
The best budget FM transmitter
Type: Bluetooth Receiver Unit | Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0 | Maximum operating distance: unknown | Connection to car stereo: FM transmitter | Power supply: 12v socket
For such an inexpensive car kit, this FM transmitter, which plugs into the 12v socket, offers a lot. You can easily receive hands-free calls, play music from your phone via Bluetooth, a Micro SD card or U disk in MP3, WMA and WAV formats. The transmitter’s dual USB interface also allows you to charge two devices simultaneously if you wish.
The icing on the cake: the device is available in 7 different colors, for those who love a little more color in their car. This small and light transmitter has very easy-to-use buttons and is perfect for those who want simplicity and connectivity at a good price.
6. Supertooth Buddy
The best budget hands-free kit for dashboard
Type: Dash Mount Bluetooth Hands-Free Unit | Bluetooth: Bluetooth 2.1 | Maximum operating distance: 10m | Connection to car stereo: no | Power supply: lithium-ion battery; 20 hours of conversation; 100 hours of standby
The Supertooth Buddy has been on the market for years but is still like an old friend you can count on today. It attaches with a strong magnet to a metal clip for the sun visor and is very easy to assemble. This will make it easy to store it out of sight of prying eyes when you leave your car parked. It works with a built-in battery, which charges via a standard micro-USB port. The secret to Buddy’s longevity is simple: it works and does what it needs to, no frills. The controls are simple, large and easy to find, quickly pairs to devices and stays connected, and can stay in standby mode for weeks without a charge.
The Buddy supports voice calls with phones that support this feature (and don’t worry, all phones can now), and having a great speaker and a great anti-echo microphone, your calls will be excellent. It’s not much for music – that’s why you always rely on your old radio – but it’s the simplest and most effective way to add hands-free calling to your old car.
Hands-Free Car Kits Buying Guide: How to Choose the Perfect Hands-Free Car Kit for You
Which Bluetooth car kit do I need?
This depends on your car and what you want the kit to do. The simplest devices are designed specifically for hands-free calling and clip onto the sun visor, dashboard spot or air vent. These models are usually powered by an internal battery and work as a Bluetooth speakerphone, acting as a hands-free Bluetooth headset (so everyone can hear your call).
If you want to stream calls and music through your car stereo, you will need a device with a built-in microphone and a connection to the stereo. Newer cars and stereos may already have suitable inputs, like a USB port or 3.5mm jack, which make the whole thing of adding Bluetooth much, much easier.
If, on the other hand, your car and stereo are a little old, you will need an alternative approach. While you can find kits that plug into the AUX port on the back of the stereo, which still involves getting your hands on the stereo, pulling it out of the car’s dashboard, and perhaps rewiring it, most people choose an FM transmitter. The latter streams the audio from your phone to the stereo quite clearly and cleanly, as long as there isn’t a lot of interference. The only risk is that others may be listening to your calls if they are close enough and have their radio tuned to the same FM frequency, even if the signal is usually too weak for this to happen.
How much do I have to spend?
Less than you might think. There are certainly some very expensive kits out there – some of which need professional installation – but you can also find basic Bluetooth car systems for 40 euros… or even less.
What should I look for in a hands-free car kit?
Sound quality is the most important thing. If you can’t hear the person you’re on the phone with or the sound is shrill and tinny, then you’ll regret the purchase every time you get a call. An even more important factor, however, is the microphone – if the person you’re talking to can’t hear you clearly or constantly asks you to repeat what you said, then that microphone isn’t doing its job.
Here the hands-free kit model plays an important role. The sun visor kits and dashboard kits are positioned very close to the mouth, and the higher the quality of the microphone, the better the audio in and out. However, some car kits install farther away or plug into the cigarette lighter socket, which isn’t exactly the most strategic location for talking on the phone.
The controls and display are also important: some kits and devices keep them to a minimum and have large buttons that allow you to answer a call or adjust the volume quickly, but others are too complicated to use while you are. driving. Displays that show you calls can be useful, but you probably won’t use them much while in the car. Some Bluetooth kits in the past boasted of offering the option of voice command, but now it is possible to do it effectively and for free using Google Assistant, Alexa or Siri, so it is a feature that is not worth the extra money for. Surely, then, it will not be very easy or effective to use, compared to the integrated voice assistant that already has all the contact information.
What else should I know?
Auto shutdown is a great feature to look for – if it works – not only because this prevents the kit or device from running out of charge (if running on battery), but also prevents your phone from staying connected to the kit when you are still in its range of action. Some of these kits use voice activation, motion detection or the sound of the car door closing as an on and off input, saving you the trouble of having to remember.
With devices that run on battery, battery life is also important. Some kits offer 20 hours or more of talk time and a hundred hours of standby time, but others may need to be recharged three or four times a week. I guess you don’t want to drive and suddenly find the speakerphone dead.