Best/Easiest Music Playing Experience

[Edenesque]

Well, I think I've tried everything. When I first got the Genesis, I went the "buy-the-iPhone-cable" route. It was cool that they supported iPhone, but I thought the user interface was awful. I hated that there was no shuffle feature, and you had to toggle the DIS knob down for what seemed like hours to listen to, say, The Zac Brown Band or U2, since the only way to get to them was to scroll through the alphabetical list of artists.

Then, I tried the low profile USB drive route, and while it was cool to put 3,000 mp3s on a flash drive the size of a mini automotive fuse, I ran into the same interface frustrations.

I have decided on a Bluetooth music receiver. It plugs into the USB drive and 3.5mm jack next to it. I just connect my iPhone to it when I get in the car, and am able to stream all 4,000 of my songs via the Bluetooth connection. Plus, using the Djay app for iPhone, I can shuffle playlists and crossfade from song to song. The only frustration is having to manually connect the iPhone to the receiver every time I start the car. I wish it automatically paired. Oh well.

I must say, while I love just about everything about the Genesis, I'm quite disappointed in the apparent lack of research and development that went into the user interface for the media center. I heard there are some upgrades to the interface when you spend the $300 for the MapNSoft update, but I just can't justify spending that kinda money just to update the way the unit displays songs.

Anyone have any better ideas for music playback? Is there anything I haven't tried?

 

[cspartan]

I have decided on a Bluetooth music receiver. It plugs into the USB drive and 3.5mm jack next to it. I just connect my iPhone to it when I get in the car, and am able to stream all 4,000 of my songs via the Bluetooth connection. Plus, using the Djay app for iPhone, I can shuffle playlists and crossfade from song to song. The only frustration is having to manually connect the iPhone to the receiver every time I start the car. I wish it automatically paired. Oh well.

Is that an iPhone issue? I bought the Monoprice BT receiver and my HTC Sensation running CM10 (Android) auto pairs. Maybe it's something you can Google about iPhones specifically or try the Monoprice receiver. It works seamlessly with the Genesis phone swapping calls and music back and forth.

 

[PMCErnie]

Good thread topic and overview. Doesn't your iPhone get super hot? I'm not so sure that that's good for it.

 

[Ruissimo]

The route you took is probably the best one I can think of. Though personally, if I'm not listening to my DVD-A's, I am using the USB flash drive.

I find that filing my music under an 8-folder structure works best.

8 Genres
> 8 Artists
>> 8 Albums
>>> Songs

Then there's no second page to scroll to.

 

[genedy]

The entertainment system in the car is by far the weakest point of the car, IMO. They did so many things right except for this.

I also tried dealing with the issues associated with the UI and an iPod, but finally got fed up. Now I use my Android phone + Amazon MP3 to stream music. It remembers where it last left off and now I just have to push play.

Edenesque, what are you using? I just ordered a BlueAnt Ribbon to do the same as you. I chose that over the others since my phone supports aptX and so does the ribbon. I'm hoping that it'll automatically pair with it once I get in the car.

Right now I'm using my phone -> USB ToGo cable -> E7 amp -> AUX IN. Too many wires, and a whole sequence is required before I start listening to music. Sounds great, but I'm trying to simplify it.

I'd jump on an entertainment upgrade in a second if Hyundai offered something with bluetooth + aptX support on the DIS version.

 

[Shawn33]

I hated that there was no shuffle feature...

On my 2012 there is a shuffle or "Random", but everytime you restart the car you have to re-select it.

Shawn

 

[genedy]

Shawn: Yes, and it's annoying having to do it every single time you get in the car. The feature might as well not be there with the way it works.

Also, this looks like a promising solution that auto pairs:

http://www.theauris.com/

 

[cspartan]

the Monoprice BT receiver and my HTC Sensation running CM10 (Android) auto pairs.

And I'm not the only one on here using one, pick it up, it works. No need to look elsewhere.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10827&cs_id=1082704&p_id=7364&seq=1&format=2

 

[genedy]

Doesn't support aptX, which will deliver higher quality audio, not to mention bass. I like monoprice, but the tech specs on that have a frequency response of 70Hz - 20KHz. Bluetooth audio isn't known for quality, and aptX pretty much fixes that.

 

[Edenesque]

I'm using a Belkin Bluetooth music receiver. I haven't found an option to have it connect automatically. Always have to go settings > Bluetooth > select "Belkin".

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[cspartan]

Doesn't support aptX, which will deliver higher quality audio, not to mention bass. I like monoprice, but the tech specs on that have a frequency response of 70Hz - 20KHz. Bluetooth audio isn't known for quality, and aptX pretty much fixes that.

Ah, yes took a look at that link after. No aptx on my phone, but that's pretty sweet if true and not just hype. Maybe I'll pick up a receiver with it this spring when I grab an S4...but auto pairing from a $17 one is pretty hard to beat it seems more expensive well known brands can't get right.

 

[waveman]

Best and easiest don't always go together. I tend to favor ease of use, so I keep an iPod in my car permanently and periodically refresh the playlists. It's reasonably functional as long as I don't want to find a particular song - the car's user interface is horrible in this regard.

As for sound quality, although I can still hear differences between sources, it's not worth it to me to chase high specs. These days I doubt if I can hear the high frequencies that I did in my audiophile days anyway.

 

[jdwky69]

What I find really disappointing is that I can stream bluetooth music in my 2012 Sonata 2.0T but not in my 2012 Genesis R-Spec! I really love my music but it's really the only complaint I have on the Genesis... I just listen to XM or FM nowadays. Too much of a pain to hook phone up to car and I got burned out on my DVD-A's really quick!

 

[cspartan]

Doesn't support aptX, which will deliver higher quality audio, not to mention bass. I like monoprice, but the tech specs on that have a frequency response of 70Hz - 20KHz. Bluetooth audio isn't known for quality, and aptX pretty much fixes that.

Genedy how is the BlueAnt Ribbon working out? Auto pair without any interaction on your part? What phone? I picked up an H1 and might upgrade my BT receiver to an aptX capable one. Thanks

 

[nfetterly]

Had my car for ~3 weeks now, has the upgraded 17 speaker Lexicon and while the sound quality is fantastic, I am more than a little disappointed with Track 1, Track 2, Track 3,... for the DVD-As and on the ipod as well.

I guess I need to get further into the manual, but I've seen other Track 1, Track 2 comments...

This forum is a great source of information - Thanks!

 

[jalanjalan]

Best and easiest don't always go together. I tend to favor ease of use, so I keep an iPod in my car permanently and periodically refresh the playlists. It's reasonably functional as long as I don't want to find a particular song - the car's user interface is horrible in this regard.

As for sound quality, although I can still hear differences between sources, it's not worth it to me to chase high specs. These days I doubt if I can hear the high frequencies that I did in my audiophile days anyway.

This