steven4422

i have lexus rx350 2008

with mark levinson sound system

how do i play my iphone music via bluetooth thru speakers?

what do i need to buy?

smassey321

This is what we use.

tomr51

i use a cassette adaptor and find it great. I plug a portable usb player into it and play MP3 music from a USB stick

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

GROM audio, best thing I ever did.

takeshi74

There are a number of threads on this including some recent ones so don't overlook the existing discussions as a resource. I'd recommend an aftermarket interface. Grom was mentioned above but there are many options including VAIS (a popular option on this site), USA Spec (what we have), etc. Make sure you carefully consider the codecs that the interface and your phone support. You want to avoid SBC which is a lossy codec with poor quality. With the iPhone look for AAC support on the interface.

Neither of these are bluetooth which is what the OP is asking but: Cassette adapters are quick and easy but also have poor audio quality. FM modulators are also easy but quality can vary quite a bit so very carefully research if you consider going this route.

EDIT: Didn't follow the link in the first reply until now and it links to a VAIS product.

tomr51

if you take into account road noise, engine noise, speakers etc the "loss" of quality with a simple cassette adaptor is not noticeable. Remember you are not in a sound studio where all things are perfect. The quality is better than actually playing a tape. FM modulators drift and are inferior to the cassette solution.

takeshi74

Subjective matter just as sound is on any topic. I notice it. I can't speak for you or the OP.

I never claimed that the cabin was a sound studio or that perfect audio was a necessity either. I'm not an audiophile and do not claim to be one but I do know what sounds better to me. Noise and other factors don't mean that one cannot benefit from improved sound quality even if another doesn't perceive the benefit due to those factors. Each has to determine what is and what isn't acceptable for the individual.

tomr51

takeshi74, agree with your post , it is subjective. All MP3 etc is compressed (ie some frequencies are removed)so there are losses in quality compared to the old analoque LP records. What i am pointing out is in a car, even the radio is not top quality. Car audio systems are not the same as home sound systems. Compare the specs and prices for speakers etc.The average guy would not notice the difference between playing a cd in a car and playing MP3 thru a cassette adaptor, so why pay a couple of hundred $$$ when a $5 cassette adaptor will do an acceptable job? Again , it is subjective and each person will pay for what they can afford and think is best bang for the buck.

whiteghost

Following for information on a 2019 RX350 with Mark Levinson and Navigation.

lexnewbi

For analog connections, a cassette adaptor does remove high frequency signals. I believe it has a bandwidth of 30 Hz to about 15-18KHz. Some FM signals bandwidth is similar to cassette adapters. You are better off with a auxiliary audio input connection. The aux connection is not as good as digital since you are converting the digital signal to analog and depend on cheapish DAC on the phone or the cable adapter and that path could pick up noise from engine and electrical systems.

For best quality use a digital connection. Here you have the option of wireless or wired. Wireless through Bluetooth, it uses an SBC codec that transcodes your original digital music with a much more lossy codec. Some systems allow Bluetooth to use aptX (good) and AAC (better) codec for transfers, but it is usually not selected by default and you have to go into some weird settings to get it enabled. Both the transmitter and receiver must support this better codec to work.

Direct connection through USB will transfer without transcoding using the original codec.

Keeling54

This is what I fitted to my Rx400h, full Bluetooth integration at a very low cost
https://www.ebay.de/itm/264460236746

mmhmbeer

Any idea where I can get one that ships to the US?

tomr51

google the pn
BM-FSE-Toy2

mmhmbeer

I didn't find it available here. All references on google lead back to Germany.

tomr51