Kenwood KCA-BT200 and iPhone

Finished an install of a DDX512 receiver and added on navigation, XM radio, and bluetooth via the KCA-BT200.  Updated software to v1.4 downloaded from internet and ran bluetooth update.  Both software versions read 1.40 now.  Problem is that when paired with my iPhone, the sound quality is terrible.  Tried two different mics (one from a Parrot 3000) and resetting the unit through the DDX512 reset button.  The only thing that made a difference was pairing and using another Sanyo phone from which the sound seemed a little better.  Talked to Crutchfield support (even through the phone which he agreed sounded terrible) and they are shipping out a new bluetooth unit.  Anyone with similar problems?  Other reviews of the product have described it as "crystal clear".  Any thoughts on why one phone would have better audio than another?  BTW, have used both in my other car with a Pioneer bluetooth system without any problems.

I'm having the exact same problem you're describing with the exact same equipment. It seems to do it sporadically though - sometimes it isn't too horrible. Definitely seems like an iphone specific problem unless anyone else reports any problems with others? Hope someone has a solution!

 

cheers

Mark

I spoke with Kenwood tech support.  They think the problem is that my iPhone has been jail broken to tmobil.  I'm going to try a friends Att iphone and see how that works.  Also, they said they are releasing a bluetooth update soon.  Is your iPhone jail broken as well?

 Mark

I'm also getting HORRIBLE mic quality using my iPhone - jailbroken, in Canada.  I tried with my wife's RAZR and get perfect microphone quality.  The iPhone worked well with a Parrot 3000.  This is definitely an iPhone/KCABT200 issue but I'm wondering how jailbreaking affected Bluetooth mic quality?

 Can you report back using a regular iPhone?

Wow, that actually worked on my DNX8120!  I hope they put out a fix but at least it is usable now.

This fix seemed to have worked on my KVT-512 as well (iPhone 3g).

Very Cool - excellent post Thank You!!!

 I have the DNX5120 w/ KCA-BT2000 in my new pathfinder using the new 16gb Black iPhone and I toggle back and forth - shazam - it's clear as a bell, without jumping through this hoop, it's a raspy underwater & muffled garboilage.  I was initially about to explore other microphones and really glad I found this post.

Thank You,

Rustin 

Try to update to the new version of firmware 1.60 for the BT-200

 http://www.kenwood.com/bt/information/eng160.html

Thanks for the heads up on this.  Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to solve the mic quality problem: I still need to toggle the iPhone (3G, firmware 2.01, Rogers in Canada) to get good voice quality under the 1.60 Kenwood firmware.  This is the same on BOTH my DNX 8120 unit and the DNX7120 w/ BT200 module (yes, I have both units).

- Steve

 

Update:

There is now a FIX for the DNX8120, firmware version 1.61 fixed my DNX8120's iphone mic quality.

This is the file for the DNX8120 NOT the BT200.  I tried using this file with the Parrot Bluetooth updater and while it looked like it uploaded, it sat there for 30 minutes with no reboot (when I flashed to 1.60 it worked within 5-8 minutes or so).  On restart, I had a BLANK firmware number, then it showed 1.61 but wouldn't pair with the iphone.  Thankfully I was able to reflash to 1.60 and it works again (but no mic fix).

Here is the file (crossposted from Apple discussion forums): see more of my adventure with nearly bricking the DNX8120's BT because I didn't follow directions!

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7878221#7878221

*** This is for a USB update of the DNX8120 only, DO NOT use on BT 200 or via Parrot Bluetooth Update utility *** 

http://rapidshare.com/files/137365613/IPhoneUpdate.zip.html

*** This is for a USB update of the DNX8120 only, DO NOT use on BT 200 or via Parrot Bluetooth Update utility *** 

I post this here since I have both a DNX8120 and a DNX7120+BT200, and since the BT200 is the same module, I expect once we see the 1.61 update for BT200, the iPhone mic quality will finally be fixed.

Good luck!

- Steve

 

For those that were wanting it, Here is a RapidShare download link for the Kenwood KCA-BT200 1.61 update that Kenwood sent me. Its for the DNX5120 and iPhone. Anyone else use at your own risk. It fixed my iPhone 3G issues.


http://rapidshare.com/files/143287606/BT200_Update_Using_BlueTooth.zip.html

Thank you soooooooo much for posting this.  I was getting pretty tired of people complaining about how I sounded on the handsfree of my DNX8120.

The software update install documentation is good.  You just unzip the file to the root of your thumbdrive, plug the thumbdrive into your usb cable of the DNX8120 and turn it on.  Once it boots up, set to standby mode, go to setup, then Software Information, and click Start - and about 5 minutes later, it will ask you to reboot (turn off and on).  Screen will go black and tell you the update is in progress.  Dont forget to unplug your thumbdrive when it says "Update Complete".

 I am so stoked they go this working.  what I dont understand is why the Kenwood website only has the 1.60 update posted on their site.  That update does fix anything for the DNX8120 that I am aware of.  I did notice that v1.61 causes the bluetooth connection to wait a little longer to connect when processing a call.  You can tell by watching the icon above the DTMF button; it seems like its waiting to make sure it negotiates with the iPhone bluetooth connection.  Im not a wireless engineer or anything, but hey, it it works it works. 

Would this work with the KVT-512 does anyone know?  I saw there was an 1.5.1 Head update but can't seem to find any other BT-200 updates.

I own the DDX 812 by Kenwood and had the same problems with my iphone 3g. The sound on my end was crystal clear but garbled on the listener end. Toggling back and forth quickly from the stereo to iphone and back works great. It clears the sound on the listener's end. I will try to find out from Kenwood if a 1.61v update is available.  Thanks for the information in these posts!